Table of Contents -Volume II
CHAPTER 3
Ewing Family Lineage: John-James
He should not have been with a name like EWING, but of all Indian John's children, John Smith EWING and his family were the most difficult to trace. I suppose that was because John moved to a place in Ohio other than Gallia County and there was not the same amount of contact between his family and the others. Early family historians did not have much on him at all. Had it not been for a grandson, Sumner EWIN G, who kept in touch, I might have had no clues to this family, and all those Ewings might have been lost to posterity.
Even at that I still know very little about the part of John Smith's life which he spent in Pocahontas County. It is only after he appears in Logan County, Ohio that he begins to take a shape and form.
The only one of John and Ann's 10 children to have a middle name (he was obviously named for Ann's father), he was born 25 November 1778, the third child to be born in the cabin on Stony Creek. He was baptized 19 August 1784, by the Reverend John MC CUE.
John Smith was married the same year his father, Indian John moved to Ohio, 1801. He took out a bond, 22 September 1801, with William CACKLE Y going surety and Valentine C ACK LEY, Rebecca's father, giving his consent. Reverend John PINN ELL 's return of the marriage is dated 24 September.
Rebecca, born 1785, was 16 when she and John Smith EWING were married. She was the daughter of Valentine and Mary ( FREYE) CAC KLEY, early Pocahontas County settlers. I come on the CACKLEY name frequently in early Virginia records.
Somewhere along the line somebody attached John to the Virginia legislature and he is often referred to as Hon. John Smith EWING. So far, however, I have not been able to fine record of such service.
John was without doubt a farmer in Pocahontas County, Virginia, but I have no record of his land, nor of his activities to 1824 - except that he was very busy begetting progeny. In the space of 22 years, he and Rebecca had 13 children, 11 of them sons. It was in print that the 11th son was named Eleventh, but not so. His name was Edmonson.
In the 1820 census for Bath County, Virginia, John and Rebecca are accounted for - with all 13 children at home! What a crowded, happy household that must have been.
Shortly after the birth of that last one on 14 May 1824, John Smith and Rebecca pulled up stakes. What made them head for Ohio after so many years in Pocahontas County, so many years behind the others when John was 46 and Rebecca 39?
John and Rebecca did not go to Gallia County, Ohio where the rest of the family were. They opted to join their old Pocahontas County friends Alexander and Elizabeth (GILLILA ND) BURNSIDE in Logan County, Ohio.
Alexander (son of Pocahontas County pioneer John B URNSIDE) and his wife, Elizabeth (daughter of John GILLIL AND) were among the first settlers of Logan County, Ohio in 1815.
John and Rebecca took up land near the BURNSIDES family in Monroe Township, near today's Pickerell Town. The deed for that land is dated 25 July 1829, from John THOM AS.
Not all their children went with them to Ohio. James, the third son, stayed behind. He lived with "Uncle Billy", Indian John's eldest, on the Stony Creek farm which became Billy's on Indian John's death that same year, 1824. James was then 20 years old. He later moved to Nicholas County and was Billy's
heir when he died in 1858.
John and Ann's oldest, William III, may have remained behind too, but only for awhile. He is not accounted for with them in the 1830 Logan County census, but is in later ones.
Their son John, was 21 at the time of the move. He may have married in Pocahontas County - it was really Pocahontas County by that time.
Valentine likewise was gone from the Logan County hearth by 1830. The two daughters had married by then. That leaves the seven youngest, all sons - but only six of them are accounted for in the 1830 census, and only four of those six can we follow through to the ends of their lives. The other three, Chapman, Thomas and Robert, are unknowns on the Ewing family tree, and it is to be presumed that they died young in life.
The two daughters chose their life mates from the family of their Logan County neighbors, the B URNSIDES. Mary married Samuel G. in 1828, and Ann married Andrew in 1830. They are the only two of all John and Rebecca's 13 children whose marriages are on record in Logan County, Ohio.
At some point in time prior to 1824, John Smith fell heir to Indian John's little record book. I have always wondered why Indian John had not taken it with him when he moved to Ohio. Maybe it was fate, for it might not have been preserved if he had.
I'll let A.E. EWING describe the book, as of 1901:
"The record which we recently found in possession of Sumner EWING, now of Springfield, Ohio, descends from Indian John E WING. It came to said Sumner from his father, Benjamin, who in turn received it from his father, Hon. John Smith EWING, the third child of Indian John EWING. The little record is a curiosity, and Sumner EWING says it was for a long time lost under his father's house where it had slipped between the pieces of punched on flooring.
"It is a homemade book and at present contains about a dozen leaves or 24 pages, some of which are worn or torn, and it looks as if some might be entirely missing. The size is per the following ..." (And here A.E. drew the outline of the book, indicating ragged edges, torn corners and all. It measures 6 inches wide and 4 inches deep. The upper left hand corner seems to have been nibbled at by mice.)
"It is about 1/4 inch think, cover and leaves. The cover is as thick as the leaves, and looks as if it were a piece of homemade cowhide, a bootleg, or a piece of saddle. Who knows but it may be a remnant of Indian John's leather breeches?"
Exactly when the book came into being no one can say. But we do know when it came into use - 20 January 1786. John himself recorded the date of the first entry on Page 2, which was, as has been noted, his and Ann's birth dates and places, and on Page 4, their wedding date. On Pages 4 and 5, John recorded the particulars pertaining to his children then born, ending with "Ann Ewing, Jun, born May the 27th, 1785."
On subsequent pages the rest of the children are listed, with their birth dates, but in a different hand. On later pages John Smith took over and his family is recorded as Indian John's was.
I do not know where the book is now. Sumner Ewing died childless (in Stockton, California) and the most likely person to have it, Barbara Ewing POWELL of Newman, California knows nothing of it. It probably went the way of many such treasures, but thank heaven for A.E.'s almost-Xerox copy. It is a valuable piece of family history. Without it, a lot of Ewings might have been lost to posterity - or to this recorder at least.
At some date after John Smith died, some member of the family set down in the little book the date of his death as 26 June 1837. John's will is dated 16 May 1838. The will was proved 16 October 1838, and the inventory entered 27 November 1838.
The will has a curious clause in it, and one wonders what John Smith may have been thinking of when he included it. He states that it is his will that his wife should have the farm during her life "and that all my unmarried children shall live with their mother and manage the farm while they remain single."
"All my unmarried children" at that point in time amounted to William Jr. and the ones remaining of the seven youngest sons Archibald, Andrew, Benjamin and Edmonson for sure.
Now, the clause was no problem for the sons that had their eye on the lass next door - but it would certainly have curtailed the activities of any who felt the girl of their dreams was only to be found in Van Buren County, Iowa, for instance.
I have been told by an attorney that such a clause carries no legal weight - that a person can not dictate in his or her will how or where his or her survivors shall live or conduct their lives.
And at least three of the sons chose to overlook it, and left the fireside before marriage. And I have a feeling that they did so with Rebecca's - and Benjamin's blessings. By the terms of the will, only the two youngest sons, Benjamin and Edmonson, were heirs. They were to have the farm after Rebecca death, to be equally divided between them. All of his children were to get $5 each after the sale of his property. After his debts were paid and anything left after the sale was to go to the widow.
(Inventories and sale of a man's property was part of a way of life - or death - back then, but it escapes me how everything needed to run the farm, which the man had given to his wife, was regarded as his personal property to be sold. How can you run a farm without livestock, crops and equipment? I fail to understand.)
When the will was proved, the court appointed Archibald HOPK INS administrator for the appraisal and sale. The total amount of appraisement was $335.56, and the sale brought in $382.25. The interesting thing is that Rebecca and Benjamin bought so much of it back. Among other things, Rebecca bought her husband's (or hers?) large kettle for $2, a pair of bellows for $4.50 and one mowing scythe. Other buyers included William EWI NG, William GILLILAND and George B. C ARRELL.
Some of the other items offered for sale were one lot of corn in the crib, a Dutch oven, 2 ploughs, one log chain, one cutting box, one bay mare ($30), one colt ($25), 15 head of sheep, one lot of fat hogs, one lot of stock hogs, hay stacks and corn on the shock.
In the 1840 Logan County census, Rebecca is listed as the head of the household (she was then 55), with only William (38), Benjamin (21), and Edmonson (16) still at home. In 1850, when all members of the household were listed by name for the first time, Rebecca was head of household with son Benjamin (31), also in the household. Edmonson was in Indiana by 1851, but he is nowhere in any 1850 census, Indiana or Ohio.
Rebecca died 7 December 1851, and Benjamin took over the farm. He and his sister Ann EWING BURNS IDE were the only ones to remain in Logan County, Ohio.
ISSUE:
3-1 1. William EWI NG, b. 15 June 1802 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-2 2. John EWI NG, b. 20 Sept 1803 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-3 3. James EW ING, b. Dec 1804 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-4 4. Mary EWI NG, b. 8 July 1806 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-5 5. Valentine E WING, b. 31 Oct 1807 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-6 6. Ann EWI NG, b. 1810 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
7. Chapman E WING, 11 May 1811 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia. Died in infancy.
3-8 8. Archibald E WING, b. 17 Nov 1812 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
9. Thomas EWIN G, b. 26 Oct 1814 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia. Died in infancy.
10. Robert EWIN G, b. Feb 1817 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
Along with Andrew and Archibald EWING, there is an R.H. E WING in 1847, Van Buren County, Iowa census, living alone. There is a Robert EWING in Keosauqua, Van Buren County, Iowa in the 1850 census, alone, a painter, but age given as 40. An R.W. E WING married Sabina CU BBERLY, 23 Oct 1851 in Van Buren County, Iowa. These may or may not be the above Robert EWING.
3-11 11. Andrew EWI NG, b. 17 Aug 1818 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-12 12. Benjamin E WING, b. 13 Nov 1819 Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia.
3-13 13. Edmonson E WING, b. 14 May 1824 Pocahontas County, West Virginia .
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Presumably William, born 15 June 1802, in what is today Pocahontas County, (it was then Bath County, Virginia) was Indian John's first grandchild, but if the two ever met, it was probably not until William was at sometime passing through Gallia County, Ohio enroute to Logan County, Ohio just before John died.
Little is known about him. Apparently he did not marry. He is not accounted for in the 1830 Logan County census, but was likely the male with Rebecca in the 1840, though in the wrong age column. In the 1850 census he was listed with his mother as "William, age 47." He does not appear in any census from that point on.
