Robert Bruce McEwan

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Robert Bruce McEwan

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The life history of Robert Bruce McEWAN, of Orange and Whippany, New Jersey, is closely connected with some of the most important industries of the State of New Jersey. The industry with which he has been especially identified has been followed by his family for some generations. His grandfather, Anthony McEWAN, was a paper maker by trade in Scotland, and married Mary COOMB.

Robert, son of Anthony and Mary (COOMB) McEWAN, was born near the city of Glasgow, Scotland, September 8, 1828, and died in New Jersey, in 1909. He came to America in early manhood, and at first settled at Bloomfield, New Jersey, where he was associated for several years with L. A. BROWN in the manufacture of air-dried straw board. From Bloomfield he removed to Easton, Connecticut, where he was engaged in the manufacture of paper for some years. In 1884 he removed with his family to Caldwell, New Jersey, and there commenced the manufacture of paper under the name firm name of Robert McEWAN & Sons. Four years later he removed to Whippany, Morris county, and the firm was incorporated under the name of the McEWAN Brothers. The concern converts old newspapers, etc., into paper box board. The official board is as follows: Robert Bruce McEAWN, president; Arthur McEWAN, treasurer and general manager. The idea of manufacturing paper box board from old paper was originated by Robert McEWAN, the father. Robert McEWAN married Sarah Ann WALSH, born in England in 1842, died in New Jersey in 1910. They had children: William Wallace, a paper manufacture, who died in 1905 at the age of forty-nine years; Andrew Wilson, died at the age of twenty years; Edith, married George W. Phillips, of Newark, New Jersey; Jesse L., paper manufacturer of Whippany; Mary, married William L. WILSON, of Whippany; Richard W., president of the Morristown & Erie Railroad, and also a paper manufacturer; Robert Bruce, whose name heads this sketch; Arthur, a sketch of whom also appears in this work; Frank, a paper manufacturer in Newark, New Jersey, resides in Madison, Morris county; Frederick, a paper manufacturer of Newark, also resides in Madison.

Robert Bruce McEWAN was born at Windsor Locks, Connecticut, April 16, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of Easton, Connecticut, leaving them at the age of fourteen years, and then commenced to assist his father in the paper manufacturing business. Subsequently he spent four years in the employ of the Domestic Sewing Machine Company, in Newark, New Jersey, and while there was a student three years at the evening sessions of the New Jersey Business College. Caldwell, New Jersey, was the next scene of his activity, where he was associated with his father in the firm of Robert McEWAN & Sons, mentioned above. He is also the treasurer and general freight and passenger agent of the Morristown & Erie Railroad Company, a director of the National Iron Bank of Morristown, and stockholder in a number of other corporations. He is a member of Morristown Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; Morristown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; and Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of New York. He is a Republican in political matters, and since 1910 has been a member of the Baptist church. His private residence is at Orange, New Jersey, but his business office is at Whippany, Morris county. Mr. McEWAN married, in March, 1884, Mary BRADLEY, a daughter of John H. and Sarah (BERRY) CRAWFORD, of Pompton Junction, New Jersey. They have had children: Grace, married Alfred Ernest LANG, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and has one son; Alfred Ewan Lang; Florence Cutler; Robert Bruce Jr., who was graduated from the Lawrenceville Preparatory School.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)