Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-08-17
MARK EWING
PASSES AWAY
SECRETARY-MANAGER OF
ELECTRIC COMPANY
DIES THURSDAY

The Pilot this week is called upon
to chronicle the death of one of Wau-
sau's most beloved, progressive and
prominent citizens Mark Clayton
Ewing, who passed away at st. Mary's
hospital on Thursday evening, August
10th, 1922, at six o'clock.
When one has reached the age al
loted to man, it is but natural to lay
down the burdens of life and cross
the river into eternity, over the same
route laid out by the unseen powers
for all humanity since the beginning
of time and for relatives and friends
to regard it as the inevitable, the
passing of life we'll spent, fully
ripened and garnered into the realms
of the infinite.
But when one is cut off In the
prime of his existence, in the midst of
great undertakings, at a time when
the community needs his unerring
judgment in carrying out large en-
terprises and his family and friends
his companionship and advice, it is
then that one wonders at the ways
of Providence and asks in sorrow:
why could this not have been other
wiser" So it was with Mr.. Ewing, his
life little better than half lived.
Mr. Ewing was one OF the prime
movers In the organization of the
Wisconsin Valley Electric company,
with which he has been identified
since its very inception, having been
secretary, treasurer and general man
ager. Mr.. Ewing's career in Wau-
sau and his business accomplish
ments are closely entwined with the
development of the electric company.
The first move OF our citizens to-
ward such a public utility corpora
tion, was the installation of street
railway system. Mr.. Ewing was it's
manager From the time that project
was finished the company spread rap
idly, purchasing the plant of the Wau-
sau Electric Light company, which was
then in its infancy. Then the old j.
G. Clarke, b. G.. Plumer, Alexander
Stewart and Cereal Mills company
water powers were purchased by the
company; a power plant was con-
structed on the Clarke site and the
kilowatt capacity increased above the
demands of our people, all this being
done under the personal direction or
M. G. Ewing.
One of the larger stockholders OF
the Wisconsin Valley Electric compa-
ny said: "We have met with many
tremendous problems during the pro-
gress of this enterprise, but there is
not one that Mark Ewing had not suc-
cessfully solved after sleeping on 1t
overnight. He is remarkable man"
Under Mr.. Ewing's direction the COM
pany purchased the water power
rights at Mosinee, Stevens Point. Her-
rill and the electric plants In those
cities and the company has connect
ed all these cities, together with Nc
Dill, Abbotsford, Brokaw and Roths-
child with high tension power lines.
The Mosinee water power was later
disposed of to the Wausau Sulphate
Fibre company In 19l9-1920 when
Ewing dam was built at a cost of ap-
proximately $1,000,000 The compa-
ny had this in mind when the various
water powers in the city were pur-
chased years ago. This gives to the
city an institution valued at over $4,-
100000 which generates electric pow
er for the city and county.
The Pilot particularly emphasizes
the growth of the Wisconsin Valley
Electric company because IL had been
the one great venture in Mr.. Ewing's
ilics Nhduy VI Jul PtOpits
do not realize what he has done for
the community. His memory will grow
as the years pass by and his will be
one Of the names which will be placed
high among those who have worked
for Wausau" and for central Wiscon-
sin, In literal sense and made IL
possible that there be no backward
movement in their progress and pros
perity
II was while in the beginning of
the construction Of the Wausau dam.
In 1919, that Mr.. Ewing first became
aware of the trouble which had be-
gun to make inroads on his health and
at that time he went to Rochester,
Mimi, TO the Mayo Bros. hospital for
treatment and observation. They rec
commended that he stay there until
fully recovered. but he told them that
he was just beginning the erection of
large dam at Wausau and when that
was completed he would return and
commence the work of recuperation.
Mr.. Ewing did go back several times;
he also spent the past two winters
In Florida, but nothing ayailed him,
except for brief periods, then re-
lapses would more than cover the
ground gained. This was the history
Of Mr.. Ewing's case until Saturday,
August 5th, then he became i'll with
tonsilitis and was taken TO st. Mary's
hospital. This was followed by pneu-
monia, which was the immediate cause
Of his death. That which undermined
his health was kidney trouble.
Mark G. Ewing was born in Mahon-
ing county Ohio, on the first day or
February, 1869. From there he later
moved with his parents to Cleveland.
Ohio. II was in this city that he re-
ceived his early education, following
which he attended Hiram college, near
his home city. He commenced his
career as travelling salesman for
the Climax Tobacco company in 1889.
His territory embraced Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and North
and South Dakota. II was in the days
Of the bicycle. In most of his terri
tory there were no railroads and g,