On the roster of Jack county’s officials appears the name of Rufus K. Stewart in connection with the position of tax collector. This is an indication of his popularity and prominence, and all who know him willingly accord him a leading place among the esteemed citizens of the community. Many years of his life has been passed within its borders, and has been one of uniform honor in business and fidelity in places of trust. He is therefore deserving of mention among the representative men of this section of the state. His birth occurred in Fayette county, Alabama, in 1850, his parents being Charles and Mary (Phillips) Stewart. The father was a native of Tennessee, but his death occurred in Alabama, to which state he had removed when a young man, and his business career was devoted to agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Stewart, also a native of Tennessee, is now a resident of Jack county.
Rufus K. Stewart spent the period of his boyhood and youth on the old home farm in Tennessee. Early in the year 1876 he made his way to Texas, stopping for a short time in Grayson county, and thence continuing the journey to Jack county, where he arrived in the same year. On his arrival here he took up his abode in the southeastern part of the county, near his present home, and he is now the owner of a fertile and valuable farm of eighty acres located twenty miles southeast of Jacksboro, which he conducted for a number of years in connection with official duties. For eight years Mr. Stewart served Jack county as its deputy sheriff, while later he was appointed term of R. C. Underwood, and following this, in 1900, he was elected to that office, re-elected in 1902, spending in all six years in the assessor’s office. In November, 1904, he was elected to his present position, that of county tax collector, in which he is serving with efficiency and ability.
Mr. Stewart was united in marriage to Josephine Clark, and they have seven children: Abram F., Mrs. Hattie Cox, Mrs. Minnie Shipley, Kirk, Norman, Maud and Hugh. For some years the family home has been in Jacksboro. Mr. Stewart is a worthy member of the Baptist church, and his fraternal affiliations are with the Modern Woodmen of America.
Source: B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), Vol. II, pp. 454-455.