Veteran Bio
The Kemp Sketch
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EWING, DR. ALEXANDER WRAY -- Born in Londonderry, Ireland in 1809. On page 40, Book A, List of applicants for land in Austin's Colonies it is shown that in Dr. Ewing's application he stated that he came to Texas from Pennsylvania. On October 31 1835 he received title to one-fourth of a league of land in Austin's Fifth Colony, situated in the present county of Fayette. In Headright Certificate No. 304 issued to him in 1838 by the Board of Land Commissioners of Harrisburg County it is stated that he arrived in Texas in 1834.
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Dr. Ewing was Surgeon General of the army at San Jacinto and on May 31, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 261 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. He received Bounty Certificate No. 2439 for 1280 acres of land, March 13, 1838 for having served in the army from March 1, 1836 to June 7, 1837.
In the Secret Journals of the Senate of the Congress of the Republic of Texas it is shown that President Houston during a recess of congress had appointed Dr. Ewing Surgeon General of the Army and that on May 10, 1837 he had sent his name to the Senate for confirmation. The senate on May 24, requested the President to withdraw his name.
Dr. Ewing was thrice married. On September 23, 1840 he was married to Mrs. Susan Henrietta Reid Smiley, Daughter of Reverend H. Reid. Mrs. Ewing died January 27, 1842 and is buried in Founders Memorial Park on West Dallas Avenue, Houston. Dr. Ewing and Elizabeth E. Tompkins were married at Houston, October 3, 1844. After the death of Mrs. Ewing, Dr. Ewing was married to Elizabeth Graham.
Dr. Ewing died in Houston, November 1, 1853 and was buried in the Masonic Cemetery, Houston under the auspices of Holland (Masonic) Lodge No. 1. His grave is lost. Mrs. Ewing died in 1904 and was buried in Glenwood Cemetery.
Dr. Ewing was a charter member of the Grand (Masonic) Lodge of Texas. He was also a charter member of the first Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge of Texas, organized at Houston, July 25, 1838.
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Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.
Gallery
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Battle Statistics
- Died in Battle: No
- Company: Medical staff; Surgeon General/Artillery Surgeon
Personal Statistics
- Date of Birth: 1809
- Birthplace: Ireland, Londonderry
- Origin: Pennsylvania
- Came to Texas: 1834
- Date of Death: 1853 Nov 1
- Burial Place: Masonic Cemetery, Houston, Texas
- Bounty Certificate: 2439
- Donation Certificate: 261
- Profession: Doctor
- Wife: 1. Susan Henrietta Reid Smiley; 2. Elizabeth E. Tomkins; 3. Elizabeth Graham
- Children: Mrs. Masterson; Lizzie Hay
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