Allen Lewis, Vernon Parish Louisiana 
Submitted by Jane P. McManus 
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 
  
Allen Lewis
Allen Lewis (13 Dec 1822 GA/3 Jun 1902 LA), son of James Lewis, married first
on 8 Dec 1841 to Ellender Sellers (5 Jun 1824/4 Nov 1855, Early, GA), and six 
children were born. He married second on 11 Dec 1855 to Margaret Elizabeth
Nessmith (11 Dec 1835/20 Aug 1895 Vernon, LA), daughter of Elander Nesmith and
Celity Ann Cannon, and eleven children were born. 
Allen Lewis was a Mason, first appearing on the roll of Baker Lodge No. 190,
New (Baker) GA, for the years 1858-1859. He became affiliated with Rapides Lodge 
No. 158 on 11 Dec 1859. On 15 Feb 1871, he was listed as a charter member of the
N.H. Bray Masonic Lodge #208, Walnut Hill (Rapides/Vernon), LA.
During the Civil War, Allen Lewis was listed as a Private Reserve Corp, from the
State of Louisiana. His service was with the Home Guard which were retained to
protect the innocent women and children from the dreaded Jayhawkers who preyed
on the unprotected.
The issue of the first marriage: (1) David (2 Apr 1845 GA); (2) Mary (5 Feb 1847 GA), 
married Allen Bennett; (3) Martha H. (2 Apr 1849 GA); (4) Artemissa (16 Jan 1851 GA),
married O.B.Lynch; (5) Allen (4 Jan 1853 GA), married Celia Powell; (6) Ellender
Lewis (4 Jan 1853 GA) married Andrew Bennett, and second Tom Mayo.
The issue of the second marriage: (1) Mathew (31 Jul 1857/3 May 1899), married Josephine
Bennett; (2) Charles (14 Jan 1859); (3) Jacob (2 Aug 1861); (4) Meriah (5 Sep 1863),
married Floyd Walters; (5) Rebecca (25 Jan 1865/23 Jun 1951), married Henry Richey; 
(6) Simon Monroe (19 Jan 1867), married Marinda Richey; (7) Henry (2 Feb 1869); (8)
Archie (30 Apr 1871/9 Jan 1873); (9) Margaret (13 Mar 1875/27 Mar 1959), married
Robert E. Boswell; (10) Maleta Ann (18 May 1876/17 Dec 1941), married Amos Richey;
and (11) Granary Lewis (4 Jul 1878), married John A. Boswell.
References:
1850 Rapides Parish, Louisiana Census Records
1880 United States Population Census Records, Rapides Parish, Louisiana
1900 United States Population Census Records, Vernon Parish, Louisiana
Ruff, Verda Jenkins, Central Louisiana Families in 1880, (Forest Hill,
LA: Privately Published, 1986)
Personal records of Billy H. Parker, Simpson LA, 1988
Bible Records, Allen Lewis, xerox copy in possession of Jane P. McManus, 2005
McManus, Jane P., L'est We Forget, Volume I-III (Revised), Parker Enterprises, 
Ball, LA, 1995 (Welcome Cemetery & Good Hope Cemetery)
McManus, Jane P., A Backward Glance, (Pineville, LA: Parker Enterprises, 1986)
McManus, Jane P., Pioneers West of Appalachia, Revised, (Seattle, WA: Parker 
Enterprises, 1984)
McManus, Jane P., Laurel Hill Missionary Baptist Church Vernon Parish Louisiana 
1869-1920, It's People and Its History, (Englewood, Co: Parker Enterprises, 1988)