Ewing, Charles Hull, 1868-1954

Realtor and financier.

Charles Hull Ewing, financier and developer, was born in Randolph, New York, in 1868 and died in 1954. He received his college education at Oberlin College, Yale University (A.B. degree, 1893) and Northwestern University. In 1906 he married Mary Everts and the couple had two daughters, Helen and Katherine.

Ewing had strong family and business connections in Chicago. He was the nephew of philanthropist Helen Culver and managed her business affairs. Through her, he was involved with Jane Addams and Hull House. Ewing's business interests in Florida included property in Jacksonville that he received from his aunt and real estate investments in the Bradenton-Sarasota area. He used his Chicago business contacts to attract northern investment to Florida. In the 1930s and 1940s he owned much of what is now downtown Bradenton, bounded by Manatee Ave, 9th St., 11th St. and 6th Ave. In addition, he had numerous pieces of property in present-day Manatee and Sarasota Counties, including what would become Siesta Key.

Along with his ventures in real estate, Ewing was a director of the First National and State Banks of Lake Forest, Illinois, and the secretary and treasurer for the Southern Gypsum Co., Inc. based in Virginia. He was also a director for Southern Gypsum's controlling company, Beaver Products Company of Virginia.

Ewing was politically active in local, state and national politics. His Republican political orientation led to his opposition of several New Deal reforms and the Judiciary Reorganization Bill of 1937.