And where is Robinson Prairie? Well, Fred says, its north of Orchard Grove and between Pleasant Grove on the west and southeast and Plum Groves on the east. To get the STAR photographer out of the rut, Fred finally explained that his birthplace was four miles east of Lowell and a mile north of present Road 2.
His father died when Fred was a boy. At 20 he learned the blacksmith trade at Charlie Dillabaugh's and Ed Wemple's blacksmith shop in Crown Point, where he and his mother were living. Fred married Alice F. Houk, who passed away in 1900. During the 10 years between 1896 and 1906 he studied theology at De Pauw and Valparaiso universities and taught a year each at Center and Wilson schools in Eagle Creek Township.
In 1906 he married Maude E. Wheeler and they farmed the home place until 1932. Since then Fred carpentered and contracted until his retirement in 1950. Their home is near his birthplace at the west edge of Robinson Prairie.
The Ewers have nine children, six of them living in Lake county. J. Bertrand, an attorney, is at Marion; Beatrice, Mrs. Peter Horner, at Cedar Lake; Mrs. Glen Banser and William at Crown Point; Grace, Mrs. Ernest Miller, in Bruswick; John at San Antonio, Texas; Adelia, Mrs. Julius Pattee, and Virgil at Lowell; Robert, a doctor of medicine at Milwaukee. Earl and Fred died in their twenties.
Grandchildren number 13 and there is one great grandchild, the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Bosel.
Go to Fred Colfax Ewer, "Pioneer History Index," for further information.
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