Maurice Kelly, A. H. Trimble, Geo. J. Richardson and Joseph Stewart are all unexceptionable [sic] gentlemen who will legislate for the best interests of Quincy and Adams County. They are entitled to the support of every citizen who has the interests of Quincy and Adams County at heart. They should have the vote of every Democrat in the county.
The Quincy Daily Herald, Quincy, Illinois, November 8, 1870, page 2

    Yesterday was the hottest day known in this city for many years. At the residence of Hon. Joseph Stewart in Ellington, the mercury went up to 108. Mr. Stewart states that he has kept a record of his thermometer, which has never been changed for fourteen years, and that yesterday was the first time it went to 108. The day in the city was undoubtedly the hottest for many years.
The Quincy Daily Herald, Quincy, Illinois, August 12, 1881, page 4


    Mr. Joseph Stewart reports that frost entered the ground to the depth of sixteen inches.
"Brevities," The Quincy Whig, Quincy, Illinois, February 7, 1884, page 8


    Transfers of real estate in Adams County for the week ending July 8:
Joseph H. Stewart to Ben Heckle, part northwest section 15, Ursa township . . . 2000
"Real Estate Transfers," The Quincy Whig, Quincy, Illinois, July 10, 1884, page 8

WEEKS-STEWART--At the residence of the bride's father, April 25th, by Rev. M. A. Williams, Arthur J. Weeks and Miss Annie Belle Stewart.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 1, 1886, page 3

HILL-STEWART--AT the residence of the bride's parents in Eden precinct, Jan. 17th, by Rev. Wm. Stewart, D. R. Hill and Miss Cora E. Stewart.

    Close & Sons have shipped a carload of drain tiling to H. B. Miller of Grants Pass this week from their yard near town, and J. H. Stewart and others of this county have been using a considerable quantity this winter in draining fruit lands. Close & Sons will manufacture a large amount during the coming season, and will find a heavy demand, both in this neighborhood and other parts of the valley.
Ashland Tidings, January 11, 1889, page 3

"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 22, 1890, page 3


    Our market is being furnished with first-class sweet potatoes from Hon. J. H. Stewart's fine farm near Phoenix.

