Thomas B. Stewart was born near Harrisburg, in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1840. His boyhood and youth were spent on the home farm, where his days were quietly passed, unmarked by any event of special importance until after the inauguration of the civil war, when, prompted by a spirit of patriotism, he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting on the 23d of September, 1861,as a member of Company I, Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, for three years. He was mustered in at Harrisburg and with his command joined the Army of the Cumberland, after which he participated in the battle of Stone River and the various engagements of that campaign leading up to Chickamauga. Later he was under fire at the battle of Buzzard's Roost, the battle of Atlanta with Stanley's cavalry, and then joined Kilpatrick's cavalry corps, with which command he participated in many lesser engagements. When his term had expired he received an honorable 394 discharge at Columbia, Tennessee, on the 29th of September, 1864, at which time he held the rank of sergeant. He was the first volunteer to enlist from West Hanover township,--his home neighborhood,-- joining the army as a private. Meritorious service, however, won him the rank of sergeant at Murfreesboro on the 1st of January, 1863. he was always found at his post of duty, faithfully defending the old flag and the cause it represented.

After receiving his discharge Mr. Stewart returned to Pennsylvania and there remained until 1872, when he came to Ohio, establishing a home in Staunton township, Miami county. The same year he purchased his present farm and has since made it his place of residence. He here has one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 15, of which one hundred and ten acres are under cultivation. The place is located on the Peterson pike, four miles from Troy, and there he successfully carries on general farming, his well tilled fields bringing to him a golden return for the care and labor he bestows upon them.

On the 3rd of December, 1872, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Miss Matilda McAlhaney, by whom he has eight children: Robert E.; Sarah E., wife of Samuel McCurdy; John J., a farmer; Thomas R.; Lenora; Arthur, deceased; Charles C.; and Pearl E. The Stewart household is noted for its hospitality, and the members of the family enjoy the warm regard of many friends. In his political views Mr. Stewart is a Republican, having always given his support to the party. Through his membership with the Grand Army of the Republic he maintains pleasant relationships with his old army comrades, thus calling to mind interesting stories of life around the camp fires and on the tented fields. His work has been diligently carried forward, and it is his unremitting toil that has brought to him his well deserved success.