LEWMAN, Joseph A. - Putnam

It is proper to judge of the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all the relations of society and civilization, and are therefore competent to judge of his merits and his demerits. After a long course of years of such daily observation, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth, for. as has been often said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that Joseph A. Lewman has lived a life of honor; that he is industrious and has the confidence of all who know him and have the pleasure of his friendship, being one of Monroe township's well known stockmen and farmers, having owned some the best horses that Putnam County ever produced.

Mr. Lewman was born January 4, 1853. the son of Jesse and Purcella (Laforge) Lewman. natives of Fleming County. Kentucky. In 1857. while on a trip to Iowa, the father w-as drowned by falling off the deck of the steamboat that was carrying him. The mother and children then abandoned the trip and came to Indiana.

Joseph A. Lewman received an ordinary common school education. On January 15, 1879. he married Emma F. Cross, daughter of a well known local physician of the past generation, a sketch of whom is to be found elsewhere in these pages. Mrs. Lewman's father's mother was related to Edgar Allen Poe, the great American author.

This union resulted in the birth of the following children: Ida May, born January 18, 1880, married Harry L. Grider, a merchant of Fincastle, this County; they have one child, Howard L., born [March 25. 1909: James B. Lewman was born October 5, 1882; Frederick A., born February 24, 1887: Frank C. born January 2, 1890, is a bookkeeper in the employ of the Bell Telephone Company; Ruth, born June 24, 1895. is a student in the Bainbridare schools.

Mr. Lewman is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of well cultivated and highly improved land where he has carried on general farming very successfully for many years; but stock raising has been his principal source of income and has claimed his close attention. It is as the owner of fine horses that he has become widely known, having been a very successful horse raiser, among the well known horses he has owned being the following: "Brinoda,"with a record of 2:11 1/4; "Major Ham." 2:24; "Major Ham. Jr.,"2:19; "Coon Hollow Jack.":2:15 1/4 "Trixie." 2:19 1/4; "Major L.," 2:09 1/4; "Alice Miller,"2:15. He still owns some valuable stock for which he finds a ready market whenever he cares to dispose of them.

Mr. Lewman is a member of Masonic Lodge No. 75, at Bainbridge: in politics he is a Democrat, and while he is interested in the County's welfare in every way he is no office seeker, but spends all his time looking after his individual affairs.