NO ISSUE
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
John is almost as enigmatic as his elder brother, but not quite, as here we have the names of his wife and children at least. John was born 30 September 1803, when Pocahontas County was still Bath County, Virginia. His wife was Sally K ELLY. Their marriage is not on record in Bath County, nor in Logan County, Ohio, but I can not help but think they were married while still in West Virginia and headed directly to some spot on the map which was to be their home. Possibly Edgar County, Illinois. The POWELL list notes that James EWING (3-3) died in 1840 in Edgar County, Illinois, but of course James died in Nicholas County, and I wonder if whoever made up the list meant to refer to John. If he did die there in Edgar County, it may have been while enroute to someplace else, or else his family did not remain long after his death, for they were not there in the 1850 census. There were lots of Ewings, but none with the names of John's children, and besides those were all born in Mayville, Kentucky. None of John's family has ever turned up in counties where the other brothers appear.
So the John EWINGS fade out of the picture, as other EWINGS will also.
ISSUE:
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
James left us a little more to go on than his number 1 and number 2 brothers. He was born 27 December 1804, in Bath County before it became Pocahontas County. He was 20 when his parents and siblings left Pocahontas County in 1824 but for some reason he chose to remain behind. He moved in with his father's brother, William - "Uncle Billy" and wife. This was at the Stony Creek home that Indian John had vacated 23 years before, and would become William's a few months hence on John's death.
If it was Martha B RUFFEY who made James decide to stay in Pocahontas County, he took his time about getting to the point. He was almost 29 when they were married 21 October 1833, nine years after Indian John left. Martha was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (HI LL) BR UFFEY - her birthdate unknown.
James and Martha had four daughters, no sons. The first, Mary Elizabeth, was born in Pocahontas County in 1836. The last, Lydia, was born in 1845, but whether in Pocahontas County or in Nicholas County where James moved to, is not known. Sometime between Lydia's birth and 1850, Martha died, either in Pocahontas or Nicholas County. James married again prior to 1850, his wife's name being Nancy MC MILLIIN. They were found in the 1850 census in Nicholas County, Western District, he a farmer with property worth $800, all four daughters at home.
Lydia, also her elder sisters Rebecca and Julia are lost to us, not knowing their married names. (It is known one of the sisters married the cousin of the Nicholas County clerk of 1901. Now there's a clue for some future historian!).
But thanks to the eldest daughter's letter to A.E. EWING of 1901, we know a little about her family and consequently can follow James and Nancy to a certain extent.
In the 1870 census James and Nancy were listed next to Mary Elizabeth and her husband, Holly Jackson W HITMAN, in Muddelty Township. West Virginia, James was a farmer, real property $5,000, personal property $1,000.
Nancy died 5 December 1873 -65 years, 11 months, 16 days and is buried in the Ewing-Whitman Cemetery, West Virginia. In 1880, James was 75, widowed and living with Mary and Holly, Hamilton District, West Virginia.
When Uncle Billy died in 1858, the Indian John property on Stony Creek in Pocahontas County, fell to James by Uncle Billy's will. Sometime thereafter, James sold the 195 acres to John SHA RP, husband of Sally J OHNSON, Sarah's step-granddaughter. The SHARPS have occupied the land to this day.
James died in 1885 at the age of 81. He is buried next to Nancy at the Ewing-Whitman Cemetery, West Virginia.
ISSUE:
3-3-1 1. Mary Elizabeth EWING, b. June 1836 Pocahontas County, Virginia.
2. Rebecca EW ING, b. 1838 Pocahontas or Nicholas County, Virginia.
3. Julia EWIN G, b. 1843 Pocahontas or Nicholas County, Virginia.
4. Lydia EWIN G, b. 1845 Pocahontas or Nicholas County, Virginia.
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Ewing Family Lineage: James-John-Smith-John-James
Mary was born 27 June 1836, when James and Martha were still in Pocahontas. She is listed with her father and step-mother in the 1850 Nicholas County, West Virginia, census.
On 14 November 1854, in Nicholas County, she was married to Holly Jackson WHI TMAN, born in 1822, in Greenbrier County, Virginia. He was the son of George WHITM AN of Greenbrier, of German extraction. In the 1850 census Holly was listed as 29, a farmer worth $300, with Robert WHITM AN, 41 and family (including a son named Holly J., born in November of 1849). He was conveyed 600 acres from what may have been a brother, Andrew M. WH ITMAN, in 1853, the year before he took a wife. Holly was a soldier in the Civil War.
By the time of the 1870 census, Holly and Mary had all of their eight children.
Mary wrote A.E. she had eight children, but three had died by 1901. Seven were accounted for in various census. The eighth was born and died between census, 1866-1867. The births of only five children were sent me by Nicholas County, West Virginia records. In 1870 the family was listed next to her father and step-mother in Muddelty Township, West Virginia.
In 1880 Holly and Mary were listed as 58 and 42, in Hamilton District, West Virginia, her 75 year old widowed father with them, and only Benjamin, Valentine, Thomas and Annie at home.
Holly died 10 February 1894, age 71 years, 4 months, 3 days. Mary remained on at the "home place", her son, Valentine Cackley WHIT MAN, remaining with her. The two are listed in the 1900 census, Hamilton District, West Virginia. She wrote A.E. that he was the only one who had not left her. She also wrote that two of her sisters had died by 1901.
Mary Elizabeth died 16 November 1910, at her home near Persinger, West Virginia at the age of 74 years, 4 months, 19 days. She is buried with Holly in the Ewing-Whitman Cemetery, West Virginia.
ISSUE:
3-3-1-1 1. James William WH ITMAN, b. 27 Sept 1855 Nicholas County, West Virginia.
2. Martha WHI TMAN, b. 1858 Nicholas County, West Virginia.
3. Benjamin E. W HITMAN, b. 1860 Nicholas County, West Virginia. 1880: at home 1900: not in West Virginia Index.
4. Nancy M. WHIT MAN, b. 1862 Nicholas County, West Virginia. Not in 1880 West Virginia Index.
5. Valentine Cackley W HITMAN, b. Aug 1865 Nicholas County, West Virginia. 1880: 16, at home, 1900: w/mother at home.
6. Rebecca W HITMAN, b. 22 May 1866 d. 19 Aug 1867 - 1 year, 10 months, 27 da. Buried: Ewing-Whitman Cemetery Nicholas County, West Virginia.
7. Thomas E. WHITMAN, b. 1868Nicholas County, West Virginia. 1880: 11, at home, 1900: no record in West Virginia Index. (Informant on Mary's death record)
8. Annie WHIT MAN, b. May 1870Nicholas County, West Virginia. 1880: 9, at home
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3-3-1-1 JAMES WILLIAM WHITMAN
Ewing Family Lineage: Mary-James-John Smith-John-James
The eldest child of Holly and Mary (EWING) WHITMAN, and the only one we know anything about, was born 27 September 1855, in Nicholas County, West Virginia and that is where he grew up. He taught school five terms in Nicholas County and in 1877, at the age of 22, left Nicholas in favor of Logan County, Ohio - no doubt on the recommendation of his Ewing cousins there. He taught a year in Logan County and then went to Champaign County, Ohio, the next county south of Logan County. He was married in Champaign County on 20 February 1879 to Flora A. ATHA, daughter of Thomas and Sabina (HEARVEY) A THA. Flora was born in Logan County, Ohio, 16 February 1861.
In 1885, James and Flora decided to tackle the "wild" of a neighboring Ohio county to the northwest, Van Wert. They took up residence in Union Township and for the next year, James did little but clear the land and set up his farm.
But he soon became involved in township politics, and was clerk of the township 4 1/2 years, and a member of the school board 7 1/2 years.
In 1895, James ran for county clerk on the Democratic ticket ("Mr. Whitman being an uncompromising Democrat") in a Republican stronghold, but lost by 20 votes.
In the fall of that year he and his family moved from Union Township, into the town of Van Wert. In the 10 years preceding, he had built up quite a reputation as a contractor and builder. Many of the farm houses, barns and 17 of the schoolhouses in Van Wert County were built by him.
Sadly, after finding James in the BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF VAN WERT COUNTY, OHIO, we lose him. Three daughters are listed in the sketch with birth dates, but they bear little resemblance to the county clerk's records.
According to those records Flora died 10 March 1900, in childbirth. There is no sign of James nor any of his children in the 1900 Ohio index. The only WHITMAN found in the index in Van Wert County, was an Emma, b. August 1863, Ohio, listed Union Township, with Holly J. (obviously a relative of James'), Lizzie and Virgil, b. 1890, 1893 and 1894. It is possible that Emma was the widow of his brother, Benjamin. Perhaps he, and Thomas as well, also went to Van Wert County, Ohio.
There are no WHITMANS listed in the Van Wert phone book of 1981, and I found none appropriate to the cause in the Ohio Roster of World War I soldiers.
ISSUE: (according to the sketch published in 1896)
1. Jennie W HITMAN, b. 12 Apr 1886 Union Township, Van Wert Co., Ohio.
2. Ethel May WHITMAN, b. 23 June 1892 Union Township, Van Wert Co., Ohio.
3. Ilo Bell W HITMAN, b. 6 Nov 1894 Union Township, Van Wert Co., Ohio.
ISSUE: (according to Van Wert County Clerk)
1. Eugene WHI TMAN, b. 18 Oct 1885
2. Ethel WHIT MAN, b. 23 Jan 1891
3. Harold M. WHITMAN, b. 2 Mar 1900 (born after sketch published and eight days before Flora died)
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Mary EWING, born 8 July 1806, when Pocahontas County was Bath County, Virginia. Mary was 18 when the family moved to Logan County, Ohio and were near neighbors to the Alexander BURNSIDES. Both Mary and her only sister, Ann, married Burnsides brothers. Mary and Samuel G. were married 19 February 1828, in Logan County, by Reverend Joseph STEV ENSON. Ann and Andrew married two years later.
Samuel was born in 1803 back in Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia. Shortly after the birth of their first child, Rebecca, in 1831, Samuel and Mary headed west with several others on both sides of the family from Logan County, Ohio to a county in the upper left hand corner of Indiana by the name of La Grange.
In 1834, Samuel established a sawmill on his farm on Crooked Creek in the northeast corner of Greenfield Township, La Grange County, Indiana, almost in Michigan and almost in Steuben County, Indiana. He sold the mill about 1845 to Peter B ISEL, and for at least 40 more years it was in almost continuous operation.
Samuel and Mary, on leaving the mill, took up land in Bloomfield Township where they were listed in the 1850 census worth $13,000.
