- WILLIAM McEWAN, of Milton, who is numbered among the honored
pioneers of this county,
- was born October 5, 1813, at Birnam Woods, in Perthshire,
Scotland, the place mentioned by Shakespeare in his play of "Macbeth."
His father was a slate quarryman and for many years leased and
operated Birnam quarry near his home. In his earlier years our
subject attended the Drummond School, and later, during the winter
months, he attended the parish schools, enjoying quite limited
opportunities for the acquisition of an education, which, however,
have been largely supplemented by private study and observation.
He served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, at which
he worked until his emigration to America. June 26, 1838, he
set sail form Greenock, on the "Lady of the Lake,"
commanded by Captain Hugh MUNN, accompanied by his mother, four
sisters and his brother James. After a tedious voyage of nearly
seven weeks they landed at New York, August 12, and came directly
to Wisconsin to join his brother Peter, the journey from the
Atlantic consuming four weeks more. His sisters were Beatrice,
who died at Milton in 1876; Margaret, who became the wife of
James MURRAY and resides in Milwaukee; Catharine, who wedded
James HOLMES and lives in Milton; and Elizabeth, who became the
wife of Dr. URQUHART, and is deceased as is also her husband.
Mrs. McEWAN, the mother of this family, died at Milton in 1866,
aged eighty-one years.
- Mr. McEWAN located at the village of Milton, then containing
but two houses, repaired the
- dwelling of his brother, made some furniture of the house,
and lived there until the spring of 1839, when he went to Platteville,
Wis., where he worked at his trade two seasons. He entered a
claim in the southwest quarter of section 34 and bought eighty
acres at the land sale in 1840, subsequently buying the remaining
eighty acres, making 160 in all. In 1841 he worked at his trade
a short time in Janesville, and from there went to Beloit, where
he was likewise employed the balance of that season. While at
Beloit he built a boat and loaded his tools therein, and in company
with his cousin, James H. DOW, started down the river, intending
to visit the South. With this boat they proceeded as far as
Muscatine, Iowa, before securing a river boat, when they took
passage on a steamboat for St. Louis, bidding adieu to their
frail craft and relinquishing it to the mercy of the waves and
currents of the Father of Waters. At St. Louis Mr. McEWAN met
some friends who gave him letters of introduction to friends
of theirs in New Orleans. Proceeding to Vicksburg, Mr. McEWAN
and Mr. DOW separated, the former remaining at Vicksburg and
the latter returning to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1842 Mr.
McEWAN returned to St. Louis and there worked at his trade until
the following August, when he decided to come back to Milton.
Upon his arrival at Galena, Ill., he met with a Methodist preacher
named Henry W. REID, who wanted him to make some repairs on a
house he had bought. As there seemed to be considerable money
in circulation at Galena, Mr. McEWAN concluded it would be a
good place to locate for a while. While doing the work for Mr.
REID he was casting about for some means to improve his fortunes.
Buying a machine for manufacturing sash, he engaged in that
business, thus establishing the first sash factory in Galena.
Remaining there until the fall of 1847, he went to Memphis,
Tenn., where he worked at his trade until June, 1848. While
at Memphis Mr. McEWAN finished a fine residence for I. B. KIRTLAND,
a nephew of Governor Kirtland, the job having been begun by two
brothers named CASE, from Ohio, who had been obliged to leave
the place for their own safety on account of their pronounced
anti-slavery views. Early in July, 1848 Mr. McEWAN returned
to Milton, and, with his brother Peter, engaged in mercantile
business, which they continued until 1856, when they sold out,
Mr. McEWAN removing to his farm and engaging in agricultural
pursuits and stock-raising, in which he was successful. In 1878
he returned to the village, where he has since lived, having
given up the management of his farm to his son.
- Mr. McEWAN was married in Janesville to Mrs. Caroline C.
CARR, widow of John E. CARR
- and a daughter of Simon and Roxie (RISLEY) ATHERTON. Mrs.
McEWAN was born in Bolton, Tolland Co., Conn., and her parents
were also natives of that State. Three children have been born
of their union: Adeline, wife of Henry C. CURTIS, principal of
the High School at Waupun, has two children by her marriage,
Leroy and William Ray; Elizabeth D., who married George H. BUTTS,
died March 1, 1881, leaving three children, William D., who was
drowned at the age of seven years, Addie McEwan and Cornelia;
William Atherton, the third child, who is now farming on the
homestead, wedded Ida M. ELDRIDGE, and to them have been born
two children, Lizzie and William Ira. For more than half a century
Mr. McEWAN has been numbered among the citizens of Rock County,
has witnessed the development of town and country, has participated
in the growth and progress, and has born no inconsiderable part
in the work of transformation. His many warm friends in the
county hold him in high esteem as a valued citizen and a man
of sterling worth. In politics he is independent but rather
favors the Prohibition party. In former years he was a Republican
and was present at the organization of that party at Madison.
He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church
at Milton.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 969-970.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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