Ernest M. STEWART returned late last night from Tingley, Ia., where he has been spending his Christmas vaction attending one of the most unique family reunions on record. Mr. STEWART, by the way, is cashier in the hardware store of P. C. DeVOL on Broadway, and has been employed there for a number of years. He belongs to a family that is remarkable for the fact that it consists of twelve sons ranging in age from 20 to 42 years.

When Mr. STEWART left last week to attend this family reunion he went in response to the following invitation:

May it please yourself and yours
to be present
at the Fourth Texennial Conclave
of the
STEWART Brothers' Fraternity Dennis Club
at Tingley, Iowa,
December Twenty-fourth to Thirty-first,
Nineteen hundred and two.

On the second page of the printed invitation appeared the following:

Roster of Membership.
HONORARY.
F. STEWART (father), retired; Tingley, Ia.
Susan J. STEWART (mother), deceased.
ACTIVE
J. R. STEWART, jeweler; Diagonal, Ia.
W. W. STEWART; auctioneer, Tingley, Ia.
E. W. STEWART; collector; Chicago, Ill.
L. B. STEWART, school superintendent; Cedar Falls, Ia.
W. B. STEWART, conductor; Chicago, Ill.
A. R. STEWART, grad manager industrial school; Kearney, Neb.
E. M. STEWART, cashier; Council Bluffs, Ia.
T. B. STEWART, principal of high school; Thurman, Ia.
C. R. STEWART, stenographer, Lincoln, Neb.
F. H. STEWART, teacher, Bartlett, Ia.
B. H. STEWART, printer, Oakland, Ia.
L. B. STEWART, president.
J. R. STEWART vice president.
J. T. O. STEWART, secretary.
A. R. STEWART, treasurer.

On the third page is printed the following:

PROGRAM.
Toastmaster - F. STEWART
"My Eleven Baby Brothers"
"Which Boy Am I?" - W. W. STEWART
"The City Kid" - E. W. STEWART
"When I Was Little" - L. B. STEWART
"What's a Fellow to Do?" - W. B. STEWART
"Eastern Lad" - A. R. STEwART
"Son of the West" - J. T. O. STEWART
"Sisters -Other People's" - E. M. STEWART
"When I Get Big" - T. B. STEwART
"Trials of a Young Brother" - C. R. STEWART
"One of a Dozen" - F. H. STEWART
"Last But Not Least" - B. H. STEWART
After Dinner December 25.

There are some interesting facts concerning this remarkable family. There were no girls born into the family, there being thirteen boys in all, one of whom died. All twelve of the living brothers are staunch republicans and every one of them is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

Family History.

The grandfather of this remarkable brotherhood was Frank STEWART, a native of the County Kenny, Ireland, who emigrated to America when 13 years of age. He settled in Chester county, Pa., where the father of the dozen boys was born December 29, 1929. When this son was only eleven months old his parents moved to Guernesy county, O., and resided there until 1852. The family then traveled to California, where they remained six years and then returned to Ohio. The son then married Jane HENDERSON, of Scotch descent.

Thirteen sons were born to the STEWARTS in Illinois, all but the eldest being born in Sumner township, Ill., within a radius of five miles.

In 1884 another move west-ward was made, and the STEWARTS located in Ringgold county, Ia. There the mother died on July 14, 1896. The father still resides at the homestead at Tingley, Ringgold county, while the twelve boys are scattered in four states.

Des Moines Daily News
Des Moines, Iowa
January 3, 1903

TINGLEY, Iowa, HAS A CLUB
COMPOSED of A FATHER and HIS TWELVE SONS.

TINGLEY, Jan. 3 -- (Special.) -- Perhaps one of the most peculiar clubs in the history of clubdom is found here. it is known as the STEWART Brothers Fraternity, and is composed of F. STEWART and his twelve grown sons. They organized some years ago with president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, all of whom are at each annual meeting. The fourth texennial conclave of this peculiar organization was held at the home of the father in Tingley, Christmas. All the members were present.

An Elaborate banquet was served at which the father was toastmaster. The sons responded with such toasts as "My Eleven Brothers," "Which Boy Am I?" "The City Kid," etc. Following is the roster of membership:

Honorary members - F. STEWART (father), Tingley, Iowa, and Susan J. STEWART (mother) Tingley, deceased.

Active members - J. A. STEWART, jeweler, Diagonal, Iowa; W. W. STEWART, auctineer, Tingley; E. W. STEWART, collector, Chicago; J. W. STEWART, State Normal school, Cedar Falls; W. B. STEWART, conductor, Chicago, Ill.; A. R. STEWART, wholesale grocer, Columbus, O.; J. T. O STEWART, grade manager industrial school, Kearney, Neb.; E. M. STEWART, cashier, Council Bluffs; T. B. STEWART, Iowa State Normal School, Cedar Falls; C. R. STEWART, stenographer, Lincoln, Neb.; T. B. STEWART, teacher, Bartlett; B. H. STEWART, printer, Oakland.

