Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Lewis, Robert J. 1864 - living in 1917
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 23, 2005, 6:13 pm

Author: B. F. Bowen

ROBERT J. LEWIS.

    Robert J. Lewis, a well-known and prominent grain dealer of Home City,
Marshall county, was born in Yorkshire, England, on December 12, 1864, the son
of William and Maria (Brewitt) Lewis. When the son, Robert J., was five and a
half years old the parents left their home in England and came to the United
States. They had up to that time lived in England and were there educated in the
public schools and grew to maturity. On their arrival in this country they came
to Kansas and established their home on a farm in Franklin township, Marshall
county. Here Robert J. Lewis engaged in general farming and stock raising, in
which he met with much success. In 1903 he left the farm and moved to Home City,
where he took charge of the farmers elevator. He conducted the business for the
company until 1906, when he purchased if and enlarged the elevator to a capacity
of fourteen thousand bushels of grain. He also established a jewelry shop, which
he conducted with success.

    As a boy and young man Robert J. Lewis spent his life on the home farm two
miles northeast of Home City. In addition to his many duties connected with the
farm work, he was required to herd cattle on the plains, where for miles there
was naught but the unbroken prairie, where the animals native to that section
roamed. As late as 1875 he saw a herd of nine wild deer feeding on the plains
where he was wont to herd his cattle. He also assisted in the breaking of the
prairie land and many a day he trailed behind the plow, drawn through the tough
sod by a yoke of oxen. Thus, in early life, he experienced many of the hardships
and privations of the early settler in Marshall county. His father was a man of
much ability and a thorough farmer and in him the son had an excellent teacher.
The father was well and favorably known throughout the entire county, and was
held in the highest regard by all.

    Robert J. Lewis is the owner of four hundred acres of excellent land in
Franklin township, which is in a high state of cultivation and well improved.
During his residence on the farm he was interested in breeding and raising of
Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, in which he was successful. In addition to
his other extensive interests he is a director of the Citizens State Bank at
Home City. He is identified with the Democratic party and has served his
township as clerk and trustee and is now a justice of the peace.

    In 1892 Robert J. Lewis was united in marriage to Amy Kniesteadt, who was
born on March 2, 1872, at Pawnee, Nebraska, where she received much of her
education in the public schools and spent her early life. Mrs. Lewis is the
daughter of Lewis D. and Sarah J. (Brenester) Kniesteadt, both of whom were
natives of Germany, where they were educated in the public schools and grew to
maturity. They came to Meadow township, Marshall county, in 1884, where they
established themselves on a farm and were soon prominent in the social and
business life of the community. They were the parents of six children, one of
whom is now deceased. The mother died some years ago and the father is now
living a retired life at Home City. Mr. and Mrs. Kniesteadt were active members
of the Methodist Episcopal church and took much interest in all church work, and
were among the highly esteemed people of the district where they lived and where
they had so much to do with the development of the community.

    To Robert and Amy (Kniesteadt) Lewis have been born two children, Walter
LeRoy and Frederick G. Walter LeRoy was born on August 20, 1894, and received
his education in the public schools and is a graduate of the Atchison Business
College and is now a partner with his father in the grain business. He was
married on February 27, 1914, to Nellie Dryer and they are the parents of one
child, Maxine. Frederick G. was born on June 3, 1896, and received his education
in the local schools and is now at home with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are
prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mr. Lewis is one
of the trustees. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes much
interest in the work of the order.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/lewis94bs.txt

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