Samuel died sometime in the next decade. Mary was left with five children, ages in 1850; 19, 17 or 18, 14, 10, and 1. In the 1860 census Mary was head of household with just the two youngest daughters, Sarah Ann and Mary Jane at home.
By the 1870 census, Mary at age 64, had given up the homestead and had moved in with daughter Rebecca and her husband, Joshua ROOP, who were living in Lima Township, La Grange County, Indiana. In the 1880 census, Mary was listed twice, first with the ROOPS in La Grange ("retired") and again with the SQUIERS (her daughter Elizabeth and husband, William W. S QUIER) in Angola, Steuben County, Indiana, next door to
La Grange County.
A.E. set down Mary's death date in two places. In one he said 1886 and the other, 1889. I do not know which is correct, nor whether she died in La Grange or Steuben Counties.
ISSUE:
3-4-1 1. Rebecca BURNSI DE, b. 1831 Logan County, Ohio.
3-4-2 2. Elizabeth BURN SIDE, b. 1832/1833 La Grange County, Indiana.
3-4-3 3. John W. BURNSI DE, b. 1836 La Grange County, Indiana.
3-4-4 4. Sarah Ann BURN SIDE, b. 1839/1840 La Grange County, Indiana.
5. Mary Jane BURN SIDE, b. 1849/1850 La Grange County, Indiana. 1850: age 1, 1860: age 10, (but age given as 65 on 1909 Ewing Family reunion roster, in Hillsdale, Michigan) Married: 1 Oct 1867, La Grange County, Indiana, David K ELLY. 1909: At reunion without husband, resident of Chicago .
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Ewing Family Lineage: Mary-John Smith-John-James
Rebecca was born in 1831 in Logan County, Ohio before her parents had left for La Grange County, Indiana. She was married in La Grange County, 22 February 1852, to Joshua ROOP, born July 1825 in Pennsylvania.
I did not find them in the 1860 census, but in the 1879 they were living in Lima Township, La Grange County, Indiana, he a carpenter, worth $15,000/$2,000. In the census of 1880 they were also in Lima and he was still a carpenter. This time Rebecca's mother was living with them.
By 1900 Rebecca had died and the widower Joshua was still living in Lima. He had his wife's widowed sister, Sarah Ann WEB STER, living with him, also two grandchildren, Ruth M. RO OP, born October 1889 in Indiana and Laomas R OOP, born August 1891 in Indiana. The only child of Joshua and Rebecca was Mary, born 1869 and the children must be hers. She was not listed with Joshua in the 1900 census.
ISSUE:
1. Mary R OOP, b. 1869 La Grange County, Indiana.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Mary-John Smith-John-James
It was after Samuel and Mary had moved to La Grange County, Indiana that Elizabeth was born, about 1832 or 1833, according to the censuses, though her age on the Ewing family reunion roster of 1909 was given as 79.
Elizabeth was married in La Grange County on Christmas Day, 1853, to William W. SQUIER, who was born in 1822 in New York. His mother was Jane SQUIER, born in England. His father, whose name I do not have, was born in Connecticut.
The two were first found after their marriage in Greenfield Township, La Grange County in the 1860 census. He was a farmer, and his worth was down as $4,000/$600. By 1870 they had moved to Pleasant Township, Angola, in Steuben County, Indiana. His occupation was cabinetmaker and his worldly goods amounted to $4,000/$1,070. At that time his mother, Jane SQUIER, was living with them. In 1880 they were living in Angola, and he had become a justice of the peace. Her mother was listed with them, although she was also listed that census year with another daughter in La Grange County.
William may have died prior to 1909. At least he was not at the Ewing reunion in Hillsdale County, Michigan with Elizabeth that year. Elizabeth attended with her daughter Jennie, and cousins Elton and Ellen E WING and very special attention was paid them, because they were Indian John's descendants, while the other at the reunion were all Swago Bill's (mostly Enochs). They even had their picture taken, which is now in the family archives.
And bless them for attending. Without that one teeny clue in the register book at that reunion, I might never have known that the EWINGS and BURNSIDES of La Grange and Steuben Counties, Indiana ever existed.
ISSUE:
1. Mary Ann SQU IER, b. 1854 La Grange County, Indiana. 1880: 25, at home, a school teacher. Not at 1909 Ewing reunion.
2. Sarah Jane (Jennie) S QUIER, b. 1857/1858 La Grange County, Indiana. 51 years old on 1909 Ewing reunion register. 1880: 22, at home, a seamstress.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Mary-John Smith-John-James
John was born in La Grange County, Indiana in 1836. He was married about 1856 to Julia FRA NCIS, born 1833, New York. Julia's mother's name is known (Prudence), as she was living with John and Julia in the 1880. Prudence was born 1795 in Rhode Island.
Apparently John did fairly well for himself, though no mention is made of him in any of the La Grange County histories. In 1860 he was living in Greenfield Township, a farmer, worth $5,000/$499. In 1870, same place, his worth had increased to $10,000/$1,000. In 1880, also Greenfield, they had two servants.
ISSUE:
1. Mary B URNSIDE, b. 1858 La Grange County, Indiana. 1880: not with family
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4-4 SARAH ANN BURNSIDE
Ewing Family Lineage: Mary-John Smith-John-James
Sarah Ann was born in June 1840 in La Grange County, Indiana and was married about 1862 Theodore W EBSTER, born 1838, New York. They lived in Greenfield Township where they were listed in the 1870. Theodore was a farmer then, worth $8,500/$2,000. Robert BURNS IDE, born 1850, was listed with them.
Theodore had died by 1900 and the widow Sarah Ann was listed as a member of the household of her sister's widower, Joshua ROOP, in Lima Township, La Grange County. She had three children, two then living. In 1912 her address was listed by A.E. EWING as Angola, Indiana, which is in Steuben County.
ISSUE:
1 Laura WEBS TER, b. 1864 La Grange County, Indiana.
2. Arthur WEB STER, b. 1868 La Grange County, Indiana.
3. _____ WEBSTER, b. after 1870 and died, .pre-1900
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
There can be no doubt that the fifth child of John and Rebecca was named for his maternal grandfather. Valentine was born 31 October 1807, in Pocahontas County, when it was Bath, and went to Logan County, Ohio with his parents.
When many of the Ewings and Burnsides left Logan County, Ohio and went to La Grange County, Indiana about 1830 or 1831. Valentine was with them. He was married 20 April 1833 in La Grange, Indiana to Mary B ARR, born Franklin County, Ohio, daughter of Amos and Fairby (B LOXTON) BA RR, early pioneers in Indiana from Delaware. They were married about the same time as her sister, Elizabeth, married James E. BUR NSIDE, another son of Alexander and Elizabeth.
The BARRS and BURNSIDES were at varying times back and forth across the Indiana-Michigan state line, in White Pigeon, St. Joseph County and Bronson, Branch County in Michigan, as well as the top tier of townships on the Indiana line,
Van Buren, Lima, and Greenfield in La Grange County. James E. BURNSIDE had a saw and flouring mill at White Pigeon, and Samuel G. BURNSID E, Valentine's brother-in-law, had a sawmill on Crooked Creek in northeast corner of Greenfield Township. We do not know what part, if any, Valentine played in those ventures. It appears he may have owned land in Greenfield Township and that may be where he died. Yet when his widow remarried, the wedding took place in Bronson, Michigan, 10 or so miles to the north.
Apparently Valentine's death came at an early date. At least it would appear so from the fact that he seems not to have had any children. If there were any they were not mentioned in a sketch on Mary and her second husband, nor on the POWELL list.
I keep having this in the back of my mind: In May, 1836, a few months after his marriage, James E. BURNSIDE, in company with two companions, left on horseback for Iowa to find a suitable place to settle. (He eventually selected Buffalo on the Mississippi River, Scott County, Iowa, just outside Davenport.) I keep thinking that Valentine was one of those companions, and that something happened to him enroute. But that's only guesswork.
At any rate, he had died prior to 28 June 1848, for that is when Mary and her second husband, Fleming HOPKI NS, were wed in Bronson. She had previously traded her land (presumably that which was acquired by Valentine) in Greenfield Township to her brother, John B ARR, for the Amos BARR land, also in Greenfield, which John had inherited, and that is where she and Fleming settled to raise their family of four, Margaret, Hannah, Richard and Mary HOPK INS.
NO KNOWN ISSUE
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3-6 ANN EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Ann and her sister, Mary, were the only two girls in a family of 13. Imagine being surrounded - overwhelmed - by 11 brothers! Ann, named for her paternal grandmother, was born in 1810 in Pocahontas/Bath County, Virginia and was 14 when the Ewings went "west" to Logan County, Ohio. There, like her sister before her, Ann married a son of the Ewings' friends and neighbors, the Burnsides. She and Andrew BURNSID E were married 12 January 1830 in Logan County by the same minister who married Mary and Samuel G., Reverend Joseph STEPHENSO N.
Before marriage Andrew was engaged in building mill races in Monroe Township. He earned enough money to purchase his 174 acre farm at $4 an acre. According to the 1875 Logan County Atlas that land was Lot No. 3224 on Road T - 164, southwest of Pickerelltown, in Monroe County, Ohio. He also owned 160 acres of land in Kansas. In addition to farming, Andrew was also the chairman when the original Ludlow Road was laid out, and he raised wheat on the "Enoch Bottom", which he hauled to Sandusky for 30 to 40 cents a bushel. "Andrew was a Democrat of Jackson type."
Andrew and Ann lived the lives of a typical Midwestern farmer and his wife. They did not budge an inch in their life-times, residing at their deaths on the same farm where they settled after marriage. They raised a "passel of younguns" - 7, 8, 10, or 12, depending on whose list you are reading.
My list of 10 children is surpassed only by the POWELL list, which adds an Eliza and a John not recorded in any census, nor listed by any of the others. The others are two sketches in Logan County, Ohio histories, plus one drawn up by Samuel G. Jr., in his Civil War pension papers. Some of those sources list names the others do not and omit ones the others have. They also say "deceased" after names noted as "living" at a later date.
With the exception of Eliza and John, the POWELL list and mine concur exactly, except order. No birthdates are given in the POWELL list, just names. Eliza and John must have been born and died prior to the 1850, or in the decades between various censuses.
In the 1850, 1860 and 1870 census, Andrew is listed as a Monroe Township farmer. In 1850 his worth was $3,000; in 1860, $6,700/100 and in 1870, $6,000/$1,000.
