Good morning all! My Massac County ancestors were for the most part farmers, although my great grandfather COLLIE was reputed to be a carpenter. It is said that he built the railing and possibly the altar at the Oak Grove Methodist Church. My great grandfather WELLS worked in Metropolis at the Wyoming Tie & Timber Co., where he was an engineer for the process of creosote treatment of the timber. But the reason I am really writing is because of a census entry I ran across last night. The young man's (no relation of mine) occupation was listed as Hewist. Does anyone have an idea what this actually is? What was it that he was hewing? Forever curious... Susan

Hi Susan, Hewing is used in two different contexts in my knowledge. One is the cutting of timber; referring to the heavy blows needed to weld an ax into the trunk of a tree. The other is pressing of a viewpoint, say in an editorial of a newspaper. Tis the best I can do; but my sense would be use as in lumberman in the area of Massac county. Can someone enlighten us more??? I sure like your salutation ... "Forever curious" ..... Bill Oliver List and Site Manager -=- Susan & Del wrote: > Good morning all! My Massac County ancestors were for the most part farmers, although my great grandfather COLLIE was reputed to be a carpenter. It is said that he built the railing and possibly the altar at the Oak Grove Methodist Church. My great grandfather WELLS worked in Metropolis at the Wyoming Tie & Timber Co., where he was an engineer for the process of creosote treatment of the timber. But the reason I am really writing is because of a census entry I ran across last night. The young man's (no relation of mine) occupation was listed as Hewist. Does anyone have an idea what this actually is? What was it that he was hewing? > > Forever curious... > Susan