"The pioneer [John Stewart] was a native of Scotland, and came to what is now Indiana County, (in company with his brother Charles, a soldier in Lord Cornwallis' army), sometime after the close of the Revolution. He served in the Indian wars, being wounded severely in the breast, and made a settlement at an early date, on the tract where [Major James Stewart] was born.

"He died in 1844, at the age of ninety-two--his wife in 1796. John Stewart's children were: Mary, d., m. to William Wilson, d.; James, d. in 1879, m. first to Mary Graham, d., and second to Elizabeth Galbraith, d. ... The warrant of the John Stewart place was dated February 13, 1797, and the patent, March 28, 1799. The tract was called "cornfield." There are some mounds on this farm, which old settlers pointed out as Indian graves."

On January 21, 1832 John Stewart, Sr. deeded to [Major] James Stewart in trust for his sons John Stewart (b. 9-7-1821) and James Stewart, Jr. (b. 10-5-1824), both less than 21 years old, 151 acres, part of a larger tract called "Cornfield" granted to John Stewart, Sr. by Pennsylvania for which the warrant was dated February 13, 1797, and the patent was dated [March 28,] 1799.