William was born in the 'Year Without Summer-1816', [1] in a community cut into the wilderness along the shore of Lake Ontario; accessible only by boat. [2] His parents, Benjamin James Ewing (1776-1852) and Eunice (Doolittle) Ewing (abt.1779-) were both children of United States Revolutionary War soldiers, but were enticed from Vermont to land opportunities in Canada in 1802; plus, William's maternal grandparents had previously migrated to Haldimand Township, Newcastle, Upper Canada in 1797.[3] William was the sixth child born to his parents.
William Wm Ewing was a Wagonmaker and Wheelwright.
When William was a teenager, private entrepreneur William Weller was trying to improve the roads and establish a stage line to Toronto. It was a cutting-edge occupation for William to apprentice in the wagonmaking & wheelwright trade. [4] His apprenticeship was either before or after his 'service to the government' that followed Upper Canada's Revolt of 1837.
William married Myra Rogers in 1842.[5]
With her, he had two surviving children, Charles Arkland, and Alice Myra, [4] but by June 14 1847 (as stated on his naturalization papers), [6] he had moved to New York, with or without them. He married Lovina Blowers in the approximate year of 1849, in Hillsdale County, Michigan.[7]
Life in Michigan, USA
In Woodstock Township, Lenawee County, Michigan, [8]in a community nicknamed 'Coonstown',[9]William and Lovina gave birth to two daughters, Frances (b. 1/11/1852) and Mary (b. 10/7/1853). In 1854,[10] the couple migrated with Lovina's family, and several other families, to the northern portion of Hennepin County, Minnesota Territory. [To name a few: Hiram, Chauncey, and Moses Blowers,[11] and the 'Adrian Colony' mentioned in The History of Hennepin County.[12]]
Life in Minnesota, USA
1854 to 1865
William Ewing was a settler in Minnesota before it became a state.
William became naturalized June 16, 1855,[13] and gained a military warrant on December 1, 1859 for 120 acres in section 10, T119-R22 (Maple Grove Township).[14] The property was next to his father in-law, Hiram Blowers, where William, and others in the community, met on July 31, 1858 and organized Maple Grove Township. [15] William worked primarily as a wagonmaker,[16] reflected in his 1860-1862 taxes. It appears he sold most of his land; retained just 40 acres and had only cleared 3; his 2 cattle and 1 hog were assessed at $39.[17]
On January 8, 1862, William was one of the founders of Brooklyn-Maple Grove Union Cemetery.[18] And then that fall, on September 23, 1862, William enlisted in the 1st Minnesota Cavalry Mounted Rangers Company C as a private; served as a clerk at Fort Snelling in the Quartermaster’s departments, and was mustered out on October 31, 1863.[12][19] Meanwhile, Ewing’s wife Lovina died (June 19, 1863), and was buried in her father’s lot ( Hiram Blowers) at Brooklyn-Maple Grove Union Cemetery. [20]
1866 to 1875
Based on the rosters of the Annual Town Meeting for Maple Grove Township (his residence prior to his third marriage), and for Brooklyn Township (his residence after marriage to Diadema Brown) he married for the third time in May of 1866. They lived with her parents on a sheep farm in section 19, Brooklyn township.[21]
For approximately eight years during his marriage to Diadema (she died in 1875),[22] William was exceptionally civic-minded. The newspapers and town minutes documented his social participation:
1874 Brooklyn Grange delegate to Hennepin Council of Patrons of Husbandry.[31]
1875 Election Judge (March 16, 1875) to incorporate Osseo, and elected first Recorder for Osseo (March 17, 1875).[32]
1876 to 1890
William had fifteen more year before his death in 1890. His residences and niche in the community varied during that time as documented:
1877-1879 Occupation: carriage maker. Employer: A.C. LaBrash, horse shoer, carriage maker, mill work and general blacksmithing at 795 N. 1st. Mpls. MN. Residence: 512 N 2nd Mpls. MN. [33]
1879 Hiawatha Lodge of Good Templars: elected secretary. [34]
1879 Prohibitionist Party: chosen to be on central committee for the ensuing year, and tasked to select candidates for members of the Board of Education. [35]
1880 Occupation: wheelwright with combination carriage and blacksmith shop.[12] Employer: Andrew Craik,[36] Residence: Edina Mills
1885-86 Occupation: wagon maker. Employer: R. T. Grimes, blacksmith at 2118 N. 2nd. Residence: 1810 N. 5th street with the Byron M. Brown family (his daughter, Fanny) in "85, and William Brown in '86.[39]
1887 - 1890 Occupation: wheelwright. Employer: Robinson & Mead. Boards with other employees (teamsters, wagonmakers, cook) at Dupont corner of Laurel Ave South. Note: this was a 2-story company boarding house built in 1887[40] The company had the city contract for road sprinkling, and was known for the best draft horse teams in the city.
