ernor of Missouri in 1357. and served for four years. during which time he was actiu- in found- ing the systeln of railroads that centres in that state. At the beginning of the civil war he ell— tered the National army. but failing health pre- vented him from serving and he sum] retired.
STEWART. Thomas McCants. lawyer. b. in
Charleston. S. C.. 2-5 Dec" 1854. lle is of African
descent. After his graduation at the ['niversity of
South Carolina in 1S75 he practised law in Colum-
bia. S. C.. and was professor of mathematics in the
State agricultural college. (h‘angeburg. S. C. He
entered the ministry in 1875‘. after studying at
Princeton. In 15S? he became professor of belles-
lettres and law in Liberia college. and spent a year
on the west coast of Africa. serving also as general
agent for industrial education in Liberia. In Janu-
ary. 1836. he was admitted to the bar of New
York city. Mr. Stewart has contributed to news-
papers and magazines and is the author of “ Libe-
ria. the .\merieo-At‘rican Republic " (New York.
18871: and " Peril of a (Great City" (lSBT).
STEWART. Virgil Adam. h. in Jackson 00.,
Ua.. 27 .lan.. iStJ'J. ln ISSIJ he became auluainted
with John A. Murrell. who was the chief of an
organization that existed throughout the south
and southwest and made a practice of enticing
negroes from their owners. with promise of free-
dom. and then selling them in a distant part of
the country. The members of the conspiracy
recognized one another by signs. and dexterously
concealed their identity. Their crimes included
robbery and nmrder. Mr. Stewart succeeded in
gaining full information concerning the plans. of
the organization. which included an extended up-
rising of the negroes. who were incited by promises
of freedom to rebel and slay all the whites on the
night of 25 Dec..1S3-"). Meanwhile the members
of the conspiracy were to take advantage of the
condition of affairs and plunder generally. A
knowledge of this plot. which was divulged to
Stewart. by Murrcll. led to the arrest of the latter,
and his subsequent sentence to imprisonment for
ten years. Afterthe conviction. Stewart published
a pamphlet account of the atfair. under the title of
"The Western Land l’irate" (1835). giving the
names of the conspirators. This quickly disap-
peared. statements were industrioust circulated
that Stewart was a member of the halal. and
efforts were made to murder him. See “ The Ilis-
tory of Virgil A. Stewart and his Adventure in
capturing and exposing the (treat “'estern Land
Pirate and his- Gang " (New York. 1836).
STEWART. Walter. soldier. b. about 1756: (I.
in Philadelphia, Pa.. 14 June, 1796. He espoused
the American cause at the beginning of the Revo-
lutionary war. raised a company for the 3d Penn-
sylvania battalion. was commissioned captain. 6
Jan.. 1770'. and appointed aide-de—camp to Gen.
Hates. 26 May. 1776. in which capacity he served
until 17 June. 1777. when he was commissioned by
the supreme executive council of Pennsylvania
colonel of the state regiment of foot. He took
command on 6 July. 1777. and led it at Brandy-
wine and Germantown. By resolution of congress.
1:? Nov.. 1777. his regiment was annexed to the
Continental army, becoming the 13th regiment of
the Pennsylvania line. “n 17 Jan.. 1781. it was
incorporated with the 2d Pennsylvania. under ('01.
Stewart's command. He served with great credit
throughout the war. retiring. 1 Jan.. 1783. with the
brevet rank of lnrigadier—general. lie was said to
be the handsomest man in the American army.
He was afterward well known as a merchant of
Philadelphia. and became major-general of the
state militia. IIis full-length portrait is in Col.
'I‘rumbull's picture of the surrender of Cornwallis.
till the left of the line of th. American ofiiccrs.
STEWART. William. Canadian member of
parliament. In. in Scotland in 180:}: d. in Toronto,
6 March, 1856. lie was educated privately. en-
gaged in business as a merehant. and was one of
the founders of the lumber trade in Canada. He
was a member of the parliament of Canada for
Bytown (now Httawa) and for the county of Rus-
Sell. and framed the eulIers' bill and other impor-
tant acts.—llis son. McLeod. lawyer. b. in Ottawa
in 1-847. was graduated at Toronto university in
IHGT. Ile studied law. was admitted to the bar in
INTO. and established himself successfully in prac-
tice at Ottawa. He was elected mayor of that city
in INST. and was re—elected in 1885. Mr. Stewart
is actively connected with many financial and in-
dustrial corporations. and is president of the Cana-
da. Atlantic milway company. He is a Liberal-
Conservative in polities and has rendered impor—
tant services to his party. He was appointed a
lieutenant in the governor-generals font-guards
on the formation of that body.
STEWART. William Morris. senator. b. in
Lyons. N. \'.. 1! Aug.. 1827. He entered Yale in
1843‘. and. although he was not graduated. his
name was afterward enrolled among the members
of the class of 1852. and he received the degree of
A. M. in was. in 1850 he set out for California
by the way of Panama aml engaged in mining in
Nevada county. where he discovered the celebrated
Eureka diggings. He disposed of his mining in-
terests and began the study of law early in 1852.
and was appointed district attorney in December
of that year. and in 1854 became attorney-general
and settled in San Francisco. Later he moved to
Itownieville. (‘al.. where he devoted himself to the
st mly and practice of the laws that relate to milling.
ditch- and water—rights. and similar processes. In
1561) he moved to Virginia City. New. and was re-
tained in almost every case of importance before
the higher courts. To his efforts is mainly due
the permanent settlement of the titles of nearly all
the mines on the great Comstock lode. In lStil
he was chosen a member of the territorial council.
and in 1863 he was electEd a member of the Con-
stitutional convention. Subsequently he was twice
elected as a Republican to the U. S. senate. and
served from 4 Dec.. 11:464. till 3 March. 1875. On
his retirement he resumed the practice of his pro-
fession on the Pacific coast. where his great famil-
iarity with mining law and mining litigation created
a demand for his services. In 18H7 he was again
elected to the U. S. senate for a full term. taking
his seat on 4 March. He has published various
addresses and speeches.
STICKNEY. John. musician. h. in Stonghton, Me . in 174-1; d. in South Hadley. Mass. in 1827. He was taught music while a boy. and subsequently settled in Hatfield. where he gave lessons. Later he travelled extensively through the New England states. and acquired reputation as a teacher amt composer. but finally settled in South Hadley. where he continued his teaching. He published “ The Gentlemen and Ladies‘ Musical Companion " (Newburyport. 1774). a valuable collection of psalms and anthems, together with explanatory rules for learning to sing.
STILES. Ezra. clergyman and educator. h. in North Haven. Conn.. :29 Nov.. 1727: d. in New Haven. Conn.. 12 May. 1795. His ancestor. John. came from Bedfordshire. England. and settled in
Windsor. Conn.. in 1635. and John’s grandson. Isaac, the father of Ezra. was graduated at Yale
