Paul Stewart (politician)

Paul Stewart
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 3rd district
In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by	Wilburn Cartwright
Succeeded by	Carl Albert
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
In office 1926–1942
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
In office 1922–1926
Personal details
Born	February 27, 1892 Clarksville, Arkansas
Died	November 13, 1950 (aged 58) Antlers, Oklahoma
Citizenship	United States
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Berta Keen Stewart Irene Almond Smith Stewart
Children	Elma Stewart Martha Stewart
Profession	mail carrier, merchant, farmer/rancher, Attorney, politician, postmaster, publisher/editor

Paul Stewart (February 27, 1892 – November 13, 1950) was an American politician and a U.S. Representative from Oklahoma.

Biography

Born in Clarksville, Arkansas, Stewart moved with his parents, Charles Jackson and Mary Ellen Overbey Stewart, to Poteau, Indian Territory, in 1894. They moved to Red River County, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory (now a part of McCurtain County, Oklahoma) in 1897.

Career

At age ten, Stewart became a rural mail carrier, and at thirteen he entered the mercantile business at Spencerville, Indian Territory. He was educated at home before attending school at age fourteen, and he finished four years later. In 1910 he moved his business to Haworth, Oklahoma, where he continued its operation until 1919. On August 7, 1912, Stewart married Berta Keen, daughter of Young and Eva Byrum Keen. The couple had two daughters, Elma and Martha. After they divorced, he remarried on June 9, 1938, to Irene Almond Smith, and they had no children.^[1]

Admitted to the bar in 1915, Stewart commenced the practice of law as well as becoming Postmaster at Haworth from 1914 to 1922. He served in the Oklahoma State house of representatives from 1922 to 1926. He moved to Antlers, Oklahoma, in 1929, where he was editor, owner, and publisher of the Antlers (Oklahoma) American, a weekly newspaper, from 1929 to 1950. He served as member of the State senate 1926-1942, serving as Democratic floor leader in 1929 and 1930 and as president pro tempore in 1933 and 1934. He was Acting Governor in 1933 and engaged in cattle raising, farming, and the hotel business.^[2]

Elected as a Democrat to the Seventy-eighth and Seventy-ninth Congresses, Stewart served from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1947.^[3] He was not a candidate for renomination in 1946 to the Eightieth Congress, and resumed newspaper publishing, ranching, and managing hotel business until his death.

Death

Stewart died in Antlers, Oklahoma, on November 13, 1950, from a stroke after being overcome by smoke while fighting a grass fire. He is interred at City Cemetery.^[4]

References

1. "Paul Stewart". Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
2. "Paul Stewart". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
3. "Paul Stewart". Govtrack US Congress. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
4. "Paul Stewart". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 6 June 2013.

External links

• United States Congress. "Paul Stewart (id: S000918)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Paul Stewart Collection at the Carl Albert Center
• Paul Stewart at Find a Grave