LEWIS, Henry

LEWIS, PULLMAN, UEKERT, WARNKE, OVERTON, NARUM, OCONNELL, SUTTON, KIRKPATRICK, ANDERSON, WILSON, BURNETT, BYRD, KELLEY

Posted By: Eldon Clark (email)
Date: 11/9/2004 at 16:57:27

Well Known Pioneer of Central Mills County Laid to Rest August 26.

The funeral of Henry Lewis, mention of whose death was made in last week's Leader, was held from the late home six miles north east of Malvern, Thursday afternoon, August 26, at two o'clock, and was largely attended by the numerous old time friends and relatives of the deceased.

Rev. Peter Jacobs, a former pastor at East Liberty and Silver City conducted the services, using the same scripture lesson he had used in Lewis, and the daughter, Mrs. Minnie Pullman seventeen years ago. These passages had been requested at those times by Mr. Lewis and were in Revelation 7: and Revelation 21.

A special choir, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Talbott, Mrs. F. R. Chantry and Fred Raine sang, with Miss Frances Cadwell at the piano. The remains were laid to rest in the East Liberty Cemetery by the side of his wife who had preceded him. The pall bearers were C. S. Royce, Clyde Barger, Will Zanders, Oscar Leu, Louis Leu and Emil Pontow. The following obituary was given:

In the death of Mr. H. C. Lewis, this section of the state lost one of its original pioneers. For seventy-five years he has resided in the same neighborhood. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lewis. His parents came west with the gold rush of 1850. They were part of a company that left Burlington, Iowa in May, 1850, enroute for Pike's Peak and the gold fields of California. They traveled with ox teams. Each night the wagons were arranged in a corral. When they stopped at the place where Lewis is now located they experienced a severe storm. The wagon occupied by the Lewis family overturned. Mr. Lewis was then a child of four. His father suffered a broken shoulder and because of this was compelled to stay in camp. The other members of the colony continued their journey westward. Hearing that certain Mormon settler's at Cutler's Camp, where the East Liberty cemetery now is, were anxious to sell out he arrived at the camp, Aug. 7, 1850 and bought out their rights. The town of Lewis was named after his father. The East Liberty cemetery in which Mr. Lewis was buried was given for a cemetery by his father.

Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Amelia Uekert, Nov. 24, 1870, May 23, 1909 his companion was called by death. Since that time the son, Otis, and the daughter, Josephine, have kept the home fires burning. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis. Three of these died in infancy. Two daughters, Mrs. Ida Warnke and Mrs Minnie Pullman passed away in later life. There are left to mourn, two sons, Ira of Omaha, and Otis at home, five daughters, Mrs. Alta Pullman, Silver City, Iowa; Mrs. B. J. Overton, Auburn, Nebraska; Mrs. Otto Narum, Puenta, California; Josephine at home, and Mrs. James O'Connell, Omaha. Two brothers, W. S. Lewis, Glenwood, Iowa, and M. F. Lewis, Roseville, California, seven grandchildren with other relatives and friends mourn his death.

Mr. Lewis was a true son of the soil. He lived a plain, simple, rural life. In keeping with his ideas there were no flowers. A worn Bible, placed upon the casket, indicated the source of his strength and wisdom. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Malvern. With advancing age and failing health he found great joy and comfort in the wonderful ministry of the radio. He was a good neighbor, son of the old school, that had learned its lessons of fellowship and cooperation thru hardships, sufferings, and dangers of the pioneer days. As a citizen he was a loyal enthusiastic American, standing up for American citizenship with its rights and liberty. All of his life was spent in Iowa. He was born at Burlington, Oct. 9, 1846. What a transformation has taken place in this state since that time. For seventy-five years he has been a resident of Mills County, all of this time living within the same neighborhood. The last forty-one years were spent on the farm where he died, August 24. His great love was for his home. Here he spent all of his time. Here he dreamed and builded. Here he lavished his affections. Here he realized life's hopes and ambitions.

Friends from a distance attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Sutton, Mrs. Marie Kirkpatrick, Mrs. C. A. Anderson and daughters Evelyn and Elinor and Miss Daisy Wilson of Council Bluffs; Mrs. E. O. Burnett and son, Mrs. Alta Byrd and Cleveland Kelley of Omaha.