William Riley Stewart was a farmer and at one time the County Commissioner of Smith County. Married to Sarah Ann Copeland the daughter of James Terrell Copeland and Elizabeth "Eliza" Austin. The Copeland and Austin families were prominent Lindale residents. They had two sons, but only John Austin Stewart lived to adulthood. William was murdered with a blow to the head by a negro man (Effie Jones) at the order from Willis Jones of Mineola Texas. Jones was the 1st cousin of William's wife, Sarah Copeland. Sarah's sister Mary was Jones' mother. There was a life insurance on Stewart that Jones would have benefited from in the event of Stewart's death. Jones never made it to trial for the murder. He was killed by a mob 4 days later in his jail cell.
William Riley Stewart was a farmer and at one time the County Commissioner of Smith County. Married to Sarah Ann Copeland the daughter of James Terrell Copeland and Elizabeth "Eliza" Austin. The Copeland and Austin families were prominent Lindale residents. They had two sons, but only John Austin Stewart lived to adulthood. William was murdered with a blow to the head by a negro man (Effie Jones) at the order from Willis Jones of Mineola Texas. Jones was the 1st cousin of William's wife, Sarah Copeland. Sarah's sister Mary was Jones' mother. There was a life insurance on Stewart that Jones would have benefited from in the event of Stewart's death. Jones never made it to trial for the murder. He was killed by a mob 4 days later in his jail cell.
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