and "as the distinguished author of the Mecklenburg declaration of independence" adopted at Charlotte, North Carolina, in May, 1775. The parents of Judge Ewing removed from Kentucky to Missouri about 1820, where, in due course of time, the latter re ceived such advantages as were afforded by the common schools of that period. He was afterwards sent to Cumberland College at Princeton, Kentucky, where he took a classical course and completed his educa tion. "After this," says Judge Bay, in his "Bench and Barof Missouri," "hecommenced the study of the law under Judge Buckner, a distinguished lawyer from Kentucky, who taught for awhile a private law school in St. Louis." He then went to Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, and completed his legal studies in the office of his brother, Robert C. Ewing. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and immediately formed a partnership with his brother. It was but a short time, however, before we find him a member of the legislature from his county. In 1848 he was a presidential elector on the Demo cratic ticket. "The following year," says Judge Bay " he was appointed by Governor Austin A. King, Secretary of State, and con tinued in that office during Governor King's administration. The position was very re sponsible and laborious, for he was, ex-officio, superintendent of common schools. In 1856 the triangular fight for governor took place. Colonel Benton was the candi date of one wing of the Democratic party, Trusten Polk of another, and an opposition convention in St. Louis nominated Mr. Ewing's brother, Judge Robert C. Ewing. The subject of this sketch was nominated for attorney general on the ticket with Polk. It was a most exciting contest, and the two Ewing brothers frequently met on the stump, in opposition, not permitting however their affectionate relations to be disturbed. The State was most thoroughly canvassed and the ticket headed by Governor Polk elected.
In this somewhat memorable campaign, on one occasion, while Robert C. Ewing was speaking, he was asked by some one in the audience why it was he and his brother differed so widely, politically. "Oh," said the judge, "Ephraim is joined to his idols." During his term of office as attorney general, he was often call upon by the legis lature as well as other officials, for opinions on legal questions. It is known that many of these opinions elicited high compliments from such able jurists as the late Gov. H. R. Gamble and others. The attorney general was looked upon by his friends as the probable candidate for governor in 1860 on the Democratic ticket; but an event occurred which made possible his selection to a position more congenial to his tastes. When in 1859 Judge John C. Richardson resigned from the supreme bench a strong call was made by the bar on the attorney general to become a candidate to fill the vacancy. He was elected in August of that year, although his competi tors were Hon. Washington Adams (after wards on the supreme bench), and Judge William A. Hall, two very eminent lawyers of the State. Judge Ewing held this position until the fall of 1861, when he voluntarily retired from office to resume the practice of his profession in Jefferson City, where he then resided. In 1864 he removed to St. Louis and engaged in practice there until 1870, when, at the urgent call of the bar, irrespective of party, he was induced to become a candidate for circuit judge. He was elected in November of that year to this position, which he held until January 1, 1873, when he resigned to accept a place on the supreme bench, to which he had been elected in November preceding, for a term of eight years. The call to become again a candidate for the supreme bench was signed by more than two hundred and fifty of the leading lawyers of the State, irre spective of party. In the Convention held in July, 1872, when nominated he received
