Birth: July 7, 1850
Death: October 31, 1888
Location: Lot 57, Section 2, Row 5, Old Cemetery – SW
Grand Island Independent Saturday 3 November 1888
Death of Jas. Ewing
A Noble, Honored and a Generous Man Has Passed Away
The sad news reached us of the death of Jas. Ewing, at his home in Wood River, at 8:15 o’clock Wednesday morning, of a complication of diseases, chief of which was heart trouble. In the death of Jas. Ewing, wood River, Hall county, and the State of Nebraska suffer a loss that can never be repaired. Jim, as he was called, was the very soul of honor. He was true as steel to his friends, and generous beyond measure to his enemies, always patient, cool, forbearing and uncomplaining, suffering wrong and injustice without a murmur and doing no wrong himself. He was a tried, true and faithful friend to the cause of the people and his word has ever proven the soul of frankness and truth.
The writer has known deceased for many long years and has known him intimately and well, and the better the acquaintance the deeper grew esteem and respect. We observed day by day his course as a member of the last legislature, and can honestly say that Hall county never had a more careful, painstaking and honorable representative. No plea, no promise of reward or other consideration could induce him to swerve one step from the plain path of duty he had marked out for himself. His every vote was prompted by a conscientious principle, and brought no remorse to himself, or shame to his constituents and friends. We have conversed with the deceased since his renomination and know that he felt deeply the imputation cast upon his character by the resolution adopted in the recent republican county convention, calling in question his fidelity to the cause of the people, and still more deeply did he feel the repeated underhanded thrusts of the secret enemies and character assassins of this city who had set about trading him off and encompassing his defeat, and yet feeling this monstrous injustice, he magnanimously closed his eyes, to the wrong done him and gave support to his defamers, ever forgiving, generous and charitable to all mankind.
He held a place in the hearts of the people of Wood River and vicinity, where he has lived for years, that no other man can hope to fill. He was ever obliging, alike to the rich and poor, and no testimonial possible for man to show man, can excel that shown to Mr. Ewing by his neighbors, in the elections past, when they almost to a man, voted for him, regardless of politics, showing that they had faith, confidence and love, in the highest degree. Can man wish for higher proof of real worth?
Deceased was born in New York state, and at the time of his death, was 38 years of age. He had resided in Hall county almost from the infancy of its settlement, and had at all times, made his home at Wood River, and for several years had been editor and Proprietor of the Wood River Gazette. He served Hall county two terms as Superintendent of Public Instruction, and a time, he served as Deputy County Treasurer. He was elected representative two years ago, and was a candidate for re-election this year.
In every position which he has occupied, he has proved true, to the trusts imposed upon him, and if true worth is to be rewarded in a future world, Jas. Ewing now wears a crown of everlasting Glory.
His wife and child have the tenderest sympathy of a people, bowed with grief, at a loss of one, whose death must be deeply felt by all.