Matthew Ewing

Matthew Ewing
Born(1815-01-10)January 10, 1815
Flloyd, New York
DiedDecember 31, 1874(1874-12-31) (aged 59)
Monroe County, New York
OccupationsBusinessman, inventor, farmer
Spouse
Sara Ewing
​
(m. 1839)​
Children4

Matthew Ewing (January 10, 1815 – 1874) was an American carpenter and inventor. He is known as the cofounder of the Vacuum Oil Company with business partner Hiram Bond Everest.

Biography

Ewing was born January 10, 1815, in Floyd, New York. The Ewing family moved to Rochester, New York, in 1857. During the Civil War, he enlisted alongside his son in Co. G of the 108th NY Infantry. Ewing was a carpenter by trade, and also an inventor.

After the Civil War, Ewing invented a vacuum distillation method for producing kerosene from crude oil. The byproduct of the process was a residue that became a superior lubricant. His invention was patented and with the financial backing of Hiram Bond Everest, he founded the Vacuum Oil Company in 1866. Ewing later sold his share in the company to Everest.

Marriage and children

Matthew and Sarah Ewing married c. 1839 and had 4 children: Emma, Mary, George P. and Alma.

Death and afterward

Ewing died in 1874. In 1879 the Standard Oil Co. purchased a three-quarters interest in Vacuum Oil Company for $200,000. As a lubricants pioneer, Vacuum Oil introduced revolutionary products, such as Gargoyle 600-W Steam Cylinder Oil. The Standard Oil company grew into what is today known as ExxonMobil.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Evans, Edwin C. (2018). History of the Town of Floyd, New York. FriesenPress. p. 114. ISBN 978-1-5255-1514-9.
  2. ↑ "Baltimore Sun". December 2, 1998. Archived from the original on December 23, 2011.
  3. ↑ Kaszynski, William (January 2000). The American highway: the history and culture of roads in the United States. ISBN 9780786408221. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Kaszynski, William (2000). The American Highway: The History and Culture of Roads in the United States. McFarland. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7864-0822-1.
  5. ↑ "Business: Vacuum Standardized". Time. 1930-03-03. Archived from the original on July 16, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Exon Mobil website corporate history". Retrieved July 31, 2010.