The History of Calhoun County, Michigan, p. 103:

Joseph W. Stewart:

Joseph W., son of John and Mary Stewart was born in Romulus, Seneca county, New York, January 8, 1809. In 1824 he removed with his parents to Ypsilanti, Michigan, of which place they were among the very earliest settlers. His father removed to Battle Creek township in 1831, and in 1833 he arrived in the same township and settled on the farm he now occupies, on the northwest quarter of section 27. It required considerable hard work and some sacrifice of comfort to develop the land he took up into the fine, well-cultivated and productive farm as we find it to-day. But the pioneers came in expecting to exercise laborious exertion, and not to repose on beds of roses.

On the 8th of March, 1829, he married Miss Mary Hiscock, by whom he had three children, namely, James H., born December 9, 1829; Edwin, born October 16, 1832, died July 16, 1833; Joseph, born July 22, 1837, and died in infancy. His wife died soon after the birth of their last child, and having two young children who needed a mother's care, he married again, on the 25th of February, 1838, to Jane Templer. The result of this marriage--which was enjoyed only about a year--was one daughter, Eliza J., born December 31, 1838; died May 26, 1853.

On the 3rd of June, 1839, he sustained the loss of his second wife, and again married this time to Sophia Smith, on September 9, 1839. She was called home September 11, 1864, two days after the twenty-fifth anniversary of their wedding. This union was blessed with four children, namely, Phebe A., born October 17, 1840; Harriet E., born June 2, 1844, died July 20, 1845; Eugene B., born November 25, 1846, died May 2, 1847; and one died in infancy.