Ewing Family Association

Book
Clan Ewing of Scotland
Elbert William R. Ewing, A.M., LL.B., LL.D.

Chapter XX

A Maryland-North Carolina Branch

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One of the distinguished Ewing branches, long numerous in North Carolina, traces descent from one of five brothers, probably all of whom were born in Maryland. I have been unable certainly to learn the ancestor’s name. Information concerning this branch came to me very recently, and there has been no time to study its traditions. I have a hope that the publication of this work will stimulate such an interest in our family history as will, among other things, bring to light much regarding the early history of this branch. That the first American ancestor of this family was closely related to the early Cecil County and other Ewings here under consideration I am sure. This branch has a well-authenticated tradition that its early Scotch ancestors bore arms, and the emblazonments in the possession of the American descendants disclose the identical ancient Ewing arms, representative pictures of which have been given.

The family tradition is that there were five brothers of this family born to the first American ancestor, who came from Scotland and established his home in Maryland. John, one of the five, was born in 1730. The father probably came with some of those we distinguish as the older Cecil County family. Of the children of Joshua Ewing, four sons appear to be identified; Capt. Patrick, Robert, Samuel and Nathaniel. Nathaniel, we are sure, who was the ancestor of Vice President Stevenson, went from Cecil County, Maryland, to Iredell County, North Carolina. John might have been older than Capt. Patrick. As the Ewings moved out to the unsettled sections, as was that part of North Carolina then, they established homes not far apart in groups of two or more. Nathaniel, of this family, subsequently went to Kentucky in 1816, and so quite probably each of the five brothers were then in as many States, as this John’s descendants have the story.

If not a brother, as appears to me the most reasonable working hypothesis, then I am sure this John and Nathaniel were first cousins.

John married Mary Pratt in Maryland, went to Richmond County, North Carolina, and built his home on Mountain Creek, near Chapel Mills, in 1785. He died in 1804, and his wife, born 1738, died in 1821.

Their children were: (1) Isaac, 1774, 1857, married Phoebe Jackson in 1796, and she died in 1855. Her mother was the daughter of Richard Thompson, who was the grandfather of Naomi Bostick, wife of William Bostick. (2) Thomas. (3) Samuel, who married Rachel Roe. (4) Joseph. (5) Christopher. (6) William.

(1) The children of Isaac Ewing were: (1a) John, born 1797, (1b) William, born 1799, (1c) Joseph, born 1801, (1d) Mary, born 1803, 1868, did not marry; (1e) Elizabeth, born 1805, died early; (1f) Isaac, born 1807, died 1872. He married Martha Ingram, a daughter of Montgomery Ingram, a grand-daughter of Edwin Ingram, a soldier of merit in the war of 1776, under General Greene. (1g) Ann, born 1810, died June 1872, married Calvin A. Everett; (1h) Phoebe, born 1812, died 1846, did not marry; (1i) Rebecca, born 1815, died 1879, married William Parsons; (1j) Eliza, born 1817, died 1820, did not marry; (1k) Kiziah, born 1821, died 1899. Married Daniel Parsons.

(1f) The children of Isaac Ewing, Jr., were: (1f1) Eliza Ann, married James Batton; (1f2) Rebecca P., married Eli Chappel; (1f3) Martha Jane, married Sandy McIntyre; (1f4) John W., married Mary Tyson; (1f5) Thomas M., married Fannie Tyson; (1f6) Sarah F., married Wm. Harris; (1f7) Levinia, married H. Broadway; (1f8) Joseph T., married Minnie Palmer; (1f9) Alin, married William Thompson; (1f10) Kate, married John Batton; (1f11) Helen, and (1f12) Mary L.

(1i) The child of Rebecca, daughter of Isaac Ewing, Sr., was David.

(1k) The children of Kiziah, daughter of Isaac Ewing, Sr., were: (1k1) James I., married Terrison Burnett; (1k2) Fannie Belle, married James H. Covington; (1k3) Elizabeth, died in infancy; (1k4) Mary, died in infancy; (1k5) Joseph, died in infancy.

(1a) John, the first child of Isaac Ewing, Sr., married Mary Chisholm. Their children were: (1a1) Thomas; (1a2) Sarah Ann; (1a3) Daniel; (1a4) William, whose first wife was Sally Everett; his second wife was Jane McIntyre.

[William's] children by his first wife were: (1a4-1) William T.; (1a4-2) Mary Ann; (1a4-3) Elizabeth; (1a4-4) Sarah; (1a4-5) Isaac; (1a4-6) Joseph.

[John's] children by [a] second wife were (1a1-d) John; (1a2-d) Thomas; (1a3-d) Joseph, who was a physician, married Mary Raeford.

[Joseph's] children were (1) James W., a physician and surgeon. He married Fanny Wooley. (2) Tabitha, married Zebedee Rush. (3) Judither, married Dr. Brooksher. (4) Minerva, married Hat Turner. (5) Mary died in childhood.

The children of Dr. James W. Ewing, who married Fanny Wooley were: (1) Joseph Preston; (2) Calvin; (3) Ida; (4) Will E.; (5) Annie; (6) Kemp Battle; (7) Jude; (8) James Raeford; (9) Everett.

