Name: Henry EWALT
_________________________________________
Birth: January 27, 1754 Palatinate, Pfalz, Bavaria
Death: September 1829 Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky Age: 75
Father: John EWALT (1707-1792)
Mother: Sarah (1726-1809)
Misc. Notes
Henry Ewalt b. 27 JAN 1755, Palatinate, Pfalz, Bavaria, ref:
3N2L-BV, m. Elizabeth Frye, b. 1757, Frederick Co., VA, (daughter
of Abraham Frye and Agnes.Ann Young) d. 1837, Paris, Bourbon County,
Kentucky. Henry died Sep 1829, Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky.
Henry Ewalt , Commissioned 16 dec 177?, Revolutionary War:6th
Co. 1st Bat of Bedford Co.,Pa ( DAR Patriot Intex P226).
Source: KENTUCKIAN-CITIZEN, Paris, Kentucky, Wed. July 11,
1934, Page Two
EARLY HOMES IN BOURBON: THE EWALT HOME, 5 1/2 MILES NORTHWEST
of Paris, at Ewalt's Crossroads
Compiled by Miss Elizabeth Ewalt Grimes for State Historian's
Report, Jemima Johnson Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
The Ewalt home 5 1/2 miles northwest of Paris, at Ewalt's Crossroads, was established in 1788 by Henry Ewalt, who purchased from John Haggin 200 a. of land for 110 pounds sterling. Here he built a two story frame house before 1800. A stone chimney, seven feet wide and three feet deep at the base, is built on each end of the house. The interior is finished in ash and walnut, the walls being paneled and the ceiling moulding in one room is hand carved. About 1815 a stone ell of four rooms was added, the walls 22 inches thick. This house is in a perfect state of preservation. A complete water system and other conveniences have been added, but few changes have been made in the original house.
Henry Ewalt, the founder of this home, is buried in a family burying ground near his home which has been owned continuously by a descendant since his death. It is now the home of Joseph Hedges Ewalt a great-grandson, who was born in this house.
Henry Ewalt was born Jan. 27 1754, in Palatine on the Rhine, Germany, and died in 1829. He was a Revolutionary soldier. The record of his service in the office of the State Librarian of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, Pa., shows that he was commissioned Dec. 10, 1777, ensign in the 1st battalion of Bedford Militia, 6th Co.
He was the' son of John Ewalt born 1707, died Nov. 12, 1792, settled in Bedford township about 2 miles northeast of Bedford, Pa., on Dunning's Creek, in 1765. This district was then Cumberland Co., Pa. The farm on which he lived is now known as Colfelt Farm. John Ewalt and his wife are buried on this farm. Their tombstones are still standing, surrounded by a small enclosure near where the public road forks. The family of
R. D. Barclay, of Philadelphia, have the Bible of John Ewalt, printed in German. Two brothers, Richard and Henry, came to Penn. with him.
The children of John Ewalt, b. 1707, d. 1792, and Sarah (his
wife), b. 1726, d. Jan. 10, 1809, were:
Samuel, b. July 22, 1750.
Mary, m. George Funk.
Henry, born Jan. 27, 1754, m Elizabeth Fry (widow Keller).
Rebecca.
Esther, m. Martin Riley.
John.
Anna, m. Jacob Barnett.
Sarah, m. Robert Spencer.
Richard, b. July 3, 1772.
The Bedford, Pa., Inquirer, of Dec. 17, 1897, writing of the family, says: "The three daughters of John married prominent citizens in the early history of Bedford. Richard Ewalt moved to Schellsburg; he had two sons, Wm.' and Henry, who moved west, and a daughter who became the wife of Gen. James Burns. Charles Riley, for many years treasurer of Bedford Co.' was a great-grandson of John Ewalt."
The children of Henry Ewalt, Rev. soldier, b. Jan. 27, 1754, d. 1829, and Elizabeth Fry (widow Keller), died 1837, were:
1. Sarah, b. April 16, 1793, d. Sept. 13, 1837, m. 1800, Joseph
Shawhan, b. Sept. 12, 1781, d. Sept. 15, 1871.
2. Mary S.,` born Aug. 28, 1785, m. Sept. 10, 1806, Hugh Miller.
3. Rebecca, m. John Ravenscraft, moved to Missouri to live.
4. John Ewalt, m. 1st Elizabeth Ravenscraft on June 30, 1809,
2nd Polly Haley on Nov. 6, 1833, 3rd Mrs. Sarah Flowers on June
27, 1844.
5. Samuel Ewalt, b. Aug. 12, 1792, d. Aug. 28, 1878, m. 1st Cynthia
Pugh, b. March 30, 1795, m. Dec. 24, 1817, d. Sept. 28, 1833,
m. 2nd Eliza Smith.
