He was the son of David and Mary (unk) McEwen of Maryland and Pennsylvania, respectively. He married Orinda Sophia Boardman, daughter of Rev. Charles Adolphus Boardman and Sophia Hine of New Milford, Connecticut, on May 13, 1841 in Youngstown, Ohio. The bride's father officiated. They had 3 girls (and a son William who did not survive infancy). The family eventually moved to Wisconsin where they were farmers. In their later years, they moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where their daughter Harriett and family lived, and remained there for 14 years until his death. He was survived by daughters Harriett, Emma & Laura, and his wife (findagrave.com)