SEAMAN W. LEWIS
Seaman
W. Lewis, well known in banking circles of Humeston as cashier
of the Humeston State Bank, is a native son of Iowa, born in
Union township, Lucas county, January 1, 1870. He is a son of
Benjamin and Rachel (Parker) Lewis, pioneers in the state and
for many years highly esteemed and respected residents of
Union township. The
family was founded in the middle western states by the
paternal grandfather of the subject of this review, who was
born in New Jersey in 1800 and who came from that state when
he was a lad of seventeen, settling in Ohio, where he learned
the blacksmith’s trade.
There he married and reared his family and there passed
away. The father
was born in Ohio, September 19, 1830, and spent his early life
in that state. In
1857 he and his wife moved to Clarke county, Iowa, and lived
upon a rented farm in that section until the fall of 1860,
when they came overland to Union township, Lucas county, and
purchased a tract of raw prairie land. Pioneer conditions
prevailed everywhere and there was but one other house upon
the broad expanse of rolling prairie which stretched out in
all directions, and the settlements were few and far removed. The father,
however, bent his energies to the development of a profitable
farm and with the exception of the period of his service in
the Civil war, remained continuously upon the property until
his death. In
1861 he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, and spent three years upon the southern
battlefields, securing at the end of that time his honorable
discharge. He
returned to his farm in Lucas county and continued the work of
development, carrying it forward successfully until his death,
which occurred upon the homestead, January 22, 1884. The mother has also
passed away, dying in Lucas county, February 22, 1894. To their union were
born the following children:
Eden, who was born April 14, 1854, and who is now
residing in Berry county, Missouri; Ella, who died at the age
of three years; Mrs. Mary Jones, a resident of Plainview,
Texas; Helen, deceased; Elizabeth, who has also passed away;
John W., who was born September 23, 1860, and how is now one
of the leading attorneys of Ottumwa, Iowa; Seaman W., of this
review; William R., who was born May 11, 1872, and who died in
October, 1907; and Amanda L., the widow of W. B. Barger of
Ottumwa, Iowa.
Seaman W. Lewis acquired his education in the public schools of Lucas county and remained a continuous resident of that section until he moved into Humeston. When he laid aside his books he followed farming, with which he has been connected during the greater portion of his life. He owns at the present time three hundred and sixty acres of well improved land in Union township and his activities in the management of this enterprise for many years constituted one of the factors in local development. In 1909 he moved to Colorado in order to give his wife the benefit of the healthful climate of that state but two years later returned and on March 1, 1912, moved into Humeston and accepted the position of cashier of the Humeston State Bank. He has already come to be regarded as an able and farsighted financier of great business and executive ability and the affairs of the bank have prospered greatly under his administrations.
On
October 16, 1891, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss
Sarah Etta Carlton, who was born in Union township, Lucas
county, June 20, 1871. In
that county she grew to womanhood, attending the public
schools of the community.
Her father, John E. Carlton, was a native of West
Point, Dubuque county, born October 31, 1836. He came as one of
the earliest settlers to Lucas county and there died September
15, 1895. His
wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Rebecca Foutz, was born
in Canton, Illinois, November 18, 1841, and died in Union
township, December 17, 1893.
In their family were four children: Charles E., born
July 24, 1867, who is residing in Portland, Oregon; Orley E.,
who was born June 24, 1869, and who is now residing in
Humeston; Sarah Etta, who became the wife of the subject of
this review; and Robert F., who was born December 16, 1879,
and died July 10, 1881.
Mrs. Seaman W. Lewis died April 25, 1912. She was the mother
of three children: Lottie,
who was born August 26, 1892, and died September 16, 1902;
Walter Carlton, who was born August 6, 1894, and who is now
attending the high school in Humeston; and Nellie, who was
born September 29, 1904, and who is pursuing her studies in
the public schools of Humeston.
Mr. Lewis gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served ably and conscientiously as township trustee and school director of Union township. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of American in Derby and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Humeston. He is a worthy representative of one of the most highly respected pioneer families in Iowa and possesses many sterling traits of character and mind which endear him greatly to all with whom he is associated.