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Charles Bellinger Stewart's notable progeny

By Robin Montgomery

Well known to citizens of Montgomery County is that Charles Bellinger Stewart, then a resident of the county, was the designer of Texas’s Lone Star Flag in 1839. Charles Stewart was also the first Texas secretary of state and later represented Montgomery County in the state Legislature.

Earlier, in 1832, he participated in the Battle of Velasco, a precursor to the drive for Texas’ independence from Mexico.

Less well known is that the first son of Charles and Julia Shepperd Stewart, like his father, was also a notable figure in politics as well as being a fighter for his beliefs.

Charles Bellinger Stewart set the scene for our first look at his son, Charles Waters Stewart. The elder Stewart was born in and lived most of his early life in South Carolina. It was to South Carolina that Charles W. moved upon finishing college in Mississippi. Soon joining his neighbors to defend the South in the Civil War, as a captain he received a serious hip wound in battle. At war’s end, he married Adrianna Peoples, a South Carolinian.

In 1868, with his wife and newly born first daughter, Charles W. returned to his native Montgomery County, Texas.

Here, Charles W. nourished his familial roots. One of his fondest memories was of General Sam Houston, the great liberator of Texas at the Battle of San Jacinto. At the impressionable age of 9, Charles W. received a gift which he cherished for a life time. It was a pair of cavalry boots from Sam Houston, himself, made exactly as those of the famous general and later president of the Republic of Texas.

In Montgomery County, Charles W. Stewart embraced an active political career, serving honorably as county judge, treasurer and tax collector. In 1890, he made his way to Navasota in neighboring Grimes County. Here he built two fine and large homes side by side.

At the turn of the 20th century, Navasota was a bustling town with a dual culture. On the one hand, it was a place of genteel society and fine homes. Meanwhile, the social atmosphere downtown was explosive, reeking of saloons and gunfire. It was here that Frank Hamer became city marshal and proceeded to cleanup the town. Building on his Navasota experience, the same Frank Hamer later ended the careers of the outlaws Bonnie and Clyde.

It was just before the arrival of Frank Hamer, braving the wild times, that Charles W. Stewart served two terms as Navasota’s mayor. Charles W. Stewart, eldest son of a Texas legend, and historic icon of two counties in his own right.

Robin Montgomery, publisher of numerous books on Montgomery County, with his daughter Joy, has just published a history of Navasota on sale at Hastings Books and Barnes and Noble.

Thank you.


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