James Arthur Stewart

James Arthur Stewart was born August 7, 1876, in Little Rock, AR, to Lee A. and Matilda Clementine Stewart. The family lived in Little Rock, AR until around 1886 or 1887, at which time they moved to Holly Springs, MS, where his father ran a store. By this time, his father was married to I. J. Dowlen, following the death of his mother in 1882. Sometime around 1896, Arthur, along with his father Lee, and step-brother Dan, left Holly Springs, MS and traveled to the Falls County, Texas community of Cego, where they took up residence with Arthur’s older brother, Luther Lee, who had moved to Texas a few years before. On April 22^nd 1900, James Arthur Stewart married Emma Lee Cathcart. Emma (Cathcart) Stewart died in 1905 and is buried at Blevins Cemetery, Blevins, Texas. To this union were born two children:

Audrey Lee Stewart was born on Feb. 17, 1902 in Cego, Texas. On Dec. 23, 1921, she married Tom J. Lane. After his death in ?, she married Ralph McClure. She died on May 12, 2000 and is buried at Sunny Lane Cemetery in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.

Aubrey Vivian Stewart was born on Aug. 9, 1903 in Cego, Texas. On March 8, 1937, he married Ena Fyffe. After her death in 1972, he married Jessie Roberts in January, 1974. He died on May 2, 1998 and is buried at Floyd County Memorial Park cemetery in Floyd County, Texas.

On July 29^th, 1906 Arthur Stewart married Minnie Sota Turner, a friend of the family who had cared for his first wife Emma during her time of sickness. Audrey and Aubrey Stewart, the young children of Arthur & Emma Stewart, served as flower girl and ring-bearer, respectively, at the wedding of their father to Minnie Turner. In the following years, both children would come to refer to Minnie as their “Mom”, as she was the only Mother they ever really knew. To the union of Arthur & Minnie Stewart, were born six children:

Fred Arthur was born on June 12, 1907 in Cego, Texas. On November 28, 1942, he married Kathleen Fagg.

Bernard Emerson was born on Dec. 12, 1908 in Cego, Texas. On Jul. 1, 1940, he married Alma Garrett. He died on Nov. 26, 1994 and is buried at Rosenthal Cemetery in McLennan County, Texas.

Josephine C. was born on Jun 23, 1910 in Cego, Texas. She died on Jun 13, 1911, from diptheria, and is buried at Beulah/Hoolia Cemetery in Falls County, Texas.

Letha Floraine was born on Feb. 13, 1912 in Cego, Texas. On Dec. 24, 1936, she married Jess Saxon. She died on Mar. 19, 1994 and is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Bell County, Texas.

Savannah Lois was born on April 4, 1916 in Cego, Texas. On Nov. 27, 1937, she married Robert Odell Haddock. She died on Mar. 19, 2002 and is buried at Bellwood Cemetery in Bell County, Texas.

Luther Louis was born on April 4, 1916 in Cego, Texas. On Nov. 12, 1938, he married Edith “Dolly” Johnson. He died on Jan. 29, 2003 and is buried at Roberts Cemetery in Bell County, Texas.

James Arthur Stewart suffered for over six years with what was called at that time “weeping” eczema. The skin disease spread throughout his body. In an attempt to control the disease, his wife, Minnie, took him to the best skin specialist in the South. He was treated with radium, but unfortunately the dosage given was too high and it resulted in the poison being driven farther into his body, and served to hasten his death. He passed away on March 17, 1928. He was only 51 years old. He is buried at Beulah/Hoolia Cemetery, in Falls County, along with his wife, Minnie, who passed away September 23, 1970, and their daughter, Josephine, who died in 1911.