Hi Jeanne, My name is William Lewis Stewart and I was born in Decatur County, Iowa and still live in Ames, Iowa after retirement. Although my family records could only be traced to my gggrandfather Peter Cartwright Stewart who homesteaded in Decatur County (the southernmost tier of counties just above the Missouri line) in 1851. I found the great Stewart research done by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor at this URL: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~makaylor/gen-stew.html <http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~makaylor/gen-stew.html> She had the same Peter Cartwright Stewart in her extended Stewart line and I was able to trace the line back to James Stewart born about 1720 in Virginia. Ironically your line seems to have crossed Iowa from Illinois and your Thomas Jefferson Stewart died in Hamburg, Iowa in 1952, while my father Leo Milton Stewart also died in Hamburg, Iowa in 1932. My line back to James Stewart follows: STEWART Descendants for William Lewis Stewart Ames, Iowa Email: WLStewart@ISUnet.net <mailto:WLStewart@ISUnet.net> 1. James Stewart b: About 1720 in Virginia d: After 1796 in Franklin Co. VA 2. Charles STEWART b: abt 1760 in VA d: 29 October 1833 in Macoupin Co. IL + Charity RICHARDS b: 1763 m: abt 1780 in VA d: 1838 in Macoupin Co. IL 3. Reverend John STEWART b: 31 July 1782 in Henry Co. VA d: 2 March 1868 in Macoupin Co. IL + Agnes WARREN b: 20 July 1788 in Franklin Co. VA m: 15 April 1805 in Franklin Co. VA d: 2 September 1852 in Macoupin Co. IL 4. Peter Cartwright STEWART b: 1 July 1819 in Robison Co. TN d: 13 May 1903 in Leon, Decatur Co. IA + Harriet Elizabeth ROBERTS b: 28 March 1827 in Buncombe Co. NC m: 27 August 1843 in Andrew Co. MO d: 6 April 1915 in Decatur Co. IA 5. Lewis Ervin STEWART b: 16 June 1868 in Decatur Co. IA d: 27 March 1930 in Leon, Decatur Co. IA +Millie M. SIMPSON b: 27 December 1878 in Decatur Co. IA m: 4 December 1895 in Decatur Co. IA d: 1946 in Leon, Decatur Co. IA 6. Leo Milton STEWART b: 10 November 1899 in Decatur Co. IA d: 1932 in Hamburg, Fremont Co. IA + Winifred Fayona CULBERTSON b: 17 February 1903 in Wayne Co. IA m: 14 March 1923 in Decatur Co. IA d: 27 October 1994 in Davis City, Decatur Co. IA 7. William Lewis STEWART b: 28 January 1929 in Decatur Co. IA + Ramona DODSON b: 10 November 1931 in St Clair Co. MO m: 29 November 1953 in Chickasaw Co. IA