James W. Mcewen Pioneer Is Dead
Came To The Kittitas Valley In 1871
Health Had Been Failing Fast For Ten Months And Was Confined To Room 4 Months.
James William McEwen, pioneer of the valley died yesterday [July 15, 1915] afternoon from leakage of the heart.
He was born October 24, 1853 at Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. As a child his heath was very poor and the physician advised the father to bring him to the west, which he did when William was a lad of only six years, crossing the Sound country in the fall of ’59, where they lived until ’71, when with his father he came to this valley, where he has since resided.
January 3, 1884, Mr. McEwen married Miss Sarah Agnes Banister and located on their farm four miles east of Ellensburg where they lived for twenty years when they moved to Ellensburg. Four children have blessed this union, Mary Ellen [Mamie] and Leslie who both died in infancy and Cora and Martha who have grown to young womanhood in this city.
Twelve years ago Mr. McEwen was converted and united with the local Baptist Church under the ministry of Pastor Willis E. Petticone, and has for much of the time has been a member of the official church board. His health has been fast failing since September of last year and for more than four months he has been confined to his room and much of the time to his bed. Though he himself said he was feeling much better, the end came very suddenly July 15, at 3:45 p.m. Several members of the family were notified of the change of his condition, but so severe was the attack of suffocation, that he passed away before any of them could get there.
Of his immediate family he leaves a wife and two daughters, Cora Belle and Martha Amelia; also three sisters, Mrs. J. Ferguson of four miles east of this city, Mrs. A. L. Wheeler of Kittitas and Mrs. Wilford Gore of this city; also one brother, Harvey McEwen of Toppenish, Wash. Besides those there is a number of near relatives with a host of acquaintances and friends to mourn his departure.
Funeral services under the direction of M. L. Bridgham will be held from the Baptist Church, Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Pastor Yager preaching the sermon and the interment will be in the IOOF Cemetery.
Funeral Notice, July 22, 1915:
After an illness extending over several months, James William McEwen died at his home here and was buried from the Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, the funeral being one of the largest seen in the city in a long time. Having come here with his father in 1871, Mr. McEwen was really a pioneer and as “Billy” he was known to all old timers and many others. He owned a farm east of town but had lived here for several years. Besides a wife he leaves two daughters, Misses Martha and Cora, Mrs. Wheeler, Mrs. Ferguson and Mrs. Gore are sisters. He was 62 years old and had a wide circle of friends.
Contributed by: Sheli Steedman