    In the Portland Oregonian of date February 22d, there appeared a three-column article, written by a special correspondent, bearing in a general way upon the horticulture interests of Jackson County, but more particularly upon the success which Hon. J. H. Stewart, the parent to this industry, has made from a commercial point of view. We publish below excerpts from the article:
    The most interesting man in Southern Oregon is Hon. J. H. Stewart, the Medford apple grower. He is essentially a man who does things, and he is furthermore a man who has reasons for things. I venture to say that Mr. Stewart never did anything in this life without knowing why. It was no accident that he came to Southern Oregon fifteen years ago; it was no accident that he established himself just where he did; it was no accident that he prospered, and that in prospering he revolutionized the industry and the fortunes of the country around about Medford.
    Mr. Stewart comes of the race of true-bred Americans, born in the early years of the last century, with enough Yankee in his blood to give mental energy and fixedness of purpose, and enough of the Scotch-Irish strain to yield imagination, fluency in expression, and the taste for public affairs. Mr. Stewart is at once a man of action and a man of talk; and he both acts and talks to some purpose. He has no affectation of reserve, no habit of hiding his light under a bushel. He is willing that his neighbors and all the world shall have any advantage which may come through his experiments and achievements. And now that he is past the age when it is reasonable to hope for any personal profit from new ventures, he is as busily employed in useful labors as if his daily bread depended upon his daily effort.
    Mr. Stewart is past 50 years of age, and had done about one man's share of work before coming to Oregon. He began business life in Illinois and Missouri 'way back in the '40s, grew millions upon millions of orchard trees as a professional nurseryman, planted many orchards, and incidentally served several terms in the Illinois Legislature, before the time came when he could cut loose and satisfy a lifetime's wish to visit the Coast. "I had seen enough," he said, in the course of talk, "to make it clear to me that the fruit business in the Mississippi Valley was about played out, for the development of the Coast was rapidly making, as it has since made, it impossible for the interior states to compete in the general markets." Mr. Stewart's idea upon leaving home was to settle somewhere in the Puget Sound country, and it was to that part of the coast that he first turned. But the conditions for horticulture, and especially apple growing, did not wholly suit him, and he came south, carefully taking in every section of the country from the Columbia River down to Southern California. Several months were spent in visitation and investigation. No section was slighted, even the remote country of Klamath and Lake counties being visited. His final determination was that the Rogue River Valley, above every other section on the Coast, was adapted to the growing of apples on a large scale. And being thoroughly convinced, he bought the land where afterwards his first orchard was planted--now the Voorhies place--and returned to his home in Quincy, Ill., for the winter and to close out his affairs. The winter was by no means an idle one, for in addition to other labors, he grafted with his own hand the several varieties of nursery stock which he thought suited to his new situation, and in large part the Voorhies orchard today is the outcome of that winter's work at Quincy, Ill.
    By 1890 it was demonstrated that a new spirit had entered into the Rogue River Valley. A country which had formerly been thought fit only for the rougher sorts of production--for pasture and for grain--suddenly came into prominence as the producer of apples and the like of which had not often been seen even in those parts of Oregon famous for their fruit products. [Local newspapers had encouraged fruit production for years before Stewart's arrival; this became an insistent drumbeat as the prospect of rail connection to the outside world became more likely.] It was soon found that the skill and energy of one man had given to Rogue River Valley a new character and a new impetus; that the special adaptation of the country had been found. But this did not wholly satisfy the people who had long been used to isolation, and who had not learned the significance of transportation. "We may," declared the doubting Thomases, "be able to grow apples by the ton, but what good will it do us? Who is there after the limited Portland demand shall be supplied to buy our product?" Mr. Stewart had not overlooked this point, and his answer came in the form of a season's crop shipped and sold at a great profit in the market of the eastern states and Europe. He knew what no other man in the country suspected, namely that such a product as that of the Medford district had the world for its market. It was upon the basis of knowledge of the demand which waited upon a strictly first-class apple, in connection with his faith in the soil and climate of the Rogue River Valley, that his first orchard was planted.
    It was in 1885 that Mr. Stewart set about the work of making his first orchard. It was eight or ten years before the vision which inspired his efforts and buoyed him through the years of waiting stood plain in the view of everybody. Since that day of demonstration it is now less than ten years. These periods are short when considered in connection with the industrial revolution of the country. But they have been momentous in the highest degree for the Rogue River Valley. They have established her name in the commercial world; they have witnessed the progress of tree-planting until all around Medford the country is coming to be one vast orchard; they have given the valley an industrial specialty which means so much for any country; they have brought new people and new capital into the valley, and have given it purpose. And for all this the Rogue River Valley is indebted to J. H. Stewart.
    On every hand, as one drives about Medford, there is manifest the influence of horticulture upon the welfare of the country. The various orchards now in bearing aggregate no less than 1000 acres, and the annual shipment runs up to about 200 carloads. In addition to this, there are large orchards at other points in the county and in the adjoining county of Josephine. Indeed, the largest single apple orchard in the country is at Central Point. There are, too, indications that the business is just begun. Within the year upwards of 1000 acres have been set out in apple and pear trees, and this planting, added to what has been set out during the past two seasons, makes some 2000 or more acres, which will in time be added to the productive area.
    The part taken by Portland men and Portland capital in these enterprises is interesting and significant. Some three years ago Mr. Gordon Voorhies, of Portland, connected with the Burrell family, bought from Mr. Stewart his original place, three miles south of Medford, and since that time has added greatly to it. His planting the present season will aggregate something like 225 acres. It is understood that Mr. Voorhies' venture has proven highly successful, so much so that in the brief period of his ownership his original investment had been fully regained. Another Portland investor in the Medford orchard district is E. J. DeHart, the well-known hardware merchant, who has recently become the owner of a fine place of seventy-five acres, immediately south of town. Mr. DeHart has come with his family to the new purchase, and proposes to make his permanent home here. Another and very recent venturer in orchard property is Mr. Hunt Lewis, of the well-known Portland family. His fine place of 160 acres joins Mr. Voorhies' place on the south. It is sometimes asserted that Portland is slow to take hold of the productive interests of the country, and in instances this may be true; but in the case of the apple industry the charge certainly will not be. Indeed, if the movement shall keep up we may soon expect to hear that the capitalists of Portland are crowding the owners of the soil from out [of] their own territory.
Medford Mail, February 28, 1902, page 1