Officers - L. B. STEWART, president; J. R. STEWART vice president; J. T. O. STEWART, secretary; A. R. STEWART, treasurer.

Omaha World-Herald
Omaha, Nebraska
September 2, 1906

STEWART FAMILY of FATHER AND ELEVEN GROWN SONS
ENJOY A REUNION

Well Known in Nebraska, Where J. T. O. STEWART is Principal of State Industrial School
At Kearney and B. H. STEWART Is Editor of the McCook Tribune
-- Remarkable Bevy of Sons Initiate Age Father
Into Knights of Pythias.

During the early part of last month there occurred at Cedar Falls, Ia., on of the most unique and notable events of many seasons, in which participated two of Nebraska's prominent citizens, J. T. O. STEWART, principal at the State Industrial school at Kearney, and B. H. STEWART, manager of the the McCook Tribune in McCook. THis uncommon function was in the double nature of a reunion of the remarkable STEWART family and at the same time a Pythian revival and initiation.

The interesting family referred to consists of father and eleven sons, the oldest of which is 47 and the youngest 24 years of age, and this was the fifth time the entire number have met in biennial conclave. Although the members are not so widely separated, they came from the four states of Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, each well-to-do in his chosen business or profession. By previous agreement in writing all arrived at the "Falls" within three hours of each other on the dayset, the matter of place and date having been determined during the early summer by the novel plan of postal card ballot.

The meeting was at the home of one of the brothers, Hon. L. B. STEWART, a prominent business manand politican of Northeastern Iowa, and the most elaborate preparations were made at the Iowan's spacious home on the summit of Normal Hill to entertain his distinguised brethren from every region of the Mississippi basin. The even in no wise failed to be the most complete and grandest gathering in the history of the family.

The father of this unusual collection of children is Frank STEWART of Tingley, Ia., where, as a retired farmer and stock raiser, he lives a life of ease at the advanced age of 77. Mr. STEWART is of Irish descent, born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 29, 1829. The mother of the group, who has been dead ten years, was a native of Ohio and came from Scottish ancestry.

The thirteen sons, two of whom have died, were all born in the same house in Warren county, Illinois, and are striking types of the Scotch-Irish manhood, with which, by nature, they are endowed. The entire family moved to Iowa in 1884. Nine of these boys are college graduates, five of this number having secured one or more degrees from Nebraska educational institutions. Half of the family have at some time been engaged in business or profession in Nebraska during the past fifteen years and several retain such interests here at the present time. Six have married, and the grandchildren of the senior Mr. STEWART numbers eleven, the oldest of which is 20 years. All these men were reared on the farm, but none adheres to this branch of his early training.

Apart from the purely family nature of the gathering, the most novel occasion in the history of lodge work took place at Cedar Falls, on August 6, when the eleven sons, all Knights of Pythias, initiated, proved and charged the aged father in the three ranks of knighthood, in Red Cedar lodge No. 83, at the above named city. The STEWART boys filled every office and station in the local lodge during the conferring of the degrees, and not a person spoke to the venerable candidate throughout the entire amplified ceremonies except his own sons - the oldest guarding the outer portals and the baby of 24 years, administering as prelate, the comprehensive obligaitons of true Pythiasnism to his aged sire.

NOted Pythian characters, including grand lodge officers from over the state, were in attendance, and all cities within a radius of 100 miles were respresented by members of that fraternity.

The oldest brother, J. R. STEWART, is grand vice chancellor of the order in Iowa. Fully 300 of Iowa's brave knights were in attendance upon the ceremonies and the gracious spread at the local lodge's handsom quarters immediately after. Many congratulations were extended to the boys upon their splendid ceremony which, considering their widely differnt localities, was certainly creditable. They will long remember Red Cedar lodge No. 83 of Cedar Falls, Ia., and the many, kindly courtesies extended to them during their brief stay in that city.

Another unique feature of this family's proceedings is the organization among themselves of an association for their mutual benefit and protection and in furthering of family interest and brotherly love. This organization is called the STEWART Brothers' fraternity, or Dennis club. The following officers were elected at therecentmeeting for the ensuing biennium:

W. B. STEWART, president.
J. R. STEWART, vice president.
J. T. O. STEWART, secretary.
B. H. STEWART, assistant secretary.
L. B. STEWART, treasurer
F. STEWART, most worthy counselor.
W. W. STEWART, general manager.
T. B. STEWART, legal advisor.
E. M. STEWART, business representative.
C. D. STEWART, chairman trustee.
A. R. STEWART, trustee.
F. H. STEWART, trustee.

  NOTE: Frank STEWART, the son of Francis F. and Sarah (DRING) STEWART, was born December 29, 1829, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and died March 13, 1918, Shannon City, Iowa, at the age of 88 years. Susannah Jane (HENDERSON) STEWART, the daughter of John Armstrong and Agnes Nancy (WALKER) HENDERSON, was born in Old Washington, Ohio on February 27, 1839, and died at the age of 57 years, probably from diabetes, on July 14, 1896. Frank and Susannah were interred at Diagonal Cemetery.

