LEWIS, C. R.

LEWIS, CURTIS, PECKHAM

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 1/19/2004 at 15:50:47

Biography reproduced from page 292 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

Numbered among the successful retired agriculturists of Kossuth county, Iowa, is C. R. Lewis, now living in a beautiful and comfortable home in Algona. His birth occurred in Madison, Madison county, New York, on the 18th of April, 1843. The lineage of the Lewis family is undoubtedly English and can be traced to the original thirteen colonies before the Revolutionary war. Charles Lewis, the grandfather of C. R. Lewis, came from Stratford, Connecticut, to New York, in a very early day, being one of the pioneer settlers in his section of that state. Throughout his active business career he was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits. George and Cornelia (Curtis) Lewis, the parents of our subject, spent their entire lives in Madison county, New York, the father passing away in October, 1888, and the mother in 1896. George Lewis followed farming as a life work. To him and his wife were born three children, namely, C. R., of this review; Sophia, who passed away in 1903 and was buried in the Madison cemetery of New York; and Morton S., who is engaged in farming near Madison, New York.

C. R. Lewis was reared in the Empire state, attending the common schools at Madison and Waterville and the high school at Hamilton. He remained at home until twenty-two years of age, when on his own account he entered upon farming in Madison county, New York, where he resided until 1876, when he settled in Kane county, Illinois, near Geneva. There he continued in agricultural pursuits until 1886, when he came to Kossuth county, Iowa, and bought a farm near Irvington. He added to and remodeled the house on that place and was the first man in Kossuth county to use tile for drainage. His first farm in this county comprised one hundred and ninety-four acres and after greatly improving it he sold out and bought land in Burt township, Kossuth county. Later he purchased one hundred and sixty acres near Butterfield, Minnesota, which he afterward sold and bought another farm of one hundred and ninety acres near Irvington in this county, which he still owns and which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and improvement. He also owned one hundred and sixty acres in Burt township, which he has since sold. At one time he owned three hundred and twenty acres in Faulk county, South Dakota, but has disposed of these holdings also. In 1898 Mr. Lewis decided to give up active life and removed to Algona, where he lives retired in a well appointed residence.

In 1866 Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Ella Curtis, who was born in Madison, New York, on the 6th of December, 1844, her parents being Pixley and Emily (Peckham) Curtis, who spent their entire lives at that place. Pixley Curtis, who devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits, passed away in 1858, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1853. Both lie buried in the same cemetery. Isaac Curtis, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, was of English lineage and came from Stratford, Connecticut. He took up his abode among the pioneer residents of Madison county, NewYork, and followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active career. Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of Mrs. Lewis participated in the Revolutionary war. She was the second child of her parents, her elder sister being Aristeen, who passed away in 1862. Our subject and his wife have two children: Herbert, residing in San Francisco, California; and Harry, a general merchant at Irvington, Iowa.

Mr. Lewis is a republican, having been quite active in political life and holding several township offices. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Lewis started out in life with nothing but a rugged physique, a good education and a firm determination to succeed. In his arduous life’s labors he was most earnestly and efficiently aided by his faithful wife, to whom he attributes much credit for the success and prosperity which he has achieved. He is well known in Kossuth county and during the years of his business activity here was ranked among the best and most progressive farmers in the county.