1861 personal census, Mersea Twp, Essex Co., ON, 1-18:
Lane James, M, Married, married in 1860, 24, born U Canada, Baptist, Farmer;
Jane, F, Married, married in 1860, 43, born U Canada, Baptist;
Stewart James, M, Single, 22, born U Canada, E Methodist, Labourer;
Whittle Testamia, F, Single, 14, born U Canada;
Olive, F, Single, 12, born U Canada;
Danial, M, Single, 10, born U Canada;
Geramia, M, Single, 8, born U Canada.
1881 personal census, Gosfield Twp, Essex Co., ON, LDS 1881 census household record:
Stewart James, M, Married, 40, born Ont, origin: Scottish, Wesleyan Methodist, Farmer;
Juley, F, Married, 36, born Ont, origin: English, Wesleyan Methodist;
Cecilia E., F, 17, born Ont, origin: Scottish, Wesleyan Methodist.
Commemorative Biographical Record of the County of Essex, J. H. Beers & Co., Toronto, 1905, p. 410-411:
James Stewart, a farmer and carpenter in Gosfield North, is the last surviving member of a family long known in the County of Essex, where they were among the earliest of the pioneer settles, while still farther back he traces his ancestry to the famous Stewarts of Scotland. He was born in the County of Norfolk, Middleton township, Oct. 13, 1840, son of Rev. James and Jane (Philpox) Stewart.
Originally three brothers came from Scotland to America: Charles, grandfather of our subject, settled in Canada; John went to Pennsylvania and was killed during the Revolution; and James, a soldier in the British army, died near Amherstburg, in Malden township, after the war of 1812. Charles Stewart, with his wife, Peggy, made his home in Mersea township, and lived to the remarkable age of 104 years. He had seven children, all now deceased: John, Charles, Abel, Rev. James, Polly (wife of L. D. Vaughn), Peggy (wife of Michael G. Fox) and Tabitha (Mrs. George Brown).
Rev. James Stewart was born in 1794. While he owned and lived on a farm, his life work was in the Baptist ministry, and he was a well-known preacher in the County of Essex. His death occurred in 1841, while he was at Long Point, Canada, engaged in the discharge of ministerial duties. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Betsy (Fulmer), of Mersea township, had five children, David, John, Isaiah, Jane and Margaret, all now deceased. By the second union with Jane Philpox, born in Iona, Canada, in 1800, there were three children, namely: Esther, the deceased wife of the late Thomas Craney, of Gosfield; Eliza A., the late wife of Thomas Hawkes, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and James. After her husband's death Mrs. Stewart married William Taggatt. Her death occurred in 1898.
James Stewart was reared and educated in the County of Essex, and early learned the carpenter's trade. While he has always followed this to some extent, he bought a tract of wild land while he was still a young man, and has devoted his life mainly to farming. He now has a highly-productive farm on Concession 6, Lot 23, a place which he has himself cleared and cultivated, and on which he has built a number of unusually good buildings. To this home in 1861 he brought his wife, whose maiden name was Miss Julia Lane. She was born in Colchester South in 1846, the daughter of Aaron and Eleanor Lane, who were early settlers in that region, descendants from an old English family. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, but all have passed away save one daughter, Cecilia, the wife of John C. Hutchinson, a business man in Leamington, who has one daughter, Mildred.
In their religious belief Mr. Stewart and his wife are Methodists, and are members of that church, in whose work they have always taken an active part. Politically Mr. Stewart has always adhered to the Reform party, but has not been prominent in politics, as his services to the public have always been in connection with educational work, as a school trustee, or in some similar position. In his home Mr. Stewart has been an admirable husband and father; as a citizen, public-spirited and honest; among his friends and neighbors, upright in conduct, genial in nature and charitable in thought and deed, so that he is held in high esteem, respected and honored.
James
Stewart
Cecilia E. Stewart ca 1864-
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