Ann died in November, 1879. In the 1880 census, Andrew had his daughter Sarah Jane living with him, also his widowed son, Andrew Jr. He was then 75. I do not have the record of his death.
ISSUE:
3-6-1 1. Alexander BURNSI DE III, b. 16 Aug 1833 Logan County, Ohio.
2. Mary B URNSIDE, b. 1836 Logan County, Ohio. Not in 1860 Census, "deceased" by 1882.
3. Rebecca BURNSIDE, b. 1838 Logan County, Ohio. Not in 1860 census, but not down as "deceased" in 1880 sketch. Listed as "deceased" in 1915.
3-6-4 4. Andrew B URNSIDE, b. 18 Aug 1839 Logan County, Ohio.
3-6-5 5. Samuel G. B URNSIDE JR., b. Aug 1842 Logan County, Ohio.
6. Franklin E. BURNSIDE, b. 1844 Logan County, Ohio. Not in 1870, 1880 census, but living in 1882 and 1915.
7. Ann BURNSID E, b. 1847 Logan County, Ohio. Not in 1860 census. 1882: Deceased.
8. Sarah Jane BURNSIDE, b. 1848 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: 26, single, at home, 1915: living.
9. Elizabeth B URNSIDE, b. May 1850 Logan County, Ohio. Not in 1870 census.
10. Malinda Cordelia BURNSIDE, b. 1856 Logan County, Ohio. 1870: 15, at home. 1915: living.
11. Eliza BURNS IDE - dates not known
12. John BURNSI DE - dates not known
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Ewing Family Lineage: Ann-John Smith-John-James
Alexander was born on Andrew and Ann's newly acquired farm in Monroe Township, 16 August 1833. Presumably he was their first born, though the POWELL list is headed with Eliza, who could have been born in that long 3 1/2 year gap between their marriage and Alexander's birth.
Alexander was actually Alexander III, for his father had a brother who was Alexander Jr. Junior also lived in Monroe Township and many of his children bore the same names as Andrew's children. It took a lot of fast thinking to keep them apart.
In the 1850 census Alexander was 17, at home. Some time about 1857 he was married, his wife's name being Hannah. Their marriage is not on record in Logan County, Ohio. In 1860 they were in Monroe Township, he a farmer worth $720/$450. In 1870, he was again in Monroe Township. This time his occupation was given as a farm laborer; his worth 0/$500.
In 1880 he was still a Monroe farmer, 47, but by the time of the 1900 census, they had moved to Zane Township, Logan County, the next township east from Monroe. Hannah's sister and a boarder also lived with them.
Hannah, born June 1835, in Indiana, died sometime between the 1900 census and 1906. On 26 December 1906, Alexander married Grizella (WILSO N) I NSKEEP, who was listed in the 1900 census as a widow with her son, Joshua IN SKEEP, the head of the household. Her birth was down as having taken place February 1837 in Canada, her parents born in Ireland. At the time of the marriage he was 72, living in Zane Township, she 62, living in Middleburg, Zane Township.
Alexander died prior to 1915.
ISSUE: (by Hannah)
1. Mary BURNSI DE, b. 1858 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: 23, teaching school.
2. Ella BURNSI DE, b. 1860 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: not in census.
3. Emma BURNSI DE, b. 1862 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: Not in census.
4. Ida BURNSID E, b. 1865 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: 15, at home.
5. Benjamin Franklin BURNS IDE, b. 1868 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: 12, at home. 1900: not in Ohio Index.
6. Malinda BURN SIDE, b. 1870 Logan County, Ohio. 1880: not in census.
7. Laura BURNSI DE, b. Oct 1872 Logan County, Ohio. 1900: single, living with uncle, Samuel G. BU RNSIDE JR. (3-6-5), Kansas City, Missouri.
8. Orren/Oran B. B URNSIDE, b. Apr 1872 Logan County, Ohio. 1900: listed in census. Married: about 1897, Eliza _____ b. Nov 1876, Salem Township, Champaign County, Ohio.
Issue as of 1900:
1. Clifford BU RNSIDE, b. May 1898.
9. William E. BRUN SIDE, b. June 1874 Logan County, Ohio. Married: about 1899, Belle _____ b. Feb 1875, Ohio. 1900: Wayne Township, Champaign County, Ohio.
ISSUE as of 1900:
1. Lester BRUN SIDE, b. Feb 1900. 1900: had boarder, Amos JOHN SON
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Ewing Family Lineage: Ann-John Smith-John-James
With three birth dates to choose from, take your pick. A sketch on Andrew BURNSIDE in Logan County history says 18 August 1849, his 1900 sketch says September 1844, yet he was continually listed in census ahead of Samuel G. who was born 9 August 1842. In census through the years he shows up as 10 in 1850; 20 in 1860; 28 in 1870, and 38 in 1880. I say his birth date is more likely to be 18 August 1839.
In any event, Andrew, in his youth, went to school in winter and helped his father on the farm the rest of the time. He lived right on the home place Andrew and Ann acquired in 1830 all his life, even after his marriage about 1874. The marriage is not on record in Logan County, but his wife was Mary Olive (Mollie) SPR ING, born 1846 in Virginia. They had two children before her death on 17 April 1878 of consumption. Andrew, 38, is listed in the 1880 census as widowed with his widowed father.
Andrew married again in 1885, and again the marriage is not on record in Logan County. His wife was Adeline BUSKIRK, called Allie, daughter of Andrew and Jane (LONGBU RG) BUS KIRK, born 22 April 1869. They had two children, but only one, Orrin, was living in 1900.
On the death of his father, Andrew fell heir to the homestead near Pickerelltown, Monroe Township, according to the 1903 sketch. Strange, though, that the 1900 census should record "rents farm." At that time the family had Allie's brother, Alonzo SPRI NG, living with them.
Andrew's death date is not known but it was after 1915. He "voted with the democracy and held membership in the Baptist church, being interested in the growth and success of both."
ISSUE: By Mary Olive SPRING
1. Minnie BURNSIDE, b. 18 August 1876 Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. (A 1900 sketch says September 1875). 1900: With Andrew, Occupation: Servant, Single.
2. Harry Vernie B URNSIDE, b. 11 March 1877, (Marriage record says, 11 February 1877), Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. Married: 1st about 1899, Esther S HORT b. Sept 1881, Ohio d. 1900/1909. 1900: no issue, Resident: "near state bridge".
Married: 2nd 7 July 1909 by Rev. E.H. WOODMARTH - Bessie ME YERS, b. 1883 Logan County, Ohio - daughter of E.F. and Jennie (READI NG) MEYERS. Bessie was a seamstress in Middleburg. Harry a hay merchant in Bellefontaine, Ohio. 1900: Harry and Esther "Esta" in Monroe Township, he farmer, down as Vernie, two families from Andrew, lots of SHORTS nearby.
ISSUE: By Adeline BUSKIRK
3-6-4-3 3. Orrin BURNS IDE, b. 16 Dec 1886
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3-6-4-3 ORRIN BURNSIDE
Ewing Family Lineage: Andrew-Ann-John Smith-John-James
Orrin BURNSIDE was the son of Andrew and his second wife, Adeline BUSKIRK. He was born 16 of November or December 1886, in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. Orrin and Alice L. S TANDLEY were married in Logan County, 13 March 1907, by Wallace JO HNSON. Alice was born 1 March 1880, in Indian territory, daughter of Thomas and Emma (GRE EN) STAND LEY.
KNOWN ISSUE:
1. Orrin H. BURNSIDE. In 1978, Orrin and his wife, Virginia "Mick" FREDER ICK, were living at 320 N. Troy Road, Bellefontaine, Ohio 43311.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Ann-John Smith-John-James
Samuel G. BURNSIDE was the only one of the EWINGS-BURNSIDES of Logan and La Grange Counties to have served in the Civil War. Maybe that is the reason he spent the rest of his days in Kansas City, Missouri, as a livestock commissioner, instead of West Liberty, Ohio, as a farmer.
According to his pension papers, he was born 9 August 1842. In the 1850 and 1860 census he was 8 and 18 and at home.
He enlisted 12 December 1836 in Marion County, Ohio for three years in Co. D, 82nd OVI (Pension No. 1244426). He was wounded 27 June 1864, at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain. He was raised to the rank of Sergeant, 1 October 1864, and was mustered out at Washington D.C. 3 July 1865.
Presumably he went back home to Monroe Township after his discharge, but he was not listed there in 1870. By 1872 he was in Kansas City, for he married there on 28 September 1872 to a H. Matilda MILL ER, by whom he had two children. H. Matilda was born 4 May 1854 in Livingston County, Kentucky. She died 26 October 1895 in Kansas City of cancer.
Two years later, on 26 September 1897, Samuel married Josephine (WALL S) B OYINGTON, divorced wife of Homer H. BO YINGTON. Samuel and Josephine had three children. But strangely Samuel is listed in the 1900 census as a widower, with only his niece Laura BU RNSIDE (3-6-1-7) living with him. Where were Josephine and his children? At that time he was at 1055 Garfield Avenue, Kaw Township, Jackson County, Missouri. Occupation: livestock commission manager.
Samuel died in 1924 at the Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Military Home at the age of 82. Josephine died 15 June 1931. Of his five children it is only known that one child was born in 1878 in St. Louis and that a daughter, b. October 1879, married W. D. D OOLITTLE in 1926 and lived at 1114 Bellefontaine Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri. In 1981, there were no DOOLITTLES at that address.
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Archibald, born 17 November 1812, on Stony Creek, was 12 when the move to Ohio was made in 1824. He is accounted for in the 1830 census, but was gone by the 1840 census, as were all the other brothers except the two youngest, Benjamin and Edmonson. Though he may have wondered about his father's suggestion in his will that he and the other brothers stay at home and take care of the farm until they got married, Archibald appears to have tucked his $5 inheritance in his pocket and headed west, presumably in the company with Andrew.
Archibald and Andrew were in Van Buren County, Iowa, at least by 1843, the year of Andrew's marriage there. It is so strange to me to find two young men going alone to a place like Van Buren County , Iowa, settling there and then getting married. I looked long and hard for marriage records back in Ohio for these two. Most men of that time married at home, started their families and then hit out for the likes of Iowa, or else went in family groups. The unmarried ones did not stop in Iowa, but went on to where adventure called, like Oregon, or California, even before the Gold Rush days.
But Van Buren County is where Archibald and Andrew wanted to be and that is where they went. After all, others in the EWING family - the HOLCOMBS were there.
