BIOGRAPHY: Henry Y. Lewis; Goshen, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

HENRY Y. LEWIS, of Goshen, comes of very prominent families on both the
paternal and maternal sides, the Lewises and Youngs having been identified
with the history of the United States since Colonial days. Our subject
himself went to the defense of the Stars and Stripes during the late Civil War
and lost that most priceless blessing, good health, in her service. For years
he was an invalid, and when he had partially recuperated it became evident
that he could never engage in sedentary work and that it would be best for him
to lead an outdoor life as as much as possible. For over a quarter of a
century he has made his home in Goshen, and since 1873 has been engaged in the
cultivation of berries and in raising fruit for the city market. He owns one
and a-half acres on Murray Avenue and has acquired a goodly competence by his
strict attention to business.

The great-grandfather of our subject, Ichabod Lewis, was born on Long Island,
and took part in the War of 1812, as did also his brother, Nathaniel, Jr. He
fought until the last and fired the final gun at Stony Point, mowing down a
row of the British. He was taken prisoner and sent to the celebrated Sugar
House in New York City, where he was kept until he died from ill-treatment and
was buried with seven hundred other unfortunate comrades in Trinity Church
graveyard. He was a son of Nathaniel Lewis, who was a descendant of one
Francis Lewis, a man of wealth and influence, who contributed liberally of his
means to-ward the support of the Revolutionary patriots and who had emigrated
to this country from England. His wife was made a captive and con-fined in a
London prison until LaFayette secured her release. When the Huguenots were
being persecuted, members of the Lewis family escaped from Bayonne, France, to
Wales, where their descendants remained for nearly two hundred years. Our
subject's grandfather, Samuel, was born in Goshen, and was a man of great
intelligence and influence in his community. He served in the Custom House in
New York City for several years. He never sought elective office, but
preferred to attend strictly to his own affairs, though fully qualified to
hold any position of honor and trust. In the long years spent by him in this
vicinity he won the esteem and love of every one who made his acquaintance. He
died in September, 1872, at the close of a good and useful life, and his wife,
who before her marriage was a Miss Mary Young, died at the home of our subject
on her birthday, April 17, 1884, aged ninety-eight years. In her early
womanhood she was noted as a beauty throughout the county, and was considered
the finest equestrian in this section. She was born near Youngstead, in
thetown of Goshen, and was a descendant of the Rev. John Young, who emigrated
with a little company of devoted followers from Southold, England, and
established a colony on Long Island. Many of his descendants were
distinguished for patriotism, and were noted in the professions and arts. One
of these, Henry, settled in this county, and the farm which he tilled is now
owned by the seventh Henry in the direct line. The family has always adhered
to the Episcopal faith, and our subject's great uncle,. Henry, was a Vestryman
in Trinity Church in New York.

H. Y. Lewis, our subject's father, was one of five children. His eldest
brother, Samuel, was for forty years a merchant on Broadway, New York City. He
married Caroline, only daughter of Charles G. Ferris, ex-Member of Congress,
the history of his family dating back to Colonial times. Samuel Lewis has
resided in Goshen since 189o, in which year his wife died. Oliver, another
brother, died in New York City; the two sisters were Charlotte, who married
Hon. Phineas Rumsey, and Mary Eunice, who married Judge B. F. Duryea, and died
in this city. Our subject's father, who was engaged in commercial pursuits in
New York, died when he was less than thirty years of age. His wife, who was
Miss Margaret E. Cook, was born in this state, and her father was an officer
in the North River Bank in Troy. Mrs. Lewis' sister Margaret married a Mr.
Hall, who was State Geologist of New York; and an-other sister, Theresa, is
the wife of Thomas Bates, also of this state. Mrs. Lewis died March 12, 1891,
in New York City, aged seventy-two years. Her only daughter, Mary E., was
claimed by death when she was but twenty-three years of age.

Henry Y. Lewis, of this sketch, was born September 25, 1842, at No. 130
McDonugal Street, New York, and was reared there and in this county. He
attended the common schools for some time in this locality, and in 186o went
to a private academy in New York. In October, 1862, he enlisted in Company H,
One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Regiment of New York Infantry, under Col. William
R. Brown, being mustered in at Newburgh. He was sent South and served for
fourteen months, or until the regiment was mustered out. For some time prior
to this event he had been ill with typhoid fever, and after he returned home
was prostrated with lung fever. For several years afterward he was unable to
engage in active business, but as soon as he was sufficiently strong he became
associated with A. C. Shepherd at No. 440 Broadway and No. 8 Clinton Place,
New York City, in the book and stationery business. In 1868 he was obliged to
re-tire on account of continued ill-health, and, coming to Goshen, located on
South Water Street, where he embarked in the cultivation of fruit, but
subsequently removed to No. 27 Murray Avenue. He helped to organize F. M.
Cummings Post No. 176, G. A. R., and on questions of political moment is
always found on the side of the Republican party.

In 1886 Mr. Lewis was married, in New York City, to Martha, daughter of John
Larry, who was formerly a well known business man of the metropolis, and whose
death occurred in Westchester County, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have two
daughters, Ethelinda and Mary Young. The parents are members of St. Janes
Episcopal Church.