The Lewis Families of Guthrie County, Iowa

A. J. LEWIS.

A. J. Lewis, a resident of Bayard, Iowa, was born February ly. 1852, in Polk county. Iowa, near Des Aloines. He is a son of Jonathan Lewis, a native of Indiana, who came to Iowa in the early forties and located in Polk county where he secured a homestead five miles west of the present site of Des Moines. He later removed to Highland township, Guthrie county, where he owns a valuable farm on which he makes his home. His mother, Evalina (Newton) Lewis, also a native of Indiana, is still living. There were born to this union nine children, of whom seven are now residents of Guthrie county.

Mr. Lewis enjoyed the advantages of a common-school education but spent most of his time in the fields of his father's farm. At the age of twenty-one years he left home to take up the pursuits of agriculture in Dallas county, Iowa, where he lived four years and later he resided in Cass county, Iowa, for three years. He subsequently located in Bayard, Iowa, where he purchased a blacksmith shop and conducted the business for six years. At the expiration of this time he purchased the opera house, on the first floor of which he conducts a pool and billiard hall. He also carries a line of tobacco and soft drinks and furnishes excellent lunches to his patrons. He owns a fine residence and six lots in Bayard.

In 1872 he was united in marriage to Miss Louella Decker, a resident of Cass county, Iowa, and unto this union four children have been born: Willard, Nina, Jay and Goldie. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are supporters of the Christian church, while Mr. Lewis has always given his political support to the republican party.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

A. P. LEWIS.

A. P. Lews is a well known farmer living on section i6, Highland township, and in connection with the further improvement of the fields he is also engaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. Mr. Lewis is one of the native sons of Iowa, his birth having occurred September ii, 1859. in Polk county, about four miles west of Des Moines. His father, Jonathan Lewis, was born in Indiana and came west to Iowa in the later '40s. He ])re-empted land in l'(j]k county and later removed to Dallas county, while in the year 188 1 he arrived in Guthrie county, where he still makes his home, being a resident of Highland township. In early manhood he was united in marriage to Miss Eveline Newton, who was born in Indiana, in which state the wedding was celebrated. She is also living and they are a highly esteemed couple in Guthie county. Of their family of nine children seven are still living in this county.

A. P. Lewis spent his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and when a lad of six summers he was sent to school, where he mastered the branches of learning which usually constitute the curriculum of the district school. When not occupied with his text-books his time was largely devoted to farm labor and he remained under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, when he entered a general store in Booneville. spending the succeeding four years as a clerk and bookkeeper in the store, the postoffice and the express office at that place. On leaving there he went to Rawlins county, Kansas, where he spent one year on a ranch, but believing that Iowa furnished better advantages he returned to this state. After about six months spent in Bayard, he bought a farm in Cass county Iowa, and resumed the occupation to which he had been reared, making his home there for five years. At the end of that time he sold his place in Cass county and purchased eighty acres of land on section 16, Highland township, Ciuthrie county. This farm is still his property and he now operates it with good results, annually harvesting gratifying crops because of the practical care and labor which he bestow upon the fields. He likewise raises shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, and his place in all of its appointments is well equipped for general farming and stock-raising.

On the 15th of November, 1883, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Flinn. a daughter of D. N. Flinn. a resident of Dallas county, Iowa. They now have one son, Ivyl E., who was born January 15, 1892. The parents attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute to its support. Mr. Lewis is a republican in his political views and for four years he has served as justice of the peace, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity and basing his decisions upon the law and the equity in the case.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JAMES E. LEWIS.

James E. Lewis, who is filling the office of assessor in Victory township, came to Guthrie county with his parents when a youth of thirteen years and has since been identified with business interests here. He was born September 7, 1860, in fiercer county, Illinois, a son of Edmund E. and Elizabeth (Hill) Lewis, the former born in Pennsylvania, November 20, 1833, while the latter was born in the year 1841. Edmund E. Lewis was a lad of but eleven years when he came with his parents to Iowa, the family home being established in Davenport, where he resided until twenty-one years of age. In 1854 he removed to Rock Island, Illinois, where he resided for eighteen years, after which he took up his above in Guthrie county in 1874. He always followed the business of a stationary engineer until he gave up active work and is now living with his son James. His wife died in 1872 and one of the three children of the family has also passed away, the surviving daughter being Mrs. Mary Mallon, who is living in Victory township.

James E. Lewis was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the public schools. He has almost continuously since followed coal mining and he is now pleasantly located on section 9, Victory township, where he owns ten acres of land.

On the 28th of October, 1885, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Aliss Sarah E. Alarshman, who was born September 7, 1868, and died on the 8th of Februarv, 1902. She was a daughter of John and Lena (Moore) Marshman, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They became early settlers of Guthrie county, castinsr in their lot with those who planted the seeds of civilization here in pioneer times. The mother died in 1870 but the father is still living;, his home beingin Highland township. In their family were three sons and a daughter: Ralston and Frank, who are residents of Dayton, Ohio; Jacob, who is living in Des Moines; and Mrs. Lewis, of this review. Lnto our subject and his wife have been born four children: William E., whose birth occurred March 27, 1888; Stephen R., who was born July 14, 1890; Chance A., born February 13, 1892; and Benton R. August 31, 1896.

Mr. Lewis has always given his political allegiance to the democratic party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He is now serving as assessor of his township and is proving a capable officer. Industry and diligence have always been regarded as his strongest characteristics and they are the qualities which have enabled him to work his way upward from a humble place in financial circles until he is now one of the men of affluence of Victory township.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.