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Smith Cemetery ~ David William Lewis ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Lewis, David William
LAST NAME: Lewis FIRST NAME: David MIDDLE NAME: William NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
GENDER: M TITLE: 
BORN: 11 Jan 1845 DIED: 7 Jul 1925 BURIED: 8 Jul 1925 ~ Smith Cemetery
OCCUPATION:  Farmer
BIRTH PLACE:  Franklin Co, Missouri
DEATH PLACE: Lewisville, Polk Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
MARRIAGE - D.M[W]. Lewis & Susan Williams m 30 Dec 1869 at house of & by A.J. Hodges, MG. Wit: Anna J. & L.C. Hodges 
1880 OR CENSUS - D.W. Lewis (35y, b Missouri, occupation farmer) enumerated with wife S.A. [Susan] (27y, b Oregon) & 5 children, I.M. [Ida] (8y, b Oregon), N. [Nevada] (6y, b Oregon); Claud (5y, b Oregon), E. (son, 3y, b Oregon) & Jose (dau, 2y, b Oregon)
1900 OR CENSUS - David W. Lewis (b Jan 1845, Missouri) enumerated with wife of 30 years Sus A. (b Nov 1853, Oregon, mother of 4 children, all living) and 4 children, Claud M. (b Oct 1874, Oregon), Lester J. (b May 1881, Oregon), Percy (b June 1884, Oregon) & Leota (b May 1892, Oregon)

BIOGRAPHY - Prominent both as a representative of two sturdy pioneers of the early days and for his own success in the industrial and farming circles of Polk county, David W. Lewis occupies an enviable place in the esteem of the citizens of this section of the county. The name descended to him from a pioneer father has been perpetuated in its use to designate the town of Lewisville, old settlers recalling the days when no town was known, and when the two Lewises, father and grandfather of David W., occupied the east and west sides of the main road passing through the place, each holding and planning to improve a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres.
The grandfather, John Lewis, was born in Virginia, and on attaining manhood he made his home in Kentucky, where David R., the father of David W. Lewis, was born. David R. there married Mary Redden, also a native of that state, and in 1845, both families outfitted for the trip across the plains, joining with their ox-teams the emigrant train, under the command of Captain English. Six months of the year was taken up by the journey, and on reaching Oregon, the heads of both families took up claims after passing the first winter in Polk county. The claims were located on the road which now runs north and south through Lewisville, the grandfather on the west side and the father on the east. They at once moved their families on the respective claims and engaged in farming, and there the elder Mr Lewis died in 1851, having been a resident of the west but six years. His son then bought the adjoining claim. If the early life upon his farm he sawed lumber in the hills, a part of which was bought to the present location of Lewisville and used in the erection of the first house in that town. His death occurred in 1895, in Salem, and his wife died in 1897, on the home place. There were five hundred acres left of the original land owned by Mr Lewis.
Of the twelve children born to his parents, four sons and eight daughters, David W. was the fifth, and was born in Franklin county, Mo, January 8, 1845, in the same year being taken from his home in the Mississippi valley to the new home which was to be made among the primitive surroundings of the Pacific slope. His early education was received in the little log schoolhouse near Lewisville, and when the course was completed he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith. In the year 1866 he went to California and engaged in the prosecution of his trade in Bakerville, Salina county, but returned in 1868 to Polk county, and open up the same business in Lewisville, where he continued successfully for ten years. At the close of that period he received from his father his present farm, to which he at once removed and prepared to engage once more in the work to which he had early been trained. He now owns two hundred and forty acres, one hundred of which is timberland. He carries on general farming and goat-raising, having from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty head at all times.
The marriage of Mr Lewis occurred in 1870, and united him with Susan Williams, who was born in Polk county, Ore, November 6, 1854. She was the daughter of J.J. Williams, a resident of Dallas, having crossed the plains in 1846 and located near Airlie. They are now the parents of the following children: Ida, now the wife of L.R. Grant of Lewisville; Nevada, the wife of D.A. Madison of Dallas; Claude, at home; Josie, the wife of John Brinkley of Boise City; James L., of Pendleton, Ore; Percy, of Salem; Leota, at home. Politically Mr Lewis is a Democrat. In religion he is a member of the Christian Church at Monmouth.
Portrait and Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley (Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1903), pp 1308-09
DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OSBH DC (Polk County 1925) #122 - David William Lewis, male, widower (Susan), farmer, b. 11 Jan 1845 in Missouri, d. 7 Jul 1925 in Lewisville, Oregon at the age of 80 yrs 5 mos 26 dys, name of father David R. Lewis, interment Smith Cemetery 8 Jul, undertaker A.L. Keeny, informant Percy Lewis of Monmouth.
OBITUARY: 
David William Lewis, a pioneer of Polk county, died at his home at Lewisville Tuesday morning, July 7, after a lingering illness. Mr Lewis was born in Missouri January 8, 1845, and with his parents came to Oregon the same year, settling on a donation land claim, on a part of which he lived all his life and on which he passed away. As a young man he married Susan A. Williams, daughter of J.J. Williams, also a pioneer of Polk county. She passed away a few years ago. The following children survive: Mrs Ida M. Grant of Lewisville; Mrs Vada Madison of Portland; Claude M. Lewis of Lewisville; Mrs Josie M. Brinkley of Portland; Lester J. Lewis of Portland; Percy J. Lewis of Lewwsisville; and Mrs Leota M. Smith of Tillamook. Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday forenoon and interment was in the Smith cemetery.
Polk County Itemizer, Thursday, July 9, 1925, 8:3

David William Lewis (“Uncle Billie” Lewis) died at the home of his son Percy Lewis at Lewisville Tuesday morning, July 7, at 3 am following a lingering illness of three months duration. Mr Lewis was the son of Mr and Mrs David R. Lewis, and was born in Missouri January 8, 1845, and was brought across the plains by ox team with his parents when only an infant. His parents on reaching Oregon came to Polk County where they took up a donation land claim, and on a part of this land Mr Lewis has resided the greater portion of his life. Prominent in community affairs and always willing to “lend a helping hand,” he becomes one of the best known pioneers of this county. He was married to Susan Williams, daughter of Mr and Mrs J.J. Williams, also early pioneers of Benton county, at Corvallis, Ore, December 31, 1869. He is survived by four sons and three daughters, Mrs Ida Grant of Lewisville, Mrs Josie Brinkley and Mrs Vada Madison of Portland, and Mrs Frank Smith of Tillamook; Percy and Claude Lewis of Lewisville, and Lester Lewis of Portland. Funeral services, under the direction of A.L. Keeney of Independence, were held at the family residence on Wednesday, July 8, at 11 am. Rev Edward Simpson, pastor of the Evangelical church at Lewisville, officiated, and interment was in the Smith Cemetery near Lewisville.
Polk County Observer, Thursday, July 9, 1925, 4:2
INSCRIPTION: 
Lewis
D.W. Lewis
Jan. 8, 1845-July 7, 1925

[shares marker with Susan A. Lewis]
SOURCES: 
Lewis family history, PCHS
OSBH DC (Polk County 1925) #122
Polk Co, Oregon, Marriage Records, 1849-1879, page 46
1880 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Luckiamute, ED 107, FA#84)
1900 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Luckiamute, ED 176, FA#51)
Polk County Itemizer, 9 July 1925, 8:3
Polk County Observer, 9 July 1925, 4:2
PBRWV, pp 1308-09
CONTACTS: 
ROW: 36-1  

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