General Notes

Custom Field:<_FA#> Sep 1900Commissioned Treasurer of Coosa County, AL.Commissions and Appointments, Vol 15 (1900-1904) p. 93. Also in a card file for public officials. Both in the Alabama Archives.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> Could not apply for St. of AL, Confederate Pension due to his wealth & property.I searched for his State of AL, Confederate States Pension at the AL Archives. I was informed that some did not apply because of the value of their property and wealth.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> 6 Aug 1900Elected Treasurer of Coosa County, AL.Commissions and Appointments, Vol 15 (1900-1904) p. 93. Also in a card file for public officials. Both in the Alabama Archives.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
Custom Field:<_FA#> 30 Mar 1901He lived to be 72 years, 5 months, and a few days old.@@S726784@@Date of Import: Jul 31, 2003
[coosa1.ged]
On October 22, 1828, George Washington McEwen was born in Gwinnett
County, Georgia, to the parents of Kirkham and Mary Ann (Canada) McEwen.
Later in life George moved with his parents, brothers, and sisters to
Merriweather County, Georgia.  They moved next to Alabama and settled on
the Tallapoosa River in a county of that name about fourteen miles south
of Dadeville.  In 1844 they left their home in Tallapossa County to
settle in Coosa County, Alabama.  While traveling in Coosa County on the
Turnpike Road, George saw other settlers traveling to the interior of
Coosa County.  Outside of Buyck, Alabama, which is in now Elmore County
and once was part of Coosa County, a young woman of sixteen caught the
eye of George as he rode his horse. This woman, Mary C. Sears, was
sitting on the front seat of a wagon and traveling to Coosa County to
establish her new home with her parents.  After admiring Mary from a
distance, George rode his horse quickly back to where his father was.
George informed his father and the rest of the family that he encountered
his future wife on Turnpike Road.  On December 29, 1850, George married
Mary C. Sears and later they had twelve children. In 1860 they located
three and a half miles north of Rockford, Coosa County, Alabama, on
Hatchett Creek, where he built a mill. He owned a six hundred acre
plantation, where he farmed.  George and Mary, as well as several others,
established in 1860 the Episcopal Methodist  Sears Chapel, named after
Mary’s father.  In 1862 George enlisted as a private soldier in the
Fifty-third Alabama Mounted Infantry, Company C, of the Confederate
States of America.  Soon after he was elected as second lieutenant, and
later in the Civil War, promoted to first lieutenant.  He served mostly
in the western army.  During the Atlanta campaign, in which General
Sherman was making his infamous march to the sea, George’s left hand
finger was shot off.  He later surrendered with his regiment in Columbia,
South Carolina to General Sherman’s army.  Elected in 1900 as Treasure of
Coosa County, George had his picture taken with five other elected county
officials.  Politically, Mr. McEwen was a democrat.  He also was a royal
arch Mason, and served as the treasurer of the blue lodge.  He was
worshipful master for some years.  As a Methodist he was the steward of
his church for twenty years.  He died  March 30, 1901, and was buried in
the cemetery of Sears Chapel. His wife and other family members were
buried there also.  At his grave the Daughters of the Confederacy placed
a round iron engraved piece in memory of his service to the Cause.
Written on his  headstone is the following: 3 years a soldier, 37 years
free Mason of high rank, 45 years a member of M.E. Chapel and died
treasure of his county.  Died trusted and faithful. On his footstone it
is written: HEARKEN UNTO THY FATHER THAT BEGOT THEE.(1)
(1) Most of this was copied and reworded from four sources: (a) Memorial
Records of Alabama, Vol. I (The Reprint Comp