Washington Co., AR - Biographies - William M. Lewis *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** William M. Lewis, a retired merchant of Boonsboro, Ark., was born in the county in which he now resides, September 23, 1833, and is one of four children born to the marriage of John Lewis and Marian Coulter, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. John Lewis came to Arkansas when a young man, about 1829 or 1830. and began blacksmithing at Fayetteville, his shop being in all probability the first one on the place. He worked at his trade for a number of years, and died in 1860, lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. William M. Lewis was reared and educated in Fayetteville and Cane Hill. In 1848 he began clerking in Cane Hill, and two years later began merchandising in that place, continuing until the breaking out of the war, and in 1862 enlisted as a private in Col. Brook's regiment, Confederate States army. He participated in the Prairie Grove battle, and was paroled at Fort Smith, Ark. After his return he clerked in Fayetteville for a year or two, and in February, 1868, was united in marriage to Mary E., daughter of Col. G. W. M. Reed, who is one of the prominent men of Fayetteville, and whose sketch appears in this work. Mrs. Lewis was born in Washington County, and is the mother of three daughters and one son: Josephine. Maggie C., John R. and Lizzie. After his marriage Mr. Lewis re-engaged in merchandising in Cane Hill, and until 1884 was one of the successful business men of the place. Since that time he has been retired from active business life. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Cane Hill, and his wife belongs to the Baptist Church. They have a pleasant and comfortable home, and a fine orchard of twenty-five acres.