Ewart, Robert 1844-1905

EWART, KELSEY, BURNS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/29/2011 at 20:26:37

Obituary dated Sept. 12, 1905

ROBERT EWART, 1844-1905

Robert Ewart was the son of Thos. and Sarah (Kelsey) Ewart who emigrated from Ireland to America in 1823. They chose a home in Ohio, where their son, Robert, was born near Sparta, in Morrow county. They were industrious, useful citizens; made a welcome addition to American society and enjoyed the rewards of industry.

Robert came to this county in 1862 when he was eighteen years old and located in the township where he died. That portion of the county since then has changed from a wild, treeless prairie to cultivated farms and has been variegated by groves of forest trees and by fruitful orchards. In all that transformation he had an unusually large and helpful share, although his main business, in partnership with his brothers, has been stock-raising. The Ewart Brothers are said to have been at one time, the largest exporters of cattle from this country to England, with their own independent agencies in both countries.

In all such large business some disaster is liable to occur, and one such period came to them, nevertheless embarrassed creditors breathed no suspicion of a lack of business integrity.

Mr. Ewart married Euphemia Burns in 1861. She and five of their six children and their fifteen grandchildren survive him. He was a man of remarkably strong and robust health, but a few weeks ago disease arrested his active life. An operation for gall stones was necessary. It was perfectly successful, but he was too weak to rally. A few days closed his earthly life at midnight on the 9th of September.

The funeral services were conducted by Prof. Parker at his late residence in Ewart. A Grinnell quartette, Messrs. W.V. Davies, C.L. Gardner, C.W. Benson and L.A. Hopkins furnished the music. The large attendance, and the many moist eyes of men and women, as they looked upon the unresponsive face, indicated how universal was the feeling at his recent home that individuals had lost a friend, and the public a useful citizen.

The remains are now on their way to Mt. Gilead, Ohio, to be deposited in the large family vault in the county where Thomas Ewart made his home in 1823.

Iowa honors such citizens as Robert Ewart.