Benton Co., AR - Biographies - William Holland Steward *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** William Holland Steward may be mentioned as one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock raisers of Benton County, Ark. He was born in Bedford County, Va., December 23, 1829, and is a son of Josiah Edwin and Mary (Signor) Steward, who were born in Virginia February 24, 1805, and March 23, 1800, and died in Indiana in 1872 and December 30, 1886, respectively. The father was a farmer, and he and wife were members of the Protestant Methodist Church. The great grandfather Steward was born in Scotland, and came to America, serving in the Revolutionary War. William Holland Steward was taken to Indiana by his parents when quite a small boy, and was there reared, educated and married, the latter event taking place in 1852, to Miss Lydia Ellen Coonfield, who was born in Marion County, Ind., October 27, 1833. Their union was blessed in the birth of ten children: Mary A., wife of Thomas Mason; George Newton (deceased), Elmira J., wife of Robert True; John A.; Martha A., wife of James, True; Isaac E., William A., James W., Theodore J. and Richard A. Mr. Steward commenced life with small means, and met with severe losses during the late war, but by industry and good management has now a comfortable competency and a good and well-cultivated farm of 120 acres. He and family worship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and have been worthy residents of Benton County, Ark., since 1854. Mrs. Steward's parents were Isaac and Lydia (Epperson) Coonfield.