His ending
William died of heart disease on March 13, 1890 as stated on his death record,[41] funeral notice,[42] and veterans grave registration. According to his granddaughter who applied for his veteran's monument a couple decades later, he had a heart attack during the night and died at once; no doctor was called. [43] The newspaper announced his death:
William Irwin, aged about 70 years, drop dead at his boarding house on Fifth street last night of heart disease. Irwin was a wagon-maker by occupation and for the past three year has been in the employ of Robinson & Mead. He has a married daughter living in the city. The coroner was called to examine the remains at midnight last night. The deceased had been troubled with heart disease for the past 10 years.
William's funeral was on March 16, in Osseo, and he was buried at Brooklyn-Maple Grove Union Cemetery, lot 1 (Maple Grove, Hennepin, Minnesota) next to Diadema, his third wife.[44]
Research Notes
Where was he during his 'one year in New York'?
How did he make the connection to the Blowers family?
Was he related to Mrs. Polly Cooley Blowers via his grandmother Naomi Cooley Ewing? UPDATE: Polly's father, Aaron, was Naomi's first cousin; Aaron's and Naomi's fathers were brothers.
Did his mother-in-law, Polly Blowers, who purchased property from the local blacksmith (and his wife) in Osseo, do so for the sake of her daughter and her husband William? That land transaction between Polly Blowers and Clarke/Lydia Ellsworth was made for $500 on February 21, 1862 and was witnessed by William.[45] But then, on February 24, 1862, Hiram/Polly Blowers gave a warranty deed to Clark Ellsworth for 80 acres in the same section aforementioed in Osseo, and for the same amount ($500); that transaction was witnessed by Lovina Ewing.[46]
↑ The Cobourg Star: "The Crofton Chronicles. Halidimand Township", Wednesday August 18, 1841; republished in Colborne Chronicle, August 19, 1981; (p.11 of 11 pgs) Cobourg, Ontario, Canada; downloaded from Cobourg Public Library.
↑ 4.04.1 Warner, Geo. E. and Chas. M. Foote; plus Neill, Edward & J. Fletcher Williams, History of Hennepin County and the City of Minneapolis including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota (By Rev. D. Neill) and Outlines of the History of Minnesota, (by J. Fletcher Williams) (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company. 1881. Johnson, Smith & Harrison, Printers. Minneapolis, Minn. p. 218.
↑ "Canada, Ontario District Marriage Registers, 1801-1858," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q2C1-GWBN : 20 February 2019), William Ewing, 29 Aug 1842; citing Victoria, Canada West, British Colonial America, Archives of Ontario, Toronto; FHL microfilm 1,030,054.
↑ Hennepin County. District Court. Naturalization Records, 1853-1942. Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, Minnesota 55102. #147.
↑ MN Historical Society Death Certificate: Family name
Mccausland
Given name
Mary
Middle name
Adelma
Date of death
Friday, 18 May 1917
Certificate Id
1917-MN-018753
County
Hennepin County. (birthplace Coonstown, MI) reviewed on-site June 14, 2014 by Jeanne Howe
↑ 12.012.112.2 Warner, George E; Foote, C.M.; Neill, Edward D.; Williams, John Fletcher; History of Hennepin County and the city of Minneapolis: including the explorers and pioneers ... (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1881)https://archive.org/details/historyofhennepi00warn/page/284/ (accessed 10/5/2023)
↑ Hennepin County. District Court. Naturalization Records, 1853-1942. Minnesota Historical Society. St. Paul, Minnesota 55102. #147
↑ MN Genealogical Society, First and Early Settlers of Hennepin County With Maps (Schmitz, Iva B, and Avery Stubbs. First and Early Settlers of Hennepin County, Minnesota. St. Paul, Minn: Minnesota Genealogical Society, 1991. (from first book of abstracts and files of West Hennepin Co. Pioneer Association: maps illustrate entries) p.12. Note: proved on 1 December 1859 https://glorecords.blm.gov/details/patent/default.aspx?accession=0136-012&docClass=MW&sid=mjxj0w13.n2v
↑ Deane Jim, Mary Lenzen, Dorothy Schoenmann. Maple Grove Memories. Aug 1977. p. 18. (Maple Grove Minn).
