Biographies from The History of Columbia County,
Wisconsin, 1880 


Contributed by Carol carolann612@charter.net
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm


From The History of Columbia County, Wisconsin, 1880,
publ. by Western Historical Company, Chicago, Page
971-972

HON. JAMES T. LEWIS.  Searching the streets of Athens
with a lantern, Diogenes illuminated a truth of his
own discovering, namely, that honest men are a
nation's rarest as well as most precious jewels, and
we have discovered that of those who shine in the
crown of the republic, none have a higher worth than
the faithful administrators of the law.  Prominent on
the roll of true and good men, we find the name of
James T. LEWIS, a native of Clarendon, N.Y.  He was
born on the 30th of October 1819, and is the son of
Shubael LEWIS and Eleanor ROBERTSON.  His grandfather,
Samuel LEWIS, lived in Brimfield, Mass.  His father, a
native of New England, was born on the 27th of
February, 1783, and grew up from a poor boy, with a
spirit of self-reliance and strong hope, and by his
sterling qualities commanded universal respect.  He
was a man of sturdy enterprise, and acquired large
estates both in New York and Wisconsin.  He was thrice
married - first, on the 29th of January 1815, and the
second time on the 15th of April 1835, to Parna
NICHOLS, who was born on the 10th of April 1798.  She
was a lady of the truest womanly qualities, a devoted
wife and all that a mother could be to the children
placed under her care.  Her pure life was devoted to
the welfare of her family, and to the influence of her
teachings and example, the subject of this sketch
today feels himself largely indebted for the success
of his life.  His third marriage was to Mary BUGBEE.
He died at the advanced age of 78 years.  The mother
of our subject, a lady of Scotch descent, died on the
8th of October 1834.  Of Mr. LEWIS' brothers and
sisters, William L. was born Oct. 19, 1815, and was
married Oct. 7, 1842, to Miss Eliza Ann MARTIN, of
Clarendon, N.Y.; Shubael R. was born Nov. 3, 1817; was
a distinguished soldier in the Mexican War - the first
to scale the walls of Chapultepee and for his gallant
conduct on the field was presented with a sword;
married, Aug. 18, 1839, to Mrs. Sarah Ann (NICHOLS)
BROWN, widow of Harvy BROWN, M.D.; died in August
1856.  Hiram W. was born January 13, 1823; married
Sept. 2, 1847, to Miss Melissa P. TOUSLEY.  Mary Jane
was born Sept. 6, 1825; married Oscar A. HARRIS.
Andrew J. was born May 23, 1828; died January 20,
1840.  Lydia A. was born Sept. 22, 1831; died Oct. 12,
1834.

James T., the third son, after receiving a common-
school education, completed a course of English
classical study in Clarkson Academy and Clinton
Seminary, in New York, and, in 1842, began the study
of law with Gov. SELDEN, of Clarkson.  He afterward
removed to Wisconsin, and in 1845, was admitted to the
bar of the United States District Court, and
subsequently to the Supreme Court of the State.
Declining the gift of an eligible law office offered
him by influential friends, if he would settle in
Clinton, N.Y., he decided more wisely, and established
himself in Columbus, his present home.  At the age of
26, he was married to Miss Orlina M. STURGES, daughter
of a prominent and successful merchant of Clarendon,
N.Y., and by her had four children - Henry T.,
deceased at the age of 16 months; Selden J., named
after Gov. SELDEN, of Clarkson, N.Y.; Charles R.,
named after Hon. Charles D. ROBINSON, of Green Bay,
Wis., and Anna L.  Mr. LEWIS, a man of superior
executive ability, rapidly rose to the successive
positions of District Attorney, County Judge, member
of the Constitutional Convention which formed the
organic law of the State, member of the General
Assembly, State Senator, member of the Court of
Impeachment, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State
and Governor.  As Secretary of State, it was truly
said of him, "He has been prompt, methodical and
systematic in all the departments of his office; a
true man in every sense of the word, kind and
gentlemanly in his deportment and possessing great
executive ability."  When elected to this office, he
received every vote cast in the city of his residence,
and, when elected Governor, in 1863, received a
majority of 25,000 by far the largest ever accorded to
any candidate for that office.  The nation at this
time being engaged in civil war, Gov. LEWIS felt that
for the time political divisions should cease; that
all loyal men, forgetting party strifes, should rally
around our country's flag, and save it from dishonor;
that rebellion should be crushed by hearty cooperation
and earnest sacrifice, and that peace should be
restored..  Sincerely impressed with this belief, he
severed party ties and proclaimed: "He who is not a
faithful friend to the Government of his country in
this trying hour is no friend of mine," and spared
neither time, talent nor money in sending troops to
save the national capital.

