Edward Finnus Steward

Edward Finnus (or Finnes) Steward, son of James Franklin Steward and Susie Elizabeth Patman, was born in Pangburn, White County, Arkansas on December 27, 1899. Edward was the second child born to his parents. He had an older sister named Carrie Blith Steward, born in 1897. 

Edward was my step-grandfather, married to my Granny, Daisy Lee Shields. I never met him; only knew of him. Granny was married six times, twice to Edward. I was told he was her favorite husband so was curious about him. After recently researching Granny’s last husband, Hoyt Vest, who I fondly remember, I wanted to learn more about Edward. The results of my research follow, although there are large gaps. I spent a lot of time searching the census records but so far, have been unable to find him in 1920 or 1940. Disappointing as usual, but I had to move on. Hopefully, I’ll stumble on these records at some point. 

In researching Edward, I immediately found inconsistent dates in the records. A delayed birth certificate dated February 26, 1944 and signed by his mother, records his date of birth as December 27, 1900. Yet on June 18, 1900, five-month-old Edward, his mother Susie, and sister Carrie lived with his maternal grandparents John and Martha Patman in the Big Creek Township of White County, Arkansas. His middle name was also spelled “Finnes” on the delayed birth certificate. In other records, it was spelled “Finnus.” 

Top portion of Edward's delayed birth certificate (click to enlarge)

But back to the census record, Edward’s parents had apparently divorced—his mother was enumerated with a “D” in the marital status column. She was also enumerated with her maiden name, Patman. She worked as a farmer. Her father was also a farmer so perhaps she worked with him. Edward and Carrie’s last name was spelled Stewart vs. Steward. The William C. Patman family lived next door and were probably related, although I don’t know how.

On January 24, 1903, Edward’s father James took a second wife when he married Mary “Minnie” Olive Pryor in Cleburne, Arkansas. Minnie and her parents were all from Illinois. James and Minnie added seven children to the family—Clemmy (or Clemmie) Fermon Steward (1904 in Heber, Cleburne, Arkansas), Guion (or Juion) R. Steward (1907 in Pangburn), James Reedus Steward (1909 in Pangburn), John (Johnny) Steward (about 1911 in Arkansas), Murrel (about 1914 in Arkansas), Woodley (about 1916 in Arkansas), and Alvin (about 1918 in Arkansas). 

On May 21, 1910, Edward and his family lived in the Big Creek Township of White County, Arkansas. His father was a farmer on a general farm. Edward’s paternal grandfather was from Tennessee, which was probably what brought him to Tennessee, where he met my Granny. His paternal grandmother was from Missouri. Minnie was enumerated as the mother of three children, all of which were living. In addition to school, both Edward and Carrie worked as farm laborers on the home farm, and both could read and write.

Edward registered for the World War I draft in White County, Arkansas on September 14, 1918. His registration card is one of the few records where his birthdate is recorded correctly--December 27, 1899. Edward was 18 years old and a self-employed farmer living and working with his father in Pangburn. When he entered his name, he spelled his middle name "Finest." Edward described himself as being of medium height and build and having brown eyes and black hair. He listed his father as his nearest relative.

World War I draft registration card (click to enlarge)

On January 8, 1920, the Steward family lived on Heber Springs Road in Big Creek, however, Edward wasn’t living with them. As mentioned earlier, this was one of the census records I’ve been unable to find Edward in. 

On December 6, 1920, Edward married Martha Ann “Prudy or Prudie” Vickrey, daughter of Levi King Vickrey and Margaret Henson in Woodruff County, Arkansas. Prudie was born in Tennessee. Both Edward and Prudie lived in the Cotton Plant Township, Woodruff County, Arkansas at the time. Their son, Charles Edward Steward was born in Woodruff County on January 26, 1928. Charles had green eyes, brown hair and a light complexion. A stillborn daughter was born and died in Cotton Plant on July14, 1924. The baby was buried at the Cotton Plant Memorial Cemetery. 

On April 23, 1930, Edward, Prudy, and Charles lived in Genesee, Genesee County, Michigan. He owned the house, valued at $1500. There was a radio in the household. Edward was a machinist in an auto plant. The census enumerator noted that Edward was 20 years old when he married and Prudy 18. Both could read and write. Charles was 2 years, 2 months. Prudy filed for divorce from Edward in Woodruff County on May 10, 1935. The uncontested divorce was finalized on September 9, 1935.

Edward and Prudy's divorce decree (click to enlarge)

Interestingly, the 1935 Chattanooga, Tennessee City Directory had an entry for an Edward F. Stewart, who worked as a mechanic for the Household Refrigeration Company, and wife Clara P. living at 1437 Park Avenue. I would imagine the directory was printed in late 1934 so, assuming this Edward is the subject of this sketch, he wouldn’t have been divorced yet. Had he and Prudy already moved on and he and Clara were living together? I have no way of knowing the answer to that question but do believe it’s him. I say that because when Edward filled out his World War II draft registration card in February 1942, he listed Mrs. Clara May Steward as the person who would always know his address. 