Archibald was married in Van Buren County about 1844 to Catherine "Kate" M YERS, born in Ohio in 1826. Her parents were born in Virginia and Ohio. Archibald and Catherine are in a special Iowa census of 1847, with a family of four. Andrew was also in that census (four in the family) and an R.H. E WING was also listed - alone. This R.H. could have been their brother Robert.
By 1850, Andrew had headed with his family to California, but Archibald threw his lot with Van Buren County, where he lived until he died. In the 1850 census, he was a farmer in Farmington Township and the same place in the 1860 census, Post Office, Bonaparte, occupation, laborer, worth 0/80. In the 1870 census, either the township had changed or he had moved, for he was now listed in Bonaparte Township, laborer, $800/$150.
Archibald died between 1870-1880. In the 1880 census the widow Kate was head of household, 54, in Bonaparte Township, only two sons, Samuel and Archibald Jr. still at home. There was no sign of the other sons in the 1880 Van Buren census, nor of any of them in the 1900 Iowa index, except as noted below.
There were EWINGS in Bonaparte in 1977, but no relation to Archibald and Kate. I talked to one of them and he noted that he had seen stones "up on the hill" for some EWINGS. "they have been dead a long time," he said.
ISSUE:
1. John E WING, b. 1845 Van Buren County, Iowa. 1850/1860 Census - at home. Not in 1870/1880 census.
2. Jacob EWING, b. 1 July 1847 Van Buren County, Iowa d. 1 Aug 1863. Buried: Bonaparte Cemetery, Van Buren County, Iowa.
3. Isaiah EWING, b. 1849 Van Buren County, Iowa. 1850/1860 Census - at home. Not with the family in the 1870/1880 census. 1880 Iowa index -Isaiah Ewing in Des Moines, (right age) a shoemaker, born 1849 - Iowa, father born Virginia, mother Ohio. Wife: Amelia EWIN G, b. 1850, Pennsylvania Parents Germany. [Updates from a Bible. Information received April 2006. Isaiah b. 7 April 1849, Bonaparte, Van Buren County, Iowa, died 11 July 1937, Lewiston, Idaho; buried Kooskia Idaho, Idaho, Pine Grove Cemetery. He married Amelia Zimmerman on 6 Feb 1890 in Oskaloosa, Hahaska County, Iowa. She was born 11 Dec 1849, Wellersburg, Somerset County, PA and died 21 April 1938 in Lewiston, Idaho and buried Kooskia Idaho, Idaho. She is the daughter of Lewis Frederick Zimmerman and Elizabeth Hokseider.]
Children: all born Iowa:
1. Leena EWING, b. 1876
2. Harry EWING, b. 1877/1878
3. Frank EWING, b. Feb 1880. Not there in 1900.
4. Andrew J. E WING, b. 1852Van Buren County, Iowa. 1860/1870 Census - at home. Not in Van Buren, 1880 Census.
5. G.W. EWIN G, b. 1861Van Buren County, Iowa. 1870 Census - 9 years. Not in 1880 Census.
6. Thomas EW ING, b. 3 Sept 1862 d. 3 Jan 1863. Buried: Bonaparte Cemetery, Van Buren County, Iowa.
7. Samuel EW ING, b. 1863 Van Buren County, Iowa. 1880 Census - at home.
8. "Our Babe" E WING, b. July 1864 Van Buren County, Iowa d. 12 Aug 1864. Buried: Bonaparte Cemetery, Van Buren County, Iowa.
9. Archibald EW ING JR., b. 1866/1867 Van Buren County, Iowa. 1880 Census - at home.
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3-11 ANDREW EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Few people were there who were born in West Virginia in the early 1800s and became a representative in the state legislature of California. Andrew EWING was one.
And few people are there in California today who are fourth generation Californians. Barbara Ewing POWELL, Andrew's Great-great-great-granddaughter, is.
Andrew's life spanned an exciting time, and he made the most of it. He seems to have been one of those in our EWING family pre-ordained to go beyond what was the norm among young men of those times.
"Why did you go to California?"
"Because it was there."
Andrew was born 17 August 1818 on the Ewing "plantation" on Stony Creek, but by the time of his sixth birthday he and the family were in Logan County, Ohio.
He was nearly 20 at the time his father's will was drawn up and, like Archibald, probably wondered at the clause in it dictating his future. but, also like Archibald, he did not let it bother him and set off with his $5 inheritance at the first possible opportunity - no doubt accompanying Archibald, his senior by almost six years.
Andrew and Archibald were in Van Buren County, Iowa by 4 January 1843, the date of Andrew's marriage in Keosauqua, with Reverend James BROW N doing the honors. His bride was Mary DAIL EY, recently arrived in Van Buren with his family from West Virginia, where she was born 19 March 1822.
They are listed in the special Iowa census of 1847 as a family of four - Andrew, Mary, Charles and Samuel. Their third child, Rebecca, came along in 1848.
The following year the cry in the land was "Gold" and Andrew heard it. But unlike most men, who went out to the coast alone to make their fortunes (or not) and then returned to their families (or not) the Ewing venture became a family affair.
TO MY AUNT OF COTTONWOOD, CALIFORNIA
THE VENERABLE MARY DAILEY EWING
In this epic poem Sumner detailed the life of his Aunt Mary.
He has her married in Iowa and then.........
III
Few the years till golden treasures
On Pacific's slope are found,
Luring many restless spirits
To its fields, the wide world round,
Then the spirit of adventure
Thrilled my honest uncle's frame
As he yearned for treasures golden
And presumed to seek the same.
Sharing in this bold endeavor
Is my Aunt with hand and heart,
Busied with the preparation.....
Anxious for the hour to start.
To a little grave and lonely
Goes she once again to see
Where was laid a little dear one,
Ere its years were numbered three,
O'er this little grave so lonely
For the last time bends and weeps,
But unfading recollections
In her mind she ever keeps.
Then the wagon as a foretime
Laden with their journey's need,
Drawn by oxen slow and stubborn
Which on prairie verdure feed,
Was the mode of transportation,
Mode so comfortless and slow,
For the mighty railroad system
Belted not the plains as now.
There is some question about the year of their departure from Iowa and arrival in California. A sketch and Andrew's obituary have it as 1853, yet they do not appear in the census for Van Buren County, Iowa of June 1850, which would indicate that they were by then on the road.
The "little dear one" whose grave Mary paid a visit to before they left Van Buren County was Rebecca, born 22 Apr 1848. The poem says she had died "ere its years were numbered three," meaning in her second year, 1850.
Sumner's poem describes their journey west in detail - sometimes in pretty gory detail, as he recounts the instances of thirst, famine and foe in that tedious, fearful journey across a continent. But finally -
"After weeks yea months of travel
Which had tired but not fatigued
Which led o'er mountains, plains and deserts,
Which had toil with pleasure leagued,
Come the trav'lers of our story
To their lengthened journey's end
In the "Golden State" where nature
Woos the mind with her to blend.
Their stopping point in California was Stockton, San Joaquin County, west of San Francisco. Presumably it was here that Edgar was born in 1851. They were there until 1854, making preparations for their venture into the mountains and Gold Country. Andrew had selected Chinese Camp, Tuolumne County (the next county east of San Joaquin) as the site of his mining ventures, and for there the intrepid family set off in 1854.
They were in Chinese Camp eight years. Andrew mined. No one has told me how he made out, but as he ended his life comfortably, I can presume he did fairly well.
And Mary? In those eight years what must her life have been like? Sumner describes it thus:
Then the frontier life resuming,
See the subject of this sketch,
Fraught with increased care and duty
That such life is sure to fetch
Woman who in zealous watchings,
Guards her own domestic hearth,
Meeting needs of home and children
With a grace that proves her worth.
Always mindful of the comforts
Of a neighbor, stranger, friend,
See my Aunt in ceaseless workings,
To their diff'rent needs attend;
Cooling brows with fever burning,
Setting forth the miner's meal,
Hast'ning to the latest horror,
Though such sights the blood congeal,
Caring for some hapless orphan
Left thus in those distant parts,
Father, Mother, fallen victim
To disease's fateful darts.
Proff'ring stranger rest and shelter
Who had come o'er many seas.
Death that's proof against all pity
When he gazes on the young,
Looks again upon her circle
Singles out the fairest one,
Draws his bow, consults his quiver,
Chooses from, a fatal dart,
Sure his aim, his hand is fettered -
Stilled is little Daniel's heart
Beaut'ous boy! whose life was summers
Less in number than the quarter score.
Daniel, the fairest one that death singled out, was Daniel Stewart EWING, born 29 Jan 1855, in Chinese Camp, died "less than a quarter score," 1859 or 1860. After that Andrew and Mary's family numbered three - Charles, Samuel and Edgar.
They came down out of the mountains in 1862, destination this time, the Tassajara Valley of Contra Costa, just east of San Joaquin County and much nearer to San Francisco. There on 25 August 1865, their last child was born, Laura Ann EW ING.
They were in Contra Costa three years. Finally, in 1868, (Andrew 50) their travels were over. Andrew homesteaded in Merced County, at Cottonwood, a village that long ago disappeared from the map and is now only open farm land. In that vicinity, 112 years later, his descendants live to this day. Merced County is just one county south down the valley from San Joaquin County. Stanislaus County being in between the two counties.
Andrew's main interest was in building up his ranch ("he farmed to grain"). but in 1877 he was placed in nomination by the Democratic party to represent his district (Merced and Mariposa Counties) in the State Assembly - "and was an easy victor over his Republican opponent." He was a member of the 22nd California legislature 1878 and 1879, the session when the San Joaquin Water Project was first introduced.
In the 1880 California census he was listed in "The Territory West of the San Joaquin River", 60, a farmer. Listed with him and his family were Benjamin FLORES, 26, a vaquero, born California, parents born Mexico; John D AVIS, 50, laborer from Wales, and William S KINNER, born New Hampshire.
1880 was the year Andrew added to his holdings by purchasing 80 acres of land under the San Joaquin-King's River Canal, 4 1/2 miles from Gustine, Merced County, California.
In the 1890's Andrews health began failing but he waged a good fight. However, he died on 11 October 1895, age 77, and was buried in the cemetery at Cottonwood, Merced County.
The homestead fell into good hands, those of Laura, the youngest daughter and only surviving child, wife of William A. DUNNIN G.
Mary survived her husband by 11 years. In the 1900 census, she was living with the Dunnings at Cottonwood. Mary died in 1906, age 84 and was buried next to her husband in the Cottonwood Cemetery.
