Biographical Sketch of C. Q. Lewis, St. Joseph, Buchanan County, MO

>From "History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881, St. Joseph
Steam Printing Company, Printers, Binders, Etc., St. Joseph, Missouri.
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C. Q. Lewis, proprietor of the St. Charles Hotel.  One of the early
settlers of Pike County, Missouri, was Charles Thornton Lewis, who 
with his family, migrated from Virginia and settled near Louisiana,
in 1835, residing until the spring of 1837, when he became a resident
of Cooper County, landing near Booneville, and engaged in cultivating
tobacco.  He was the pioneer in that industry in the county, and so
extensively was he interested in this product, that he was familiarly
known as "Tobacco Lewis".  He was closely identified with the develop-
ment of Cooper County until his death, which occurred May 1, 1849. The
ancestors of the Lewises are of the family into which George Washington
married.  The subject of this sketch has in his possession traditional
relics, spoons, books, etc., said to have belonged to Robert Douglass,
of Scotland, of whom the Lewis family are descendants.  Chalres Q. was
born in Charlottesville, Virginia, March 6, 1826, and remobed with his
parents to Pike County, Missouri; thence to Cooper County.  He was one
of the Forty-niners, and with a part, on the 1st of May, in that mem-
orable year, crossed the state line, below Kansas City, and arrived at
the mines, in California, August 10, making one of the best trips on
record.  He remained engaged in mining about three months very success-
fully, but at the cost of his health, which he did not fully recover
for years, and returned home by the Panama route, arriving on February
14, 1850.  In 1855, he engaged in milling and merchandising at Jones-
boro, Saline County, Missouri, and was favorably known in commercial 
circles in that section for a number of years.  In a business sense of
the word, his enterprises were a success, but he met with many serious
drawbacks in the form of floods, fire and during the war.  For several
years he was postmaster of Jonesboro.  In 1865, he made a tour to Mon-
tana, and did good service by furnishing the stteamer Twilight with
fresh meat and fish, which was much needed on a trip of seventy days.
In 1877, he took up his abode in St. Joseph, engaging in the insurance
business, and in 1879, he opened the St. Charles Hotel, naming it after
himself, and also the street upon which it is located.  On October 23,
1845, at Charlottesville, Virginia, he was married to Miss Virginia
Gooch, and by this union they have five children living: Lillian L.,
Ada B., Mary M., Lizza H. and Charles Q., Jr.  Mr. Lewis has frequently
been called upon to be a candidate for political honors.  He is a Demo-
crat, was strongly opposed to the rebellion, and took no part with 
either element.  In his domestic habits, he is among the most social,
genial and companionable men to be found.  He is charitable in his 
judgements, ever seeking to put a favorable construction upon the a
actions of others.  His wife is one of the best and most noble of her
sex.

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