Son of William Stewart and Elizabeth Van Hooser

Andrew Jenson, LDS Biographical Encyclopedia, Vol. 3, p. 526

When five years of age he moved with his parents to Madison county, Illinois, where he lived till 1835, when he went to Missouri, where he, as a convert to "Mormonism," was baptized July 15, 1836, by Seymour Brunson in Log Creek, near Far West, Missouri.

He was married in the same place to Lydia Gage Jacobs in 1837. At this time the mob was very hostile and by the advice of the Prophet Joseph Smith the family moved into Far West where Bro. Stewart stood guard during those troublous times. In the early spring of 1839 he moved to Quincy, Illinois, and in 1840 he located on Sugar Creek, Iowa, where his house and nearly everything he had was destroyed by fire. In the spring of 1841 he moved to Nauvoo, working much of the time on the Nauvoo Temple until 1843.

Urban Van Stewart arrived in Utah in September, 1847, coming by wagon train and bringing with him provisions for eighteen months as well as farm machinery. He was at the time a married man and in all acquired five wives and became the father of thirty-three children, but while he lived in polygamy for many years after that institution was abolished and made unlawful, he was never molested by the authorities, chiefly because of his high character and upright life.

Urban was the husband of
● Lydia Gage Jacobs, 14 Jul 1837
● Elizabeth Luck, 21 May 1854
● Mary Ann Jones, 11 Mar 1860
● Ellen Adams, 15 Jul 1865
● Keziah Jane Jones, 5 Jul 1870

His fourth wife, Ellen Adams Stewart was of Red Point, Northumberland, Pa., and a daughter of David Barclay Adams and Mary Cook, natives of Scotland, where Mr. Adams learned the trade of iron worker.

Urban Van Stewart first settled at Salt Lake City, but was later called to Parowan to help of the community. Later he was a pioneer consecutively at Beaver, Teasdale and Grover, and in 1885, at the time of the Crusade, leaving the others in other parts of the state, where he had provided them with good homes.

He was a big stockman and promoter of things worthwhile at Beaver and elsewhere, and at Beaver was an important factor in the cooperative cattle and sheep organizations. He held several priesthoods and was presiding elder for seven or eight years at Grover, where his death occurred.

Terikee, the chief - from the Winslow Farr Organization

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Abraham O. Smoot - George B. Wallace Company (1847)

“Obituary. Urban Van Stewart,” Deseret Evening News, 28 Feb. 1899, 7.

Grover, Wayne Co., Feb 29th, 1899.

Another Pioneer of 47 was laid lovingly to rest before the close of the year, at his home in Grover, Wayne Co., Utah. Urban Van Stewart, son of William Stewart and Elisabeth Van Hooser Stewart, died Dec. 26, 1899, and was buried on the 27th. He was born in Overton Co., Tennessee, Nov. 9th 1817, where his parents lived until he was 5 years of age, moving from there to Madison Co., Ill., where he lived until 1835; then they went to Missouri, where July 15th, 1836 he became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, being baptized by Semour Brunson in Log creek, near Far West, Missouri. Was married in the same place to Lydia Gage Jacobs, 1837. At this time the mob was very hostile and by the advice of the Prophet Joseph, they moved into Far West or Adam ondi Aman. He was one of the company that was called to go to Far West to stand guard during their troubious times.

In the early spring 1839 he moved to Quincy, Ill. In 1840 he moved to Sugar Creek, Iowa when he had his house and nearly everything he had burned up.

In the spring of 1841 he moved to Nauvoo, working much of the time on the Nauvoo Temple until 1843 when he and his brother, Levi, were called on a mission to the southern part of Illinois, but were recalled shortly after on account of the death of their mother and Urban’s little son, Henry. He took part in all the trials incident to those time in and around Nauvoo, for besides his labors on the public works he spent much of his time on guard duty. In 1845 he was ordained a Seventy by Elder Daniel H. Miles. He moved in 1846 to Winter Quarters, on the west bank of the Missouri river; went up the river to what was called Brigham’s Farm and helped put in crops, and in May, 1847, he started for Salt Lake Valley, where he arrived in September, bringing provisions for eighteen months, farming tools, etc., in one wagon.

He took part in the White Mountain mission and helped put in crops in Clover Valley, which they were afterwards instructed to give to the Indians. He endured the hardships incident to the early settlement of Utah, uncomplainingly, subsisting on roots and whatever could be obtained to keep himself and family alive.

He was one of the pioneers of Beaver where he resided for a great many years and helped much in establishing the institutions of that place. He was a man of sterling qualities: a kind and generous husband and father. He was a strict observer of the Word of Wisdom, and faithful and energetic in all the requirements of the Gospel.

His age was 81 years, 1 month and 14 days. He had five families and was the father of 33 children, 24 of whom survive him, also 74 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and a number of great-great-grandchildren.

Mormon Pioneer Overland Travel, Abraham O. Smoot - George B. Wallace Company (1847); Age at Departure: 29