HENRY ANDERSON EWING.

HENRY ANDERSON EWING was born in Bloomington, Illinois, August 9, 1841. His father was John W. Ewing, who was born in Statesville, North Carolina, February 9, 1808, and was of Scotch-Irish descent. His mother was Maria Stevenson who was born November 4, 1802, at Statesville, North Carolina. Her father was James Stevenson who was born at the same place in 1762, the son of Gabriel Stevenson who came to North Carolina from Pennsylvania in 1760. Both the Ewing and Stevenson families came originally from the Scotch settlement in Londonderry, Ireland.

The children of John W. and Maria Ewing were: Adlai (died in infancy) Nancy J., James S., John W., William G., Henry A., Adlai T. Of these all are living except the first who, as noted, died in infancy. James S. Ewing served as United States minister to Belgium during the last Cleveland administration. William G. Ewing was for four years—1885-9—United States District Attorney for the northern district of Illinois, and was later Judge of the Superior court of Chicago.

Henry A. Ewing spent his boyhood and youth in Bloomington in at-

tendance upon the city schools, acquiring a good working education. He responded to the call for volunteers when the war came on, enlisting as a private May 25, 1861, in Company E, Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He was offered a commission as captain, but modestly declined. His regiment very soon got into active service and as a part of the Army of the Tennessee took part in the campaigns from Donelson to Atlanta, participating in the battle of Shiloh and in the battles and sieges leading up to the capture of Vicksburg. The regiment made a better than average fighting record, traveling during the four years of its existence upward of 10,000 miles and fighting over country from Macon, Missouri, to the sea, and from Leavenworth to Washington. and H. A. Ewing bore his share of the gallant and arduous service. On April 6, 1862, after the battle of Shiloh, he was made a sergeant, and on July 12, 1863, was promoted to second lieutenant, with which rank he was mustered out June 18, 1864, at the expiration of his term of enlistment.

Returning to Bloomington, he was elected sheriff and filled that office two years. He then began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1867, practicing in Bloomington until December, 1883, with no interruption except that occasioned by a term in the Illinois legislature to which he was elected in 1879. In 1883 he came to Iola, Kansas, and since that time has been engaged in the practice of his profession and in conducting his large farm near the city. In 1888 he was elected county attorney and in 1890 was re-elected—the only county attorney who has been awarded a second term in recent years. He is a Presbyterian and a Republican.

Mr. Ewing was married March 28, 1866, to Elizabeth Julia Merriman, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Ewing's father was Henry Merriman, who was born at Hinsdale, Massachusetts, and was the son of Daniel Merriman, who was born at Dalton, Massachusetts, and the grandson of Jesse Merriman, also born in Massachusetts. Mrs. Ewing's mother was Sarah T. Bodurtha, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, the daughter of Harvey Bodurtha and Dolly Taylor.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were: Henry Wallis, (married August 5, 1893, to Alice Sweet, of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin, and whose children are Henry Wallis, Abbie Jane, Lucius Winchester and Lawrence Bodurtha); May Brevard, (wife of Charles F. Scott) Adlai Merriman, (married June 16, 1896, to Ella Taylor, to whom has been born one child, Annie McMillin), Elliott Winchester (deceased); Richard Avery, Ruth Stevenson and Sarah Katherine.

Henry A. Ewing is now associated in the practice of law with C. A. Savage, and the firm of Ewing & Savage is acknowledged to be one of the foremost at the Allen county bar.

Previous | Home | Next