↑ Hennepin County Assessor, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Assessor Box 1 1860-1862 (Minnesota Historical Society 110.K.12.6F; reviewed on-site June 14, 2014 by Jeanne Howe
↑ Wangsness, E. B, Maple Grove Township, Hennepin County. Brooklyn and Maple Grove Union Cemetery. April 1936, Manuscript located in Cemetery Notebook for Hennepin County at MN Genealogical Society
↑ US National Archives & Records Administration. Ewing William Co C 1 MN Cav. 5 pages (rec' 9/1/2014 by Jeanne Howe
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15029923/lovina-a_m-ewing: accessed 05 October 2023), memorial page for Lovina A. M. Blowers Ewing (1 Feb 1832–19 Jun 1863), Find a Grave Memorial ID 15029923, citing Brooklyn and Maple Grove Union Cemetery, Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Jeanne Howe (contributor 47531390).
↑ Brooklyn Township Hennepin County Minnesota, various titles (MN Historical Society. See State Archives Notebooks for inventory; includes 5 boxes and 2 oversized folders.), Recorded sheep ear marks.
↑ Brooklyn Township Hennepin County Minnesota, various titles (MN Historical Society. See State Archives Notebooks for inventory; includes 5 boxes and 2 oversized folders.).March 1869.
↑ Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
23 Jan 1870, Sun · Page 4; 18 September 1870; (accessed 10/18/2023)
↑ Village government, Village of Osseo Minutes. (Accessed Fall, 2008.)
↑ Minneapolis City Directory, 1877,1878,1879. Accessed via Hennepin County Library Digital Collections.
↑ The Tribune. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Pub. Date January 30, 1879. Hiawatha Lodge of Good Templars elected the following officers for the ensuing quarter: W.C.T., L. Mel. Hyde; W. V. T., Lewis W. Williams; Secretary, William Ewing; F. Sec., J. C. Erwin; Treasurer, Mrs. De Laittre; Mar-shal, Thomas Stratton; Chaplain, Mrs. L. Noyes; Guard, Grace Wescott; Sentinel, John Stratton; P. W. C. T., D. Scofeld. They will be installed next Tuesday evening.
↑ The Tribune. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) Pub. Date March 24, 1879 page 4 col 4. Minnesota Historical Society digitized newspapers for 1867-1922. MNHS.org
↑ "Town Meetings. The Officers Elected for the Ensuing Year." The Minneapolis Journal (Minneapolis, Minnesota)11 Mar 1880, Thursday Page 4.
↑ MN Historical Society Collection
Secretary's book, 1879-1907. Minnehaha Grange Hall Association (Richfield Township, Minn.). 1879 - 1907. Examined by Jeanne Howe 2018.
↑ Hennepin County Library Minneapolis City Directory Collection 1859-1950, digitized at https://box2.nmtvault.com/Hennepin2/. Year 1885 pgs. 171, 280, 330; Year 1886 pgs. 183, 292, 345.
↑ Star Tribune
13 Feb 1887, Sun · Page 5 'Yesterday's Building Permits'
↑ "Minnesota, Birth and Death Records, 1866-1916," , FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XPD5-WZ9 : 23 February 2021), William Ewing, 13 Mar 1890; citing Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota, , Public Health Center, St. Paul; FHL microfilm 1,499,012.
↑ MN Historical Society Adjutant General's Office Graves Registration Section, Ewing William Civil Co. C. 1st MN Cavalry, next of kin: Mrs A. U. Willing.
↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/71220333/william-ewing: accessed 11 November 2023), memorial page for William Ewing (Dec 1816–13 Mar 1890), Find a Grave Memorial ID 71220333, citing Brooklyn and Maple Grove Union Cemetery, Maple Grove, Hennepin County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Jeanne Howe (contributor 47531390).
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