    C. W. Hughes, who has charge of the old Mingus place, located in Heber Grove, now owned by Capt. Stewart, was to town the forepart of the week. Great progress has been made in denuding the timbered land, which will be transformed into an orchard.
"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 6, 1902, page 5


    Jake Hugger reports unusual activity out at the Voorhies fruit ranch. Aside from the regular work of caring for the trees there is a large force of men at work setting out 170 acres of land to trees, and another gang has been grafting. Mr. Hugger is putting in 25,000 pear grafts and 30,000 apple grafts. It can be truthfully said that Jake is a "grafter" of no mean pretensions.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, March 7, 1902, page 7


    Will H. Stewart returned Sunday evening from San Francisco, where he had been for two weeks undergoing treatment at the Lane hospital. The operation was that of skin grafting. This is the second operation which Mr. Stewart has had performed, and he feels confident that it is the last one which will be necessary. In this last operation pieces of skin nearly the size of one's hand was removed from one part of his body and grafted onto other parts.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, March 28, 1902, page 6


    W. H. Stewart, the energetic horticulturist, has returned from San Francisco, where he spent some time in the Lane Hospital. He underwent a second operation for skin-grafting, which seems to be entirely successful.
"Southern Oregon News," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 3, 1902, page 2


    Hon. J. H. Stewart has returned from a trip to his farm on Rogue River. That section is well adapted to the fruit industry, and he has planted a considerable area in apples and pears, particularly the latter.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 3, 1902, page 5


    Captain Gordon Voorhies was down from Portland this week looking over his large orchard tract, which is being so ably managed by Jake Huger.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 11, 1902, page 6


    Hon. J. H. Stewart has commenced preliminary arrangements for the erection of a magnificent residence on his place southwest of Medford. He has selected a very beautiful spot, in a grove facing the west, and is now trimming the trees and shaping matters generally for the finest semi-city and country home in all Southern Oregon.
"Additional Local," Medford Mail, April 18, 1902, page 6


    Capt. A. J. Stewart, who has been spending the winter in New Mexico and Arizona, returned on yesterday evening's train.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 24, 1902, page 5


    A. J. Stewart returned Tuesday evening from his winter's stay in Mexico and California. He will remain during the summer, and a glad hand is given him by his many Medford friends.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 25, 1902, page 6


    George Porter is now temporary night clerk at Hotel Nash--doing service while the regular clerk--Judge James Stewart--is out doing some campaign work.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, May 9, 1902, page 7


    Jas. Stewart has returned from his trip in the northwestern part of the county. His place as night clerk at Hotel Nash has been acceptably filled by Geo. Porter.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 15, 1902, page 7


    Clint Stewart, the veteran fruit man, has received a silver medal for the best almond exhibit at the Charleston fair. He holds the record in this respect, for he captured silver medals at the Portland exposition and also at the Buffalo Pan-American Exposition. Col. Dosch, who is in charge of the Oregon exhibits at the Charleston fair, states in a letter that the exhibit from Clint attracted widespread attention. He states further that the Oregon department is constantly crowded with people anxious to learn things about Oregon. Many people scarcely believe that such fine products can be grown here. Others ask the Colonel if the Indians are still very dangerous in Oregon.
    Hon. J. H. Stewart will soon begin the construction of a handsome residence on his farm near Medford. W. W. Woods has furnished a carload of lumber already. Shingles will be used instead of rustic.
"Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 29, 1902, page 5


