My Genealogy Hound

ALONZO R. LEWIS, one of the most successful farmers of Montgomery township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, where he was born March 23, 1862, being the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Lowry) Lewis.

The Lewis family are of Welsh descent. The progenitor of the family came to Pennsylvania with William Penn, and located in Delaware county. Phineas Lewis (grandfather) was a son of John Lewis. Phineas was born in Delaware county, where he spent his entire life, dying at the age of eighty years. He married Mary Caley, their children being: Mordecai, Orpha, Sarah, Hannah, John, Evan, Jesse, David, Lewis, William, Samuel, Phineas.

Jesse Lewis (father) was born in Delaware county, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1819. He spent his early life in that vicinity. After completing his education he went to Downingtown, where he learned the wheelwright trade. He was employed in this occupation only a short time, however, re- moving to Philadelphia, where he engaged in the flour and feed business on the site of what became the West Philadelphia station of the Pennsylvania Railroad. For some time Mr. Lewis was engaged in the wholesale liquor business, but he abandoned it and again engaged in the flour and feed business, which he continued to the time of his death, which occurred June 8, 1901, when he was in his eighty-first year. He married, in Mantua, West Philadelphia, May 6, 1858, Elizabeth, daughter of Philip and Elizabeth Lowry, who was born in West Philadelphia, September 10, 1828. Their children: Emma V., born March 7, 1859; Alonzo R., subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, born February 29, 1864, now deceased; Jesse F., born October 7, 1870, died in 1874. Mr. Lewis was a member of American Star Lodge, No. 504, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for a period of fifty years. He affiliated with Friends in his religious belief.

The family of Mrs. Lewis, the Lowrys, were French on the side of the father, and of German origin on the side of the mother. The grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, Philip Louria, as the name was spelled, was born in France, but came to America in early manhood and settled in the district of Spring Garden, in the city of Philadelphia, previous to the Revolutionary war, and held the rank of colonel in that struggle. He was a butcher by occupation, and conducted the business successfully in Philadelphia for many years. In later life he purchased a farm in Delaware county, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died on the farm in his ninety-first year. He was twice married, and had a family by each marriage. His children by the first marriage were Susan, Maria, Martin V., Peter and Philip. By the second marriage his children were Sarah, Margaret, Andrew, George, Emanuel and Napoleon. Philip Lowry was born in Philadelphia, and educated there. He resided all his life in that city. He was a butcher, and conducted a successful business. He died June 18, 1875. His wife died June, 1866. Their children were: Susanna, deceased, married Alexander Garvin; George F. and Philip, both deceased; Martin Van Buren, deceased; Elizabeth, mother of Alonzo R. Lewis; Caspar. The Lowry family were Lutherans. The grandfather, however, adhered to the Presbyterian faith. Philip Lowry participated in the war of 1812, and was a member of the Philadelphia council.

Alonzo R. Lewis was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia, and after leaving school engaged in business with his father in the flour and feed trade, remaining with him until his death, and continuing the same for a year afterwards. In October, 1901, he purchased eighteen acres of land and a handsome residence from Dr. Bostock, on the Bethlehem turnpike, and on February 1, 1902, removed to the property on which he still resides. He married, in Philadelphia, September 10, 1890, Sarah Elizabeth Hill, born in Marietta, Ohio, January 28, 1866. The couple have no children. In his political views Mr. Lewis is a Republican. Mrs. Lewis is a member of the Episcopal church.