Lewis Christian was born in Louden, Tennessee on September 29, 1834. He was a son of George and Zilpha (Clark) Christian. He married Susan Davis on January 10, 1855. Christian enlisted in Company A, 39th Kentucky. He was taken prisoner at Rogersville, Tennessee in 1864, but escaped. He took part in battles at Wireman Shoals, Pikeville, Half Mt., Mt. Sterling, Cynthiana, Saltville, Glade Springs, Marion, and Abingdon. He was honorably discharged Sept. 14, 1865, at Louisville. After the war he served for years as Justice of the Peace and resided at Paintsville, KY.