World War II draft registration card (click to enlarge)

This card contained some of inconsistencies I mentioned earlier—middle name was spelled “Fines” vs. Finnus, and the year of his birth 1900 vs. 1899. You’ll recall his mother recorded the year as 1900 on his delayed birth certificate yet he was five months old in the 1900 census. Edward was 5’ 9” tall and weighed 150 pounds. He had brown eyes and hair and a light complexion. Edward listed his employer as T.V.A. or rather the Tennessee Valley Authority, “a federally owned electric utility corporation in the United States” according to Wikipedia. Although Edward lived in Hamilton County, Tennessee, he registered in Polk County, where the T.V.A. was located. Edward still worked for the T.V.A. in 1943, although he was considered a “transient,” working as a welder at the Fontana Dam in Swain County, North Carolina. 

Tennessee Valley Authority form (click to enlarge)

On February 19, 1947, Edward published an announcement in the Chattanooga Daily Times stating “I will not be responsible after this date, Feb. 18, 1947, for debts made by anyone other than myself. Signed: E. F. STEWARD. Address: 1505 Cowart St.” Perhaps that was in anticipation of what he knew was coming. On February 20, the Chattanooga Daily Times reported that Clara filed for divorce from Edward. The same notice ran months later on November 30, 1947. Curious about the Cowart Street address, I searched newspapers.com and discovered it was apparently where Edward worked. In 1938, I found several advertisements for the G. L. Heard Company, a welding shop located at 1505 Cowart Street. This makes sense now that we know Edward worked as a welder for the T.V.A.

Sometime after Edward’s divorce from Clara, he married my Granny, Daisy Lee Shields, daughter of James Stewart Shields and Hattie Jane Rhinehart. I found them together on April 13, 1950, living at State Route 2 in the Blackstock community of Catoosa County, Georgia. In this census record, you clearly see a 10-year age difference between the two of them—he was 49 and she 39. Neither were working, nor where they seeking work. The marriage was short-lived though with them divorcing in Chattanooga late April 1953. I know nothing else of their life together.

I can't confirm but my mother believed this is Edward with my Granny

Chattanooga Daily Times, April 26, 1953

Edward married one last time to Bertie Kay Wyman, daughter of John Thomas Wyman and Fannie Bell Adams, date unknown. It appears they moved to Detroit, Michigan for a while, which is where they were living when Bertie’s brother Albert died in December 1956.

Edward’s father died from pneumonia in Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas on May 30, 1961. He was buried the same day at Siloam Spring Cemetery in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

Edward and Bertie moved back to Tennessee at some point, settling in Signal Mountain, a town in Hamilton County. On June 10, 1983, Edward died in a hospital in Dunlap, Sequatchie County, Tennessee, about 22 miles from his home. His funeral was held on June 12 at the Ewton Funeral Home chapel, followed by burial at the Chattanooga Memorial Park in Chattanooga. Edward was survived by his wife Bertie; son Charles; brothers Clemmie, Juion, Johnny, Murrel, and Alvin; sister Carrie; and two grandchildren. The Social Security Death Index has his birthdate as December 27, 1900, so he apparently carried the wrong birth year his entire life.

References

• Albert Wyman obituary, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tenne, December 3, 1956.
• Albert Wyman, Delayed Certificate of Birth no. 237880, State of Tennessee, Dept. of Public Health, Div. of Vital Statistics, June 26, 1943.
• Alvin Prior Steward, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007.
• Carrie Blith Steward, Delayed Birth Certificate no. 005657, Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, April 27, 1960.
• Charles Edward Steward, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, January 28, 1946. 
• Clemmie Fermon Steward, Delayed Birth Certificate no. 6602, State of Arkansas, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, July 3, 1942.
• Debts Announcement, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Febuary 17, 1947.
• Divorce Suits Filed, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, February 20, 1947 and November 30, 1947.
• Divorces Granted, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 26, 1953.
• Edward Fines Steward, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940–1947.
• Edward Finnes Steward, Delayed Birth Certificate no. 15924, Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, February 26, 1944.
• Edward Steward obituary, Chattanooga News-Free Press, June 12, 1983.
• Edward Stewart, U.S., Tennessee Valley, Family Removal and Population Readjustment Case Files, 1934–1953.
• G. L. Heard advertisement, Chattanooga Daily Times, Chattanooga, Tennessee, April 11, 1938.
• J. F. Steward and Prudy Vicrey, Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837–1957.
• James Franklin Steward, Certificate of Death no. 05997, Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, June 5, 1961.
• James Reedus Steward, Delayed Birth Certificate no. 63335, Arkansas State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, January 20, 1955.
• Martha Ann Prudie Vickrey, Delayed Certificate of Birth Certificate, State of Tennessee, Department of Public Health, Division of Vital Statistics, September 30, 1952.
• Prudy and Edward Steward Divorce Petition Coupon, Woodruff, Arkansas, March 10, 1935.
• Prudy and Edward Steward, Arkansas, U.S., Divorce Index, 1923-1939, Woodruff County, Arkansas, 1935.
• Prudy and Edward Steward, Divorce Decree or Dismissal Coupon, Woodruff, Arkansas, September 9, 1935.
• Stillborn Infant Steward, Certificate of Death 1370, State of Arkansas, State Board of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, July 15, 1924.
• Tennessee Valley Authority; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority. 
• U.S. City Directory, Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1935.
• U.S. Federal Census, Big Creek, White County, Arkansas, 1900, 1910, 1920.
• U.S. Federal Census, Blackstock, Catoosa County, Georgia, 1950.
• U.S. Federal Census, Genesee, Genesee County, Michigan, 1930.