Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 564

JOHN LEWIS, one of the honored pioneers of Muscatine County, Iowa. of 1841, now living a retired life in West Liberty, was born in Highland County, Ohio, in 1820, and is a son of Enoch and Mourning ( Timberlake ) Lewis. On his father's side he traces his ancestry back to the beginning of the eighteenth century.

John Lewis, the great-grandfather of our subject, was born June 6, 1723, and wedded Alice Morris, born March 31, 1726, and daughter of George and Hannah Morris. He died August 19, 1804, aged eighty-one years, two months,and thirteen days, and was buried in the Friends' burying ground at Goose Creek, Bedford Co., Va. His wife survived him nearly sixteen years, dying Feb. 21, 1820, at the age of ninety-three years, nine months, and one day. She was buried in Chestnut cemetery, in Grayson Co.,Va.

Evan, the fifth son of John and Alice Lewis, was born May 5, 1760. About the year 1789 he married Sarah Tennison, born Jan. 1, 1761.

Enoch, the second son of Evan and Sarah Lewis, was born Oct.3, 1793. He married Elizabeth Cadwallader, March 16, 1812. They had one son, Jonah, born March 13, 1814. Elizabeth Lewis died April 6, 1814. Enoch Lewis, some two years later, March 16, 1816, wedded Mourning Timberlake, born Oct. 8, 1794, and daughter of John and Mollie Timberlake. They had a family of ten children : Elizabeth, born Feb.4, 1817, married Henry Felkner, who subsequently represented his county in the Iowa Legislature ; both are now deceased. Sally, born Oct. 10, 1818, became the wife of William Henderson, whose sketch appears on another page of this work ; she is now deceased. John, born Aug.4, 1820, is the subject of this sketch ; Mary, born May 5, 1823, became the wife of Jacob Romain, and both are now deceased ; Clark, born June 19, 1825, is now living at West Liberty ; Ann, born July 22, 1827, is the wife of Isaac Wright, of Laramie City, Wyo.Ter. ; William, born April 14, 1830, died March 4, 1831 ; Agnes, born Dec. 30, 1831, is the wife of S. A. Barnes, of Downey, Iowa ; Emily, born Oct. 13, 1833, is the wife of W. C. Chase, a farmer of Wapsinonoc Township, who formerly represented the county in the Legislature ; Milton, born Jan. 12, 1837, is engaged in farming near Downey, Iowa.

In 1841 accompanied by his family, Enoch Lewis emigrated to Iowa, settling in Wapsinonoc Township, where he purchased 720 acres of land. He improved three farms in that neighborhood ; first the one now owned by A. Brown, second the Joseph Chase farm, and later the one now known as the Brown farm in Cedar County. Wishing to retire from active life he removed to West Liberty, where he lived until the death of his wife in the spring of 1864. He then lived with his children until April, 1871, when, after a few hours' sickness he breathed his last in the seventy-eighth year of his age. He and his wife were members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Lewis was a man who took great interest in public affairs, and aided largely in the advancement of the social, moral, and educational interests of the community. As a business man he was energetic, enterprising and fair in all his dealings, consequently he was successful. During his earlier years he was a Whig, and being greatly opposed to slavery was among the first to be known by the term of " abolitionist." When the Republican party was organized he became one of its members, and supported it by his ballot and influence until his death. While living in Ohio he was appointed one of the three trustees of the estate of a wealthy slave-owner, who emancipated a large number of slaves in Ohio. A large sum of money was left in their hands for the benefit of the freedmen, and most of the responsibility rested upon Mr. Lewis, but he performed his duties faithfully and well, and remained one of the trustees until his removal to this State. While acting in the capacity of agent for the emancipated slaves his home was a well-known " station " to the Society of Friends ; and many fugitive slaves from Kentucky, in their efforts to reach Canada and freedom on the " Underground Railroad," found a welcome, sympathy, and food, and were sent to the next " station " by the kind-hearted Mr. and Mrs. Lewis.

John Lewis, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm in Ohio, and at the age of twenty-one came with his parents to this State. He improved a farm of eighty acres for himself soon after his arrival, but remained under the parental roof until 1845, when he was united in marriage with Delia Humphrey, who was born in Delaware County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Lemuel and Betsey ( Pinney ), Humphrey, who were natives of Connecticut. After their marriage the young couple began their domestic life upon a farm which he had purchased on section 2, Wapsinonoc Township, aand there resided until 1873. From time to time Mr. Lewis added to his original purchase, until 349 broad acres paid tribute to his care and cultivation. Removing to West Liberty in 1873, he has there since continued to reside, and is living a retired life.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Four children were born : Eudora E., wife of N. W. Ball, a resident of West Liberty, Iowa, and editor of the Wapsie Weekly Index ; Elsie, who died at the age of two years ; Lizzie, wife of C. D. Haldeman, of Des Moines, Iowa, proprietor of a creamery ; and Lillian, the efficient assistant principal of the High School of West Liberty. On the 24th of May, 1873, Mrs. Lewis was called to her long rest. He was again married in 1880, Miss S. A. Troupe, a native of Ohio, and a teacher in the public schools for twenty-five years becoming his wife. She is an active member of the W.C.T.U., and is President of the county organization.

For many years Mr. Lewis has been a director in the People's Bank of West Liberty, and at present holds the position of President. He takes a deep interest in public affairs, is well informed on all the leading questions of the day, and casts his ballot with the Republican party. Not a member of any church, yet fully believing in the beneficient influence on society of religious teachings, he is a liberal contributor to church organizations. A member of the State Temperance Alliance, and County and City Auxiliary Societies, he contributes money and time towards the enforcement of the law prohibiting the manufacture or sale of intoxicants to be used as a beverage. A man of influence and prominence in the community where he resides, he holds an enviable place in the hearts of the people, and well deserves their confidence and esteem.


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