The subject of this sketch spent his youth and early manhood, on his father’s farm.  Recently when asked for a sketch of his life Mr. Ewing replied:  “I didn’t have any life.  I just growed like Topsy.  I didn’t have any educating.  I just picked it up; and as for poetry, I never wrote any, only rhyme.”  Notwithstanding this assertion, Mr. Ewing being unable to resist the prompting of the “divinity which stirred within him,” when quite young, began to write poetry.  There seems to be a subtle influence pervading the romantic Octoraro hills, which if not the direct cause of poetic inspiration seems to encourage its growth, Mr. Ewing being one of five poets who claim that region as their birthplace, or who have profited by a residence therein.

When quite young Mr. Ewing wrote poetry which was published in the local journals of Cecil and Lancaster counties, and subsequently contributed poetry to the Philadelphia Dollar Newspaper, being a contemporary contributor to that journal with his brother, William P. Ewing, and the late David Scott (of James.)

In 1856 Mr. Ewing made a trip to the Southwest, traveling extensively on horseback in Texas.  He gave an account of his travels and a description of the country through which he passed in a series of letters published in the Cecil Whig, which were much admired.

In 1861, Mr. Ewing became the proprietor and editor of the Cecil Whig, which was the Union organ of the county.  Being a man of decided convictions, and unflinching courage, he never lost an opportunity to advocate the cause of the Union, to which he adhered with great devotion, through evil and through good report.

In 1876 he disposed of the Whig and the next year bought an interest in the Kansas Farmer and the Juvenile Magazine, published in Topeka, Kansas.  He subsequently became connected with the Daily Capital, and eventually became sole proprietor of the Kansas Farmer.  The climate of Kansas not agreeing with him, he removed to Highlands, Macon county, N.C., where in 1882 he established the Blue Ridge Enterprise which he soon afterwards disposed of, and in 1885 became the proprietor of the Midland Journal, published in the village of Rising Sun, in this county.

Mr. Ewing is a brilliant and forcible writer.  Like many others Mr. Ewing kept none of his poems except one which is too lengthy to be given a place in this volume.  In consequence of this the compiler has only been able to obtain the following specimens of his poetry after great labor and trouble.

THE CHERUBIM—­A VISION.

’Twas at that season, when the gloom
  Of cheerless Winter’s pass’d away,
And flowers spring up, with sweet perfume,
  To scent the breeze and cheer our way,
Where’er we saunter—­o’er the hill,
Or through the valley—­warm and still,
Or broken only by the sound