The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-04-29
Summons Of Death Comes
Friday Evening To
John M. Ewalt
PROMINENT BANKER
FOR HALF CENTURY
Funeral Services Monday A.
ternoon From His Late
Residence

Deaths summons came at 6 O'Clock
Friday evening to John NJ Ewalt, one
of Mt. Vernon's well known and high
Ely esteemed citizens. His death oc-
Cured at his late residence, 100 East
| High street.
Although in declining health for
many months, Mr.. Ewalt was con
| fined to his bed but a few weeks.
Death came as Result of compli-
cation of diseases.
John NJ. Ewalt was born on May {,
1910, one mile west OF Mt. Vernon in
Clinton township. He was the son OF
and Elizabeth (Pratt) Ewalt. The
paternal grandfather, John Ewalt,
I came to Knox county in 1913, from
Bedford county, Pennsylvania, with
his wife, seven sons and four daugh-
ters, and settled two miles west of
what is now the city of Mt. Vernon.
Henry Ewa]t father of John NJ. Ewalt,
was d farmer and he developed Two
good farms from the woods west of
Mt. Vernon, and became one of the
leading farmers and stock men of the
county.
John NJ. Ewalt spent his youth on
his fathers farm and attended the
district school until he was nineteen
years of age. He began life for him
self by teaching school in the home
district when he was nineteen years
of age Later he attended the Mt.
Vernon schools and high school.
He also attended the private school
Of r. r. Sloan. prior to entering the
high school. While a senior in the
high school, the Civil wax, came on.
William Mitchell, principal bf the
school, organized company OF which
he became captain, Company A, 96th
o. V. l., and Mr.. Ewalt enlisted in
the same in August, 1862. lie served
faithfully until the following April
when he was discharged on account
of physical disability
During the war Mr. Ewalt was SER
geant in his company and participated
in a.number of engagements. He was
discharged from service at Jefferson
; barracks, l. miles below st. Louis.
Mr. Ewatl was married on Novem-
ber ), 1868, to Sarah Ward, daughter
of Levi b. and Mary Ward. To Mr..
and Mrs. Ewalt, two sons and one
, daughter were born, namely Harry,
an optician in Pittsburgh, Pa, Dr. j.
Louis, practicng dentistry at Lorain,
and Miss Cora NJ, of this city.
After his marriage, Mr.. Ewalt en-
gagged in farming and teaching school,
alternating the two with the seasons
of each year, up to 1871. Mrs. Ewalts
death occurred in December, 1891
Nh Ewalt was married second
time in October, 1898, his last wife
being Miss Belle S. Scott, daughter
: of John and Mary Scott Of Cambridge
Ohio. He is survived by his wife and
three children mentioned above.
Mr.. Ewalt always took an abiding
interest in local affairs and in 1871 he
was elected county auditor on the
terms of four years. In 1865, he was
appointed one of the county school
examiners and served in this capacity
until 1876. He was member of the
, city board of education for IL period
! of three years
, In 1874, Mr.. Ewalt was one of the
organizers of the Mt. Vernon Bridge
| Company. He was the first secretary
) and treasurer of the company, which
, position he held with much credit to
+ himself and to the satisfaction of the
stockholders for several years.
In 1873, while still serving as coun-
fty auditor, he was. elected cashier of
the then Knox County National Bank,
4 and he served with much success in
that capacity until the expiration of
the bank charter in 1885, when the
institution was chartered as the Knox
= National Bank, and he continued as
, cashier until the expiration of that
charter in 1905. With the new char
. ter the bank became the New Knox
!, National Bank. under which charter
: it is still operating. Mr.. Ewat re
= tired from the cashiership with the eX-
pillation of the Knox National Bank,
after IA most faithful and commend
able service Of thirty years During
Z this time he became one of the coun-
ty's leading figures in banking circles
t and won wide reputation for his
l. able, conservative and judieious abil-
: ity and services, which were always
j. OF very high order, and his pleasing
U narsnnaIitv cnnri eSX and straight