STEWART
After the founding of Hutchinson and Glencoe in the middle 1850's, homeseekers began to venture south and west of these towns. However, at the time of the Sioux Outbreak in 1862, the southwestern corner of McLeod County was virtually frontier territory. Lake Addie (later Brownton) was the only trading center of any importance west of Glencoe.
There were
two outstanding reasons for the later settlement around Stewart. The first
was being the timbered lands where fuel and wood for buildings was easily
accessible. The second the settlers were closer to the main avenue of
communication, steamboat traffic.