LEWIS, William (1874)

LEWIS, HUNTER, WILLIAMS, WELLS, MCKISSICK, GORDON

Posted By: David H Leebrick (email)
Date: 1/25/2017 at 15:34:56

Death of William Lewis

Last Saturday Morning closed the earthly career of one of our most prominent men and, in many respects, the most noted character on the Missouri slope. We refer to William Lewis, who died at seven O'clock, October 31st, after an illness of several weeks; and, although in looking back over his past life and recalling the amount of labor he has performed, the dangers he has encountered, and the hardships he has borne during three score years and ten, we are compelled to wonder that the end did not come more quickly, still the first brief announcement of his death cast a gloom over the entire community.

Being one of the first white men who dared to invade this almost unexplored region, he has been closely identified with its interests during a third of a century, and his name is a familiar household word in half the families on the Missouri slope. His eventful career through all the varied phases of a pioneer life would seem more like fiction than reality, were it not for the thousands of acres which his hands have transformed from a trackless prairie into beautiful farms, which are the pride and glory of our western country, and will prove a lasting monument to his memory.

Mr. Lewis was a peculiar man. Ignorant of every thing pertaining to books, his early education being confined to the rifle, axe and plow, yet, his natural good sense and sound judgment were more useful to him here, than would the diplomas from a half dozen colleges. Brave as the bravest, he was not the man to flee from any danger, and he was never known to ask a quarter from any living man. He would not allow himself to think for a moment that anyone could possibly whip him in a fight or swindle him in a bargain. But generous to a fault he never struck a fallen enemy, or rejoiced over the misfortunes which overtook any who had injured him.

At the commencement of the war, when it was dangerous for an man to walk these streets until he had taken the oath of allegiance to the Confederate Government, Uncle Bill took a bold and decided stand for the old Union, and risked, not only his property, but his life in defense of those principles which he deemed right and just. Uncle Bill was genial and sociable, in his disposition, and even the terrible energy which he carried into every conflict was toned and softened down by his love for the humorous, which no anger could suppress, and no danger could obliterate. A story which was published in Harper's Magazine in 18?3, illustrates Uncle Bill as he appeared when hailing a Missouri Steamer, which bore the stars ad bars. His orders to 'round to', were ignored and it was only when Old Bill's stentorian voice ordered the boys behind the masked battery to 'blow the old shell out of the water', said order being backed by the black and frowning muzzle of a twelve pounder, which poked its nose through the branches, that the valiant Captain gave the order to round to. Imagine his surprise when he found the battery to consist of a piece of rusty stovepipe mounted on two wheels, and 'manned' by a couple of ten year old boys.

But he is now gone, and the record of his life shows what may be accomplished by a man unaided, except by his own industry, energy and manhood. Of him it may truthfully be said, that he died as he had lived, beloved by his friends and respected by his enemies.

--Hamburg Times (IA)