Death Take Well-Known Resident Oscar Mcewen
Oscar (Ott) McEwen, well-known Ellensburg resident, died Sunday at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. He was 89 years old [died June 4, 1967].
McEwen was one of the last true cowboys in the northwest, and the familiar scene of McEwen astride his horse, riding through town, was a common-place occurrence. He was for many years a rider at the Ellensburg Rodeo and participated in many of the early events at the rodeo. He still made an annual appearance at the show.
He was born October 6, 1877 in a frontier home three and one half miles east of Ellensburg and spent many years riding trail, herding cattle, and ranching.
He was married to the former Mary Peffers and she preceded him in death, passing away in 1958. They were married in 1918.
Mr. McEwen is survived by two sons, Ralph McEwen, Toppenish, Mack McEwen, Maple Valley; two daughters, Mrs. Gladys Benz, Toppenish, and Mrs. Cora Miller, Eugene, Ore.; two brothers, Carl McEwen, Toppenish, and Clarence (Bat) McEwen, Seattle; 15 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Evenson Funeral Chapel Thursday at 2 p.m., the Reverend Silas Erickson, officiating. Burial will follow at the I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Oscar was the son of Harvey McEwen and Martha Grewell. He was married three times. On July 20, 1900 he married Ella Mann in Anacortes, WA. They had one daughter, Gladys. Their divorce was final in November 13, 1905. Gladys moved to ID in 1904. On November 2, 1905 he married Matilda Bryan in Tacoma, WA. Notice that the divorce was not final when he married his second wife. They had three baby girls, all of whom were either stillborn or died within a few days. On October 24, 1913 their divorce was final. Mary Viola Peffers and Oscar were married December 14, 1914 in Ellensburg, WA. They had five children. Three lived to adulthood.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman