Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 3 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 33

Among the professional men who occupy positions of prominence in the esteem of the citizens of Fresno County, David S. Ewing has proven his worth as an attorney and has won popularity throughout the San Joaquin Valley. He was born in Fulton, Callaway County, Mo., October 24, 1866, a son of Henry Neal Ewing, a native of that same locality. The grandfather, James Ewing, was born in Kentucky and migrated to Missouri in 1820, following in the footsteps of his father who moved westward from Virginia into Kentucky. The Ewings are of Scotch-Irish ancestry and inherited the sturdy traits which have made of these people some of our most desirable citizens.

Henry Neal Ewing was reared in Missouri and educated at Yale University, after which, in 1849, he crossed the plains to California with ox teams, and upon his arrival engaged in mining for several years, after which he returned to Missouri. He again crossed the plains, and once more returned to Missouri during the Civil War. In 1874 he moved to Kansas City, where for six years he was engaged in business, then, in 1880, he brought his family to California, locating in Fresno. He was the third colonist of Fresno Colony, where he purchased a farm, set out a vineyard and a forty-acre orchard, and made many other valuable and permanent improvements. In 1887 he sold this property and moved into Fresno, where he died in 1890. His wife was formerly Carrie Martin, born near Fulton, Mo., the daughter of William Martin, a Virginian who was a pioneer of Missouri, settling on property adjoining that of James Ewing. He was of French and German ancestry. Mrs. Ewing died in Kansas City, in 1878, leaving a family of six sons and two daughters, David S. being the second son.

David S. Ewing was reared to manhood in Fulton, Kansas City, Fresno and on the paternal ranch in Fresno County. In 1883 he was employed in the surveying corps on the survey of the upper San Joaquin canal, where he remained for about two and one-half years. In 1887 he attended the Pacific Business College in San Francisco, and upon returning to Fresno, he was employed in the office of the city tax collector, and the following year became deputy county school superintendent under B. A. Hawkins. In 1890 and 1891 he served as chief deputy in the county tax collector's office. In all his official positions Mr. Ewing acquitted himself honorably. From early boyhood he had an eager desire to study law, and was not content even with the good positions he so easily secured. At every opportunity he read law from the books he could obtain and in 1893 he was admitted to the bar to practice in the superior courts of California, and entered upon the practice of his profession. He formed a partnership with O. L. Everts, under the firm name of Everts and Ewing, and together they built up a good general practice. This partnership still exists and is the oldest legal firm in the county. In 1895 Mr. Ewing entered the University of Michigan as a senior in the law department, being graduated therefrom in 1896, with the degree of LL. B., and again taking up his practice with his partner in Fresno.

David S. Ewing was united in marriage, in Fresno, on May 1, 1898, with Grace Maul, a native of Illinois. She was the daughter of Frank Maul, a native of Germany and a prominent merchant of Kewanee, Ill. He eventually retired to Fresno, Gal. Mrs. Ewing is a graduate of the Kewanee high school. To Mr. and Mrs. Ewing, August 15, 1901, were born two daughters, Blanche and Mildred, both of whom are students in the Fresno high school. In his fraternal relations Mr. Ewing is a member, and Past Exalted Ruler of Fresno Lodge, No. 439, B. P. O. Elks; a member and past officer of Manzanita Camp, No. 160, W. O. W. He is a Scottish and York Rite Mason and a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. of San Francisco. Socially he is prominent, holding membership in the following clubs: Sequoia, Commercial, University. Sunnyside, Country and Elks, of Fresno; Sierra Madre Club of Los Angeles; and the Bakersfield Club. He is a member of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and the Fresno County Bar Association. Since 1897 Mr. Ewing has been directly interested with the oil industry of Fresno and Kern Counties and is a member of the executive committee of the Independent Oil Producers Agency, since 1912. The selection of Mr. Ewing, by the Democratic State Central Committee at their committee meeting in San Francisco in September, 1918, as chairman, is but another tribute to his standing throughout the state in political circles. As a progressive citizen Mr. Ewing has been associated with the development of California, particularly the San Joaquin Valley and Fresno County, for many years and is always ready and willing to lend his aid to all worthy projects for its upbuilding. He is well and favorably known throughout the entire San Joaquin Valley.