NORMAN I. STEWART

 

Norman I. Stewart was born February 25, 1833, in Oswego County, New York, son of Samuel and Fannie (Cronk) Stewart; the father, a farmer by occupation, is a native of Massachusetts, and died in Oswego County, New York. In his family were eight children, six of whom are still living, three in California. Norman was raised on a farm and remained at home until 1852, when he came to California, sailing from New York October 12 on the steamer Pacific to the Isthmus, which he crossed by going up the Chagres River, then having his choice of locomotion for the remainder of the distance (twenty-five miles) walking or riding on mule-back. After a close inspection of the mules he decided to walk. It was during the rainy season and his journey can be better imagined than described. On reaching the coast he took passage on the steamer Cortez for San Francisco, where he remained but eight days, then came to Sacramento by boat, remaining here during 1852-’53, engaged in the wood business with his brother, Henry Stewart. He was here during the flood and remembers it well; they used their ox team and wagon as a ferry-boat to transfer people, as well as merchandise, about the city. In the spring his brother purchased a ranch and employed him for the following year at $675. In January 1854, he took up 320 acres of land, where he now lives, fourteen miles from Sacramento, on the upper Stockton road, which at that time was a vast plain covered with the roving herds of Spanish cattle. After being in California twenty-one years he returned East on a visit to his old father and mother, seeing them for the last time, as he has never been back since. His ranch is now one of the best ranches in the county. He does a general farming business and has five acres in vineyard. He was married November 4, 1858, to Miss Jane E. Thompson, daughter of Thomas J. Thompson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this book. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have seven children, viz.: Mary, born October 28, 1860; Henry C., February 2, 1865, and died July 23, 1884; Samuel P., born December 1, 1867; Fannie, born May 30, 1869, died February 11, 1888; Jennie, October 14, 1873; Norman I., April 9, 1877; and John H., October 30, 1884.