My Genealogy Hound

ELMORE F. LEWIS. One of the most useful houses for the accommodation of visitors, etc., is one where you can be housed and fed with the best the market supplies, and where you feel perfectly at home. Such an hotel is the Vandalia, conducted by the genial and most agreeable proprietor, Elmore F. Lewis, who is also classed among the prominent and substantial tillers of the soil in Penn Township.

Mr. Lewis is a product of Cass County, Mich., born in Newburg Township November 18, 1847, and is a son of Jonathan W. and Emma (Ferguson) Lewis, both natives of the Empire State. About 1840 Jonathan Lewis emigrated to Cass County, Mich., and actively engaged in working the soil of Newburg Township. He was an industrious, hard-working man, and one who was highly respected for his upright, honorable conduct. He became the owner of a fine farm, and on this he and his worthy companion passed the closing scenes of their lives, he dying in 1861. They were the parents of five sons and one daughter, all of whom reached mature years. Three of the sons served in the Civil War, and Francis S. and James H. Lewis, the two eldest, lost their lives at the battle of Stone River.

Our subject, the third in order of birth of these children, grew to manhood in his native county, and, with the exception of one year spent in Dakota, has made his home here ever since. In this county he received his scholastic training, and here he received those lessons of frugality and industry that made his father so well known in this section. On the 4th of December, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Narcissis T. Pemberton, daughter of Reason S. and Margaret (Miller) Pemberton, the former a native of Wayne County, Ind., born March 23, 1824, and the latter of Germany.

Mr. Pemberton and his wife celebrated their nuptials in Henry County, Ind., May 3, 1840, and two years later moved to Cass County, Mich., where the father has since resided. He finds a comfortable and pleasant home with his son-in-law, our subject, and is a man esteemed and respected by all. His wife passed over to the silent majority on the 14th of December, 1885. Twelve children were born to this most estimable couple, eight of whom grew to mature years and became the heads of families.

In April, 1892, Mr. Lewis was elected Supervisor of Penn Township by the Republican party, of which he is an ardent supporter, and he is now the incumbent of that position. He discharges the duties incumbent upon this position in a very satisfactory manner, and is a capable and efficient man for the position. He has ever advocated the principles of the Republican party, and his first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Grant. In June, 1864, he enlisted in Company H, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry, and served one year. He was in the Atlanta campaign with Sherman, and served his country faithfully and well. He participated in the battle of Bentonville and numerous skirmishes, but was never wounded. The hard service was too much for him, however, and he has never been as well since. In connection with the hotel business he is also engaged in farming, and has a good home of eighty acres located two and a-half miles northeast of Vandalia, and forty acres located two and a-half miles northeast of Decatur. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Disciples Church. They have had four children, only two now living.