Joseph Preston was born April 8, 1864, at Pekin, North Carolina. He received his primary education at Mt. Gilead, North Carolina. He graduated at the University of North Carolina Medical School in 1884, at the age of twenty years. On account of his age he taught school for two years and then conducted a drug store in connection with the practice of medicine from 1886 to 1890. He married Sallie Hearne Christian, February 26, 1890. The following September after his marriage he went to Baltimore and took a two years’ post–graduate course in medicine at Baltimore University, graduating in the spring of 1892. After his graduation there he practiced medicine and surgery at Dillon, S. C. He was connected with several enterprises in Dillon and other places. In 1910 he retired from the practice of medicine and bought a large tract of land in Cumberland County, near Fayetteville, North Carolina, and died in June 1916.

Calvin, born in Pekin, North Carolina, spent the greater part of his life in Florida and Alabama in the turpentine business, and died in 1920.

Ida, born in Pekin, North Carolina, married E. D. Whitlock, a merchant in Rockingham, North Carolina, where they now live. No children.

Will E., born in Pekin, North Carolina, a farmer and merchant, married Josie McGhee, of Jamestown, North Carolina. Their children are: (1) Glen; (2) Mary Ida; (3) Mack; (4) Annie Bess.

Annie, born in Pekin, North Carolina, married W. F. Bristow, a banker. They live in Fairmont, North Carolina. Their children are: (1) Jeddie Mae; (2) French; (3) Bessie; (4) Ewing; (5) Wayne; (6) Mebane; (7) Annie Ray.

Kemp Battle, born in Pekin, North Carolina, has a responsible position with the State for the past eighteen or twenty years; married Hattie Wendell. Children.

Jude, unmarried, is with her mother, who, as we go to press, is eighty-one years of age. They are living at the old plantation at Pekin, North Carolina.

James Raeford, born November 15, 1886, at Pekin, North Carolina, married Mattie McKinney, of Reidsville, North Carolina, December 28, 1920. They live in Rockingham, North Carolina.

Everett died at nine years.

The Children of Dr. Joseph Preston Ewing, the first son of Dr. James W. Ewing, are:

(1) Wall Christian, born April 3, 1891, at Dillon, South Carolina; Dillon high school, 1908; Donaldson Military School, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and college at the Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina; is secretary and treasurer of the Christian-Ewing Company, of Fayetteville, North Carolina. He married Douglas Southerland, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, in April 1920.

(2) William Raeford Ewing, born October 8, 1894, at Dillon, South Carolina. Dillon high school in 1910; North Carolina State College from 1911-1914. Enlisted December 14, 1917, in the army at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Transferred into the 1st Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Battalion in March, 1918, and immediately went overseas; sent to front in July, 1918, at Chateau-Thierry, as a machine gunner. Served almost continuously from July, 1918, until the armistice was signed on November 11, taking part in the following battles: Second Battle of the Marne (offensive), Toul Sector (defensive), Battle of the Somme (offensive), St. Mihiel (offensive), Meurthe-Moselle (offensive). Returned home in May, 1919. As we go to press has a responsible position as manager of the fertilizer plants of Christian-Ewing Company, of Fayetteville, North Carolina.

(3) Giles Frederic Ewing, born November 4, 1896, at Dillon, South Carolina; Dillon high school and Donaldson Military School; College at North Carolina State College, Raleigh, North Carolina. Served in The National Guard on the Mexican border from June, 1916, until August 15, 1917, when he was commissioned as a first lieutenant in the regular army. He went overseas with the 16th Machine Gun Battalion July 5, 1918, and served on the front on several different sectors, and took part in battle the Meuse-Argonne. He returned home on June 19, 1919, resigned from the army to accept a position with The Christian-Ewing Company.

(4) Joseph Preston Ewing, Jr., born September 18, 1899, at Dillon, South Carolina. Educated at Dillon high school and Donaldson Military School, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Enlisted in Co. F, 2nd North Carolina Infantry in June, 1916, at the age of 16, and went to the Mexican border. He volunteered for immediate service overseas and went over with the famous “Rainbow” or 42nd Division. He served on several defensive and offensive sectors, participating in the second battle of the Marne (Chateau-Thierry), St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne. He was wounded in the battle of the Argonne. He returned home in March, 1919. When discharged he took a position with The Cadillac Motor Company in Detroit.

(5) Robert McKenzie Ewing, born December 31, 1901, at Dillon, South Carolina. Accidentally killed at sixteen.

(6) Henry Barringer Ewing, born June 18, 1904; education at Manchester, North Carolina and Donaldson Military School, Fayetteville, North Carolina; enlisted n the navy in 1918 and served two years. He is in school as we go to press training to be an electrical engineer.

(7) Benton Montgomery Ewing, born February 3, 1907; education at Manchester, North Carolina and Fayetteville, North Carolina, and is in high school at Rockingham, North Carolina.

(8) Kent Ewing, born August 10, 1911, is in school in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

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Page last updated 13 October 2008.
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