Alvin Franklin Stewart

Alvin Franklin Stewart was born April 18, 1819 in Georgetown, New York to Philetus and Susannah Ballard Stewart. Alvin is a Founder of Richmond. Alvin was a veteran of the Indian Wars. Alvin served as the 4th Mayor of Richmond,

Early Life

Alvin grew up until his mid-teen years in Georgetown. He journeyed west, and in 1842, became acquainted with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Illinois. He was baptized a member of the Church, and the next year, he married Camera O. Owen in Montrose, Iowa.1

Alvin was present the night before the assignation of Joseph and Hyrum Smith standing guard to protect them. He was present at the sustaining of Brigham Young as the President of the Church of Jesus Christ.1 

The Stewart family joined the Henry Bryant Manning Jolley Company on June 15, 1852 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 9. Soon after their arrival, they moved to Mountain View, Utah.1 The Stewart family moved to Richmond in 1860.

Life in Richmond

While living in Richmond, Alvin raised a farm and his ever-growing family. They were part of the "Old Fort" colony.

In 1867, Camera became ill and died. Alvin was away in Georgetown to visit family and record his ancestry. He did not find out about the news until he had reached Richmond.2

That same year, Alvin married Eliza Barnett, a widow who already had two children. Together they had nine children.

In 1881, most of the Alvin Stewart family moved to Mesa, Arizona.1

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Alvin was a member of the Cavalry.

Mayoral Term (1879-1880)

Alvin served as the fourth Mayor of Richmond. In 1880, Alvin began preperations to move to Arizona and stepped down as Mayor. Because of this, he holds the records for:

• The shortest serving Mayor, one year.

• The only Mayor to have been a founder of Richmond in 1859.

• The first Mayor to step down while in the middle of office.

Due to pore recording, not much information was preserved about Alvin Stewart's Mayoral Term. He was succeeded by Ariah C. Brower.

Epilogue