(1823 or 1824-27 Sept. 1898), farmer, postmaster. Born on the Island, near Martintown, GC, a few years after his parents emigrated from Scotland. Parents: John McEwen and his wife Isabella Ann McMillan. The family moved not long after John McEwen’s birth to another farm on Lots 7 and 8 of the 17th Concession of Indian Lands. A part of Maxville was later built on this McEwen land. John McEwen farmed on these lots throughout his working life. He was Maxville’s first postmaster, serving from 1 June 1880 till his death. Presbyterian. Conservative. He was an early supporter of the temperance cause. He was married in 1848 to Janet McDougall. (eleven children) Their son Peter J. McEwen (1851-1934) operated the first general store in Maxville, and another son Ewen J. McEwen (14 April 1853-25 Nov. 1900) was Maxville’s first blacksmith. The building used first as a store by Peter and afterwards as a blacksmith shop by Ewen J. (and described by T. W. Munro in 1938 as “in continuous operation” since it was built) was the second building erected in Maxville. Another son Alexander J. McEwen (1864-1928) operated a sash and door factory in Maxville. And their daughter Catherine Margaret McEwen, sister of these businessmen, married Donald Roderick Cameron (Rory Cameron) the building contractor.

Campbell, Tannis, & Stewart, MacDougalls, 424-457 * Maxville (1991) 224, 336, 638-641, 646 * MacGillivray & Ross 331, 334-336 * biog. studies of him and his son Ewen J. MacEwen: Munro GN 1 April & 2 Sept. 1938 (not among Munro’s best articles) * NAC, RG 3 postal history cards (day, month of death from this source)