James Ewers, whose industry and capacity have won for him a substantial prosperity and a well established regard among his fellow men in the wilds of Colorado, now blooming and fruitful with all the products of cultivated life, was born near the town of Mason in Ingham county, Michigan, on October 2, 1854, and is the son of Joseph C. and Eunice (Livermore) Ewers, natives of New York state who settled in Michigan when it was a part of the western frontier. There they devoted their energies to farming and raising stock, ending their days on the soil which they had redeemed from the wilderness, having built a home in the virgin forest and helped to start a civilization where as yet the savage roamed and the deer disported. They were members of the Methodist church and the father supported the Republican party from its foundation until his death, which occurred in 1897, he having for thirty-seven years survived his wife, who died in 1860. They had a family of seven children, of whom but two are living, a son Frank at Morrison, Colorado, and James. The latter had the usual experiences and hardships of country boys on the frontier, short and infrequent attendance at the public schools and continual and arduous labor on the farm. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one, then came to Colorado, arriving at Denver on February 1, 1879. He worked in that neighborhood for awhile on ranches for wages, then began an enterprise in the business for himself. He also did some mining, locating claims at the head of Rock and Maroon creeks, which, however, proved to be of little value. He gave up prospecting at the end of a year, and in 1883 took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has since doubled by purchase of another one hundred and sixty acres adjoining it. Half of his land is naturally tillable and he has a large acreage under cultivation in hay, grain, vegetables and fruit, hay and cattle being his main reliance. He has prospered in his undertaking and is held in high regard by the people around him. In politics he supports the Republican party, but in reference to local affairs affecting the welfare of the community he works for the best interests of the people. On May 10, 1891, he united in marriage with Miss Belle Cozad, who was born in Kansas and is the daughter of John G. and Rovina (Sullivan) Cozad, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Missouri. The father was a farmer in early life but afterward became a wholesale merchant. They came to Colorado in the early days of its history, and here the father freighted for a number of years, then turned his attention to ranching and raising stock on Divide creek. He supported the Republican party with zeal and fidelity, and took an active interest in public affairs. Their family comprised three children, Mrs. Ewers, Eunice B., the wife of Emanuel Grant, and Andrew, living at Purdy. The father died on February 22, 1895, and the mother has since lived at Purdy. Mr. and Mrs. Ewers are the parents of six children, Eunice, Nellie, Joseph, Laura, Rosa and Frank. Mr. Ewers recently completed a commodious residence of modern construction which is one of the best on Divide creek.
Source: Bowen, A. W. Progressive Men of Western Colorado. Chicago: A. W. Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1905.