My Genealogy Hound

JOHN KEWLEY, a well-to-do and intelligent farmer of Hanover town, was born a subject of the King of England, on May 9, 1823, on the Isle of Man. His parents were Philip and Christiana (Clater) Kewley, who trace back their ancestry to old feudal England. John Kewley (grandfather) was a native of the Isle of Man, where also was born his son Philip (father of our subject), on February 10, 1795. In 1832 Philip Kewley bid farewell to his native land and boyhood home to cast his lot in the land of free institutions. His voyage hither was fraught with many new experiences and strange impressions, but he had firmly resolved to cast off the monarchical shackles and henceforth swear his allegiance to the stars and stripes, so there was no turning back. His first place of location in America was in Erie county, State of New York, where, strange to say, he spent all but about a year and a half of his remaining life, which year and a half was spent in Chautauqua county. For quite a while after arriving here Philip Kewley followed the trade of a shoemaker, indeed, until his failing eye-sight compelled him to give it up. He then purchased a farm of seventy-five acres from the Holland Land company, which he worked, cleared and finally reduced to a state admitting of cultivation. At his death, which occurred April 14, 1885, this old homestead fell to his son, in whose possession it now is. His marriage was blest with the birth of four children: Jane, wife of Lyman Balcom, a farmer of Otsego county, New York; Betsey, dead; John; and William, single, lives with his brother John.

John Kewley received his education in the common schools of his native country, learned the business of and is at present a farmer. During the past three years, in addition to his farming interests, he has purchased an interest in a saw-mill and now devotes considerable time to its operation and management. Mr. Kewley after a careful study of a republican form of government and republican institutions, has politically allied himself with the Republican party.

John Kewley was joined in marriage to Miss Dorcas Witherby, a daughter of Asa Witherby, of Erie county, but formerly of the State of Massachusetts. They have three children: Ellen, wife of Henry Gedley, a prosperous farmer of the town of Hanover; Emma, wife of William Christy of the town of Hanover, mother of one child — May; and Frank (married to Ida Dolly), a farmer, stock-raiser and speculator of the town of Hanover, New York.

By virtue of his long residence and citizenship in the United States, he has come into closest sympathy with American governmental principles and policies, and is now as deeply interested in the fortunes and possibilities of the American people as if he were a native born citizen. Mr. Kewley is an agreeable, pleasant man, always kind and considerate and generous to those who need his assistance. He is regarded as an honest, straight-forward citizen.