Some records have minor damage due to foxing; one record (1904 diary of Jim Stewart) is water damaged.
History / Biography
Born May 10, 1910, in Waba, Duncan Edward Stewart graduated from Renfrew Collegiate and Queen’s University (Electrical Engineer). He joined the firm of Stewart Brothers after graduating and then operated the business alone until he retired in the 1960’s. The business was sold to Kennedy, who sold it to another firm, which went bankrupt in the very early 1980’s. Duncan Edward bought back the land of the mill property, and the buildings were torn down and built up again as a sawmill in Tillsonburg, Ontario. See McNab, The Township by Peter Hessel. He married Elizabeth McLaren Stewart; he is the brother of Margaret Robertson Stewart (see Accession #1993-0010); he is the father of Elizabeth Stewart-Hessel and the father-in-law of Peter Hessel. He died after a lengthy illness on July 31, 1996 at his home in Waba.
Language
English
Acquisition Source
Duncan Edward inherited these papers from his father, Duncan Gordon Stewart, and his grandfather, John Stewart, who was Reeve of McNab Township and co-owner of the Stewart Brothers enterprises in Waba. As the major employer in the area, Stewart Brothers were given important legal documents, such as wills and mortgages, for safekeeping.Donated by Duncan Edward Stewart, Waba, Ontario, October 21, 1994.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of legal papers, 50 diaries of various Stewart family members, photographs and a Stewart family tree.
G14.1, G14.2
Diaries. -- 1871-1987. -- 50 items.
Box contains 50 diaries of several family members (some identified and some not). Entries are usually about family activities, comments on current events, daily appointments; some diaries (see John G. Stewart) are about the cheese factory and include clippings about the timber industry, price quotes, or about the philosophy of life. Item list is as follows:
Ethel M. Stewart. -- 1935-1936; 1956; 1958. -- 1 item.
John G. Stewart. -- 1871; 1882-1883; 1895-1897; 1903-1919. -- 12 items.
Aunt Annie. J. -- 1963-1967. -- 1 item.
Margaret N. Burton. -- 1880-1181; 1887. -- 1 item.
Margaret R. Stewart. -- 194?-1986. -- 15 items.
Catherine A. Stewart. -- 1902; 1936-1940; 1943-1947. -- 3 items.
First 5 Files contain such records as the following: wills, mortgages, a quit claim deed (1894), receipts, and family tree. Names mentioned include Robert Seward (February 18, 1935), Hannah Barrie of Darling (1902), Hugh Hamilton of McNab (June 10, 1886), Patrick Ruddy of Pakenham (January 29, 1887), Mrs. Margaret Jones of White Lake (October 13, 1920), William Barrie (December 20, 1907), Mrs. John McAllister (December 14, 1912), William John Jones (March 20, 1936), John McAllister (November 2, 1935; died January 3, 1953), William McIntyre (July 6, 1885), Isabella Hills (September 25, 1911), Russell Headrick and Oliver Headrick for will of Walter Headrick (December), Herbert Sheard for will of Robert Seward (August 13, 1930), Herbie McManus for will of Alexander McManus, Duncan Yuill for will of Mrs. Christina Yuill (June 21, 1920).
6th File folder contains 24 (4x6) interior and exterior photographs of Duncan E. Stewart's home in Waba, ON taken by Peter Hessel in April 1997 along with an article about Mr. Stewart at the time of his death published in the Queen's [University] Alumni Review.
7th File folder contains a family history chart of Duncan Stewart (Croftcarnach) 1760's with decendants to 1991.
8th File folder contains 4 b/w photographs:
Duncan Gordon Stewart, Duncan Edward (1910-1996), John Stewart (1798-1899), and a group shot of 7 women on the verandah of Stewart house. This photo does not identify the women, but the women could possibly be assembled at the Stewart house for a meeting of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in White Lake.
Accruals
Further accruals are expected.
Related Material
See also Margaret Stewart Fonds, Accession #1993-0010 and Stewart Famco fonds #1999 - 0107