Lewis, William (1834-1903)

LEWIS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 16:34:36

William Lewis
Nov 28, 1834 - June 15, 1903

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.512)
WILLIAM LEWIS, of Lewis Township was born in Monroe County, Michigan, November 28, 1834. His father, Silas Lewis, was a native of Onondaga County, New York, born in 1792, and in 1808 came to Monroe, Michigan, with his parents. In his youth he learned the shoemakers' and tanners' trades, which he followed a number of years. He then engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1852, at the age of sixty years, in Monroe, Michigan. He was married in Michigan, to Lydia Chilson, who was born in Delaware County, New York, in 1799. She had moved to Michigan in an early day, and died January 15, 1890, at the home of her son William, in Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County. They had a family of ten children, of whom all are living except three: Shubael, a retired farmer of Kansas; Samuel B., a nurseryman of Monroe, Michigan; Silas, deceased; Chilson, a farmer of Pottawattamie County; James, residing in Colorado; William, of Lewis Township, Pottawattamie County; Nelson, a dairyman of Pottawattamie County; George, a nurseryman of Monroe, Michigan. The father served in the war of 1812, under General Hull. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
William Lewis, our subject, was reared to farm life, and received his education in the public and private schools. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, and then came to Iowa, stopping at various points until he finally landed in Pottawattamie County, where he located. He engaged at work by the month for a couple of years; the first man he worked for was D. B. Clark, of Council Bluffs. He then commenced farming for himself, renting for a few years, and in 1861 he purchased a tract of forty acres on section 9, Lewis Township, which had been broken. Here he erected a residence and spent one year, when he sold out and purchased 200 acres of J. P. Casady, of Council Bluffs, on sections 10 and 15, Lewis Township, which was partially improved. The farm contained a small house, in which they lived for some time, and in 1885 they erected a fine two-story frame residence, 40 x 40 feet, which is one of the finest in this part of the county. He has also good barns for stock and grain, and three or four acres of grove. He has added to his first purchase 120 acres, making a total of 320 acres, all of which he has under good cultivation. It lies on sections 10, 11 and 15, Lewis Township. He devotes his attention mostly to farming and stock-raising, and takes an interest in all better grades of stock. He feeds quite a number of cattle each year for the market, and is one of the live, energetic business men of his township. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He is a lover of law and order, and strives to promote the best interests of his county.
William Lewis was married January 2, 1862, to Miss Lydia Edwards, who was born at Mt. Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan, July 27, 1844. She is the daughter of W. A. and Lucretia (White) Edwards, natives of Genesee County, New York, and Michigan. The father is a farmer during his later years, and is a resident of Appanoose County, Iowa; the mother died in 1848. They had a family of five children: Nelson, deceased; Sarah, deceased; Frank, residing in Lewis Township; Lydia, the wife of the subject of this sketch; and Daniel, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are the parents of six children, viz.: George, born November 15, 1863, residing on his father's farm in Lewis Township; Emma, wife of John Short, residing in Council Bluffs; Edward, born February 26, 1869, is at home; William, born March 28, 1872, is employed in a creamery in Dexter, Iowa; Elsie, born October 29, 1875; Katie, born November 24, 1877. Mr. Lewis is a self-made man, having risen from the very bottom of the financial ladder. When he landed in Council Bluffs he had but $10 to call his own, and how well he has succeeded is demonstrated by looking at his beautiful home, surrounded by his broad acres of well cultivated land. The family are among the county's most worthy and respected citizens.