U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Ewing, James Dallas (1832-1898) ------------------------------------------------------------------- Men of West Virginia, Volume II Biographical Publishing Company George Richmond, Pres.: C. R. Arnold, Sec'y and Treas. Chicago, Illinois, 1903 Pages 429-432 JAMES DALLAS EWING, deceased, was a representative of an old and prominent family and a distinguished member of his chosen profession, — that of the law. The Ewing family was established in this country by James Ewing, some time between 1795 and 1797. He was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Glenn) Ewing, both natives of Ireland, the former of whom was born on Lord Abercorn's estate, County Tyrone. James Ewing was born in Ireland in 1771, and on coming to America settled on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. He was a lieutenant and subsequently a captain in the War of 1812. He removed at an early day to Ohio County, Virginia (now Marshall County, West Virginia), where he settled on a farm which he called "Fairhill" and which he established as a family homestead. His parents went there afterwards and spent the remainder of their lives, their, graves on the farm being marked with a time-worn headstone. He was married to Elizabeth Wilson in Maryland and brought her with him to Virginia. By this marriage he had four sons and three daughters: Henry, James, William, John, Maria, Jane and Elizabeth. William Ewing was born on the homestead in 1810, and there resided as the owner of the property, until his death in 1861. He was married to Martha Martin, and left 10 children: James Dallas; William Wilson, who succeeded to the proprietorship of "Fairhill"; John Alexander, a prominent attorney of Moundsville; George Martin; Isaac Newton; Samuel H.; Susan Ann; Robert A.; Elizabeth W., who married Daniel Hartley; and Mary, who married Alfred McCuskey. James Dallas Ewing was born on the homestead December 19, 1832, and there remained, attending and teaching school, until he reached his majority, when he began the study of the law in the office of Wylie H. Oldham, one of the foremost lawyers of his time, and in 1858 was duly licensed and admitted. Locating in New Martinsville, Wetzel County, he there remained about seven years. Compelled to abandon the practice of his profession during the period of the Civil War, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, afterward spending two years in Kentucky. Deciding to return to West Virginia and to the practice of the law he selected Moundsville, in Marshall County, as his residence, where he at once acquired a large and remunerative business. In 1878 he removed to Wheeling, appearing before the different courts there held as well as those before which he had appeared in former years. He practiced alone for a time, but, his clientage increasing, he associated others with himself, and was the head of different firms — Ewing & Riley; Ewing, Melvin & Riley; and Ewing, Melvin & Ewing, in the order named. His life closed on September 1, 1898, at his home at Leatherwood, east of Wheeling. While residing at New Martinsville, he married Emma Anderson, a daughter of William Anderson, at one time sheriff of his county and a prominent and reputable citizen. By this marriage there were 10 children, eight of whom are living: Effie Estella, wife of John H. Holt, of Huntington; Emma Irene; James William; Robert Benton, who holds a responsible position with the Wheeling Corrugating Company; Daisy, wife of H. C. McMillen, of Huntington; Fred Anderson, who is also with the Wheeling Corrugating Company; and Ethel and Genevieve, who with the other unmarried children reside with their mother at the Leatherwood home. In his career as a lawyer Mr. Ewing took and held high place. He cared but little for political honors, yet more than once was he pressed into service as a candidate for office by the political party with which he affiliated and was unsuccessful only because his party was not in the ascendancy. In the courtroom and in the office he was alike successful. In close attention to the concerns of those who sought his aid, in earnestness and ability in presenting questions to court or jury, in foresight and sagacity, whether in giving counsel or in managing a cause, he was not excelled by any of his able colleagues at the bar. Devoted to family, friends and clients, public spirited in all general matters of pith and moment, and just in everything engaging his attention, his life was a useful one, — a model in more respects than one. James William Ewing, the eldest son, was born at Moundsville, October 25, 1869; the family removing to Wheeling, in 1879, he there attended the public schools and was graduated from Linsly Institute in the class of 1887. During the following two years he received a business training in different capacities, and in February, 1890, was appointed and acted as private secretary to Governor Fleming, residing at the state capital, Charleston. He read law while thus serving and in the summer of 1893 took the examination and was admitted to practice. In the fall of the same year he entered the University of Virginia, and in the spring of 1894 returned to Wheeling, taking the place of the retiring junior member of the firm of which his father was then the head. Upon the father's death the survivors continued in business until September, 1899. when Judge Melvin went upon the Circuit Court bench; and since then Mr. Ewing has practiced alone at No. 1400 Chapline street. He is still unmarried. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the college fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, and is a past master of Wheeling Lodge, No. 5, A. F. & A. M. He has a well-established practice and a host of friends in and out of the profession and in all portions of the State. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Record of Deaths in the city of Wheeling, W. Va. (Page 43, year 1898) FULL-NAME: Jas. Dallas Ewing BIRTH-PLACE: U.S. DEATH-DATE: August 30, 1898 AGE-AT-DEATH: 65y-8m-11d DEATH-PLACE: Leatherwood, W.Va. MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Lawyer CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Chr. Nephritis, Exhaustion PHYSICIAN: J. P. Birney BURIAL: Moundsville Register of Deaths within the District of Robt Anderson, Assessor for the County of Ohio in the year ending 31st December, 1898. (Page 113, Line No. 25 FULL-NAME: J. Dallas Ewing DEATH-DATE: August 11th, 1898 (differs slightly from Wheeling's record) DEATH-PLACE: Leatherwood, W.Va. CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Nephritis AGE-AT-DEATH: 65y-8m-11d BIRTH-PLACE: U.S. OCCUPATION: Lawyer MARITAL-STATUS: Married INFORMANT: C. F. Ulrich, M.D. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Ohio County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/ohio/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------