    The Medford Bachelor Club went into mourning this week. One of its members so far forgot himself as to get married last Sunday. Miss Sophia I. Ratrie, of Lake Creek, is the young woman who is responsible for the gloom that surrounds bachelor hall and causes the flag to fly at half mast. It was for her sake that Jim Stewart, the popular justice of the peace, and a member of the club in good standing, forsook the ranks. The couple were married by Rev. F. L. Crandall and are at home to their many friends in the West cottage on A Street. They have our congratulations and best wishes.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 5, 1902, page 4




JOSEPH HOWARD STEWART. As a pioneer fruit-grower of Jackson County Joseph H. Stewart takes first rank, and his products are shipped to all parts of the United States and Europe. He is a profound student of everything pertaining to horticulture, and is one of the best posted men in his line between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. When he first came to Oregon, people generally questioned the advisability of raising fruit, but there are many today who wish they had followed his example. His father, William Stewart, was born of Scotch parents in in the north of Ireland, and upon coming to America about 1821 located on the coast of Maine, in Washington County. He had made a former visit there while sailing before the mast and studying navigation, to which he did not take kindly, having a genius for mechanical invention. In Maine he married Nancy Marston, a native daughter of the state, and who, at the time of her death m Quincy, Ill., left seventy-five descendants. Fourteen children were born to William Stewart and his wife, ten sons and four daughters, Joseph Howard, born in Washington County, Me., November 22, 1833, being the fourth son. After bringing his family to Quincy, Ill., in 1836, William Stewart inaugurated a career which did him credit from many standpoints. Settling on land in Adams County, he started a nursery and farming business, and the first fruit trees brought to Oregon in an ox-train came from this farm. He was one of the original Free Soilers, and took an active part in political matters. He was president and one of the foremost promoters of the first agricultural society in the state of Illinois, organized in 1854, supporting the same by his hearty zeal and cooperation the remainder of his life. Mr. Stewart died in 1859, at the age of fifty-six years, leaving his family and friends a legacy of an honored name and to those dependent upon him a comfortable inheritance.
    Owing to early association with his father's nursery, Joseph H. Stewart had scant opportunity for attending school, a deficiency which has since spurred him to unusual effort along educational lines. At the age of twenty-one he married, in Quincy, Ill.., Elizabeth Hyman, who was born on the Atlantic Ocean while her parents were en route to America from Germany. Her father, George Hyman, was a tailor by trade, and in 1836 located in Adams County, Ill., where he died at an advanced age. In 1853 Mr. Stewart removed to Hannibal, Mo., taking with him an already established reputation as a practical
fruit-grower, having taken many premiums at state exhibits, and served on fruit commissions. In 1860 he removed to Quincy, and there engaged in the nursery business until 1884. While residing there in 1860 he made the first large exhibit of fruit in the East, showing one hundred and twenty varieties of pears and apples at the American Pomological Society held in Philadelphia. In 1870 he was elected to the state legislature and during the session secured the passage of the drainage law. During the building of the levee at Quincy, in 1878, he superintended the work in the Indian Grave drainage district. Ambitious and resourceful, he firmly believed that Oregon held exceptional opportunities for the fruit-grower, and in the spring of 1884 he took a trip to the state, investigating the soil and general prospects. Well pleased with what he found, he returned to his family in the fall, and in February, 1885, located in the Rogue River Valley. Two months later found him in Illinois, negotiating for the sale of his property, with the proceeds of which he removed his belongings to the coast. Needless to say, fruit trees constituted a large part of the outfit. The first year in the valley he had one hundred and sixty acres under orchard, and the next year an additional one hundred acres. In 1890 he shipped the first carload of fruit out of Jackson County, and in 1896 his output consisted of ninety-five carloads of apples and pears. [That sentence is likely the genesis of the myth that no fruit was shipped from the Rogue Valley until 1890. That sentence means--and should read--"he shipped his first carload."] Mr. Stewart has sold the first two orchards which he started, and at present has about four hundred acres devoted exclusively to apples and pears.
    In 1898 Mr. Stewart built a fine residence in the Cascade Mountains, on the Upper Rogue River, surrounded by thirty acres of orchard, and fitted with every modern improvement. He has taken an active part in the business life of Medford, and in 1899 was one of the organizers of the Bank of Medford, owning the bank building and serving as the president of the concern for two years, and is now its vice-president. The bank is one of the solid financial institutions of the county and is incorporated for $50,000. Mr. Stewart is encouraging fruit-growing in his children, and his son William is one of the large fruit-ranchers of Jackson County. One child, Junie I., died at the age of twenty, and three daughters, Mrs. A. J. Weeks, of Oakland. Cal., Mrs. H. M. Crowell and Mrs. D. R. Hill are living. Mr. Stewart is a Democrat in political affiliation, and fraternally is a charter member of Blue Lodge No. 103, A. P. & A. M. of Medford.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, Chapman Publishing Co. 1904, page 489


