The Ewing Families of Lafayette County, Missouri

JOEL H. EWING.

Mr. Ewing was born in Lafayette county, Missouri, October 18, 1824. He is the son of Robert and Elizabeth Ewing, who came from Kentucky in an early day. He was bred and educated and in fact has always lived in his native county. Is engaged in farming. December 14, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ingram, of Lafayette county. They becameparents of si'ven children, all of whom are now living, viz: Robert, Elizabeth, Kate W., Daniel, George, Neander Y., and Eva. Mr. Ewing has been a resident of this county for over a half century and has done much towards developing its natural resources and assisting in building up its public institutions. His postoffice address is Lexington.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

N. C. EWING,

P. O. Lexington, Missouri; son of Robert and Elizabeth Ewing, was born in this county September 24, 1830, and here he was also raised and educated. His calling is that of a farmer, and all his life has been spent on a Lafayette county farm. His parents were natives of Logan county, Kentucky, his father first coming to this county in 1818 or 1819. After remaining here a short time, he returned to Kentucky, and married in 1821. He then moved to Missouri and settled in this county, where he resided until his death. The subject of this sketch was married April 17, 1856, to Miss Catherine W. Wilcoxen, of this county, formerly of Frederick county, Maryland. By this union he. had four children, three of them living: Anna H., Joel H., and Young. He and his family are members of the C. P. church, of which he is a deacon. He is a successful farmer and a public spirited citizen.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOEL H. EWING.

Faithfulness to duty and a strict adherence to a fixed purpose, which always do more to advance a man's interest than wealth or advantageous circumstances, have been dominating factors in the life of Joel H. Ewing, one of the representative and influential citizens of Lexington, Lafayette county, his career having been replete with honor and success worthily attained. He was born in Lexington township, this county, February 8, 1860, and is the son of Neander C. and Catherine W. (Wilcoxon) Ewing, the father having been born in the same room in which his son, Joel H., first saw the light of day, the birth of the former occurring September 24, 1830. He was the son of Robert and Elizabeth J. (Campbell) Ewing, both born in Kentucky, near Russellville, the family having come to that state from Virginia in an early day, the early ancestors having come to America from northern Ireland and Scotland, some of whom were in the Revolutionary war. Senator Cockrell's mother was a Ewing. The old bookcase of Finis Ewing is now in the home of the subject. Robert Ewing and his brother, Young, came to Lafayette county, Missouri, in 18 18, located here and spent the remainder of their lives in this locality. Young Ewing was the first county clerk; they both lived in Lexington township. His father, Chathan Ewing, came to this county about 1830, being then advanced in years, and he spent his last days here. Finis Ewing, brother of Chathan, also emigrated to Lexington and died here. Robert Ewing owned a large tract of land, from one thousand to fifteen hundred acres, and was one of the most extensive farmers of the county. The house he built in 1825 is still standing, a double log house, all the lumber in it having been cut with a whip-saw and finished by hand. It is located in section 21, township 50 mange 27, four and one-half miles south of Lexington. The old place is now owned by Robert's granddaughter, Mrs. A. H. Eggleston. The brick house was built by Chathan Ewing and still stands, being now owned by James Peak, of Lexington. The old house of Finis Ewing, which stood close to that of his brother Chathan, was burned during the Civil war.

Robert Ewing's family consisted of four children: Joel H. died when seventy-nine years of age on a farm in Washington township, this county; Eveline J. married James Read, went to Cooper county and died when seventy-eight years of age; Young died in 1868, at the age of forty-one years, his death occurring at Mayview, this county, where he owned a mill; Neander C, whose birth was given above, died on January 14, 1888, at the age of fifty-eight years.

When sixteen years of age Neander C. Ewing attended the old Chapel Hill College, and when eighteen entered the old Masonic College at Lexington, from which he was graduated. His father dying soon afterward, he was given full control of the home place in 1853, and he managed the same very successfully. In 1866 he built the house that is now standing on the place. As he prospered he added more land to the farm and spent his entire life on the home place, becoming one of the leading farmers of the township and one of the best known and most highly respected citizens of the county; however, he was not a public man. He was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and for many years an active worker and a deacon in the local church. His wife passed to her rest in 1892, at the age of fifty-seven years. She was known in her maidenhood as Catherine Wilcoxon and they were married in 1856. She was the daughter of Horatio Wilcoxon, who was born in Maryland. Three children were born to this union: Anna H. is the wife of John Eggleston, of Lexington; Joel H., of this review, and Young lives in Lexington,

Joel H. Ewing received a good education in a private school in Lexington, George Catron and Rev. James Greer being his tutors. He remained with his father on the farm and early in life became familiar with all phases of agricultural pursuits. He continued to live on the home place until twelve years ago, when he moved to Lexington. Joel H. has ten acres of land in the south edge of Lexington, the old home of William H. Russell, the old Pacific mail contractor, which was built in the fifties for his private secretary. It was one of the old homes in this city and a fine place in those days, and is one of the picturesque landmarks of the town today. The subject has remodeled the house somewhat, making it comfortable and modern, yet retaining its old-time aspects.

