Person:Thomas Ewing (11)

REV. THOMAS DAVIS EWING (D) was born December 28th, 1832, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania. He was graduated from Washington College, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and from the Western Theological Seminary at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1864. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry by the Presbytery of Saltsburg on May 10th, 1864. He was honored by the degree of D.D. in 1880. He was a Presbyterian pastor at Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and at Fairfield and Corning, Iowa. In his later ministry he was in charge of educational institutions at Fairfield and Corning. He was married to Anna G. Graham. Their children are the following: Rebecca Miller, Jane Harbison, James Falconer and Anna Graham. The latter was born January 7th, 1877, and died April 26th, 1894. Rebecca Miller Ewing (E) was born September 20th, 1869. She married the Rev. Paul W. McClintock. They became missionaries at the close of their school-days and are located at Hainan, China. Their children are Donald Melrose, born May 2nd, 1898, and Paul Graham, born December 6th, 1902. Jane Harbison (E) was born July 29th, 1871. She married W. G. Blood, Esq., of Keokuk, Iowa, where they reside. Their only child is named as his father, William Graffen. He was born October 2nd, 1904. James Falconer (E) was born June 16th, 1873. He married Caroline Ladd Steel, of Portland, Oregon, where they reside. He is a member of the faculty of the Portland Academy. They have two children, Thomas Davis, who was born December 7th, 1900, and Margaret, who was born September 21st, 1902. Rev. Thomas Davis Ewing (D) was left a widower in 1884. He afterward married Annie Rogers and subsequently, February 8th, 1899, having lost his second wife by death, he was married to Ruth Van Kirk. His death occurred on the 30th of July, 1905.

Excerpt from the chapter "The Third Pastor"

The Third Pastor
Rev. T. D. Ewing, D. D.
1864-1880

During Mr. Ewing's senior year at Western Theological Seminary he preached here a number of times and a call was extended to him. Immediately following his graduation he located in Kittaning. May 10, 1864, he was ordained to the Gospel Ministry and installed as our pastor by Saltsburg Presbytery. At once there was a revival of interest along all lines which was soon followed by an ingathering of souls. This interest increased as the years passed and during Mr. Ewing's pastorate 446 persons were added to the church. The net increase was 298.

Of the 146 who were members of this church in April 1864, "I only" am left here and so far as is known Dr. Painter's two daughters are the only others living. Of those received during Mr. Ewing's leadership 21 are members in this Communion (1929). Below are their names in the order in which they were received into the Church:

Juliette Robinson...........................April 2, 1864
Elizabeth McConnell......................July 2, 1864
Mary Eliza Crawford (Mrs.)............April 8, 1865
Elizabeth (Bowman) Slaymaker (Mrs.).Jan 13, 1866
Mary (Kron) Peecook (Mrs.)................Jan 13, 1866
Jane H. Galbraith...............................Oct. 5, 1867
Lindsay Galbraith..............................April 9, 1870
Jennie Burnham................................August 5, 1871
Elizabeth (Rupp) Cochrane (Mrs.).....Jan. 31, 1873
Esther Eliza Heilman (Mrs.)..............May 12, 1873
Mary (Ivory) Keener (Mrs.)................Oct 19, 1874
Sarah J. Baker...................................Oct 20, 1875
Esther Mergenthaler.........................Jan 15, 1876
Margaret J. Rupp..............................Jan 28, 1876
Mary (Hague) Henry (Mrs.)...............Feb 2, 1876
Lizzie (Hague) McVey (Mrs.)............Feb 2, 1876
Agnes S. Bowman...........................Nov 3, 1876
James Murphy..................................Feb 1, 1877
Rose A. Murphy (Mrs.)......................June 15, 1877
Asenath (Burnham) Kennerdell (Mrs.).Nov 17, 1877
Margaret A. Brown (Mrs.)...................Feb. 28, 1880

(At the time of the Centennial Celebration the names of 18 others would have had a place in this list all of whom have gone to their reward since 1922. One of these was Mrs. Myrtle (Thompson) Campbell, chairman of the committee who sponsored this history. She died December 26, 1928.)