    Dillon Hill:--"Not much doing right now in the orchard business--most too wet. We have nothing but young orchards to care for, but if you think they do not need looking after some you are very much mistaken. It is when trees are about two years old that they need the greatest care. This will apply now particularly to pruning. A man to prune young trees and do it properly must know his business. Almost anyone can prune old trees, but it requires an expert to prune them when young. My father-in-law, J. H. Stewart, has just finished pruning our 125-acre orchard, on the Fordyce place [at age 71]. It might seem a little egotistical in me if I was to say that Mr. Stewart knows his business when it comes to growing fruit, but I have an idea that most orchardists of the valley will bear me out in the assertion. But, say, speaking about orchards, I want to tell you that our Rogue River orchard is going to be a good one. We have thirty acres planted to Bartlett and Comice pears. The trees are now two years old. We have plans laid to put out thirty or forty acres of our land up there to apples. You see, it's like this: The altitude is very much greater there, and it stands to reason that the greater the altitude in which you can grow fruit the firmer and better flavor will be the fruit. I have eaten Jonathan apples that were grown up there in April and they were firm--almost as firm as when first picked from the tree. Yes, we are expecting our Rogue River orchard will make a splendid showing when it commences to bear fruit. In planting our Fordyce orchard we did it with a view to convenience as well as profit. For instance--we planted 900 Bartlett, 900 Beurre Bosc, 800 Housels, and 1000 Comice pears. Now this fruit will ripen in the order named, and there will be no rush necessary to take care of one variety before the other is ready to handle. After the pears are all through with, the apples will come on. We have planted 2000 Newtown trees and 3000 Jonathans. We have 300 or 400 seedling trees, which we expect to graft to Beurre d'Anjous."
"Street Echoes," Medford Mail, January 8, 1904, page 1




    Will H. Stewart, an old Quincy boy, the son of J. H. Stewart, of North Twelfth Street, is in the city with his wife and son, visiting home folks. He lives at Medford, Oregon, and is in the fruit raising business there. He has been down to the world's fair.
"The News in Brief," The Quincy Daily Journal, Quincy, Illinois, October 18, 1904, page 8


    Hon. J. H. Stewart, who has been ill for several days, is considerably improved at this time. Dr. Pickel is in attendance.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, February 10, 1905, page 5


    A short rural telephone line has recently been put in south and west of Medford. There are five patrons on the extension, and its length is over a mile. Regulation poles have been put in, and the wiring has been done in conformity with the prescribed rules and regulations of the Sunset Company's line, to which line a connection has been made near E. J. DeHart's suburban home. The line was put in by the patrons, but the Sunset Company will furnish the 'phones and will charge a monthly rental of $1 for each 'phone, and the patrons will then have free switching with Medford, Jacksonville and all other rural lines running out from Medford. The cost of putting in the line to the patron has been between $6 and $7 each. Those on the extension are: J. H. Stewart, D. R. Hill, J. A. Perry (farm residence), True Cox and T. E. Pottenger's stock yards.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, February 2, 1906, page 5


