Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-02-01

mention U! ,ac ilon. lOung Ewing,
one of the Dackwoods politicians who
ilouri,hed in the early days of the
Commonwealth. lie was Il true pion-
Ger and hunter, as everybody else
was then;a surveyor, politician and
statesman, AMI in his Protean capaci-
ty he usually had his hands full. He
came to Christian county just at
time when he was most needed. An
unorganized community of people
had, by an act of the Legislature,
been placed unto themselves, and
there was a demand for men compe-
tent to do the work of putting the
infant municipality upon its feet
Col. Ewing was man adapted to
the emergency, and took as naturally
10 the official harness as a duck to the
water. lie was the first Circuit clerk
of the conrt, and for quarter of
century or more he served the people
in one position or another, and if he
did mol do much for the county, it
did great deal for him. He had
once commanded regiment against
the Indians, and though the CAM
paign was bloOdless one, yet his
military record waited him into Office
over all opposition, just as such
things sometimes happ m at the pres
ent day. 1t is told Of him, but the
story may be taken with some allow
ancc, that always when candidate,
particularly if the campaign wayed
hot aud his election appeared at all
doubtful, the Colonel would be sceh
at public gatherings hobbling about
with Il cane, or with an arm in u
sling, complaining loudly of the hard
ships of Il soldiers life. But 10 SOON
er than he was assured of his election
away went his cane: 10 be seen 10
more until again needed OH a similar
occasion.
The name of Col. Ewing appears
in the records Of Logan county in
1892 as one of the first three magis-
trales for that county,an,l in 1875 as (;
representative in the State Iegisla-
ture. When he came there or where
he was from are questions the mos
diligent investigation has so far fail
ed to solve. 1t is to be regretted tina;
so little is known or can bc learned
of his early life, as anything pertain
ing to so prominent character could
not but be of Interest 10 The reader.
lie is believed to have been a native
of the Old Dominion, and the cle-
ments of craftsmanship he developed
naturally point 10 him as a son of the
"Mother of Presidents" From the
humble Office of magistrate he essay
ed and accomplished dizzy flights to
higher positions which he filed time
and again.
lie was above the majority
of his associates in intellect, but some
what careless and Indifferent in the
use of the Kings English when pour
ing forth from the stump one of his
hot political campaign speeches. He
came among the simple pioneers OF
Christian county, and walked the
echoes of the primcval forests with
his rude wild eloquence, and rode iii
triumph into the affections of the vo-
tiers to that extent, that he is not
known to have been defeated but
once in political contest.
The following entries appear in the
early court records: "The line be-
tween Logan and Christian countics
was run by Young Ewing and his
deputy, Nicholas Lockett, OH the part
Of Christian, and VIM. Reading sur
veyor for Logan Co., Aug. %, 1871"
"Young Ewing was allowed ETA. Us,
for running the dividing line be-
tween Logan and Christian counties
The facts of his having been a sur
veyor is doubted by some, but the
above extract from the county rec
ord would imply that he was. That
he was or was not, however, is mol
material to this sketch. We know
that he served long, and perhaps,
faithfully in other positions. In ad-
dition to having been surveyor,
and the first clerk of the county he
was cashier of the first bank estab-
lished in Hopkinsville. lie was Il
member of the constitutional conven-
ton held in Frankfort August 18th
1899, and which frame the Sec
ond constitution of the state. In the
year 1900 his name first appears as a
member of theLegislcture fromChris-
tan county. He was elected again
in 1901 and reelected in 1902, and
again elected in 1906 and in 1907.
In 1908 he was elected to the state
Senate and again in 1872. in 1916, in
1920 and in 1924, but resigned about
year before his last term expired.
In the Presidential campaign Of 1924,
he was elector for the 9th Congress
ional district. So great and SO uni
versal was his popularity that he
was selected to many Of these posi-
tons without opposition, and gen.
orally, when he had an opponent
-l.hss r,nilsto,t, unnnnI m ,,,,ol l. 4.