My Genealogy Hound

AMOS R. LEWIS is a native of New Jersey, having been born in Jersey City in 1854. He is the only child of Capt. Edwin and Sarah (Wilson) Lewis, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter a native of New York. His father was born in 1827, and was lost at sea between San Francisco, Cal., and China, being then captain of a sailing vessel, named “The Waldo.” He came of sea-faring stock and followed the high seas all his life. He was one of eight brothers, all of whom were seamen and whose lives were marked by many nautical adventures and thrilling episodes.

Mr. Lewis’ mother, who bore the maiden name of Atkinson, was a widow when she was married to Capt. Lewis. She had but one child by her second marriage, that is the subject of this sketch, but she had two daughters by her former marriage, the older of whom is now Mrs. Anna Shave, of New York City, and the younger Mrs. Rebecca Butler, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Mr. Lewis’ mother was born in 1827 and now resides with her elder daughter in New York City.

The subject of this notice was reared mainly in New York City. When a lad he was apprenticed to the trade of nickel-plating and brass-finishing, which he followed for some years in the city of New York. He came to Nebraska in 1878, and settled in Kearney county, taking a homestead at that date, filing on a quarter in section 34, township 5, range 16 west. He began life in the West in the usual primitive way by erecting a sod-house and breaking out all the prairie he could, preparatory to seeding. In 1880, his first crop year, he raised nothing. In 1881, he had fifty acres in wheat and raised one hundred bushels. The following year he had the same number of acres in, but harvested nine hundred and thirty-three bushels. Since then his affairs have gradually prospered and he is now one of the most substantial farmers of his locality. He has a good farm, well improved, and it produces an abundance of Nebraska’s sovereign products — corn and wheat.

Mr. Lewis has filled a number of local offices and discharged the duties of them with credit to himself and satisfaction to his neighbors. In politics, he affiliates with the republicans and is a stanch supporter of the principles of his party and an efficient worker at the polls.

Mr. Lewis has a family, having married in 1878, the lady on whom his choice fell for a life partner being Miss Clara V. Tice, a native of New York City. This union has been blessed with five children — John, Edwin, Sarah, Laura and Christie.