Especially was his attention engaged in caring for the
needs of the sick.  He repeatedly visited camps and
hospitals, making long and careful tours, and finally
secured a special order from the Surgeon General of
the United States for the transfer of all the sick and
wounded soldiers from Wisconsin to hospitals within
their own State, a privilege never before granted.
Under his administration, hospitals were established,
a soldier's orphans' home was founded, and families of
soldiers provided for.  Through his influence
multitudes of suffering "boys in blue" were nursed
back into life, in hospitals blessed with comforts,
blessed by the prayers of mothers and wives at home;
the dying hours of brave men were soothed, and men who
had risked their lives for a great principle, and
bereaved families, were provided with homes.  The
marked but not forgotten graves of our slain heroes
dot the hillsides of the South; but, had it not been
for the noble work of Gov. LEWIS, hundreds who are
among the living today would live only in the
desolate, sorrowing hearts of those who loved them.
By personal efforts, he obtained credit from the
Government for soldiers furnished, and reduced the
quota of Wisconsin at one time from 19,032 to 15,311,
and was especially successful in securing the claims
of his State against the Government, amounting to all
to more than half a million dollars.  In 1864, by his
wise adjustment of affairs, the State tax was reduced
several hundred thousands of dollars; and, during his
entire administration, he did not use one dollar of
the Military Contingent Fund.  At his request, the
Legislature declined to vote the usual appropriation
of $5,000 as a general contingent fund of the use of
the Executive.  He worked for the good of his State,
and was economical, systematic and prompt in all his
departments of duty.  His large-heartedness and
sympathy went out to all; yet, in the administrating
of justice, he was inexorable.  As a man and public
officer, Gov. LEWIS possessed the unlimited confidence
of the people, and through his varied career has
maintained a name and character above suspicion or
reproach.  Figuring little in proclamations, orders
and telegraphic communications, he performed his
duties quietly and without ostentation; unselfish and
self-denying in all his actions, he labored for the
welfare of his State and nation.  Standing upon noble
principles, he felt that he needed no other platform;
the ends which he aimed at were his country's, God's
and truth's.  A marked feature in the character of
Gov. LEWIS, and one worthy of imitation, is his
generous benevolence.  Possessed of a liberal
competence, he devotes a large portion of his annual
income to the building and support of universities,
colleges, academics and educational interests, thus
exerting a silent but lasting influence for good by
developing the minds and morals of his country's
youth.  He has been a liberal contributor to churches
and benevolent enterprises of various kinds, and in
all that pertains to the welfare of his city, or the
good of his fellowmen, he is ready to lend a cheerful
support.  In 1864, Lawrence University conferred the
degree of LL. D., an honor which was justly bestowed
and has been worthily worn.  He recently received a
dispatch from Washington tendering him the office of
Commissioner of Internal Revenue; he, however,
declined the honor, owing to other duties which
require his constant attention.  Mr. LEWIS has been
several times offered similar offices, but he has
uniformly declined.

Page 972-973

WILLIAM L. LEWIS, Columbus; was born at Clarendon,
Orleans Co., N.Y., in 1815; he is the son of Shubeal
LEWIS and Eleanor ROBERTSON, who are mentioned in the
sketch given of his brother, Hon. James T. LEWIS.  Mr.
LWEIS received the greater part of his education in
the common schools of his native State.  In 1842, he
began merchandising at Bergen, Genesee Co., and after
continuing there two years he removed his business to
Clarendon, Orleans Co., and there continued the same
and also milling, for several years; disposing of his
interest at Clarendon, in 1853, he removed to Hawley,
Orleans Co., and was proprietor of the Hawley Mills
for three years; he, with his family, emigrated to
Wisconsin, in the spring of 1857, locating at
Columbus; he has since been engaged in farming,
lumbering and the grain trade.  He was employed as
clerk in the Secretary of State's office, in 1863,
with his brother, during his term of office, and by
Mr. FAIRCHILD, in 1864.  Returning to Columbus, in
1865, he has devoted his time to superintending his
farm of 312 acres in the town of Columbus.  He was
married in 1841, to Miss Eliza Ann MARTIN of
Clarendon, Orleans Co., N.Y.; their children are
Martin J., who now lives in Dakota; Adella, now the
wife of D. M. INMANN, and lives in Dakota; Anna E. now
Mrs. M. D. THOMPSON, of Vermillion, Dakota; Jennie,
deceased; Lillie, now at home with parents.  Mr.
LEWIS's family is connected with the Baptist Church.

Submitted by Carol