Richard W. McEwan

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Richard W. McEwan

Biographical and Genealogical History of Morris County New Jersey. Illustrated. Vol. II., Lewis Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1899.

This well known resident of Whippany represents a family that has been long and prominently connected with the manufacture of paper on the Atlantic coast, and with his brothers he is now extensively engaged in the conduct of a large concern of that character. The name of McEWAN is known to the paper trade throughout the country and is the synonym of honor and straightforward dealing in trade circles.

The gentleman whose name introduces this review is a native of Bloomfield, New Jersey, born on the 25th of January, 1866. The first seven years of his life, however, were spent in Easton, Connecticut, where his father, Robert McEWAN, was engaged in the manufacture of paper. The latter, who is now living a retired life in Whippany, was born near the city of Glasgow, in Scotland, September 8, 1828, the son of Anthony and Mary (COOMBE) McEWAN, and Anthony McEWAN was also a paper-maker by trade. As a life work Robert McEWAN took up the business which had been followed by his father and grandfather, and in his early manhood crossed the Atlantic to the United States. In this country he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. WALSH, a daughter of John and Ann Emaline WALSH, she being a lady of American birth but of English parentage. After carrying on business for some time in Easton, Connecticut, Robert McEWAN removed with his family to Caldwell, New Jersey, and thence returned to his old home in Bloomfield, but is now living in Whippany. By his marriage he became the father of the following named:

Wilson E.;
William W., a partner in the Stone Brook Paper Company;
Robert B.;
Jesse L. and
Richard W., who are connected with the paper manufactory in Whippany;
Mary, wife of W. Q. WILSON;
Arthur, who married Ella ANDERSON;
Frank, and
Fred.

With the exception of the youngest two, the sons are all married. Robert B. wedded Mary B. CRAWFORD; Jesse L. married N. Grace ROE; and Richard W., subject of this sketch, wedded Hannah H. BROWN, a daughter of George H. and Martha B. BROWN, of Washington, North Carolina, by which marriage have been born two children:

Richard W., Jr., born August 5, 1895, and
Martha Virginia, who was born February 27, 1898.

Robert McEWAN, Sr., became one of the best known paper manufacturers of the county, building up a business of great volume, and the prestige he acquired in this line has been maintained by his successors, his sons, in a manner to merit the admiration and confidence of a critical public.

Richard W. McEWAN was reared to the business. At an early age he left the school-room and entered his father's factory as an employee, passed through every department of the concern and mastered the details relating to each. Before reaching the age of eighteen he had acquired an interest in the business and has since been an important factor in the successful conduct of the extensive enterprise. The factory is one of the best equipped in the country, being supplied with the latest and best improved machinery, and all accessories for the manufacture of the different grades and kinds of paper. The house enjoys a large trade, and the success of the enterprise is well merited by the partners, who are all men of good business ability.

In politics the McEWAN brothers are all Republicans and have unreservedly supported that organization during the past eight years, being champions of a protective tariff and sound money plank, as defined in the, platform of the St. Louis convention, of 1896. Richard W. McEWAN is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Cincinnati Lodge, F. & A. M., Madison Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M., and the Odo de Saint Aman Commandery, K. T. He is also a member of the Topkaow Club, of Morristown.

This biography was scanned and contributed by Catherine Smith DeMayo.