, he moved to a home near Forest church, and died there at 73,
April 8, 1896; after an aggressive ministry of more than twenty-five
years after his licensure, which had been preceded by nearly ten years
of earnest volunteer service for the betterment of his people. He was
buried in the Crittenden grave yard.

He left three children, the offspring of his marriage to Catherine
Perry, namely, Thomas, Betty married to Benjamin Roebuck, and Harriet,
married to Rev. Pugh A. Edwards.

In 1886, after the death of Catherine, he married the widow of Jeffers
Perkins, and she died at 65 in 1905, survived by seven of twelve
children by her first marriage, namely, Charles and Louis Perkins, Mrs.
R. D. Arnold, Fredonia Allen, Virginia Williams (d. 1913), Fidelia
Murchison and Jane Parrish.

CHARACTERISTICS AS A PREACHER

Charles W. Stewart was a man of medium height and rather stout build.
The rugged features of his face suggested a man, possessing strong and
sturdy elements of character. He grew to manhood under circumstances
and changes that made an early education impossible. His education,
which was very limited was acquired by the private study of a primer,
catechism, Bible and other books, furnished him by Mrs. Stewart, his
real owner, and, Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury (d. 1870).

Parson Stewart was a faithful christian worker, who did not become weary
in well doing. He made his long journeys on horseback. He endeavored to
arrive at his monthly appointments the previous day so as to have time
for the discipline or reinstatement of wayward members, or hold an
evangelistic meeting. He manifested so much of hopeful enthusiasm in his
work that he seemed unmindful of the loneliness and wearisomeness of the
long journeys in the wilderness and regarded it merely as a passing
incident, when he had to spend a day or even a night in the timber,
waiting for the overflow of flooded streams to subside, so he could
safely ford them.

He was an aggressive christian worker. He strived to preach the gospel,
"not where Christ was named, lest he should build upon another man's
foundation," but, as it is written, "To whom he was not spoken of they
shall see, and they that have not heard shall understand." He was on the
alert to hear the cry of Macedonia, "Come over and help us," and he was
always ready to enter and hold a new field while his strength lasted.
When he was licensed, all the land of the Choctaw Nation seemed to be
spread out before hi