My Genealogy Hound

Capt. John G. Lewis, a planter, merchant and deputy postmaster of Marion, was born in Hardin County, Ky., in 1827, and is the son of Coleman and Winneford (Nail) Lewis, of Virginia and Kentucky origin, respectively. William Lewis, the grandfather of our subject, was a native Virginian, being an extensive and prosperous planter in Culpeper County. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, enlisting when he was seventeen or eighteen years of age, and for his faithful service he was promoted to the rank of major, retaining and carrying this title with him to the close of the great struggle for liberty. He raised a family of fourteen sons, and one or two daughters, all of whom lived to be grown. Some of the sons of this family went to Kentucky, settling close together, and others went to Indiana, and the rest to Alabama. Coleman Lewis attained his majority in Virginia, then moved to Kentucky, where he was married and lived for several years; coming to a place called West Point, he opened a hotel and in connection with this did a commission business. He and several of his brothers fought in the War of 1812. He died in this county in 1845, at the age of fifty years. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Lewis moved to Mississippi where she died. Six children were born to these parents, of whom three are still living, two older sisters and Capt. Lewis. After the death of his father, in 1850, Capt. John commenced life for himself by taking an overland route to California, his means of conveyance being a mule which he rode. He remained in this State four years, and by pluck made clear of expense $3,000, then returning to his Kentucky home by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans. After spending about three years in Kentucky he went to Arkansas in 1857, locating in Crittenden County, on the little river Tyronza, where he has since lived and reared his family. He joined the Confederate army just before the fall of Vicksburg, enlisting in Company E, First Arkansas Cavalry, Dobbins’ regiment. In the fall of the year of his enlistment he was promoted from the rank of sergeant to that of captain. He was in the battles of Helena, Ark., Big Creek, Phillips County, Nealy’s Ferry on St. Francis River, Cross County, one in Prairie County, also at Little Rock, and was with Price on his last raid through Missouri, Kansas and Indian Territory. After his eventful career in the army he returned home and resumed his former occupation. He was first married to Camilla Lansdale, she being born in Kentucky in 1831, and died in Arkansas in 1874. She was the mother of six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom three are still living: Charles L. (who is a merchant and postmaster at Marion), Louisiana (now the widow of C. J. Powell and lives with her father), Lena C. (who is unmarried and at home). Mr. Lewis was a second time married, his second wife being Mrs. Jennie (Young) Gatlin; she dying in 1887. Mr. Lewis and family are living in Marion, and his business is that of general merchandising. In religion Mr. Lewis is a firm Methodist, he belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church of his town. His son Charles is a worthy constituent of the K. of H., and is also secretary of that society. As a family they are held in high esteem by all who know them, and they are all imbued with that spirit of enterprise that makes them popular.