LEWIS, William Watkins - 1912 Bio (1861 - ?)

LEWIS, RICKEY, LONG, MCLEOD, HANAFORD

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 9/21/2007 at 20:31:19

History of Jefferson County, Iowa -- A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol II
Published 1912, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 143-144

William Watkins LEWIS, who for the past three years has been manager of the Batavia Brick & Tile Company, was born in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1861. In the paternal line he is of English extraction, his father, Aaron C. LEWIS, having been born and reared in Nova Scotia, but his mother, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe RICKEY, was a native of the United States, while the maternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. After the completion of his education Aaron C. LEWIS learned the harness maker's trade, but he subsequently devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. In the early days of the Civli war he enlisted as a private in the Ninety-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service for three years and eight months. During that period he participated in many prominent battles, among the most notable of which was that of Lookout Mountain. In 1876 he brought his wife and family to Iowa, locating on a farm near Marengo, Iowa county. There he continued to reside until his death on the 1st of July, 1900. The mother survived for fifteen years thereafter, her demise occurring at Williamsburg, Iowa county.

Reared on a farm in the acquirement of his early education William Watkins LEWIS attended the district schools, the course therein pursued being supplemented by further study in the public schools of Uhrichsville, Ohio. He was a youth of fifteen years when he removed to Iowa with his parents, with whom he continued to reside for two years thereafter, when he began his career as a wage earner. For some years thereafter he followed various pursuits, but having always been very fond of machinery and possessing considerable mechanical skill he subsequently became identified with the Milwaukee Harvester Company. He continued in their service for several years, during four of which he was their traveling representative in eastern Iowa. In 1895 he became engaged in the brick and tile business as manager and part owner of the Williamsburg Brick & Tile Company of Williamsburg, Iowa. He was identified with this enterprise for thirteen years, at the expiration of which time he removed to Batavia to assume the management of the Batavia Brick & Tile Company. Under his capable supervision this concern has made steady and permanent progress until it now gives employment to fifteen workmen. They have three large kilns, their daily output averaging eight thousand pieces, based on a four-inch drain tile size. Their plant is most conveniently located on the main line and the Fort Madison branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, thus affording them excellent shipping facilities. Although they manufacture brick and building blocks, their principal output is drain tile of which they have always made a specialty.

Mr. LEWIS was married on the 14th of November, 1891, to Miss Nettie E. LONG, a daughter of Albert M. and Julia (McLEOD) LONG, residents of Williamsburg, Iowa. There the father passed away in 1899, but the mother still survives and now makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Lillian HANAFORD of Williamsburg. To Mr. and Mrs. LEWIS there have been born four daughters: Flossie and Maude, twins, who graduated from the high school of Williamsburg in June, 1911, and the following autumn entered Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa; and Alberta and Mazie, both of whom are attending the public schools of Batavia.

The family affiliate with the Presbyterian church, of which both Mrs. LEWIS and the two eldest daughters are members. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Knights of Pythias of Williamsburg. In matters politic Mr. LEWIS has always been an ardent supporter of the men and measures of the republican party, and while he was living in Williamsburg served for ten years as a member of the town council. During the period of his residence in Batavia Mr. LEWIS has become recognized as a prominent factor in the business life of the town, while both he and his family hold an excellent social position.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.