    Hon. J. H. Stewart, the well-known orchardman and capitalist, is lying quite ill at his residence on Oakdale Avenue. Mr. Stewart has been ailing for the past several months, but until lately has been able to be up and around. His friends are hoping to hear of the restoration of his usual good state of health.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, March 2, 1906, page 5

    HANNIBAL, Mo., July 24.--News has been received in this city of the death of the Hon. J. H. Stewart at his home in Medford, Jackson County, Ore. He was for many years prior to and during the war a resident of Hannibal and owned the Col. Hatch farm, which he sold to Col. Hatch about the year 1860. He originally resided in Payson, Ill., and afterwards moved to Quincy. He now has a brother residing in Quincy, a superannuated minister of the gospel. He was well and favorably known by all the older citizens of Hannibal.
The Quincy Daily Whig, Quincy, Illinois, July 25, 1906, page 4

    A. J. Stewart, formerly of Medford, now a resident of Cottage Grove, is in Medford for a couple of days' business visit, and to visit his brother, Judge F. M. Stewart, and other relatives. He likes Cottage Grove, but admits he does not have to move with as swift a pace to keep up with the booster procession as he did when living in Medford. Clint, his son, he says, is seriously considering the subject of setting out a 200-acre fruit orchard near Cottage Grove.
Medford Mail, November 13, 1908, page 2


    Mrs. J. H. Stewart, accompanied by her friend, Mrs. E. M. Sherman, of Illinois, departed yesterday for Oakland, Cal., where she will visit for several months with her daughters, Mrs. Arthur Weeks and Mrs. H. M. Crowell.
"Local and Personal," Medford Mail, January 15, 1909, page 6

    The body of Mrs. J. H. Stewart, who died this morning at Oakland, Cal., will arrive in this city Friday night. She will be buried at the I.O.O.F. cemetery, where the body of her husband, who died here four years ago, now lies.
    Mrs. Stewart, who was 75 years old and a resident of this city for the last 27 years, came here from Quincy, Ill. She had been in ill health for about six weeks, and the end came while she was visiting with Mrs. A. J. Weeks, her daughter, in the California city.
    Besides Mrs. Weeks, she is survived by Mrs. H. M. Crowell of San Francisco and Mrs. D. R. Teil of Medford, daughters, and W. H. Stewart of Medford, a son.
    The funeral arrangements will be in charge of Messrs. Weeks & McGowan and will be announced later.
Medford Mail Tribune, January 11, 1911, page 8


STEWART--In East Oakland, Cal., January 11, 1911, Elizabeth Hymans Stewart, widow of the late J. H. Stewart of Medford, Ore., and devoted mother of Mrs. D. R. Hill and W. H. Stewart of Medford, Ore., Mrs. H. M. Crowell of San Francisco and Mrs. Arthur J. Weeks of Oakland, Cal., a native of Germany, aged 74 years and 5 months.
"Births, Marriages and Deaths," San Francisco Call, January 12, 1911, page 10

    A real estate partnership has been formed under the name of La Loma real estate company, by W. H. Stewart, with office in the Stewart Building, over the Nicholson Hardware Company. Mr. Stewart is one of the pioneer orchardists of the valley, a son of the first commercial orchardist, and well informed regarding the history and possibilities of this section.
    Mr. Amy is also a pioneer of the valley, moving here a year ago from Central Point where he resided for many years. Mr. Savage came here recently from Corvallis, where he is widely known and has an enviable reputation. Already money [sic--many?] properties have been listed with the new firm and a rushing business is in prospect.
Medford Mail Tribune, March 13, 1911, page 6

Last revised May 18, 2012