6. Richard Ewalt, b. 1795, d. Oct. 15, 1833, m. Maria Stamps,
b. Feb. 24, 1784, m. Sept. 9, 1821, d. Dec. 12, 1871.
7. Henry Ewalt, m. Katura Stamps on Nov. 23, 1820, b. Feb. 3,
1799 moved to Missouri to, live.
Elizabeth Frye, wife of Henry Ewalt, was the dau. of Abraham Frye, Sr., born 1750, in Frederick Co., Va., died April 4, 1801.
The children of Abraham Frye Sr., were:
Benjamin Frye, m. Nancy Keller James.
Abraham, Jr. b. June 4, 1764.
Margaret.
Christine.
Elizabeth, m. 1st Keller 2nd .
Rebecca, m Jos. Forman.
Catherine.
Nancy m Noah Spears.
Abraham Frye, Sr., was born in Frederick Co., Va., where he built a stone house in 1747. (Mr. Jos. H. Ewalt and other descendants have pictures of this house and of the tombstones of Benjamin Frye and others of the family.) Abraham Frye, Sr., moved to Fallowfield, Washington Co., Pa., in 1768. While living there he served as in in Captain Charles McClay's Co. of the 1st Battalion of Cuberland Co. Militia-Carlisle April 18, 1778. See p. 845, Vol. 23, Penn. Archives, 3rd Series; for further service see p. 396 Vol. 6 Penn Archives, 6th Series. Abraham Frye, Sr., was the son of Benjamin Frye, d. 1753, Christine, his wife, died Aug. 27, 1752.
Their children were:
Abraham, Sr.
Henry.
Joseph.
Jacob.
Samuel, b. 1729, d. 1814, m Christine Speers, b. 1752, d. 1841
Benjamin, m. Speers.
Christine.
William.
Elizabeth.
BB-46
Ewalt's Crossroads, Henry Ewalt House; 1788, 1815.
Paris-Cynthiana Road
Still owned by descendants of the eighteenth century builder, this interesting early dwelling has appropriately been known as Ewalt's Crossroads since at least the Civil War. It consists of a two-story frame section with huge stone end chimneys, believed to have been built in 1788, and a two-story stone ell facing to one side with a one-story stone addition at the end of the ell. The frame portion has characteristic woodwork of the earliest type found in Kentucky, with panelled overmantel and the very rare original crown molding. The stone ell has typical Federal woodwork, suggesting a date of about 1815. Although somewhat remodelled in the early 20th century, the house remains one of the most convincing early dwellings in the county. A stone barn and the Ewalt family cemetery (BB-80) are located near the house.
The original portion of the house was constructed by Henry Ewalt, a Revolutionary War veteran. Ewalt emigrated to Bourbon County from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, in 1788, and purchased a 200 acre tract of land north of Cooper's Run from John Hagin of Mercer County.
After his father's death, the farm was inherited by Samuel Ewalt, Sr. who not only enlarged and developed the farm, but also was active in public affairs. A farmer by vocation, he also operated a distillery near the small community of Shawhan. In both 1861 and 1877 the farm is identified as the property of William and Joseph Ewalt, two of the sons of Samuel, Sr. The former seems to have inherited another of his father's properties, Cedar Grove, on the Cynthiana Road near the Harrison County line (BB-83), while the latter, a prominent stockraiser, remained at Ewalt's Crossroads.
Whitley; Perrin, pp. 67, 462-63, 678-79; Johnson, 111, 1357-60;
Kerr, 111, 487-88; Elizabeth E. Grimes, "Ewalt's Crossroads,"
Kentuckian Citizen, 7/7/1928, p. 53; 7/11/1934.
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Daniel Boone and James Fry(e)
While the encounters between the Boones and John, Jacob and William
Fry(e) are a matter of historical record, a connection with James
is only circumstantial at best. While it is quite possible that
James may have met Boone face to face, there is slim chance of
ever proving it at this point. Despite that lack of physical evidence,
Boone undoubtedly had a great impact on him.
James Fry(e) was born in Frederick County, Virginia sometime around 1750, and moved with his parents, Abraham and Agnes-Ann (Young) to southwestern Pennsylvania somewhere between 1769 and 1772 (see Journal, Aug. 1993). He was a resident there when Washington County was created in 1781, having paid taxes that year on 200 acres, two horses, four cattle and four sheep (PA Archives Series 3, V22, p 731). He was apparently living near the farms of his parents and two brothers in Fallowfield Township. He was married to Nancy Spears, daughter of Henry and Regina (Froman) Spears, and although the date is not certain, it must have been Just prior to 1775. It might be noted that Henry Spears and Paul Froman migrated to western Pennsylvania from Frederick County, Virginia as well, and it is quite possible that they and the Kellar, Crist and Frye families may have migrated together. Nancy was born apparently in Virginia on March 17, 1759 (Spear-Fry Cemetery, Bourbon County, Kentucky).
In 1784, immediately following the end of the Revolutionary War, James served as a 4th Class in the Washington County, Pennsylvania militia in an Indian Spy Company under Lt. Thomas Crook. Two years later, James was involved in a controversy with the U.S. government, and on April 27, his home and improvements were burned on land settled contrary to regulations set forth by the U. S. Congress. He had, at this point, been located some thirty miles downstream (southwest) of Pittsburgh on the Virginia side of the Ohio River adjacent to the present state of Ohio. This was probably in what is now Ohio County, West Virginia, and although the specifics are not known, it is speculated that he may have built a cabin or shelter across the river, perhaps grazing cattle, thus defying a treaty with the Indians. Also involved in the controversy, was John Kellar. Perhaps we can look at this in more detail at another time.
James Fry(e)'s arrival into central Kentucky is thought to have been sometime between mid-1787 and early 1788. At any rate, he is not on the list of taxpayers for 1787, but is the following year. This is also true of the party that appears to have migrated with him. In all probability, James and Nancy migrated to Kentucky along with Henry and Elizabeth Ewalt, and Jacob and Elizabeth Spears. (Elizabeth Frye Kellar Ewalt was a sister to James, and Jacob Spears was a brother of Nancy, James' wife. Thus these three families were closely related.) If they arrived late in the summer of 1787, they may easily have missed the tax assessments for that year, for the Virginia legislature had passed a law in October of 1786 decreeing that tax collecting operations in the Kentucky counties were to begin on March 10 of the following year. Although greatly scattered out over a large area, with such a small number of residents then living in Bourbon County, it would seem reasonable that those in the Fry(e) party may have arrived late enough that year to have missed the taxation process for 1787. Furthermore, various legal records, including tax lists, for Washington County Pennsylvania, give witness that Jacob Spears and Henry Ewalt were in Washington County in 1786, but show no evidence of their presence the following year. In addition, James Jr. is said to have been born in Kentucky in 1787. This information comes from the research of Robert Excell Fry of Pike County, Missouri, who did a very scholarly research through court house records etc., back in the 1920s. He is a descendant of James Fry Jr. Unfortunately, his source is at this point. Nevertheless, James Jr.'s brother Abraham was born there the following May (1788).
In an article written by Josephine H. Ewalt, the following notation is written concerning her great-great- grandfather, Henry Ewalt:
"When he was mustered out (from service during the Revolution) and returned to Western Pennsylvania, he found that his neighbor had been killed in the War and had left a young son and widow, she (being) Elizabeth Frye Keller.* In 1782, Henry married the young widow. Two little Ewalt girls and an Ewalt boy came along in due time. And now Henry had to take a look at the economic future.
"He had brothers older than he. The English primogeniture laws still prevailed in the Colonies during this pre- Constitutional period. Henry was most certainly not going to inherit the Bedford County land. So he decided to try his fortunes in the newly opened Kentucky County of Virginia. A flat boat down the Allegheny and into the Ohio to the landing place at Limestone (now Maysville) carried Henry and his family to the land of opportunity. The step-son, Abraham Keller. thus came to Kentucky and was the progenitor of many Kellers in this county." (From "Henry Ewalt and the House He Built").
Indeed, the party must have followed the Old Buffalo Trail, for it crosses Cooper's Run almost immediately behind the tract the Fry(e)s were to settle on. There to the north side of the Old Buffalo Trail, the Spears, Fry(e)s and Ewalts were to settle on adjacent tracts almost within shouting distance of each other. To the south side had been Cooper's Fort, built a dozen years before by John Cooper who was the first in the area to clear land and raise a corn crop, from which he sold seed to migrating settlers until Indians killed him. In between Cooper's Fort and the newcomer's tracts, ran Cooper's Run Creek.
The decade of the 1780s had seen numerous incidents between Indians and the few who dared to encroach upon their hunting grounds there in Bourbon County. These reached a peak in 1788 with the Shanks Massacre along Cooper's Run, a very short distance from where the Spears, Fry(e)s, and Ewalts had chosen to settle. "A small band of Indians had attacked the frontier house, and set it aflame to force out the victims, mainly the widow Shanks and her children. They terrorized the family, killing five, and kidnapping a girl whom they later scalped. The Indians stole some of the horses, and retreated. Neighbors pursued them and killed two of the Indians)" (Everman, p 4). It is likely that James Fry(e), Jacob Spears and Henry Ewalt were among the neighbors that pursued the Indians. Everman mentions that Jacob Spears was one of the prominent officers of the militia in those early years (p 16). As for James, he is listed as a lieutenant in the Bourbon County Militia as of July 29, 1789, and by November 5th of the following year, has risen to the rank of captain. Although the Indian threat abated, settlers remained cautious, as Indians continued to raid along the overland routes.
*Her first husband, Jacob Kellar, died in 1781. She remarried very soon afterward, and their first child was born in 1782.
**John Keller stated in a deposition dated 1806 that he came in the year 1776 with a party including Patrick Jordan, Reuben Wats (Waits), James Thompson, John Irvin and others. He made an entry for his brother, Jacob Keller. He stated that Abraham Keller was the son of Jacob Keller, deceased" (Ardery, p 12). This Jacob Keller (Kellar) is Elizabeth Frye's first husband.
For the new arrivals, this location may have made more sense
in 1787/88 than it perhaps would a decade later. In 1787, there
was no town of Paris. Indeed, one of the first structures there
was Duncan Tavern, built in 1788. Yet a short distance from our
settlers at Cooper's Run, was the Johnson Inn, located strategically
along the Buffalo Trail. Built also in the 1780s, it was a favorite
stopping place for travelers in their journey between Limestone
and Lexington. While the area was chosen as the county seat for
the newly formed Bourbon County (1786), court was held at first
in the homes of prominent settlers (John Kiser's home on Cooper's
Run was chosen that year). It must have seemed in 1787/88 that
a community might well spring up near where they had settled.
This would change with the selection in 1789 of Hopewell (Paris)
by the Virginia legislature to be the county seat (see Jacob Fry).
Our party of settlers undoubtedly lived in rude shelters at first,
as attested to by Josephine Ewalt:
"In 1788, Henry bought 200 acres of land North of Cooper's Run for the amazing sum of 110 pounds sterling (about $1.50 an acre). On that land, he built first a small temporary house, while he and his neighbors cleared the land of the thick virgin forest so that they could plant crops. They finally built the 'big house,' the two story frame front part of today's structure with stone chimneys at each end."
While there is some controversy as to exactly when the structure was built, it is estimated that construction occurred during the early to mid-1790s. It still stands today at what is appropriately known as Ewalt's Crossroads. Of it, Everman states, "This Revolutionary War veteran possessed one of the most elegant homes with paneled walls (ash and walnut) and molded ceilings, and decorated with exquisite hand carvings" (p 19).
Perhaps during this same time, Jacob Spears began construction on his house, "Stone Castle". It is featured in the book, Historic Architecture of Bourbon County, Kentucky, which states, "The house was built for Jacob Spears shortly after his arrival in Bourbon County in 1787 or 1788. It has the characteristics of the work of builder John Metcalfe, who had travelled to Kentucky from Virginia with a group under the guidance of Simon Kenton in the same year" (Langsam, p 38). Whether the Spears, Fry(e) and Ewalt party came in from Limestone with this group may never be known. Yet it is interesting that attempts were made at such an early point to establish the trappings of civilization, though the conditions upon their arrival were far from that.
While the Spears home was perhaps, chiefly the work of John Metcalfe, undoubtedly Jacob's sons and slaves helped with the labor. It features a spiral staircase and cherry paneling in the front room, and is considered a county historical landmark today. Jacob Spears was to make his money in the distillery business, one of 128 listed in the Bourbon County Census of 1810. Across the lane on the Fry(e) side, the Spears built a warehouse for their distillery operation, and this also still stands. While James undoubtedly dabbled in the same business at times, he was certainly never to become the successful entrepreneur that the Spears were. It is likely that much of his labor was put into farming, although Langsam tells of James' son Abraham, "Fry was an early settler in this area, and operated a distillery on his farm. His son, I. N. (Isaac Newton) Fry, continued to occupy the farm, and his name appeared on both the 1861 and 1877 maps" (p 39).
As for James Fry(e), he was to purchase his 200 acres from the Jacob Spears tract on July 20, 1790. Unfortunately, his home no longer survives as do the other two. Undoubtedly their first structure was also a crude cabin, but as was the case with the others, this was replaced by a more permanent home. However, unlike the others, we have no surviving clues as to when it may have been built. The fact that it was brick, has led some to question the possibility of an early date. Yet Ardery notes that, "More permanent buildings of brick began to replace those of log by 1796" (p 7). This may come as a surprise, but Langsam says much the same. Since James didn't seem to prosper on the scale of his neighbors, we may surmise that his was probably the last of the three to be built. Nor did it share the elegance of the others. Even the fact that the Fry(e) homestead was called "Musk Rat Valley" fails to compare with the more sophisticated "Stone Castle" of the Spears estate. This is the same estate that James willed to his son Abraham in September of 1809. The fact is that other than in the 1810 census, we hear very little about James during the next decade, although we know that Nancy continued to live there at the homestead with her son until her death in 1839 (Mar. 25).
James may have been in and out of the county during this, period as he was in February of 1804 when he and Jacob Spears brought litigation against one Abner Reeves over a debt (Common Pleas Ct., Knox Co. Indiana Territory Minutes 1800-1806, p 171). He probably set up the original distillery on his farm - the one his son Abraham operated (Langsam). Perhaps this was the reason for his less than settled life style. Although we have no record as to how much he produced, or how he disposed of his stock, his nephew Solomon Spears (Jacob's son) floated barrels by boat down to New Orleans, and then walked back home up the Natchez Trace, making the trip 13 times during that early period (Everman, p 37). Although James' age may have prevented a trip of that magnitude (to New Orleans), his business dealings may still explain his apparent absences. He certainly seems to have possessed a restless spirit. Ultimately however, it may have been Daniel Boone that ignited his desire to move on into Missouri.
In 1799 Boone had become discouraged enough with his debts and failed business dealings, that he left for Missouri, although he is said to have given the following reason officially, "Too many people. Too crowded! Too crowded! I want more elbow-room" (Steele, p 393). Nearing his 65th birthday in 1799, Boone set out for the Femme Osage District of Spanish-owned Missouri. As Boone made the trip on foot, crowds gathered all along the way to see this famous hunter. Within a year, Spanish officials appointed him magistrate of the district. whose duty was to keep law and order, and occasionally judge law cases. Though possessing no legal experience, he, nevertheless, gained a reputation for wisdom and fairness. When the territory passed from Spanish into French and then American hands in 1803, Boone again lost most of his land claims, since they had been registered with Spanish officials. Finally, in 1814, a year after the death of his wife Rebecca, a small portion of his claims were restored to him by the U. S. Congress in appreciation for his role in the opening of these two frontiers. 'As a result, Boone became financially able to return in 1817 to Kentucky to pay off debts. Some of the earliest records in Bourbon County concern suits against Boone and Simon Kenton for not "paying their debts promptly". Boone was, in fact, quite conscientious despite the losses he had repeatedly suffered regarding land claims.
Having said he would never return to Kentucky, Boone mellowed
in his latter years. Like a returning hero, wherever he went,
people turned out to get a glimpse of him, as "...aging companions
came to see him and brought their children and grandchildren so
that in years to come they could say that they had once shaken
the hand of Daniel Boone" (The Long Hunter; Elliott, p 199).
Boone reportedly reached home with but 50¢ left.
Could it be that James was one of those that sought out Boone's
attention? Did he listen to Boone's accounts of Missouri? Perhaps!
Perhaps not! Yet sometime in his late 60s, James began planning
for his final adventure - into Missouri. Yet even more remarkable,
Boone returned home that year to prepare for his final hunting
trip - this time west to Kansas and the Dakotas, following the
Platte River to the Rockies, and spending the winter season trapping
in the Yellowstone region. But what made this so remarkable was
that Boone was well past his eightieth birthday. Back in Missouri,
he was sought out in 1819 by the American artist Chester Harding
who is thought to have made the only portrait of Boone painted
from life. And Finally, on September 26, 1820 at the age of 86,
Boone died while visiting the home of his son Nathan.
According to research done by Robert Excell Fry, James and some of his family came to Pike County Missouri in the spring of 1819. He noted that James Jr. was in Kentucky early in 1819 but not in 1820. In addition, of James Sr.'s other children, Jacob, Benjamin, and possibly Nancy also went out to Missouri. However, there is no evidence that their mother Nancy ever went west. This has left family researchers with some glaring questions. Nancy would have been 60 at the time, but still younger than her husband. When James willed his farm to his son Abraham, Nancy continued to live there with him, and was there when she was named on a summons on October 4, 1820 that she was an heir to part of the estate of Solomon Spears, deceased. In fact, she died there twenty years later on March 25, 1839, and was buried in the Spears-Fry Cemetery behind the Jacob Spears mansion in Bourbon County. Why did she not join her husband in Missouri? He appears to have been in Missouri for possibly two and a half years before his death in Pike County, where he made out and recorded his last will on September 1, 1821. In this he gave his son Jacob "all my lands in this county... ," (as well as) "my mulatto woman, named Matilda and her child named Lewis, together with all my other estate both real and personal...." He acknowledged that his other children had already received their inheritance and would receive no more. Had James and Nancy been estranged (receipts do exist that show she did send money to Missouri territory), or did she plan to join him after living quarters had been adequately prepared? To this and other questions we may never have an answer. Yet James, like Boone, had lost a considerable sum of money in a land sale deal, and had few personal effects at the time of his death. (See Journal July 1992.) Whether James ever personally met Boone we'll probably never know. Yet Boone's influence on the restless spirit of James Fry(e) certainly seems strong to say the least. (A great deal more can be said of James Fry(e) -a fascinating man we plan to feature again.)
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
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Inc. 1939.
Blanton, Alice Rogers Clay. Historical Map of Bourbon County,
KY. 1934.
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Bryan, William S. and Rose, Robert. Pioneer Families of Missouri.
Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1984.
Carpenter, Stephen J. "Roster of 'First Kentucky Ancestors'
- Adam Carpenter" Kentucky Ancestors. Kentucky Historical
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IN: Cook Publications, 1985.
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Cook, Michael L. Kentucky Pioneer Genealogy and Records Vol. 11
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Ewalt Genealogy By JOSEPH HEDGES EWALT [1]
John Ewalt, Senior, was born in Palatine on the Rhine, Germany, in 1707, and emigrated to Amerlca In 1765 with his wife, Sarah, born In 1726, and two brothers, Richard and Henry.
They settled on a farm about two miles east of Bedford, Pennsylvania, then known as Cumberland County, which was a vast wilderness of woods, located on Dunnings Creek, and cleared a farm known as the Colfelt farm, which was less than one-half mile from, and in plain view of an Indian settlement in the lowlands and near this small stream. Indian arrowheads have been gathered there by the hundreds. The celebrated Ewalt apple originated on this farm.
John Ewalt, Senior, died upon this farm November 12, 1792, at the age of 86 years, and his wife, Sarah, died January 10,1809, at the age of 83 years.
They are burled about one-eighth mile east of the home on said farm, and just east of the forks of the roads, and about 25 feet from the road, and about 25 feet above the road surface, on a natural elevation or hill.
Their graves are enclosed in a lot about 11 feet square, surrounded by a solid stone wall three feet high, and two inches thick at the head and 18 inches thick at sides and foot, and laid with masonry of concrete and flint stone.
There are two tablets inside this enclosure on marble 20 inches wide and two inches thick and about 30 or more inches high, with very pretty scroll tops. On one is the followling inscription "In memory of John Ewalt, Senior, who departed this life November 12, 1792, aged 85 years." On the other, "In memory of Sarah Ewalt, consort of John Ewalt, Senior, who departed this life January 10th 1809, aged 83 years." Each also have foot stones with just the initials. The remarkable thing about same is fact that the lettering is just as plain as though placed there very recently.
John Ewalt, Senior, and Sarah Ewalt were the parents of the following named children: Samuel, Mary, Henry, Rebecca, Esther, John, Anna, Sarah and Richard. The dates of their birth were from July 22, 1750 to January 3rd, 1772.
Henry, the second son, was born January 27, 1754. He rendered gallent service as a soldier in the Continental line during the "War of the Revolution." On the 10th. of December 1777, about one month prior to his 24th. birthday, he was commissioned an Ensign of the Sixth Company of the First Battalion oI Pennsylvania Militia. His command played an important part throughout the memorable conflict to gain our independence.
He married Mrs. Elizabeth (Frye) Keller, widow of Jacob Keller. She was born in Frederick County, Virginia, the daughter of Abraham Frye, Senior, and Agnes Ann Frye.
Abraham Frye, Senior, was a member of Captain Charles McCluy's Company of First Battalion Cumberland County, Pennsylvanla Militia during the Revolutionary War.
Several years following that was Henry and Elizabeth (Frye) (Keller) Ewalt removed from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, while the latter was still under the Jurisdiction of Virginia.
On the fourth of August 1788, John Haggin of Harrodsburg located in the same territory, deeded to Henry Ewalt, 200 acres of land north on Coopers Run Creek (now in Bourbon County) for a consideration of 110 pounds sterling, amounting to a little in excess of $500.
About 1795, he built a two story frame house with lower and upper halls and a small ell. The original front is still in an excellent state of preservation. During the period of the second war with England (1810-1812), the ell was torn away to make room for a two story stone addition to the original two story building above mentioned. The walls are 22 inches thick, and the masonry is still as solid as when built, now over 130 years ago.
In this substantial building were reared seven children of this couple, who were endowed with the pioneer strength and industry. They spent their declining years in this home made possible by youthful activities and superior foresight, until the final summons. His death occurred in 1829 , and his companion closed her eyes to things material in 1837.
Their remains are interred in the family burying ground, enclosed by a well constructed stone wall on the old homestead, located at a point where two highly improved macadamized roads cross, six miles from what is now known as Paris; the county seat of Bourbon County, on the road leading to Cynthiana, Harrison County, bearing the appellation of "Ewalt's Crossroads."
The names of the seven children of Henry Ewalt (1754-1829) and Elizabeth (Frye) (Keller) Ewalt were as follows: Sarah, Mary, John, Rebecca, Henry, Samuel and Richard.
Samuel, the third son, served with Captain Brasfield's company in the quartermaster's department under the supervision of General James Taylor and Thomas Bodley of Paynes Brigade of Kentucky Militla, War of 1812.
By his frugality and business acumen, he accumulated a sufficient acreage of land, making it possible for him to ride "horseback" (a method of transportation so universal in pioneer days ) upon his own land, covering a distance of over two miles, extending from Coopers Run Creek to Townsend Valley Creek, the border stream between the counties of Bourbon and Harrlson.
For a period, he was engaged in flatboating livestock and merchandise on the Ohio and Mississippi river from the then growing center of Cincinnati to New Orleans.
He married Cynthia Pugh (born March 30, 1795) on December 24, 1817 (died September 28, 1833). She was the daughter of Joseph Pugh (1753-1820) and Elizabeth (Hunt) Pugh (1763-1829). Joseph Pugh was comissioned a lieutenant in the 14th. Virginia Regiment upon Continental establishment, Revolutionary War.
They were the parents of eight children, viz: John Hunt, Elizabeth, Ann Wllliam Pugh, Elizabeth Ann, Joseph Henry, Mary Susan and Sara Smith. Samuel Ewalt's (1782) second marriage was to Ellza Porter Smith (born August 27,1799) on June 7,1834 (died February 28, 1863).
The issue by that union were Samuel, Ann Smlth and Cynthia Pugh.
At the advanced age of 86, the long and useful career came to an end on August 28, 1878. His remains, together with the two wives and two children (the second and third of the first marriage dying in infancy), also the father-in-law, Joseph Pugh (1753-1820), and mother-in-law, Elizabeth (Hunt) Pugh (1763-1829) are interred in the burying ground near Mount Carmel Christian church, a short distance from the home where he resided during his closing years.
On March 1st., 1853, William Pugh (1825-1896) and Joseph Henry Ewalt (1828-1877), second and third sons of Samuel Ewalt (1792-1878) and Cynthia (Pugh) Ewalt (1792-1833) were deeded by their parents, the ancestral Ewalt Home (known as Ewalt Crossroads) with 380 acres of land surrounding it. Besides general farming by these brothers, a specialty was made of dealing in mules, breeding and training pedigreed horses. The partnership continued with success until the death of the junior in 1877. The land was then divided; the homestead with 215 acres was allotted to the widow and two children of Joseph Henry (1828).
Joseph Henry Ewalt (1828) and Sophia M. Spears (born September 6, 1838) were married on December 18, 1868. Her ancestors emigrated from Virginia before Kentucky was admitted to statehood, June 1st. 1792. There was no issue from this union. She died August 27, 1857
He then married Henrietta Hedges (born August 6, 1839) on December 10, 1863.
Her ancestors were of English descent, who came to Kentucky from Maryland and Virginia prior to 1800. Her immediate grandfather, Joseph Hedges (1750-1805) served in the Revolutionary War with Captain John Combs Company (also known as Captain James Wards Company ) in the Regiment on Foot, Contlnental Troops, commanded by Col. Oliver Spencer, from September 1777 to December 1780. The enlistment was for the duration of that war.
There were four children born to Joseph Henry (1838) and Henrietta (Hedges) Ewalt (1839), viz: Joseph Hedges, born July 16, 1866; Rebecca Anne, born January 11, 1867; died Septembor 17, 1867; Lily, born April 20, 1869, died November 15, 1886, in Brooklyn, New York of typhoid pneumonia and Letty Clay, born December, 31, 1870, died April 16, 1874 following an illness of 10 weeks of spinal meningitis, an epidemic of that disease for several months.
The father, Joseph Henry (1828), found interest in democratic politics as a diversion.from an active business career. The mysteries of the age old fraternity, Masonry, were unveiled to him in the middle of eighteen fifties, completing the first two branches the symbolic and capitular rites, attaining the seventh degree, known as the Royal Arch.
A firm advocate of pregressiveness, ever ready to promote what was beneficial to his county-the community spirit strongly prevailed.
A protracted heart affectation was fatal, passing to "that realm from whose borne no traveler has returned" on August 1, 1877, in his 49th. year.
The widow, Henrietta (Hedges) Ewalt (1839) survived her companion nearly 40 years. Without experience she exhibited marked business ability in successfully administering the winding up of a complicated estate. Charity figured largely in her life; rendering assistance where it was needed. While in youth she joined Old Cane Rldge Christian Church, and reluctantly removed membership to be affiliated nearer later residence. The final summons came March 10, 1917, following a two years illness.
Joseph Hedges Ewalt, born July 15, 1865, after the passing of his father was a student at Lexington two years with Threlkeld Select School in the old Masonic Temple, corner Walnut and Short Streets, now the site of the Central Christian church; then three years at Transylvania University. After completing a commercial course at Eastman's National Business College, Poughkeepse, New York, he was employed as bookkeeper by the Delaware Wagon Company, Delaware, Ohio. Severing his connection with that company, he returned to Bourbon County, March 1, 1887, to take charge of the old homestead in conjunction with his mother, where general agricultural pursuits with stock raising have been the main features for more than half a century.
In the historic home of Mr. and Mrs. Williiam Garrard Talbot at Mount Lebanon in Bourbon County, on the 19th. of November 1903, a solemn ceremony was performed by Reverend Cary E. Morgan, pastor of the Paris Christian church, uniting the destinies ot Joseph Hedges Ewalt (1866) and Nancy Clay Thomas born July 17, 1876, the daughter of Keller (1845-1914) and Martha (Anderson) Thomas (1844-1902). She is lineal descendant of Moses Thomas, John Hinkson, John Strode, Andrew Lair, Thomas Pope and Abraham Frye, Senior, veterans of the Revolutionary War. Owing to their service, she holds membership in the Jemima Johnson chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.
The father enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 16, rendering valliant service under that gallant and intrepid leader, General John Hunt Morgan. Membership in the Richard Hawes chapter, No. 287, United Daughters of the Confederacy, for Mrs. Ewalt (1875) was made available by her father's activlty in behalf of southern cause.
The union of Joseph Hedges Ewalt (1865) and Nancy Clay Thomas Ewalt (1875) has been blessed with two attractive and self reliant daughters, viz; Ann Thomas born October 13, 1904 and Josephine Hedges Ewalt, born July 4, 1906. Their primary education was under the tutelage of Mrs. Fanniebelle Sutherland a noted instructor of Paris, for two years. Finished the four remaining years of graded school at Kiserton in Bourbon County. Had a four years course in Paris high school, graduating in June 1922, under the supervision ot Professor Lee Kirkpatrick, who merits a state wide reputation as a ranking superintendent.
The college courses of freshman and sophomore were taken at Randolph Macon Women's College at Lynchburg, Virginia. The last two years of the classical course were completed at Northwestern Univerelty, Evanston, Ill. The younger sister had the distinction of attaining the honorary scholastic fraternlty, Phi Beta Cappa, and ranking highest in scholarahlp of the 1926 graduating class, before attaining the age of 20 years. Chicago has been their home since college careers, "merely using the ancestral home as a parking place."
The elder sister taught school until her marriage to Cloyde Edwin McKinley, born Septomber 6, 1894, of Chicago, but native ot Nebraska. After five years of wedded happiness, the husband was called suddenly to his reward on August 20th, 1938.
The younger sister had a year's course in Journalism-plying that vocation until 1930, when she became associated with the United Savings and Loan League of Chicago, of which she is now publicity director.
It is the pride of their parents, that they are happily situated in the adopted home.
The home life of Joseph Hedges Ewalt (1865) has been all the pleasanter by the cooperation of his companion, who has made his interest, her interest.
Masonry has figured conspicuously in the life of the fifth proprietor of the pioneer homestead since the purchase from John Haggin on August 14, 1788.
Upon attaining his majority, he evidenced an interest in this ancient order. The fundamental principle portraying the beauties of the "brotherhood of man", were first unveiled to him on the 12th.of August 1863, at Hiram Lodge No. 18, Free and Accepted Masons, at Delaware, Ohio. Membership waa transferred to Paris upon his return to permanent residence at the place of birth. There have been activities in the local and state bodies.
The honor of being selected the presiding officer of Kentucky's four grand bodies has been conferred upon only eight during the 150 years of the State's Masonic history. Joseph. Hedges Ewalt is the sole survivor of those having been the recipient of such a distinguished achievement.
The last preferment was the coronation to the 33rd. and highest degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States, conferred in "The House the Temple" Washington, District of Columbla, on a large clas__ representing every section of the vast territory.
He has been a member of the Kentucky Society, Sons of the American Revolution since March 26,1909, being a lineal descendant of seven ancestors who rendered service to establish American Independence, viz Henry Ewalt, Joseph Hedges, Joseph Pugh, Samuel Clay, Dr. Henry Clay, William Moran and Abraham Frye, Senior.
Mr. and Mrs. Ewalt have been communicants of the Paris Christian church for more than one-third of a century.
Spouses
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1: Elizabeth FREY/FRYE
Birth: 1757 Frederick County, Virginia
Death: 1837 Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky Age: 80
Father: Abraham FRYE (-1807)
Mother: Agnes Ann YOUNG
Marriage: 1782 Pennsylvania
Children: Sarah "Sallie" (1783-1837)
Mary S. "Polly" (1785-1868)
Rebecca (1787-1861)
John (1789-1857)
Samuel (1792-1878)
Richard (1795-1833)
Henry D. (1796-1846)
Sources
1. "Early Bourbon Families"
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Last Modified: December 31, 2000
Created: December 31, 2000