During his life many
people described the appearance of William Morris Stewart. He appeared larger
than life, but nothing truly captures the essence of this unique person. His
complex yet sometimes flawed life exemplified western development of the United
States. His over sized body along with a massive intellect gave Bill an
advantage from the time he left home at age fourteen. He supported himself
doing manual labor and teaching mathematics as he followed a path in school all
the way to Yale before he went to California in 1850.
As a young man Stewart had reddish hair and piercing gray eyes. The red hair gave way to silver, but it only added to his powerful appearance. Some said he grew to six feet and others said six feet four inches. Possibly no one ever got close enough to him for an accurate measure. As he made and lost fortunes his clothing style improved as did his girth. He preferred the look of a full beard, mustache and sideburns. He wore wide brimmed hats and long coats that flapped in the breeze as he walked down a street. Crowds parted as he walked by. In later years people called him the Santa Claus of the Senate. His clothing fell out of vogue in later years, which could have been because he could not afford new ones. Another theory is that he changed nothing because he wanted his uniqueness to stand on its own. Add the personal appearance to the spoken words of Stewart meant that more often than not he got his way.
Stewart's appearance gave fodder to political cartoons. He appeared in Puck and Harpers Weekly, usually lampooned for his intense interest in silver or being a pawn of big business. Mark Twain never forgot a dispute between the two of them in Virginia City when Twain accused Stewart of cheating him out of mining stock. He drew Stewart as a one-eyed pirate in his novel Roughing It. Another well known quote by Grant H. Smith about Stewart stated, "His hair and luxuriant beard were white as snow and he walked like a cathedral in motion, always alone." Such stunning words would imply reverence for the man. In truth people feared him at least as much as respecting him.
As a young man Stewart had reddish hair and piercing gray eyes. The red hair gave way to silver, but it only added to his powerful appearance. Some said he grew to six feet and others said six feet four inches. Possibly no one ever got close enough to him for an accurate measure. As he made and lost fortunes his clothing style improved as did his girth. He preferred the look of a full beard, mustache and sideburns. He wore wide brimmed hats and long coats that flapped in the breeze as he walked down a street. Crowds parted as he walked by. In later years people called him the Santa Claus of the Senate. His clothing fell out of vogue in later years, which could have been because he could not afford new ones. Another theory is that he changed nothing because he wanted his uniqueness to stand on its own. Add the personal appearance to the spoken words of Stewart meant that more often than not he got his way.
Stewart's appearance gave fodder to political cartoons. He appeared in Puck and Harpers Weekly, usually lampooned for his intense interest in silver or being a pawn of big business. Mark Twain never forgot a dispute between the two of them in Virginia City when Twain accused Stewart of cheating him out of mining stock. He drew Stewart as a one-eyed pirate in his novel Roughing It. Another well known quote by Grant H. Smith about Stewart stated, "His hair and luxuriant beard were white as snow and he walked like a cathedral in motion, always alone." Such stunning words would imply reverence for the man. In truth people feared him at least as much as respecting him.
Stewart
lusted after wealth, which was often beyond his grasp. Granted, he made several
fortunes during his lifetime, but lost them just as quickly due to his interest
in mining affairs and generosity to his family and friends. He traveled in
circles usually beyond his financial grasp as he worked with and for the
California bankers and train builders of the country. The Atlanta Constitution newspaper article
that described Stewart’s wedding to May Agnes Cone in 1903 stated Stewart had a
fortune of twenty-five million dollars. This was hardly the case, but Stewart
always gave the illusion of immense wealth. When all was said and done, despite
his appearance and reputation as a wealthy person, Stewart died owing more
money than he was worth.
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