Lewis, Maris E., 1861-1950

LEWIS, VANDESTEEG, PIERCE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:38

From the Sioux County Capital, December 28, 1950:

FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Maris E. Lewis died at Raleigh, N. C., on December 19, at the age of 89. Mr. Lewis was in good health until a few years ago when he fell and broke a hip and since then failed gradually. The body was cremated and the ashes will be buried in the family lot in the Orange City cemetery.

Mr. Lewis was born in Marion, Iowa on November 13, 1861 and was the son of Charles Lewis. He came to Orange City with his parents a few years after the town was founded in 1870. He was married to Henrietta Vande Steeg, a daughter of Gerrit Vande Steeg, sr. While in Orange City Mr. Lewis was engaged in land, loan, and abstract business and was a member of the firms, C. & M. E. Lewis Co., and Lewis & Dodge. He was very successful in business and became one of the leaders in this community.

In 1903 Mr. Lewis moved to Moscow, Idaho, where he engaged in real estate and insurance business and he was also associated with First Trust and Savings Bank of Moscow. He served several terms as State Senator, and was on the Board of Regents of the University of Idaho for many years, serving as its President for several years. He moved to Spokane, Wash. in 1923 and served as Vice-President of the Federal Land Bank of Spokane and was also associated with an insurance company there. He retired at the age of 75, and sold his home in Spokane in 1937, after Mrs. Lewis died. Since then he resided in Port Ludlow, Wash., Prescott, Ariz., Ajo, Ariz., and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Mr. Lewis is survived by three sons and one daughter: Capt. Howard K. Lewis, U.S. Navy, retired, 249 Portlock Road, Honolulu, Hawaii; Evan G. Lewis, Ajo, Ariz.; Charlotte L. Case, 518 Phelps Ave., Raleigh, N.C.; and Maris V. Lewis, Commander, U.S. Navy, retired, 1007 N. Ridge Ave., Arlington Heights, Illinois. A son, Carl, died a number of years ago. The Vande Steegs, Vande Waas, Beyers, and Slobes of this city were nephews and nieces of Mr. Lewis.

* * * * * * * * * *

RESEARCH NOTES

His death certificate has Maris Evan Lewis; resident of Swift Creek Route #4, Raleigh, North Carolina; widowed; an invalid; born Nov. 13, 1861 in Marion, Iowa; parents Charles Lewis and Jane Pierce; informant Mrs. Charlotte Case; died at the Lake Johnson Rest Home, Raleigh; cause, coronary arteriosclerosis, onset 4-5 years, due to generalized arteriosclerosis; contributory conditions, prostatic hypertrophy and non-union of fractured hip.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index shows him buried in West Lawn Cemetery, Orange City. His FindaGrave page says he was born in Pella, Marion County, Iowa, and includes a photo of the joint headstone of him and his wife Henrietta.