My Genealogy Hound

J. W. Ewart was born in Summit County, Ohio, in 1839. He is the third son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Zerbie) Ewart, natives of Pennsylvania. He crossed the plains (to the Rocky Mountains) when eighteen years of age; after returning from the mountains went to Texas. After a short time in Texas he returned to St. Louis, and brought with him some Spanish cattle. After teaching awhile in the southern part of the State, he then went to Tipton, and to Syracuse, where he engaged in the lumber business. While in Syracuse he had charge of the business of McAlister & Beedies, while they were at St. Louis, and succeeded so well that he accumulated several thousand dollars to their credit, which was the beginning of his success. He then engaged in the lumber business at Sedalia, and at the breaking out of the Rebellion went to St. Louis. He then tried to find employment in Alton, Bloomington and Peoria, and finally succeeded at Ottawa, Ill. He then joined the Union Army (Company E, Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry), and reported at Camp Butler, where he was mustered in by Grant. He was sent out with another man to capture a deserter, but were themselves captured by the Confederates, held prisoners several months, and then paroled. He served at Corinth and Shiloh. He then went to Nashville, and was in the quarter master’s department, where he served until about the close of the war. He then went to Ohio, and persuaded his father to sell out and come to Missouri. He settled in Lewis County, Mo., where he has resided ever since, and married a daughter of Samuel Matlick, who came to this county in 1865; their children were Florence E., Thomas S., Shirley (deceased) and Claude H. He owns 260 acres of fine land, and pays particular attention to stock raising. He is a Republican, and a member of the G. A. R.