The others' names are: Mrs. Lydia Schotte, Miss Emily Meredith, Miss Sarah Bowman, Mrs. Martha Anderson, Mrs. Margaret Watterson, Miss Alice Colwell, Mrs. Jane Shadle, Miss Esther Sloan, Wm. C. Barnett, Mrs. Sarah B. Barnett, Mrs. Margaret Taylor, Mrs. Emma Gault, John B. McKee, Wm. P. Hutchison, Mrs. Ada McCullough, Wm. Pollock, Mrs. Clara B. Stewart.

In May 1880, Mr. Ewing was called to the presidency of Parsons College at Fairfield, Iowa. This call was unexpected and not greatly welcomed. This having been Mr. Ewing's first charge, his heart's affections were rooted here and he had no thought of leaving. He did not reach a decision until he had made two visits to Fairfield and was satisfied that the opening was providential. Even after his mind was made up to accept the call he carried a telegram of acceptance in his pocket a day or two before he could pluck up enough courage to send it.

His last service as our pastor was held September 5, 1880. It was touching and melted the congregation to tears. (Effort has been made to secure the sermon for this volume but without success.)

Mr. Ewing left Kittanning two days later but the family remained till the next July.

Mrs. Ewing was almost heart broken over going away from the church and people she loved and she was never able to come back. After a long illness she entered into rest September 12, 1884.

Soon after Mr. Ewing was settled in his new field of labor the degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Washington and Jefferson College, so when we next saw him he was "Dr." Ewing.

He visited us many times particularly upon the great occasion of dedicating our church June 8-15, 1890, and to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Women's Foreign Missionary Society which he organized.

After several years spent at Fairfield Dr. Ewing went to Corning, Iowa, to take charge of a school and the pastorate of the church. His death occurred there July 31, 1905, in his 73rd year.

Dr. Ewing was a forceful preacher, an able Presbyter, a good pastor, and a true friend. Some of the older members of the congregation, who disliked changes, were never reconciled to his leaving us.

A memorial service was held in this church on the Sunday following Dr. Ewing's death, but it seems no record of it was kept.

Dr. Ewing was thrice married. His first wife was Miss Anna Graham of Brownsville, Pa.; the second, Miss Anabel Rogers; the third, Miss Ruth VanKirk, who survived him several years. Three children of his first marriage are living. They are Mrs. Paul W. McClintock, Mrs. Wm. G. Blood, and James F. Ewing. One of Dr. Ewing's grandsons is in the ministry -- a pastor in Texas. It is rather startling to see his name in print -- "Rev. T. D. Ewing."

Excerpt from the chapter "History of the First Presbyterian Church of Kittanning," written by Rev. T. D. Ewing, in June, 1877:

On the first of April, 1864, there had been received into this church [First Presbyterian Church of Kittanning], since its organization, 427 members, 146 of whom were in communion with the church April 1, 1864. Rev. T. D. Ewing preached first in Kittanning January 17, 1864, (then being a student in the Western Theological Seminary and member of the Senior class). Upon invitation from the Session, Mr. Ewing preached every alternate Sabbath with two or three exceptions until the first of April, 1864. Having preached five Sabbaths, a "call" was prepared by the congregation, inviting Mr. Ewing to become co-pastor with Dr. Painter. This "call" was moderated by Rev. S. J. Wilson, D. D. April 4, 1864, promising to pay a salary of $800. It should here be noticed that the congregation had entered into an agreement to pay to the senior pastor, Dr. Painter, his full salary of $500 during his life.

This "call" to Mr. Ewing was presented at a meeting of Presbytery of Saltsburg held at Glade Run, April, 1864, and accepted May 10, 1864. Presbytery met at Kittanning when the following order was observed in the ordination and installation services.

Rev. Wm. M. Paxton, D. D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh, preached the sermon. Text Ps. 118:25, "Save now, I beseech Thee, O Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity!"

