Ephraim B. Ewing. a most flattering vote, which testified to his great popularity throughout the State. Judge Thomas A. Sherwood, who has ever since continued on the bench — one of the most distinguished jurists of the country — was nominated and elected at the same time with Judge Ewing. It seemed peculiarly characteristic of Judge Ewing's family to be successful in be ing elevated to positions of trust and honor. His father was a great personal friend of President Andrew Jackson, as well as of Senator Thomas H. Benton. President Jackson prevailed on the minister at one time to accept the office of register of the land office, at Lexington, Missouri. The latter was somewhat criticised by some of his brethren for accepting the office; but he justified himself and his conscience by de voting the emoluments derived from office largely to deeds of charity. He gave liber ally of his means for the education of poor, worthy, young preachers. His eldest son, Gen. L. D. Ewing, after leaving the Kentucky home, located in Illinois, where he became the compeer of A. Lincoln. He was a successful lawyer, and -held several offices in that State. In 1839 he and Lincoln were opposing candi dates for speaker of the House of Repre sentatives in Illinois — Ewing being a Democrat and Lincoln the Whig candidate. Ewing was successful. He was afterwards for a short time United States senator. So impressed was he with the great ability and political sagacity of Lincoln, that as early as 184 1 he predicted that Lincoln would one day become president. When the late Gen. James Shields once challenged Lincoln to fight a duel, Mr. Ewing acted as the friend of Shields; but happily for all an amicable adjustment of the difficulty between the parties was effected and the duel averted. Judge Ewing was married in 1845 at Rich mond, Missouri, to Elizabeth Allen, daughter of Dr. Thomas Allen, and a sister of the late Henry W. Allen, governor of Louisiana at
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the close of the war between the States. Of this marriage seven children were born; the eldest, Mrs. Anna Ewing Cockrell, a bright and accomplished lady, and wife of United States Senator F. M. Cockrell, died in Wash ington City i1i January, 1894. The opinions of Judge Ewing while on the supreme court were terse, clear, logical and well sustained by authority. Judge Pay says of him, "he seldom made a citation which did not directly bear on the subject discussed." He was painstaking and untir ing in the discharge of his official duties; indeed although he was not of robust con stitution, he had wonderful energy, had ab solutely no idle hours. He scarcely knew what it was to take a rest or vacation. By reason of the great strain on his physical powers, for lack of the vacations he should have taken, like Rufus Choate, it is believed, he died the victim of overwork. His briefs, made while in active prac tice, testified to his industry as well as to his ability and skill. As a speaker he did not lay claim to great powers of oratory; but his arguments before court or jury were clear, forcible and convincing. He did not waste time on immaterial points, but di rected his argument to the controlling and strong points involved in a case. He had a clear, pleasing voice which created a good impression on the hearer; and so utterly free was he from cant and demagogism, his language so pure, his manner so earnest and sincere, that his speeches were very persua sive and effective in bringing conviction. His memory of decided cases was wonder ful. Alexander Garesche, a prominent law yer at the St. Louis bar at one time, used to say, that if in doubt about where to find an authority settling a certain legal proposi tion, he could always rely on practical aid if he applied to Judge Ewing; that the lat ter would say he thought the question had been decided in a certain case, to be found in a certain volume of reports, naming it. Invariably, Mr. Garesche said, he found the