Journeyings trans-continental o'er,
Bowed with age, bereft of fam'ly,
Years that's mounted past four-score,
She is lingering in the twilight,
Not forgotten nor alone
Though her sons and noble partner,
By the stroke of death are gone,
For a daughter gives her presence
Gives her child-devotion too,
cheering with her sweet, "my mother,"
As the rose receiving dew,
Leads her - oh, such gentle leading!
Pleads her on a daughter's love recline,
Watches for the wish withholden
With a care that seems divine.
When life's twilight gently closes
Passing into shades of night,
Dearest Aunt! her vision failing
As the glory-land she sights
May she have angelic escort,
Is the prayer of him who writes.
The last funeral was held in 1920 in the Cottonwood Cemetery. It's 50 years of incorporation ended in 1935. In 1947, California Senate Bill 205 stated Cottonwood Cemetery Association was to deed it's property to the Hills Ferry Public Cemetery District in Newman, Stanislaus County, California and all human remains were to be removed. The headstone of Andrew and Mary Daily Ewing now rests in the Hills Ferry Cemetery.
ISSUE:
1. Charles E WING, b. 3 Apr 1844 Van Buren County, Iowa d. 27 Aug 1870 (? - same day as Edgar). Married: Lillian H oux.
3-11-2 2. Samuel EWIN G, b. 7 May 1846 Van Buren County, Iowa.
3. Rebecca Jane E WING, b. 22 April 1848 Van Buren County, Iowa d. before June 1850.
4. Edgar E WING, b. 2 Oct 1851Stockton, San Joaquin County, California d. 27 Aug 1870 ? - same day as Charles).
5. Daniel Stewart EW ING, b. 29 Jan 1855 Tuolumne County, California d. 1859/1860 "less than quarter score" Tuolumne County, California.
3-11-6 6. Laura Ann EWI NG, b. 25 Aug 1865 Contra Costa County, California.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Andrew-John Smith-John-James
Samuel was born 7 May 1846, in Van Buren County, Iowa, and was four when that long journey across the prairie and mountains was undertaken. By the time the family had settled in Merced County he was 22, but it was 14 more years before he took a wife.
It is his great-granddaughter, Barbara Ewing POWELL, who is the fourth generation California - not because of Samuel but because of the woman he married. She was Letitia Catherine TINNI N, born 6 February 1858 (the year of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate) in Smartville, Yuba County, California, the daughter of Ambrose and Sarah (BOLLIN GER) T INNIN.
On 20 July 1883, at Cottonwood, they had a son, Charles Leslie, their only child. Three years later Samuel died, on the 14th day of September 1886, at Sturgeon, Merced County, California, age 40 of cancer. He is buried was in the Cottonwood Cemetery and later his tombstone was moved to the Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman, Stanislaus County. Letitia survived him by 80 years, and never remarried.
How does one occupy 80 years of widowhood? Letitia was very independent, "quite liberated, way ahead of her time," and for her it was no problem. Charles was put in a Catholic school in Stockton, while Letitia lived in Newman. She was a mid-wife and became a well-known figure in her community, and everyone called her "Aunt Tish." In later years the town adopted her.
She traveled a lot, visiting her mother, sisters and brothers in the Oakland, San Francisco and Santa Cruz areas of California.
When her son, Charles' wife died in 1919 during the flu epidemic in California, Letitia moved in, and took on the job of raising her two young grandsons, Samuel Elwyn and Kenneth Robert.
In 1954, Letitia gained national fame by appearing in Ripley's "Believe It or Not" because she was still driving a car at the age of 95.
However, her driving days ended three years later when she fell off a step. Being a rather large woman, when she fell she broke her hip, and "Aunt Tish", who had not been seriously ill a day in her life, found herself in the hospital. Many thought that because of her age she would not survive the surgery necessary to put a pin in her hip to mend the break, but she surprised everyone, including the doctors, by coming through the surgery beautifully.
But the doctors did advise that she be placed in a rest home. You can imagine how independent "Aunt Tish" took to that idea! She was placed into a rest home in Oakdale, Stanislaus County, near her grandson Kenneth Robert E WING. She was treated royally - but had to be watched ever so closely, as she kept sneaking out of bed (she did not want to be a bother to the nurses!)
On her 100th birthday the town of Newman had a big open house for her and brought her from Oakdale to Newman. The whole town turned out - as well as friends and relatives from all over California. One of her special guests arrived in time to help her celebrate - her first great-great grandchild, Catherine Louise ALL EN, daughter of Barbara Ewing POWELL, just 16 days old.
Through the years "Aunt Tish" had seen her family depart one by one - her parents, her husband, her brothers and sisters, in 1962, her great-grandson Kenneth Charles EWING and in 1963, her son, Charles. Her immediate family consisted of her two grandsons, Samuel and Kenneth, her great-granddaughter, Barbara and Barbara's two daughters, Catherine Louise and Melonie Marie ALLEN.
This was the family that gathered around her at the Oakdale rest home on 6 February 1966 to help her celebrate her 108th birthday. Just a little party - coffee and cake - with family and friends, but it marked a great occasion.
Every year in the past decade on her birthday she had received congratulatory messages from the Presidents of the United States. This year was no exception. Into her scrapbook went notes from President's Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson.
"Aunt Tish" accomplishment of attaining 108 years made the Associated Press wire service. At that time I was on the staff of the Muskegon (Michigan) Chronicle - 2,500 miles away - and the item appeared in our daily. The name meant nothing to me then, but I clipped it and put it in my "Unknown Ewings" file. How nice it was to find out in a later year that "Aunt Tish" was not an unknown, but very real kin.
On 6 March 1966, exactly one month after that memorable birthday party, "Aunt Tish" died, having contracted the flu. She is buried in the Ewing Family Plot at the Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman, Stanislaus County, California.
ISSUE:
3-11-2-1 1. Charles Leslie EWING, b. 20 July 1883 Cottonwood, Merced County, California.
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3-11-2-1 CHARLES LESLIE EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: Samuel-Andrew-John Smith-John-James
Charles was born 20 July 1883 in Cottonwood, Merced County, California and was just past 3 years old when his father died. He spent his early years as a resident student at a Catholic school in Stockton, California. In the 1900 census he was listed as 16, servant with the Eugene MC CABES, neighbors of the Ewings in Cottonwood area of Merced County. Charles' first marriage was on 17 February 1907, in Merced, Merced County to Lillian BUTTS, daughter of Robert James and Mary (WHITWORT H) BUT TS. She was born 19 October 1883 in Pleasanton, California. They had two sons.
"Lillie" died in the flu epidemic of 1919 - on the 11 of January, near Ingomar, Merced County, California, leaving sons 12 and 9 years old. She is buried in the Ewing plot at the Hills Ferry Cemetery outside of Newman, Stanislaus County, California.
"Charlie" as he was called by family and friends,
"batched it" for 36 years. His second wife, whom he married in Reno, Nevada in 1955 was Delphina D. GIOVANNO NI CAR EY. Charles died 19 August 1963 in a Modesto, Stanislaus County, "rest home." He is buried in the Ewing Plot at the Hills Ferry Cemetery, Newman, Stanislaus County, California. "Del" died
7 June 1969 at the age of 81 years and is buried in the Hills Ferry Cemetery.
ISSUE: By Lillian BUTTS
1. Samuel Elwyn EWING, b. 13 Dec 1907 Cottonwood, Merced Co., California d. 17 June 1981, Buried: Hills Ferry Cem. Married: Gladys Louise CLARK b. 29 Jan 1908, Stockton, CA daughter of George W. CLA RK & Ruth E. WILSON d. Aug 1980, Buried: Hills Ferry Cem.
Issue:
1. Barbara L. EWI NG, b. 29 May 1938 Newman, Stanislaus Co., California.
2. Kenneth Charles E WING, b. 3 May 1941 Newman, Stanislaus Co., California d. 16 Dec 1962, San Francisco, CA.
2. Kenneth Robert EWI NG, b. 20 May 1910 Cottonwood, Merced Co., California d. Oct 1990, Oakdale, Stanislaus Co., CA. Buried: Knights Ferry Cemetery, Knights Ferry, Stanislaus Co., California. Married: 1st Georgia BETTENDOR F AL LEN. Married: 2nd Eva Z ORN.
Raised Georgia's daughter, Beverly A LLEN
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Ewing Family Lineage: Andrew-John Smith-John James
Laura was born in the Tassajara Valley, Contra Costa County, 25 August 1865 and was married on the Ewing Ranch on the 22 day of August 1883 to William A. DUNNING. William was born 10 August 1856 in Washington County, Maine, the son of Albion and Mary (FOSTE R) DUNNI NG.
After their marriage, William leased the old Ewing Ranch and other land and bought 40 acres and on this he build their home. William farmed this and other land nearby and built up quite an estate.
Fortunately the two led a compatible life and did not let their politics come between them. Laura, like her father, was a Democrat and William a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. They were both very much involved in the Masonic Order.
Laura died in the 1930's and William in 1949. Both are buried at Hills Ferry Cemetery, near Newman, Stanislaus County, California.
ISSUE:
1. Mary Ray DUNNI NG, b. Oct 1888 Merced County, California. Married: M.F. LAMB of Stockton, San Joaquin County, California.
Issue:
1. Francis Dunning L AMB, b. 1915
2. Jean Elizabeth LA MB, b. 1918
2. Gladys Elizabeth DUNN ING, b. 19 Dec 1902. Graduated from University of Southern California, Class of 1925. Married: _____ THOMAS. 1970'S lived Shafter, California.
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Benjamin made it an even dozen in the John Smith/Rebecca EWING household on Stony Creek. He was born 13 November 1819, when the cabin was still in Bath County, Virginia and was less than 5 years old when his parents removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he grew up.
One of the Ewing neighbors in Monroe Township was an early Logan County settler by the name of Conrad MOOTS. Among his daughters was Mary Ann, born 1819. She was Benjamin's first wife, but their marriage is not on record in Logan county. They were together in the 1850 census, he a farmer with property worth $1,620. His mother, Rebecca, 65, and brother, William, 47, were with them.
Mary Ann died childless between 1850 and 1857. About 1858 (again the marriage is not on record in Logan County) Benjamin married Ann CAR RELL, daughter of another early Logan County settler, from New York. Nancy was born in Ohio in 1832.
Benjamin and his brother Edmonson inherited by John Smith EWING'S will the latter's estate in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. Edmonson eventually removed to La Grange County, Indiana leaving Benjamin in sole possession of the property and the only descendant by the Ewing name remaining in Logan County.
