John Wolcott Stewart
Encyclopedia
John Wolcott Stewart was an American lawyer and politician from Vermont
. He served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
and as the 33rd Governor of Vermont before serving in the United States House of Representatives
and briefly in the United States Senate
.
Born in Middlebury, Vermont, Stewart attended the Middlebury Academy and graduated from Middlebury College
in 1846. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1850. He became the prosecuting attorney
of Addison County
from 1852 to 1854.
Stewart served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
in 1856, and then was a member of the Vermont Senate
from 1861 to 1862. He returned to the state House from 1865 to 1867, serving as speaker, and then became the governor of Vermont
from 1870 to 1872. Later he returned to the state House for a single year, in 1876, again serving as speaker.
Stewart was elected as a Republican
to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1882 election. He was subsequently reelected and served from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1891. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1890, but instead engaged in the banking business at Middlebury.
Stewart was appointed to the Senate on March 24, 1908, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Redfield Proctor
, and served until October 21 of that year, when a successor was elected. After this he retired from political life and active business pursuits, and resided in Middlebury until his death. He is interred in West Cemetery.
. Seymour was the brother of Representative Henry Seymour
, and the uncle of Representative Origen Storrs Seymour and New York Governor
Horatio Seymour
, who was the brother-in-law of Senator Roscoe Conkling
. Seymour was also the great-uncle of Representative Edward Woodruff Seymour
, who was the son of Origen Storrs Seymour.
Philip Battell's great-grandmother Mehitabel "Mary" Sherman was the sister of the Founding Father
and Senator Roger Sherman
. Philip's grandmother, Martha "Patty" Sherman Mitchell, was the widow of the Reverend Justus Mitchell and the daughter of Mehitabel and Roger Sherman's brother, the Reverend Josiah Sherman, who was also the great-grandfather of Senator Chauncey Depew
. Roger Sherman was also the grandfather of Senators Roger Sherman Baldwin
, William M. Evarts
and George Frisbie Hoar
.
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. He served as Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives
The Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives is the Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, the lower house of the Vermont Legislature....
and as the 33rd Governor of Vermont before serving in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and briefly in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Born in Middlebury, Vermont, Stewart attended the Middlebury Academy and graduated from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1846. He studied law and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in 1850. He became the prosecuting attorney
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
of Addison County
Addison County, Vermont
Addison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. In 2010, the population was 36,821. Its shire town is Middlebury.-Geography:...
from 1852 to 1854.
Stewart served as a member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Vermont House of Representatives
The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members. Vermont legislative districting divides representing districts into 66 single-member districts and 42 two-member...
in 1856, and then was a member of the Vermont Senate
Vermont Senate
The Vermont Senate is the upper house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The Senate consists of 30 members. Senate districting divides the 30 members into three single-member districts, six two-member districts, three three-member districts, and one...
from 1861 to 1862. He returned to the state House from 1865 to 1867, serving as speaker, and then became the governor of Vermont
Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
from 1870 to 1872. Later he returned to the state House for a single year, in 1876, again serving as speaker.
Stewart was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1882 election. He was subsequently reelected and served from March 4, 1883 to March 4, 1891. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1890, but instead engaged in the banking business at Middlebury.
Stewart was appointed to the Senate on March 24, 1908, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Redfield Proctor
Redfield Proctor
Redfield Proctor was a U.S. politician of the Republican Party. He served as the 37th Governor of Vermont from 1878 to 1880, as Secretary of War from 1889 to 1891, and as a United States Senator for Vermont from 1891 to 1908....
, and served until October 21 of that year, when a successor was elected. After this he retired from political life and active business pursuits, and resided in Middlebury until his death. He is interred in West Cemetery.
Family
Stewart married Emma Seymour Battell on November 21, 1860, the daughter of Philip Battell and Emma Hart Seymour, who was the daughter of Senator Horatio SeymourHoratio Seymour (Vermont)
Horatio Seymour was a United States Senator from Vermont. He was the uncle of Origen S. Seymour and the great-uncle of Origen's son Edward W. Seymour....
. Seymour was the brother of Representative Henry Seymour
Henry Seymour
-United Kingdom:*Henry Seymour , friend of Charles II and MP for East Looe*Henry Seymour , MP for Totnes, Huntingdon, Evesham, lover of Madame du Barry*Henry Seymour , MP for Taunton...
, and the uncle of Representative Origen Storrs Seymour and New York Governor
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour
Horatio Seymour was an American politician. He was the 18th Governor of New York from 1853 to 1854 and from 1863 to 1864. He was the Democratic Party nominee for president of the United States in the presidential election of 1868, but lost the election to Republican and former Union General of...
, who was the brother-in-law of Senator Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling
Roscoe Conkling was a politician from New York who served both as a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. He was the leader of the Stalwart faction of the Republican Party and the last person to refuse a U.S. Supreme Court appointment after he had...
. Seymour was also the great-uncle of Representative Edward Woodruff Seymour
Edward Woodruff Seymour
Edward Woodruff Seymour was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut, son of Origen Storrs Seymour, great-nephew of Horatio Seymour....
, who was the son of Origen Storrs Seymour.
Philip Battell's great-grandmother Mehitabel "Mary" Sherman was the sister of the Founding Father
Founding Fathers of the United States
The Founding Fathers of the United States of America were political leaders and statesmen who participated in the American Revolution by signing the United States Declaration of Independence, taking part in the American Revolutionary War, establishing the United States Constitution, or by some...
and Senator Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman
Roger Sherman was an early American lawyer and politician, as well as a founding father. He served as the first mayor of New Haven, Connecticut, and served on the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and was also a representative and senator in the new republic...
. Philip's grandmother, Martha "Patty" Sherman Mitchell, was the widow of the Reverend Justus Mitchell and the daughter of Mehitabel and Roger Sherman's brother, the Reverend Josiah Sherman, who was also the great-grandfather of Senator Chauncey Depew
Chauncey Depew
Chauncey Mitchell Depew was an attorney for Cornelius Vanderbilt's railroad interests, president of the New York Central Railroad System, and a United States Senator from New York from 1899 to 1911.- Biography:...
. Roger Sherman was also the grandfather of Senators Roger Sherman Baldwin
Roger Sherman Baldwin
Roger Sherman Baldwin was an American lawyer involved in the Amistad case, who later became the 17th Governor of Connecticut and a United States Senator.-Early life:...
, William M. Evarts
William M. Evarts
William Maxwell Evarts was an American lawyer and statesman who served as U.S. Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Senator from New York...
and George Frisbie Hoar
George Frisbie Hoar
George Frisbie Hoar was a prominent United States politician and United States Senator from Massachusetts. Hoar was born in Concord, Massachusetts...
.
Sources
- Seymour-Conkling family of New York Political Graveyard
- Baldwin family of Connecticut Political Graveyard
- Hoar family of Massachusetts Political Graveyard
- A Dance to Remember: Emma Hart Seymour, Philip Battell, and the Commencement Ball of 1826
- Phillip Battell Biographies of Addison County, Vermont
- John Wolcott Stewart Biographies of Addison County, Vermont
- John W. Stewart Middlebury College
- "Museum Offers a Look into the Life of local Jewel, Jessica Swift” Henry Sheldon Museum of Vermont History
- Swift House Inn