John Leighton Stewart (August 12, 1876 - May 31, 1940) was a prominent American businessman and

newspaper publisher Publishing is the activity of making information, literature, music, software and other content available to the public for sale or for free. Traditionally, the term refers to the creation and distribution of printed works, such as books, newsp ...

of the ''Washington Observer'' and ''Washington Reporter'' newspapers in

Washington, Pennsylvania Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania. A part of the Greater Pittsburgh area in the southwestern part of the state, the city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and Pony League baseball. The populat ...

Biography

He was born in

Bakerstown, Pennsylvania Bakerstown is a census-designated place within Richland Township in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 2,745. Despite Bakerstown's small size, there are a few shops located within the s ...

on August 12, 1876 to Reverend William G. and Jennie Wright Stewart. He graduated from

Washington & Jefferson College Washington & Jefferson College (W&J College or W&J) is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania. The college traces its origin to three log cabin colleges in Washington County established by three Presbyterian missionaries to ...

in 1899 and attended

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

. He and

Ernest F. Acheson Ernest Francis Acheson (September 19, 1855 – May 16, 1917) was a newspaper editor and a representative to the United States House of Representatives. Biography He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania on September 19, 1855, son of Alexander W. ...

owned the ''Washington Observer'' and the afternoon ''Washington Reporter'' newspapers in

, which eventually merged to form the '' Observer-Reporter.'' He was a trustee of

and of the

Washington Female Seminary The Washington Female Seminary was a Presbyterian seminary for women operating from 1836 to 1948 in Washington, Pennsylvania. During the 19th century, it was "one of the best known and most noted institutions of its kind in the state". History T ...

. He was a trustee of

The Washington Hospital The Washington Hospital is a major hospital and healthcare provider in Washington County, Pennsylvania Washington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2020 census, the population was 209,349. Its county seat is W ...

. He founded the Pennsylvania Newspaper Publishers Association.Text on the John L. Stewart Tower at the former

McIlvane Hall Washington & Jefferson College is a private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, which is located in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The college traces its origin to three log cabin coll ...

Death

He died on May 31, 1940. His wife, Margaretta Donnan Stewart, took over control of the Observer-Reporter.

Legacy

The John L. Stewart Clock Tower on the northwest corner of the

is named in his honor. Before McIlvane Hall was demolished in 2008, the clock chimed to note the hour.

Gallery

File:John L. Stewart Tower McIlvaine Hall.jpg, The John L. Stewart Tower at

File:Observer Reporter Washington Pa.jpg, The '' Observer-Reporter'' building in

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stewart, John Leighton 1876 births 1940 deaths American newspaper publishers (people) Harvard Law School alumni People from Washington County, Pennsylvania Washington & Jefferson College trustees Washington & Jefferson College alumni Journalists from Pennsylvania