Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 2.djvu/234

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a private school, and shortly afterward he discontinued hjs medical practice, establish- ing an academy in Woodford, of which he was the preceptor until 1830, his pupils in- cluding sons of the best families of Ken- tucky, his adopted state ; he served as presi- dent of Washington College, Lexington, Virginia, from 1830 to 1834, and filled a similar office in Transylvania University, Lexington, Kentucky, from 1855 to 1866; he married, at Frankfort, Kentucky, Agatha Smith, and his father then gave him the ei'tate. **Duckpond.'* in Woodford county, Kentucky, where he resided until his death in April. 1866.

Ewing, Finis, was born in Bedford coun- ty, Virginia, June 10. 1773, died in Lexing- ton. Missouri. July 4, 1841. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and both of his parents were noted for piety. His early education was neglected, but it is said that he studied for a time in college. After the death of his parents he moved to Xashville, Tennes- see, and in 1823 married a daughter of Wil- liam Davidson, a revolutionary general. Soon afterward he went to Logan county, Kentucky, where he was licensed to preach, and in 1803 was ordained by the Cumber- land presbytery. He met with remarkable success as a revivalist, but his ordination was not recognized by the Kentucky synod, and the presbytery being dissolved, and the action of the synod having been sustained by the general assembly, he, with two others, organized in 18 10 the new Cumber- land Presbyterian church, which now num- bers about two thousand congregations. In doctrine they occupy a middle ground be- tween Calvinism and Arminianism. A few years after originating the new denomina-

tion Mr. Ewing removed to Todd county, Kentucky, and became pastor of the Leb- anon congregation, near Ewingsville. In i8jo he proceeded to Missouri, settled in what is now Cooper county, and organized a congregation at New Lebanon, which still flourishes. In 1836 he removed to Lexing- ton. Fayette county, where he preached till his death. He is the author of "Lectures on Divinity," which contains the germ of the peculiarities of the creed of the Cum- berland Presbyterians.

Lewis, Meriwether, was born near Char- lottesville, Virginia. August 18, 1774, young- est son of Captain William and Lucy (Meri- wether) Lewis. His uncle on the death of Meriwether's father became his guardian. Meriwether attended a Latin school, and conducted his mother's farm. He enlisted in the state militia called out by President Washington to suppress the opposition to the excise taxes in Western Pennsylvania, and then joined the regular service as lieu- tenant. He was promoted to captain in 1797. and became paymaster of the First United States Infantry. In 1797 the Amer- ican Philosophical Society, through the sug- gestion of Thomas Jefferson, undertook to secure some competent person to ascend the Missouri river, cross the Stony Moun- tains, and descend the nearest river to the Pacific. Captain Lewis, then stationed at Charlottesville on recruiting duty, solicited Mr. Jefferson to be allowed to make the journey, but Andre Michaux, the botanist, was appointed and proceeded as far as Ken- tucky, when he was recalled by the French minister, then in Philadelphia, and the at- tempt was abandoned. Captain Lewis served as private secretary to President

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