List of ordinations in the Presbytery of Kittanning up to 1888

Excerpted from a chapter by A. C. Crawford, "Kittanning First"

During the spring and summer of the latter year [1860], a year marked with an unusual degree of prosperity and religious interest, Rev. Geo. P. Hays was associated with Dr. Painter in ministering to the congregation, and in the fall a formal call to become co-pastor was extended to Mr. Hays, who declined. From this time for about four years several ministers occasionally assisted Dr. Painter, notably Rev. Mr. Taylor, Rev, Dr. Marks, Rev. J. S. Stuchell, and Rev. Ph. H. Mowry, of Philadelphia, to the latter of whom a call was extended August 8, 1863. He also declined, and the church, although apparently prosperous and influential, seems at this period to have been vexed with many troubles. There was no little dissatisfaction with the prevailing order of affairs and much discord among the members and session, but happily, while matters were in this evil state, Rev. T. D. Ewing, then a student in the Western Theological Seminary, delivered his first sermon in Kittanning, January 17, 1864, and upon invitation of the session, preached every alternate Sabbath until April 1, of that year, when he was formally called to become co-pastor with Dr. Painter, the congregation having previously agreed to pay to the latter his full salary during his life. The call to Mr. Ewing was presented at the meeting of the Presbytery of Saltsburg, held at Glade Run in April, 1864, and accepted, and on May 10, 1864, the Presbytery met in Kittanning, when Mr. Ewing was ordained and installed, Rev. Wm. M. Paxton, D. D., then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of Pittsburgh, preaching the ordination sermon from the text, Ps. 118:25, "Save now I beseech Thee, O Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity." Rev. D. W. Townsend presided, Dr. Painter offered the ordination prayer, Dr. Donaldson delivered the charge to the pastor, Dr. Woodend the charge to the congregation, and in the evening Rev. A. McElwain preached a sermon on Presbyterianism.

Dr. Painter continued to preach occasionally for five or six years until failing strength and the increasing infirmities of age compelled him to relinquish to other hands the work he loved so well.

The year following Dr. Ewing's installation was one of marked prosperity; 54 members were received, 13 upon certificate, 41 upon examination, while during the ten years from 1864 to 1874, 267 were received, 134 upon certificate and 133 upon profession of faith, the report for April, 1874, showing a membership of 275, and $12, 063 contributed to the Boards of the church.

Excerpted from a chapter by Mrs. T. B. Elder, "Woman's Presbyterial Foreign Missionary Society."

In 1880, a call to Rev. T. D. Ewing, of Kittanning, which transferred him to the Presidency of Parson's College, Iowa, took from us our much-loved President, Mrs. Ewing.

List of moderators from Jan 6, 1857 to April, 1888

Excerpt from a chapter on "Temperance"

In 1875 Presbytery sent Rev. T. D. Ewing as a delegate to the "National Temperance Convention," which met in Chicago, June 1 of that year.

http://iowagravestones.org/gs_view.php?id=538468

Rev. Thomas D. Ewing, D.D.

Born in
Indiana Co., Penn.
Dec. 28, 1832, Died at
Corning IA. July 31, 1905

President of Parsons College, 1880 - 1890.

Note: Ewing was the second president of Parsons College. He was married three times; buried in this plot at Evergreen Cemetery with his first wife and daughter, both named Anna Graham.

Old.P.264

THOMAS D EWING
Evergreen Cemetery
Jefferson County, Iowa
Uploaded 6/8/2010 by
iowagenealogy.jeffersoncounty [Email]

Rev. Thomas D. Ewing, D.D.

Born in
Indiana Co., Penn.
Dec. 28, 1832, Died at
Corning IA. July 31, 1905

President of Parsons College, 1880 - 1890.

Note: Ewing was the second president of Parsons College. He was married three times; buried in this plot at Evergreen Cemetery with his first wife and daughter, both named Anna Graham.

Old.P.264

Photo by
Richard K. Thompson
June 8, 2010