Josephus Lewis

LEWIS, HOLLOWAY, BARLOW, NICHOLS, LOUTHAN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 4/22/2009 at 14:39:09

JOSEPHUS LEWIS, one of Audubon County's honored citizens, and a successful farmer and stockraiser of Hamlin Township, was born in Delaware County, New York, near the village of Delhi, March 22, 1814. He is a son of Henry and Mercy (Holloway) Lewis, the father being a native of Schoharie County, New York, of Low Dutch descent, and the mother a native of Dutchess County, New York. After their marriage they removed to Delaware County, and there passed the remainder of their days. The father was twice married, and had two children by his first wife, and seven by the second. Josephus Lewis, the youngest son of the second marriage, passed his boyhood and school days in Delaware County, New York. He remained with his parents until he was eighteen years old, when he engaged in the lumber business and farming. His father having dealt in lumber for many years, a good opportunity was afforded him to learn the details of the trade, in which he was uniformly successful. In June, 1843, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Melissa Barlow, an accomplished lady of Delaware County, New York, the only daughter of John and Deborah (Nichols) Barlow, natives of the State of New York. After his marriage, Josephus Lewis and wife settled on a farm in Delaware County, New York, and lived there until 1868, when they removed to Audubon County, Iowa. Mr. Lewis then purchased 320 acres of prairie land. The country was sparsely settled, and the thoughts of Mrs. Lewis often wandered back to her home in New York as she was caring for her little family; but as time rolled on settlers came, and the newness seemed to wear away. Mr. Lewis has devoted most of his time to raising cattle and hogs. With the latter he has been extraordinarily successful, raising from 150 to 200 head annually, and realizing handsomely upon them. His farm is watered by the Nishnabotna River, and its banks are skirted by a beautiful grove of hardwood timber. All the products of the farm are fed on the place, and Mr. Lewis buys large quantities of grain from neighboring farmers. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have four children De Witt C. took a literary course at the State University at Iowa City, studied law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and is now a prominent attorney in Montesano, Washington Territory; Minerva, the older daughter, was graduated from the literary and medical departments of the Iowa State University, and is now in the enjoyment of a good practice; Homer is in Turner County, Dakota; Rose is the wife of Dr. J. M. Louthan, of Spearfish, Dakota. Mr. Lewis is now in his seventy fifth year, but still superintends his farm. His wife is in her seventy second year, and is strong in body and mind. She comes of a family of vigorous constitutions. Her father was a native of England, and her mother of New York. They emigrated to Nova Scotia, and removed thence to Delaware County, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have led an industrious and frugal life, and have laid by a competence for their declining years.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO
pages 765-766