(His BURNSIDE sister, Mary EWING, was there too.)
In the 1860 census, Benjamin was listed as a Monroe Township farmer, property worth $6,889, personal worth, $1,500. Robert BURG ESS was listed with them. In the 1870 census, Benjamin was listed with real estate of $14,690 value and personal property, $1,970. Listed with them was James S EAMAN, 22, farm laborer.
In the 1875 Logan County atlas, Benjamin's property is accounted for - a quarter section (No. 4490) in Monroe Township, on County Road - 171, two or three miles southwest of Pickerelltown.
In the 1880 census, Benjamin was down as 60 years, Nancy 49. He died three years after that census, on 12 March 1883, of lung fever, age 63 years, 4 months, 27 days.
His will, dated 10 January 1883, was proved on 29 March 1883. On 2 April 1882, he had given his son, James S. EWING, $5,000 and that was to be James' portion of the estate. The rest was to be divided between the other three children, Sumner, Rebecca and Charles, but they were not to receive it until the youngest, Charles, attained the age of 21, eight years hence.
As son Franklin was not mentioned in the will it is to be presumed he had died prior to the making thereof. The EWING/POWELL list also names a Robert not accounted for in any census, nor in the will. Presumably he had died young also.
Strangely the will does not provide for Benjamin's "beloved" wife, Nancy, at all - it just names her as an executor, along with Peter F. HULSI ZER. Benjamin did not ask that there be no appraisal or sale of his property, but apparently there was none anyway, or if there was, it is not part of the record.
Apparently the old Ewing homestead eventually did pass out of Ewing hands however. By 1900 all the children were living in other nearby counties, except Sumner, who was still in Monroe Township, but boarding with the REYNOLDS family.
The youngest, Charles, seems to have remained on at the homestead the longest. At least his first four children were born in Logan County. After the birth of Nelson in 1896, the family moved to Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. That was shortly after the death of Charles' mother, Nancy on 14 August 1895, age 63, of heart trouble.
ISSUE:
3-12-1 1. James S. (Smith?) EWING, b. Sept 1858 Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio.
3-12-2 2. William Sumner EW ING, b. June 1860 Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio.
3. Robert EWI NG, b. and d. in the 1860's
4. Rebecca EW ING, b. 5 Mar 1863 Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio d. 24 Mar 1897 Champaign County, Ohio of consumption, 34 years, 19 days. Occupation at death: Housekeeper in Champaign County. Death on record at Logan County.
5. Franklin (Benjamin Franklin?) E WING, b. 1866 d. apparently prior to 1883, after 1880. Not mentioned in father's will.
3-12-6 6. Charles EWING, b. 1869
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Ewing Family Lineage: Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
James was born about 1859 in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. In the 1880 census he was 21 years old, at home. His marriage to Lucy _____, born October 1857 in Ohio, is not on record in Logan County, but it was about 1882, and may have been coincidental with the receipt on 3 April 1882, of $5,000 from his father. The $5,000 became James' portion of Benjamin's estate according to his will.
In 1900, James and Lucy were living in Union Township, Champaign County, Ohio.
ISSUE: (as of the 1900 census)
1. Ethel B. EW ING, b. Oct 1884
2. Earl B. EWI NG, b. May 1889
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Ewing Family Lineage: Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
"Blackhawk" A.E. EWING called him. I do not know the significance of that. Apparently the two corresponded, but I do not have any of his letters nor A.E.'s carbon replies to him. It was Sumner (the name he always went by), who found Indian John's leather bound book when they tore down his father's old house, and sent it to A.E. for inspection.
Sumner was born June 1860, in Monroe Township. He was a teacher, author and a great poet. An example of his epic poetry is to be found in the section under Andrew EWING (3-11), from a published book of poems.
Sumner was interested in family history to a certain extent, enough so that he wanted to help perpetuate the memory of his great-grandfather, Indian John EWING, and used his creativity to help raise funds for the John and Ann memorial stone at Holcomb Cemetery, Vinton, Ohio.
Not having children of his own, he borrowed his nephews, the four sons of his brother, Charles. He helped them put on an act in which they dressed up as Indians and sang the Indian song he composed for them. Then he took them on the train from their home in Springfield, Ohio, to Hillsdale, Michigan, where they attended the 1904 Ewing reunion. There they were the star attraction - and passed the hat afterwards. From there Sumner took them to Ewington for the 1904 Ewing reunion there, and they repeated the bit and were a smash. The "Four Little Shawnees" have gone down in Ewing history.
Sumner attended other Ewing reunions and there are reports that at one of the reunions he sang a solo in a beautiful voice.
In 1880, Sumner was 20 and at home. In the 1900 census, he was living in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio, boarding with the REYNOLDS family, occupation, school teacher.
The Benjamins and the Andrews obviously kept in touch across 2,500 miles through the years, and when Sumner left Ohio in favor of California, he sought the circle of his kin there, even though he had never met any of them. Sumner's first of many trips to California was in October of 1886.
Sumner wrote a "Brief Autobiography" in which he tells of his many travels throughout the county, as well as Mexico and Cuba. On many of his trips he told of staying and working at many different occupations and then traveling home, teaching for a term and then traveling again.
Sumner never married. He passed his Indian John artifacts on to Benjamin Franklin EWI NG, who gave them to Barbara EWING POW ELL. Sumner died in Stockton, California about 1938.
The song Sumner's nephews sang at the Ewing reunions to raise money for Indian John and his wifeМs, Ann, monument.
THE SHAWNEES' PLEA
by
William Sumner Ewing
Last year we sang a song
With a yook, yook yell
But now we sing a song
With a story to tell,
Of old "Indian John"
In his last resting place,
To which tradition points.
CHORUS
No stone to mark his grave,
No slab his name or time;
Now to erect a monument,
Oh! won't you give a dime?
We'll soon wait on you with the hat,
For wampum great or small -
A quarter beats the biggest dime,
The dollar beats them all.
We sing of his name
And we sing of his time,
And of his daring deeds
Some one has tried to rhyme,
But all these are found
On history's living page,
And not tradition lore.
CHORUS
And now shall we that live
Who boast his name and race,
Continue to recall his fame
Neglect his resting place.
'till by and by oblivion
Will draw her curtain down,
Nor can tradition raise?
CHORUS
Our tomahawks are very dull
We're four unskilled Shawnees;
We can't carve out a monument
We can but sing our pleas
And urge you to unite as one
to mark that lonely grave,
And we'll sing on as we begun-
Oblivion to brave.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
Charles was born in November 1869, in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. He was 13 when his father Benjamin died in March 1883, and was named in the latter's will to receive one-third of Benjamin's estate along with his siblings Sumner and Rebecca. The three were to receive their inheritance when charles had reached the age of 21, which event took place in November 1890. By that time, Charles had already been married a year and was the father of a daughter. He and Lillian HOUX were married in 1889, but the marriage is not on record in Logan County. Lillian was born in January 1868 in Ohio, to George and Susan (TURN ER) HOUX who were born in Maryland and Virginia.
Charles was the last of Benjamin's family to leave the old homestead, apparently remaining at home with his mother until after her death in 1895. At least his first four children were born there, the last of those born in 1896. The fifth was born in 1900 in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio. That is where the Ewings were living in the 1900 census - at 457 Harrison Street. Charles was a laborer, they rented their home, and they had a boarder.
In 1904, Charles' brother Sumner, asked to borrow their four sons, then 4, 7, 10, and 12 to take "on tour" - that is, to two Ewing reunions that summer, one in Hillsdale, Michigan and the other in Ewington, Ohio. The purpose was to "drum up" (excuse the pun) funds to raise a monument to Indian John and Ann Ewing at Holcomb Cemetery. Sumner had composed a song "The Shawnees' Plea" for the two oldest to sing, to the accompaniment of the two youngest. He dressed them up Indian style war-paint, feathers and tomahawks - and took the show on the road.
Billed as "The Little Indians," the four put on their act to the delight of those assembled at the two reunions, and apparently accomplished their purpose, for the monument became a reality.
The act was written up in the newspaper accounts of both reunions. But the youths' names were only given as Frank, Daisey, Spudge and Otis. Have you ever tried to track down 70 years later, men you know only by the names Frank, Daisey, Spudge and Otis? I wasn't even real sure that their last name was Ewing, they could have been sons of Sumner's sister. They were a real challenge, these four, and it took some detective work. But they've finally made it to these pages.
Charles died in 1943, and Lillian in 1946. Both are buried at Mt. Tabor Cemetery, about four miles east of West Liberty, in Champaign County, Ohio.
ISSUE:
1. Fern Faustina E WING, b. 1890, Logan County, Ohio d. 1891, buried with parents Mt.Tabor Cemetery, Champaign County, Ohio.
3-12-6-2 2. Benjamin Franklin EWING, b. 1 Jan 1892/93 Logan County, Ohio d. 12 July 1979, Gustine, Merced County, CA. Buried: Hills Ferry Cemetery, Stanislaus County, California.
3-12-6-3 3. Paul Garnet EW ING, b. 27 April 1894 Logan County, Ohio.
3-12-6-4 4. Nelson Hugo EW ING, b. 11 Nov 1896 Logan County, Ohio.
3-12-6-5 5. Charles Ottis EWING, b. 8 June 1900 Springfield, Clark County, Ohio.
3-12-6-6 6. Mary Adeline E WING, b. 13 Apr 1904 Springfield, Clark County, Ohio d. about 1982, Urbana, Ohio. Buried: West Liberty, Ohio (near Ewing Family plot) Married: Al TRA CY, about 1920. Divorced by 1938-used maiden name for rest of her life. Resided: Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida.
7. Chester Sumner EWING, b. 10 Dec 1906 Springfield, Clark County, Ohio.
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3-12-6-2 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
Born 1 January 1892 at West Liberty, Monroe Township, Ohio, Benjamin went all through life as Frank, and was the Frank of the Little Indian Quartet of 1904. Frank was just a young man when he first visited his California Ewing relatives. After that first trip, he would come to California often to work during grain harvesting, cooking for the crew. When the season was completed he would travel home to Ohio, visiting other relatives on his way. He, his sister Mary and her husband Al TRACY had a restaurant in Gustine, California during the 1920's. Frank also had a business in Urbana, Ohio in 1938.
Frank and Bertha M. VIRG O REE D were married 28 January 1948. Bertha was born 17 Oct 1878 in Fairview, California. They lived in California and in Urbana, Ohio for many years. Frank was Mayor of Urbana, Ohio for several years. Upon their retirement they returned to Gustine where they lived for the rest of their lives. Frank loved to play the piano and organ and was musician for the Masonic and Odd Fellow Lodges. Bertha was active in Eastern Star and Rebekah Lodges.