Joel H. Ewing was married on December 27, 1905, to Christie Vaughan, daughter of George M. and Lucy Vaughan, both still living in Lexington. Mrs. Ewing was born near this city and was educated in the Lexington high school, also in a business college, and is a lady of refined tastes. This union has been graced by the birth of one child, George McNaught Ewing, now three years old.

Mr. Ewing is independent in politics and has never taken much interest in public affairs. He is a member of the Union Presbyterian church. In all the relations of life he has sought to maintain untarnished the honored name of this old and worthy family.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN M. EWING.

Mr. Ewing is a native of this county; born April 8, 1827. He is the son of Chatham S. Ewing who came to this county from Logan county, Ky., in 1821. The subject of this sketch now lives in Washington township, where he has resided since 1853, engaged in farming. Was married Jan. ftOth, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth Jane Butler, of Lafayette county, formerly of Kentucky. They have four children by this marriage, viz.: Thomas B., Chatham H., John R. and Walker E. Mrs. Ewing is a daughter of Thomas Butler and a grand-daughter of Moses Walker, of Jessamine county, Ky. Her sister, Miss Susan J. Butler, is living with her. Mr. Ewing and wife are members of the C. P. church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY C. EWING, farmer and stock-raiser; postoffice, Mayview. Was born June 22, 1838, in Lafayette county. Is the son Chatham S. and Mary B. Ewing. Educated at Chapel Hill College, in this county. Was married Dec. 8, 1874, to Miss Belle J. Harrelson, of this county. They have one child: Chatham M. Mr. Ewing, during the greater part of his life, has given his attention almost entirely to the occupation of farming. That he has made a success of it is fully evidenced by the appearance of his fine farm, situated one and a half miles southwest of Mayview. He is a member of the Grange, and also a ruling elder of the Mt. Hebron church.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

WALKER E. EWING.

Marked among the distinguished and useful citizens of Odessa stands the editor of the Missouri Ledger, a man who is conspicuous for the prominent share he has taken in all that concerned the general welfare.

Walker E. Ewing was born in Washington township, Lafayette county, Missouri, December 20, 1863, a son of John M. Ewing. The latter was born near Lexington, Missouri, April 8, 1827, a son of Chatham S. and Mary Barnett (Young) Ewing, the former a native of Lyon county, Kentucky, and the latter a native of Tennessee. Chatham Ewing came to this county in 1 82 1 and settled near Lexington, then removed to Washington township, where he died when seventy-two years old.

John M. Ewing married Elizabeth Jane Butler, daughter of Thomas J. Butler, born in Jessamine county, Kentucky, where her father, a native of Virginia, died. They were married in this county on January 30, 1853, and made their first home in Washington township, where they spent the most of their married life, both dying in Odessa in 1889, she at the age of fifty-nine and he at sixty-two. He was a farmer. To him and his wife five children were born, one of whom died in infancy, while the following grew to maturity: Thomas B., P. Henry C, John R. and Walker E.

Walker E. Ewing remained on the farm until he was fifteen, then went into the office of the Intelligencer at Lexington, where he learned the printer's trade and remained three years. He was afterwards employed in different places at his chosen profession until 1888, when he came to Odessa and was engaged in the dry goods business for several years. In 1894 he purchased the Odessa Democrat and was owner of that paper until 1904, when he sold it and purchased the Missouri Ledger, of which he has since been editor and publisher.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Ewing has always been very active in the Democratic party, and is city clerk of Odessa. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church South. Fraternally, he is a member of the Odd Fellows, in which order he is a past grand, and the Knights of Pythias, in which he is chancellor commander.

Naturally, an editor has much influence in a community, but by the high order of his intelligence and the character of his life, the editor of the Ledger possesses a more than usual share. He is very popular among those who are fortunate enough to know him.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HON. C. L. EWING, farmer, May view post office., son of Thompson M. and Mary Ewing, was born in Todd county, Ky., May 10, 1827; was educated at Princeton, Ky., and Lebanon, Tenn. In 1844 he came to this state and county, where he continued to reside till date engaged in farming. In June of 1846 he enlisted to serve in the Mexican war, in Col. John J. Hardin's regiment, Capt. James D. Morgan's company, raised in Quincy, Ill. He was engaged in the battle of Buena Vista and honorably discharged in June of the following year. In 1851, Dec. 16th, he was married to Miss Nellie A. Ewing, of Lafayette county, They have had four children, two of whom are living; Mary S. and Charles L., Jr.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.