LEWIS, William Yates - Putnam

Source: Weik's History Of Putnam County, Indiana

Illustrated 1910: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers Indianapolis, Indiana

Author: Jesse W. Weik p 309

To spend a few hours with William Yates Lewis, a venerable and highly

honored citizen of Warren township, listening to his interesting reminiscences

of the olden times in Putnam county, one could not well be better entertained,

for his long, useful and, in some respects, eventful career has been spent in

his native locality, which he has seen advance from the wild woods to the

modern twentieth-century civilization, and he has taken no small part in this

work of transformation, having been a hard worker all his life and deeply

interested in the growth of his community in all lines, being ready whenever

occasion presented itself to do his full share of the work to be done here.

Mr. Lewis is a native of Monroe township, born Febrnarv' 19, 1S32, the

son of Israel Gregg and Xancy Susan Jane Lewis, the father a native of Ken-

tucky and the mother of Virginia. They came to Putnam county, Indiana,

as early as 1826. locating one-half mile east of Brick Chapel, Monroe town-

ship, buying there one hundred and sixty acres of land at five dollars per

acre, which, in those days, was a high price ; however, the place had some im-

provements, including a log house, which Mr. Lewis continued to occupy

for a period of twenty-five years, making various additions to the same.

He finally sold this place and purchased two hundred and sixty acres in sec-

tion 15, Warren township, upon which stood a hewn-log house. He was a

successful farmer for those days and he lived here until his death in 1855,

his widow surviving to a ripe old age, dying on February 25, 1890. Israel G.

Lewis found time from his farming to do a great deal of church work, having

been a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, having charge of a circuit;

he also studied medicine and was successful as a practitioner as well as a

minister, and in these ways he accomplished a great amount of good and

became widely known. In his day log-rollings were frequent and it had long

been the custom to have plenty of whisky at such events, but Mr. Lewis dis-

carded the jug and gave his neighbors coffee on such occasions, which seemed

to be appreciated and had a good effect upon the morals of the community.

He was known for his generosity and hospitality in entertainment of both

friend and stranger. Politically he was a Whig. He was patriotic and vol-

unteered during the war of 181 2 and he was in the famous charge at the

battle of the Thames, when the great war chief and British general Tecumseh

was killed. He and his wife were the parents of the following children :

Rhoda A., now Mrs. Cowgill; James Nathaniel, Oscar Thomas Lewis, Solo-

mon Colombus. Lucy Emarin, now Mrs. Bridges; William Yates, of this review;

George Ewing. Charles Henry, Gabriel Clay, Susan Jane, Louisa Elizabeth,

now Mrs. Evans; Gabriel died in infancy; Israel died when five years of age;

Nancy died in infancy. Only three of these children are now living, two sis-

ters beside the subject of this review. Susan Jane, who has remained single

and makes her home with A. L. Evans on the old homestead, and Louisa E.,

the wife of Arthur E. Evans, of Warren township.

William Yates Lewis spent his early life on the home farm, attending

school in the log houses of his day, with their rude furnishings. Such schools

were conducted on the subscription plan, and only the rudiments of an edu-

cation could be gained unless the pupil took the pains to further his own re-

searches.

Mr. Lewis was married on December 30, 1865, to Man.- Emily Clear-

water, the daughter of John and Matilda Clearwater, of Warren township,

Mr. Clearwater being one of the early settlers of this county and one of the

builders of the National road. His parents were natives of Virginia.

'Sir. Lewis and his bride went to housekeeping on one hundred and fifteen

acres in section 22, Warren township, and he has continued to make his home

here to the present time, having made a very comfortable living, improved a

fine farm and laid by an ample competency for his old age. He first lived in a

double log house, and in 1888 built a more pretentious dwelling just in front

of the old house which he tore down, leaving the old rock chimney, twelve

feet in height, built of dressed Putnam county stone, and which is still in

excellent condition, and is now covered with vines. It is prized by all the

family as a relic of the old home. General farming and stock raising has

occupied Mr. Lewis' attention. He is a Republican in politics and for two

years was trustee of his township; formerly he was a Whig. He is a member

of the Methodist church at Bethel.

Six children constitute Mr. Lewis' family; they are: Ida Belle, born

November 12, 1866, married George H. Hurin, of Crown Point, Indiana,

and four children have been born to them, May, Joyce Lewis, Mary Jean,

Nellie Rose, Ezra Clay Lewis, born December 3. 1867, married Love D.

Wills, and he has followed the painter's trade in this county ; they are the par-

ents of six children. Vernie Clare, Bertha Gladys, Forest Wills, Ernest Paul,

Gertrude M. and Leslie L. Lou Nellie Lewis, born September 6, 1870, mar-

ried ;M. E. Cooper and they are the parents of four children. Alarion L.. Mary

F., Ruth and Catherine. Charles Ernest Lewis, born May 2. 1873, married

Lottie Roberts and they are the parents of four children, Dorothy, Helen L.,

John W. and Edward C.: they live on a farm in this county. Catherine Ger-

trude Lewis, born August 14, 1875, married first, Owen T, Wright, then

George O. Whittaker : she lives on a farm in Putnam county and is the mother

of two children, Wayne Lewis and Esther Catherine, William Otis Lewis,

born November 11, 1881. married Minnie Hodge: they live on a farm in

this countv, and are the parents of two children, Aubrey G. and Vernice L.