“ The war ended and the soldiers returned, many of them with the appetite for drink, and everywhere Was the open saloon to entrap and lead them to destruction. Her heart was stirred as never before, because of the ruin wrought upon her "soldier boys" through the drink curse, and she tried to awaken the Christian people to the fact that they were fostering a foe even worse than the one the soldiers had conquered by force of arms. ”

“ From her maternal ancestor she inherited her fearlessness and hatred of wrong, and a determination to vindicate what she believed to be right at any cost, and from her father, who was a southern gentleman in the sense used seventy-five years ago, she inherited her high sense of honor. These characteristics, toned and enriched by a religious temperament and a warm, genial nature, fitted her to be a leader in all movements whose purpose was the happiness and uplifting of humanity. ”

“ That was an important move, because of the attention it called to the open saloon on the Sabbath. Then the world was startled by the uprising of the women all over the State in a "crusade" against the saloons, and Mother Stewart was kept busy in addressing immense audiences and organizing and leading out bands, through her own and other States. She was made president of the first local union of Springfield, formed 7th January, 1874. The first county union ever formed was organized in Springfield, 3rd April, 1874, with Mother Stewart president. ”