FEB. 22 ISSUE ANSWERS: This story is about a father and son, both named Samuel Ewell. Samuel Senior was born in 1779 in Massachusetts. He came to Romeo in 1836. Samuel and his wife built the house on North Bailey Street that is known as Romeo’s oldest existing house, 1838. Samuel had a premonition that he would not live long in this house. He said he would set his affairs in order to provide for his family. As predicted, he died in 1842. His family consisted of seven girls and two boys. His son, Samuel Holbrook, Jr., was an important member of the Romeo community. Samuel, a farmer, married Lucinda Wilcox in 1843. She died, childless in 1845. In 1857 he married Cordelia Smith resulting in the birth of Leona Ewell Roberts and Samuel Leon Ewell. In 1840 Samuel II worked in the Palmer cabinet shop. He returned for time as a farmer. In 1860 he went to Pikes Peak looking for gold and gained only experience, no gold. Returning to Romeo, Samuel purchased the Romeo Argus newspaper which burned a year later. In 1869 he had a half ownership of The Romeo Observer. During the Civil War, he organized the Company A 5th Michigan Calvary and would have been first lieutenant had he not been bought out by Captain Gray for $400. In 1877, Samuel built the Romeo Custom Mill in the photo above. The sign on the mill indicates that his son, Samuel III was the new owner. This biographical information came from the introduction of Samuel’s book of poetry that the Romeo Historical Society treasures and protects. R. Beringer, Romeo Historical Society staff