Benjamin had collected much information and artifacts about the family and passed it on to his young cousin, Barbara Ewing Powell, including the leather belt Indian John made while still a young man, possibly while a captive of the Indians.
Benjamin's wife, Bertha died 8 February 1979, at Gustine, Merced County, California just a little over three months past her 100th birthday. Frank died five months later, 12 July 1979, age 87. Both are buried in the Hills Ferry Cemetery, just outside of Newman, Stanislaus County, California.
Frank and Bertha did not have any children. Bertha had two sons from her first marriage, Howard and Russell REED .
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Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
Paul was born 27 April 1894, at West Liberty, and was called Daisey in his youth. One of the Indian quartet of 1904, he was a World War I soldier. Paul was 22 when he enlisted on June 21 1916, at Springfield, Ohio. He served in Co. B. 3rd Infantry, Ohio National Guard, until his discharge April 21, 1919. He was made a corporal September 1, 1917, a clerk 16 days later, was reduced to private, became a corporal in July 1918, made sergeant on October 26, 1918, and was reduced to a private on November 20, 1918.
Paul served in the defensive sector of Meuse-Argonne and Ypres-Lys, as a member of the American Expeditionary Forces from June 22, 1918 to March 28, 1919. He was slightly wounded in action on September 30, 1918. His address after discharge was 247 Chestnut Avenue, Springfield, Ohio.
Paul died in 1965, and is buried at the Military Cemetery in Springfield, Ohio.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
I wonder where Nelson got a nickname like Spudge! He was born 11 November 1896, near West Liberty, Ohio and was 7 when he and his brothers put on the Little Indian act at the 1904 reunions.
Nelson, like two of his brothers, served in World War I. He was in the Regular Army, and a member of the A.E.F.,serving in the Aisne-Marne Defensive Sector, April 23, 1918 to 2 April 1919. He was a prisoner of war from July 15, 1918 to December 7 of that year.
Nelson enlisted 8 June 1917 at Columbus Barracks. He served in Battery A, 10th field Artillery to February 24, 1919, and in Battery E. 329th F.A. to his discharge on 30 April 1919. His address after discharge was also 247 Chestnut Street, Springfield, Ohio.
Nelson died in 1928, age 32, and is buried in the Military Cemetery at Springfield, Ohio.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Benjamin-John Smith-John-James
Charles came into the world the year a new century did. He was born 8 June 1900, at Springfield, Ohio. He was only 4 when the Little Indians made a plea for funds at the two Ewing reunions of 1904.
Charles also served during World War I, but did not go overseas. He entered the Regular Army at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, June 3, 1918, as a member of the 16th Service Company, Signal Corps, stationed at Ft. Wood, New York until November 27, 1918. From then on until his discharge on November 1, 1918, Charles was in the Quartermaster Corps. Charles made Private First Class on November 1, 1918. He lived in Springfield, Ohio after his discharge.
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Ewing Family Lineage: John Smith-John-James
Edmonson was the baker's dozen in the family of John Smith and Rebecca Ewing - the "baby," of 13 children born in the cabin on Stony Creek. It was not long after his arrival on 14 May 1824 in Pocahontas County (when it was reallyPocahontas County) that the family departed the mountains of West Virginia for the farm lands of Ohio and he was probably the only one who rode all the way - in his mother's arms.
Edmonson is accounted for in the 1830 and 1840 Logan County, Ohio censuses, but is not to be found in the 1850 Ohio or Indiana census. However, as his first child was born in 1851 in Indiana, I assume he was there, or close to there, in 1850.
He and Benjamin were heirs to their father's homestead in Monroe Township, Ohio. Edmonson left and Benjamin stayed. Presumably Benjamin bought Edmonson out.
Edmonson was married twice, both times in Lagrange/La Grange (both spellings have been used. 1990 County Courthouse records spell it Lagrange) County, Indiana, where Edmonson settled near others of his family who had gone there 20 years before. Edmonson's home was in Johnson Township, Indiana where he was a blacksmith.
His first wife was Hannah STEAD. They were married 1 April 1850, in Lagrange County, Indiana. They had one child, Rebecca Hannah EWING, born 1851. She appears in the 1860 census, but none thereafter. She is named on the Powell list, but a grandson of her half brother had never heard of her.
At some time after Rebecca's birth but before 1854, Hannah died and Edmonson married again. His second wife was Elizabeth SMITH, born in Ohio in January of 1836. They had two children. In the 1860 census the family was in Johnson Township, Indiana, Edmonson a blacksmith, worth $400/$125.
Edmonson died during the 1860's and I thought he might have been a casualty of the Civil War, but no record of service, and no pension papers have been found. In that decade he was 36-46 years of age and Elizabeth 24-34. A.E. EWING's record shows his death date as 1871, but Elizabeth was a widow in the 1870 census. She was then 33 in Johnson Township with her two children, Charles EWING, 14 and Ellen EWING, 10.
By the 1900 census Ellen had married Homer MC CRAY and Elizabeth was living with them in Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana. I do not have the date of Elizabeth's death.
ISSUE by Hannah STEAD
1. Rebecca Hannah EWING, b. 1851, Indiana. Not with family in the 1860 census. Charles' grandson did not recall ever hearing about her. She was on the Powell list.
ISSUE by Elizabeth SMITH
3-13-2 2. Charles Elton E WING, b. 30 April 1855 Wolcottville, Lagrange County, Indiana.
3-13-3 3. Ellen (Ella) EW ING, b. Nov 1859 Wolcottville, Lagrange County, Indiana.
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3-13-2 CHARLES ELTON EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Charles was born 30 April 1855 in Johnson Township, Lagrange County, Indiana, the first child of Edmonson and his second wife, Elizabeth. His father died when he was very young, leaving the widow with two children. Charles was listed with Elizabeth in the 1870 census, Johnson Township.
On 12 April 1876, he was married at Sturgis, Michigan to Ellen Larisa HOWA RD, daughter of John and Catharine (MILL ER) HOW ARD. Ellen was born 4 March 1853, in Lagrange County, Indiana. In the 1900 census they were listed at Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange County, Indiana, but by 1902 they had moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Charles attended the 1909 Ewing reunion at Hillsdale, Michigan with others of his family. Charles died in Kalamazoo, Michigan 8 April 1921.
ISSUE:
3-13-2-1 1 Lulu Edna EWIN G, b. 19 Dec 1880 Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange Co., Indiana.
3-13-2-2 2. Lottie Erlene EWING, b. 9 Apr 1884 Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange Co., Indiana.
3-13-2-3 3. Forrest Howard EWING, b. 8 Nov 1891 Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange Co., Indiana.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Lulu was born 19 December 1880 at Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange County, Indiana. She was married twice, the first time on 11 March 1905, to George L. R OSS of Noble County, Indiana. They lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan and had two children. Her second husband was Edward WILBOR N of Eaton County, Michigan.
ISSUE:
1. Elton Alexander ROS S, b. 16 Nov 1909 Kalamazoo, Michigan d. 1928.
2. Howard Hittler ROS S, b. 7 Apr 1912 Kalamazoo, Michigan d. 1917.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Lottie was born 9 April 1884 at Wolcottville, Orange Township, Lagrange County, Indiana. She was married 23 March 1902 at Valentine, Lagrange County, to Jason W. SPADE of Lagrange. They lived at Flowerville, Michigan and had five children. Jason died January 1965 and Lottie in December that same year.
ISSUE:
3-13-2-2-1 1. Edna Pauline SPADE, b. 3 Feb 1903 Kalamazoo, Michigan.
2. Hubert Elton SPADE, b. 20 May 1904 Kalamazoo, Michigan. 1920's lived Flowerville, Michigan. 1978: 301 W. Vienna, Schoolcraft, MI 49087
3. Ellen Irene S PADE, b. 6 Sept 1905 Kalamazoo, Michigan d. 13 May 1919 Schoolcraft, Michigan.
4. Mary Frances SPADE, b. 20 Apr 1913 Vicksburg, Michigan d. 1950.
5. Forrest Walter SPADE, b. 5 June 1915 Schoolcraft, Michigan.
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3-12-2-2-1 EDNA PAULINE SPADE
Ewing Family Lineage: Lottie-Elton-Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Edna was born 3 February 1903 in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she was married on 26 August 1920 to Iven BECKER of Schoolcraft, Michigan. They lived in Schoolcraft and had three children. Edna died in 1929, when her youngest was 6 years old.
ISSUE:
1. Helen Irene BECK ER, b. 21 Apr 1920 Schoolcraft, Michigan.
2. Mae Laurene BECK ER, b. 30 July 1922 Schoolcraft, Michigan.
3. Jean Frances BEC KER, b. 29 Nov 1923 Schoolcraft, Michigan.
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3-13-2-3 FORREST HOWARD EWING
Ewing Family Lineage: Charles-Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Forrest was born 8 November 1891 in Wolcottville and died in 1953. He was married about 1923, his wife's name being Mabel Viola
ISSUE:
1. Cletus Homer EWING, b. 16 July 1924 Branch County, Michigan. Married: about 1950, Norma J. H OPKINS, (daughter of Norman HOPKIN S), b. 27 Aug 1927.
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Ewing Family Lineage: Edmonson-John Smith-John-James
Ellen was always called Ella. She was born in November of 1859 in Johnson Township, Lagrange County, Indiana. Her husband was Homer MC CRAY whom she married about 1880, after the census. In the 1880 census Homer was 21 and lived at home in Kendallville, Noble County, Indiana. Occupation: telegrapher.
Homer was born in Ohio in 1858, the son of Hiram and Amanda ( REYNOLDS) MC CRAY. Hiram had a butter and egg business on William Street in Kendallville. In solving the problem of storage for his products, Hiram developed a commercial refrigerator, for which he was granted a patent in the 1880s. He was preparing to go into the manufacture of the units when he died, but the work was taken over by his son, Elmer, who built the McCray Refrigerator Company plant on McCray Court in 1891. The plant was the leading industry of Kendallville until about 1970.
Homer may have been associated with his brother in the business but I have not found any record of it. Homer and Ellen built a large, lovely home on Main Street in Kendallville, where the two of them lived. In 1900 Ellen's mother Elizabeth was living with them.
Ellen died in Kendallville in 1933 and Homer in 1941.
NO ISSUE: