History Sheet Frederick Short Ewing
Written by Nancy Quillin Long
July 12, 2019
I do not remember F.S. Ewing. I was 6 years old when
he died and he lived in Arkansas. I
lived in Texas. My beloved grandmother, Merphia Ewing Quillin Hart, absolutely
loved Arkansas where she was born and often told me that I should go there to
take in the beauty in and around Hot Springs.
My family always called him F.S. or Fed. He came to Texas to visit my
grandmother in 1959, but I do not remember that visit. I only have a picture of
him sitting in a chair by her front door.
When Frederick Short Ewing was born in February 1869
in Arkansas, his father James was 40 and his mother, Malinda was 35. They lived
in Cedar Township, Clark County, Arkansas. The 1870 census says that his father
James was born in Tennessee and his mother Malinda “Mary” was born in
Missouri. They lived on a farm and his
father was not able to read or write.
The farm was valued at $150.
By 1880, they were living Mazarne Township, Montgomery
County, Arkansas. Living next door was a John Ewing and his wife Martha and
their 5 children. Fed’s older brother had moved away and his mother had passed
away. He was 11 years old and working on the farm. He now had a younger sister,
Sarissa.
F.S. married Emma Woodall on 3 Jan 1894. I had always
heard that her name was Emma Frances Woodall born June 1877. She was about 10
years younger than Fred. Their marriage license was from Garland County
Arkansas, but they were living in Montgomery County.
In 1900, F.S. and Emma were living in Caney,
Montgomery County, Arkansas. Frederick was farming and owned his farm. They had
two daughters, Ludie and Ulah. His wife Emma (Woodall) was born in Mississippi
and living nearby was a Marian E Woodall age 28 also born in Mississippi. Could
this be a brother or other relation to Emma? There was also a Charlie A. Ewing
living next door with his wife Margaret and daughter Linie.
F. S. and Emma F Ewing were still living in the Caney
Township of Arkansas in 1810. Living nearby was a Richard Short with his large
family. I have often wondered why Frederick’s middle name was Short. My guess is that he was named for a favorite
relative. Fed was still farming and his family was complete. They had 5
daughters and 1 son. His two youngest daughters appear to be twins.
Emma died in 1910 which would have left F.S. with young
children.
It appears that Frederick S. Ewing married a second
time to Mollie (Mary Loren Short) McKinley. It was her second marriage as well.
They are found living in Frederick, Tillman Co, Oklahoma in 1920 with her 4
teenage daughters. I found him in the 1920 census, and though I had NEVER heard
that he was married a second time, a correspondent and DNA connection, Jeff
Short, contacted me in the summer of 2019
In 1930, I found F.S. in the Arkansas census, living
with his brother-in-law, Adam Woodall.
It says that he is widowed. I’m still not sure about his second wife,
Mollie and am not totally convinced that he was married a second time, as I
never remember anyone speaking of this.
Frederick Short “Fed” Ewing died in Hot Springs
Arkansas in 1963. He was buried in Old Mount Tabor Cemetery in Welsh,
Montgomery Co, Arkansas.
There are some colorful stories about him. He must have been pretty crusty.
From Jeff Short on Ancestry July 3, 2019
"I had added a story about GGF Ewing and deer
hunting on family search. He often walked a few miles to visit our house and we
would take him over to Aunt Icy's or we would take him to visit Eula in Lucky.
He had a cane that he would not hesitate to bang across the hood of a car that
honked at him when he crossed the street. I had heard that he left his wife
when he thought she was being dishonest by serving him margarine that did not
include the colorizing additive (i.e., so it looked like real butter). There
was a photo of him (on family search) posted by "bobbysworld". I
contacted her and it sounds like he was her (step?) grandfather. I may be able
to post some more photos of him (and others) when I get some time.
Can you tell me your relationship to Louis?"
