John Steward (1747-1829)

He was born at Goshen in Orange County, New York. He first went into business with Samuel S. Seward (father of U.S. Secretary of State William H. Seward). He later moved to New York City and bought No. 1 Pearl Street, the townhouse that had previously belonged to Archibald Gracie. On retiring, he built "a fine home" on the corner of Fifth Avenue & 20th Street. He was the grandfather of Mrs James Van Alen.