Frank and Susannah's sons:
1. John Reendo STEWART, b. 29 Jan 1860; d. 02 Mar 1951, Forsyth MT
    married 23 Feb 1887, Tingley IA Maria LORIMOR (1866-1924)
    Children:
      1. Merton Ransom V. STEWART (1888-1982)
      2. Asher Francis Lloyd STEWART (1890-1937)
      3. Willis Emile Reendo STEWART (1892-1982)
      4. Lyle Palmer Hall STEWART (1903-1986)
2. William Waldo STEWART, b. 03 Sep 1861; d. 1957, Tingley IA
    married 12 Oct 1886, Tulsa OK Anna Amanda MAY (1864-1955)
    interment Tingley Cemetery
    Children:
      1. Myrtle May (STEWART) TODD (1887-1968)
      2. Ethel Evelyn (STEWART) MILLER (1889-1980)
      3. Bessie B. STEWART (1891-1891), interment Tingley Cemetery
      4. Glen Gerald STEWART (1892-1960)
      5. Clayton Clinton STEWART (1895-1935), interment Tingley Cemetery
      6. Perse Paul STEWART (1904-1979)
3. Andrew Palmer STEWART, b. 1863; d. 1863, Sumner Twp. Warren Co. IL
4. Edwin Walker STEWART, b. 01 May 1865; d. 08 Feb 1904, Chicago IL
    interment Tingley Cemetery
5. Louis Bassett STEWART, twin, b. 08 Apr 1867; d. 03 Feb 1918, Omaha NE
    married 24 Jun 1897, Fremont NE Florence Estelle CRANDALL (1876-1968)
    Children:
      1. Gladys Emeregene (STEWART) NICHOLSON LEAVITT (1898-1996)
      2. Lillian Marie (STEWART) ANDERSON (1900-1988)
      3. Margaret Althea (STEWART) (1909-1969)
      4. Rodney Ward STEWART (1913-1983)
6. Willis Baxter STEWART, twin, b. 08 Apr 1867; d. 13 Jun 1934, Brookfield IL
    interment Arlington Cemetery, Elmhurst IL
    married 1st 30 Nov 1896, Brookfield IL Helen (PELTON) STEWART SAUCERCY (1876-1937)
    married 2nd 09 Sep 1916, Brookfield IL Elizabeth SCHICK (1870=?)
7. Andrew Riley STEWART, b. 22 Feb 1869; d. 19 Apr 1955, Columbus OH
    married 29 May 1911, Kenton Co. KY Flora Alice "Allie" OLDHAM (1865-1957)
    interment Union Cemetery, Columbus OH
8. Jesse Taylor Oldham STEWART, b. 01 Apr 1872; d. Oct 1936
    married 1st 02 Jun 1897, Arapahoe Co. NE Lizzie J. HASTY (1878-?)
    married 2nd 08 May 1920, Council Bluffs IA Margaret C. KOCH (ca. 1877-?)
9. Ernest McCully STEWART, b. 14 Jan 1874; d. 15 Nov 1961, Cedar Rapids IA
    married & separated 1921 Esther (?)
    married 27 Oct 1923 Kansas City MO Karen Cora ANDERSON (1891-1952)     Children:
      1. Son STEWART
      2. Jayne Ann (STEWART) STURDIVAN (1934-1987)
10. Thomas Baird STEWART, b. 01 Nov 1875; d. 25 Sep 1938, Iowa
      married Lillian Aurelia WALLACE (1894-1962)
      Children:
        1. Daughter STEWART
        2. Eleanor Eloise (STEWART) YEOMAN(1921-1992)
11. Charles Ross STEWART, b. 20 Aug 1877; d. 09 Apr 1958, Des Moines IA
      married 15 Oct 1903, Syracus NE Myrtle Lucille ANDERSON (1884-1965)
      Children:
        1. Virginia R. (STEWART) BENNETT (1908-1994)
        2. Lawrence Charles Raymond STEWART (1911-2001)
        3. Lincoln Anderson STEWART (1919-2001)
12. Frederick Henderson STEWART, b. 11 Dec 1879; d. 03 Nov 1961, Des Moines IA
      married 29 Jun 1910, LeMars IA Lillian Olive HANKE (1889-1979)
      interment Highland Memory Gardens, Des Moines
      Children:
        1. Son STEWART
        2. Donald Henderson STEWART (1911-2006)
        3. Kenneth Albert STEWART (1913-1993)
13. Burris Henry STEWART, b. 19 Apr 1882; d. 10 Jul 1911, McCook NE
      interment Tingley Cemetery
      married 01 Jun 1910, McCook NE Dora Louella OYSTER (1889-1915)
      Child: Edith Mary (STEWART) AMRHEIN (1902-2002)

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2010