Biography of Mary K. Lewis, Dale, Alabama ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Christine Thacker ==================================================================== October 2000 * This was sent to the Dale Co., Al mailing list by Terri Tait, she gave me permission to copy anything she has sent and send to the Dale Co., Archive site. Christine Grimes Thacker, 10/4/2000. Source: Confederate Veteran, Vol XXI, May 1913, No. 5, page 237 A Mother of Soldiers By W. M. BURCH, HARTFORD, ALA. Mrs. Mary K. Lewis was born in Jackson County, Fla., and lived there until twelve years of age. She then moved with her parents to Dale County, Ala., now Geneva County. At the age of fifteen she went back to Florida to attend school. She met Mr. Lewis there, and in about three months they were married. They then moved to Alabama, where they have lived ever since. Mr. Lewis was born in South Carolina, and at the age of six years he moved to the State of Florida. "Uncle" Green Lewis, as he was commonly called, was one of the old pioneers of this State and served through the Indian war. He then settled down to work to help civilize the country. He died in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis had ten children born to them, seven boys and three girls. They had three sons and one son-in-law that went to the Confederate army. John and Charlie Lewis and Tom Bigbie, their son-in-law, left their homes in the spring of 1862 with a company of as fine-looking young men as ever left the State. I remember well how cheerful they were the day they met at old Pondtown Precinct with their fife and drums. Some of them kissed their mothers for the last time. They were mustered into the 33d Ala. Regiment at Greenville on March 17, 1862, half a century ago, under Captain Cooper, and became Company G. Charlie Lewis was captured somewhere in Kentucky. He was sick at the time, and died a prisoner. John Lewis was killed in a train wreck near Knoxville, Tenn. There were nine of Company G killed in this wreck. John and Burney Hughes, two brothers, were sitting on the same seat eating a lunch; John was killed -and Burney was not hurt. Tom Bigbie, Mrs. Lewis's son-in-law, was captured in the battle of Peachtree Creek and was sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, and died in prison. Will Lewis was younger and went to the company later on at Dalton, Ga. He was slightly wounded in the foot at Kennesaw Mountain, surrendered at Greensborough, N.C., and is still living. Mrs. Lewis was ninety-one years old in March, 1913. She enjoys good health and can do ordinary housework. Grandma Lewis has forty-eight grandchildren, eighty-four great-grand-children and one great-great-grandchild. She walks to town, two miles away to do her shopping. Her daily occupation is spinning and knitting wool socks. She spins a beautiful thread, breaks her own wool, cards it into rolls, spins, and prepares it for knitting. She spun, knit, and sold twenty four pair of wool socks in 1912.