William R. Stewart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| William R. Stewart | |
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| Born | October 29, 1864 New Castle, Pennsylvania |
| Died | April 5, 1958 Youngstown, Ohio |
William R. Stewart (October 29, 1864 - April 5, 1958) was the second African American to be elected to the Ohio State Senate. As a lawmaker, he was instrumental in the passage of anti-lynching legislation and also sponsored bills providing pensions to civil servants.[1] He was the first African American to practice law in Youngstown, Ohio.[2]
[edit] Early years
Stewart was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, the son of Lemuel A. Stewart, a bricklayer.[1] The family moved to Youngstown when Stewart was still a young child. Although the elder Stewart wanted his son to follow in his trade, William Stewart had different ideas. He earned a high school degree at Youngstown's Rayen School in 1883.[1]
After graduating from high school, Stewart became a baggage master with the old P.C. & P. Railroad. He went on to read law at a legal firm in Cincinnati, where he developed a brisk sideline helping Civil War veterans cut through government red tape to secure their pensions.[1]
[edit] Legal career
Upon the sale of his practice, Stewart acquired enough money to enter Cincinnati Law School, where he graduated in 1886.[1] He returned to Youngstown and established law offices in a downtown landmark known as "the old Diamond block".[3] Two years later, he was elected to the state legislature as a Republican.
During his single term as a state lawmaker, Stewart sponsored legislation providing pensions to police and firemen and initiated legislation for the construction of Youngstown's Market Street Bridge, which opened up a vibrant business district to the south of the city.[1] Stewart chose not to run for a second term, stating that his responsibilities as a lawmaker interfered with his law practice. After an unsuccessful bid for probate judge, he abandoned politics altogether.[4]
From 1907 to 1914, Stewart served as the local attorney for the Austria-Hungarian monarchy, representing the Washington embassy through the Cleveland consulate.[1]
In 1924, after almost 40 years in the same location, Stewart moved his offices to another downtown building to make way for the razing of the "old Diamond block".[3] He would maintain a downtown law practice until well into his eighties, when a broken hip severely limited his mobility.[4] Stewart died at his North Side home of arteriosclerosis at the age of 93. His obituary in The Youngstown Vindicator described him as "the dean of Youngstown's attorneys".[2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Birthday", The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, October 29, 1939, p. A-12.
- ^ a b "Atty. William R. Stewart, 91, Dies; Dean of City's Lawyers", Youngstown Vindicator, April 5, 1958, p. 1.
- ^ a b "40 Years in Diamond Block, Progress Makes Stewart Move; Attorney Who Saw Great Men Come and Go Takes New Offices", The Youngstown Daily Vindicator, October 15, 1924, p. 21.
- ^ a b "Atty. Stewart, 90, Recalls Busy Life; Dean of Mahoning Bar Still Goes to Office", Youngstown Vindicator, May 29, 1955, p. A-6.
