Charles H. Stewart

Charles Hutchins Stewart (September 22, 1867 – June 18, 1936) was a four-term mayor of Melbourne, Florida from 1890 to 1891, and 1902 to 1905.

Charles Hutchins Stewart
3rd and 11th Mayor of Melbourne, Florida
In office
December 2, 1890 – December 14, 1891
Preceded byR.W. Andrews
Succeeded byL.P. Ely
In office
December 3, 1902 – December 5, 1905
Preceded byW.B. Haimlin
Succeeded byRichard W. Goode
Personal details
Born(1867-09-22)September 22, 1867[1][2]
Joliet, Illinois[2]
DiedJune 18, 1936(1936-06-18) (aged 68)[1]
Melbourne, Florida[1]
Resting placePinewood Cemetery,
Daytona Beach, Florida[1][3]
Political partyRepublican[2]
SpouseAnnie Mabel Nash (m. May 24, 1888, Titusville, Florida)[4]
ChildrenFletcher Clarence Stewart (d. 1914), Charles Nash Stewart (d. 1893),[3] Gladys[5]
Residence(s)Melbourne, Florida
Alma materWilbraham Seminary,
Northwestern University[5]
Occupationpharmacist,[6] hardware merchant, banker[7]

Early life and family

He was born in Joliet, Illinois on September 22, 1867, the son of William F. Stewart (b. Ohio) and Julia Ann Hutchins (b. Maysville, Kentucky).[1]

He married Annie Mabel Nash in Titusville on May 24, 1888. She was the daughter of Clarence and Annie Hyatt Nash, a wealthy family from Norwalk, Connecticut with a home in Daytona.

He and his wife Annie Mabel Nash Stewart came to Melbourne in 1888.[6] They were well educated and cultured, but wanted to be pioneers.[6]

Career

He was elected mayor in 1890 when he was only 23.

He opened a hardware store and mortuary on New Haven Ave[6] named Fee & Stewart Hardware Co. and Fee Mortuary Company with his partner, Frank Fee,[8] who would also serve as mayor. The business expanded to include farm supplies, furniture, a bank and an undertaking parlor. In those days, banking was a natural extension of the hardware business, because they very often had to extend credit to their customers. Fee and Stewart founded the Melbourne State Bank on April 3, 1893.[7] At that time, it the nearest bank was in St. Augustine. The bank closed during the Depression.[7][8]

In 1902, Fee sold his interests in Melbourne to Stewart and moved to Fort Pierce[8] where he reopened the bank, renaming it the Bank of Fort Pierce.

In 1908, he was a presidential elector for the Republican Party.[2]

Documentation exists from as early as 1898 in the form of letters and invoices, books and newspaper articles[9] reflecting his business was already located at 1002 E New Haven Ave, Melbourne, FL.[10][11]

In 1919, Stewart's Front Street store burned down, along with most of the downtown businesses in "The Great Fire." After this time, the downtown was no longer in that area, but moved to the west side of U.S. 1.[7] Stewart moved his business to New Haven Avenue. He may have moved his business to 1002 E New Haven Ave before the fire of 1919.[6]

In 1920, he was a co-founder of the Melbourne Golf and Country Club.

Death

He died in Melbourne, Florida, on June 18, 1936.[1] He was buried in Daytona Beach, Florida.[1]

References
  1. "Person Details for Charles H. Stewart, "Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939" — FamilySearch.org". Familysearch.org. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  2. "Makers of America". 1909. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  3. "Charles H Stewart (1867 - 1936) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  4. "Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FWW2-PYK : accessed 22 Mar 2014), Charles H. Stewart and A. Mabel Nash, 24 May 1888; citing Titusville, Brevard, Florida; FHL microfilm 975996.
  5. Nelson, Charles Alexander (1911). Genealogy of the Morris Family. A.S. Barnes Company. p. 291. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Mabel Nash Stewart.
  6. Raley, Karen and Flotte, Anne Raley, Images of America Melbourne and Eau Gallie
  7. Georgiana Kjerulff, Tales Of Old Brevard
  8. "Melbourne Historical Trail". Troop83riverview.com. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
  9. Florida Star newspaper, April 13, 1900, page 8
  10. Personal collection of Donald & Clare DiFrisco; current owners of 1002 E New Haven Ave and Hell 'n Blazes Brewing Company which occupies the building today
  11. Images of America - Melbourne and Eau Gallie by Karen Raley and Ann Raley Flotte, Page 115
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