My Genealogy Hound
Below is a family biography included in The History of Lake County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887. These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary. Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more. There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.
* * * *
Robert A. Lewis (deceased) was a prominent farmer of Lake County, and was born in 1833, in Fulton County, Ky.; his father was Maj. R. N. Lewis. Our subject had good educational advantages. In 1855 he married Mary Donaldson, who was born January 24, 1834, in New Madrid County, Mo., at Donaldson’s Point. She is the daughter of Andrew J. and Kate (Baird) Donaldson. Her father was born at Athens, Ala., but was raised at Nashville, Tenn., her mother at Chattanooga. Soon after they married they went to Missouri and remained until 1844, when they came to Lake County. Mr. Donaldson was a Democrat and a farmer and died in 1845; his wife was a Methodist and died in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were born nine children, four boys and five girls, only three living: Henry C., Charles A. and Zaida. Mrs. Lewis was a Methodist. In 1861 he volunteered with the Madrid Bend Guards as second lieutenant and was soon promoted to first lieutenant, holding that position until the close of the war. After the war he gave his time to farming. In 1877 he moved his family to New Orleans, then to Florida and in a short time they returned to Lake County. In 1880 Mr. Lewis lost his life in a painful accident. While turning down the wick in his lamp it exploded and he was burned to death. Mrs. Lewis is still living at the old homestead, owning a farm of 400 acres. Both the Lewises and the Donaldsons are early residents of Lake County.
* * * *
This family biography is one of 40 biographies included in The History of Lake County, Tennessee published in 1887. The History of Lake County was included within The History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley & Lake Counties of Tennessee. For the complete description, click here: History of Gibson, Obion, Dyer, Weakley, and Lake Counties of Tennessee
To view additional Lake County, Tennessee family biographies, click here
Use the links at the top right of this page to search or browse thousands of other family biographies.