McNAIRY COUNTY, TN - BIOGRAPHY - Samuel Lewis, Late Sheriff ============================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping, with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic Pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Edward R. Harrell edharrel3@aol.com =============================================================== Samuel Lewis was born about 1827. It is not known where, but most likely it was in McNairy County, Tennessee. It is not known what he did in the early years of his life. We do know he was a Soldier in the Union Army during the Civil War. Lewis enlisted into Company A, 6th Tenn. Calvary as a Private in August of 1862. He was promoted to First Sergeant in February of 1863. In July of the same year he was promoted to First Lieutenant. In November of 1864, he was promoted to Captain. In May of 1865 he resigned from the Army and shortly thereafter he was appointed Sheriff of McNairy County. Eighteen sixty-seven was an election year in the State of Tennessee. The Governor was up for reelection and was attempting to control the voting polls in his favor. Riots were taking place throughout the state. One such riot occurred in the town of Purdy, McNairy County. The militia was present. Some politicians were present, as well as the local residents. When a standoff between the Malitia and the local citizens got out of hand, the Sheriff was called in to quell the riot. Sheriff Lewis came onto the scene and attempted to intervene. Gunplay came into action with opposing sides shooting at each other. The Sheriff seems to have been caught in the crossfire receiving a mortal wound from this gunplay. He died a few days later. Sheriff Samuel Lewis has been added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, DC. You may visit their site on the internet at.(http://www.nleomf.com)