I was born in Southern Illinois.
I slept a lot, like I'm doing here at age 7 weeks.
Eating was another favorite activity of mine.
Here I am hunting for Easter Eggs at Cave in Rock State Park, IL, on the Ohio River in overalls. I love overalls to this day, and wear suspenders at work.
I love dogs, and enjoyed King as a young boy.
Hanging out was fun, and my dad and I practiced it under a tree in the backyard of our summer place in Stonefort, IL.
I was a proud young man on my first day of school.
My aunt Laura Lewis Streich recently was accepted into the Daughters of the American Revolution. Our deceased ancestry line includes:
Oliver Lewis, born 11 Mar 1873 in Stonefort, Saline Co, IL, died 22 Mar 1966 in Stonefort, Pope Co, IL, second marraige 6 Sep 1915 in Golconda, Pope Co, IL to Katie Crank, born 21 Oct 1893 in Golconda, Pope Co, IL. Their deceased children include Ray Maxwell, Charles Edward, Lester, Harry Vernon (my father). Here is a picture of Oliver about to pick me up when I'm in diapers.
Oliver Lewis' father was Robert Lewis, born May 12, 1832 in Jackson County, TN, died 6 Dec 1919 in Bolton, Saline Co, IL, second marraige 7 Apr 1866 in Stonefort, Saline Co, IL to Minerva Oshel, born 10 June 1842 in Stonefort, Saline Co, IL, died 11 Feb 1908 in Stonefort, Saline Co, IL. He fought in the civil was as a 1st Lt in the 31st Illinois Infantry, Company B.
Robert Lewis' father was Samuel Howell Lewis, born 12 Mar 1796 in Mecklenburg Co, VA, died Johnson Co, IL 28 Nov 1867, who married Henrietta Mabrey July 4, 1818 in Warren Co, NC. He later married Jane Darnell, born c 1800 in TN, died ca 1844 in Calloway Co, KY. With Jane he had sons Benjamin, Robert and William, as well as possibly a daughter Ann. Family tradition is that before Henrietta, he had a wife named Lorance, and they had no children before she died. We believe he had sons named James, Hardin, Samuel and Ansell with Henrietta, but have lost all trace of them.
Samuel Howell Lewis' father was Robert Lewis of Mecklenberg, VA born 1764 at Albermarle Co, VA, died Mecklenberg Co, VA 19 Oct 1806, married 10 Nov 1788 in Mecklenburg Co, VA to Ann Bugg who died after 15 April 1816. Their children include Elizabeth Bugg Lewis, Samuel Howell Lewis, James Meriweather Lewis, Anna Bugg Lewis and Robert Lewis.
Robert Lewis of Mecklenberg's father was Robert Lewis of Granville, born 1738/9 at Hanover Co, VA, died 7 Nov 1780 at Granville Co, NC, married on 3 Sep 1760 in Goochland Co, VA to (Mary) Frances Lewis , 1st cousin, born 1 August 1744 in Goochland Co, VA, died ca 1791 at Granville Co. Her parents are Charles Lewis and Mary Howell. Robert Lewis of Granville served as Delegate from Granville to the Constitutional Convention which met in Halifax, NC on Nov 12, 1776. He was later comissioned as "Colonel of the Granville Militia". Through him my Aunt Laura was accepted into the DAR.
Robert Lewis of Granville's father was Col Robert Lewis of Belvoir (b. 1704 d. 1765 ) who married Jane Merriwether (b. 1705 d. 1753). Col Robert Lewis of Belvoir was the third son of Councilor John Lewis of Warner Hall. His oldest brother John inherited Warner Hall, and Robert and his older brother Charles split their father's original estate, Chemokins, on the Pomonkey River at the top of New Kent County, VA. They later sold that farm and settled the land around Charlottesville, VA. Charles had a farm on the Byrd River, and was called Charles of the Byrd. Robert nmed his farm Belvoir, thus his name RObert of Belvoir.
Col Robert Lewis of Belvoir is the third son of Councilor John Lewis and Elizabeth Warner, and the first Lewis child born at Warner Hall. Councilor John was living at his farm, Chemokins, when he married Elizabeth Warner. Her brothers died without heirs, and she inherited Warner Hall upon the death of her father, Augustine Warner, Jr.. John, Elizabeth and their two sons left Chemokins and moved to Warner Hall when Augustine died, and Warner Hall was held by the Lewis family for many generations.
Councilor John Lewis' father was Major John Lewis who married Isabella Miller. He was a Major in the Virginia Colonial Militia, thus his name to distinguish him from the other John's in the family. He inherited the Chemokins farm at the death of his father's brother-in-law, William Lewis. Isabella is buried at the family cemetery near Poropotank Creek outside Adner, VA. Major John's gravestone, if he had one, had not been discovered.
Major John's father was Emigrant John Lewis (1592 - 1657), who is buried at the family cemetery near Major John's wife Isabelle. His gravestone is the oldest known in King and Queen County, VA, as of June 2007.
All source documents point to Emigrant John Lewis being the same John Lewis, Senior Burgess of Abergavenny, Wales. Recent evidence (research based on his tobstone sponsored by Grace McLean Moses as documented in her book "The Welsh Lineage of John Lewis (1592-1657) Emigrant to Gloucester, VA" thoroughly lays out the case based on Welsh coat-of-arms, church records and court records.
The family history is also documented in "Pioneer Lewis Families" by Michael L. Cook, Cook Publications, Evansville, IN 47712.
Every family has history controversy, and mine is no exception. Earlier (apparantly unresearched) publications list a "Gen Robert Lewis" as patriarch of my line. Interestingly, there does not appear to be source document evidence that such a General Robert Lewis ever existed in either England or Colonial Virginia. A cousin of mine published a book that had us descending from said Gen Robert Lewis, and he was quite upset when I asked him about source documents. Others seem to become similarly defensive when asked to provide source documentation - I guess it is hard to consider the possibility that this family story is not based in resarched fact, but is rather asserted and repeated. It seems to be a poplar and widely held story - after all, who wouldn't like to be a descendent of a general?.
Lewis Links:
[ Legends of Lewis] A terrific resource on the Warner Hall Lewis Line, with great information on the family
[ Lewis DNA Project] If you are interested in Lewis family DNA testing, this is the place to go
[ The Bed and Breakfast at Warner Hall,] our ancestral home
[ Cousin Glenn Lewis' page] with great information on the family and our family reunions
