Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-04-06
THOMAS EWING.

The following sketch of Mr.. Ewing is taken from
Wattersonis Gallery ofAmerlcan Portraits. The sketch
was written in 1886, when Mr.. Ewing was in the Sen
ate OF the United States. II will serve TO give the read
er some idea of the character and Intellectual powers
of our present Secretary Of the Treasury.
Mr.. Ewing was born in Virginia, in 1889. His IA
Their was a revolutionary soldier, and soon after the
birth Of young Ewing moved TO the State Of Ohio. Mr..
Ewing is indebted for his elements OF knowledge to the
care and attention of his eldest sister, who taught him
to read, and the only accessible book being the Bible,
he employed himself in perusing its sublime pages
When he was eight years old, he was sent TO school a.
bout seven months, and the only additional education
he received Till he was 90 years Of age, was ? quarters
tuition, under two successive teachers. But he had
acquired a love Of reading, and all his leisure hours
was devoted to it, His father being in humble circum-
stances, young Ewing's life was necessarily a labori-
Gus one; but, obliged as he was, to toll daily, he new
ertheless availed himself Of every opportunity TO i'm
prove his mind, and to be what then his highest ambl-
ton led him to become--a scholar. But poverty seem
ed TO oppose an insuperable barrier 10 his career, and
he was about, to yield up in despondency, when a young
man, who had seen something OF the world, and who
was hired by his father as an assistant on the farm,
reused him from his APATHY and prevailed on him to
accompany him 10 Kanawha Sallnes, where he procur-
ed employment as a common laborer. After an alb
sence of three or four months he returned with eighty
dollars in his pocket which he generously gave 10 his
father TO save his lands from being forfeited. In the
/ following spring Mr.. Ewing again returned To the Kan
awha Salines, where he labored assiduously I'LL No
yember, and succeeded in realizing about four hundred
dollars, out Of which, after paying a balance OF sixty
dollars, Still due on his fathers property, he was enabl-
ed to indulge in his iavOrle propensity, by spending
the winter at an academy in Athens, where lie was en-
couragcl to make additional efforts TO prosecute his
studies, and acquire the power which knowledge be
slows. lie returned once more TO his former labUrs,
and continued at them for two years. These severe
tolls affected his health; which, however, a short resi-
dcnce restored, and he again entered the academy
which he had left about two years before, and pro.
ceeded to labor mentally with the same arior and in
tensity that he had corporeally. His progress is said
10 have been very rapid, but being satisfied that his
funds, which were daily diminishing, would be INSULT
Client to enable him TO complete ms education, he open
ed a school IA Galiapolis, which, IN the course Of a
quarter he threw up, not liking tho employment, aud
returned 10 his former occupation at the salt works
lie now fired a furnace, and by extraordinary labor
acquitted a sum 10 the course Of a month sufficient, as
he believed, TO enable him to complete his studies. lie
was right. and IN the spring Of 1913 received the de-
gree ola. j. add was the first TO receive that academ-
zeal honor IN Ohio. Being now 90 years Of age, he
commenced the study Of the Law in the Office Of Gen.
Beccher, who, after be had finished bis legal studies,
entertaining a high opinion OF his powers, took him into
partnership, aud ln h, new and iay0rite position be
rose rapidly 10 distraction. As a proc! OF u. aTdOr and
issiduIly, be pracuced M eight different counties m
which hc lived. His GIial affection was again mani
tested boz the purchase Of a fine tract Uf land m Indiana,
with the pIOcee3sol his profession, on which he placed
bis father and family. lie had now acquired - high a
reputation for ability and talent at the bar that the leg
lsaiufe of Ohio elected him ia 1892 20 represent that
state in he Senate u the United States
Nj Ewing is, DO person, athletic and muscular,
broad across the chest, vigorous, bui not elegant in his
proportions nor elegant in bis motions. HIS counie-
nance Is expressive Of good nature and cnlyeucd by a
frequent smile and though awkward 20 bis appear
ance has manners have = natural ease that even an