William James Stewart (businessman)

Stewart was born in Bishop Street, Dublin, in 1855 and emigrated with his parents William Stewart (c. 1802 – 12 October 1894) and Eliza Stewart (c. 1812 – 8 October 1905) to Western Australia in 1857. After some eighteen months, they moved to South Australia, where young William was educated at King's Grammar School in Port Adelaide, then under Rev. W. S. Moore at his school in Pulteney Street. After leaving school, he spent two years in a solicitor's office before working for a draper. He secured a position with G. & R. Wills & Co. as commercial traveller, which he held for six years, when he was appointed the firm's representative in Western Australia, and in 1885 opened the firm's first warehouse in that state. After two years in that position he joined George Throssell in his company Throssell and Son, storekeepers and general merchants of Toodyay and Northam. After a short stay in Northam, the firm having bought the businesses Dempster Bros, and C. S. Monger of Newcastle, Stewart was put in charge of the new acquisitions. While in Newcastle he took an active interest in civic affairs of the town and district, and was so highly regarded that he was elected Mayor of the town. In 1891 he was appointed Justice of the Peace.^[1]

The Northam business continued to grow, and in 1896 Stewart was brought there to take over the management of the firm. He was again conspicuous in promoting the interests of the town and district, holding a seat on the Boards of Education in Newcastle and Northam, and for nine years was chairman. He continued to serve as Justice of the Peace, and for a time acted as Resident Magistrate. He was elected mayor in 1901.