Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-08-29
WILLIAM j. LEWIS.
President OF the st Louis Mutual Life
Insurance Company.
From the St. Louis Evening Journal

From the St. Louis Evening Journal.
The prominence which has attached to the
affairs of the ST. Louis Mutual Life Insurance
| Company as Il result Of q hotly contested strug-
gle for the management of the institution has
also called public attention to the men who
| have figured in the contest Among these men
none have exerted greater influence than Mr.
| William j. Lewis, the newly elected President
of the company VIM. j. Lewis, youngest
child Of Thomas and Jedidah Lewis vas born
on the 9th Of October, 1925, in Buckingham
county, Virginia. His father died a short time
previous to his birth, leaving the widow but
poorly provided for in worldly goods but with
six children possessing qualities which proved
to her and them never failing mine OF wealth.
On the eldest, Benz. W., now another of our
honored citizens devoved the care and support
Of the little family. He was but eighteen
years of age. but with the wisdom and courage
ofa veteran he brought the family to what was
then the far west, Missouri, then and now
'land of promise" to the homeless and the
poor. They settled in Howard county. and
engaged in farming, their former occupation
Soon afterwards, MIR. B. W. Lewis commenced
the tobacco business in the town Of Glasgow, in
the same county, and the subject Of our sketch
entered upon the scene Of his active business la
bors as an employee of his brother on the magnli-
cent salary Of threedollarsa month and board ard
clothing. In those primitive times OF hog and
homlny and "buternut jeans it Is probable
that the cash about equaed the trade part
Of the transaction. He remained in the employ
of his brother and Capt. W. D. Swinncy till
lS49 when he came to St. Louis and estab-
lishcd the firm Of j. W. & w. J. Lewis in the
same line of business Subsequently, he became
the senior partner of the firms Lewis y
Brother and Lewis, Perry & Co., all Of
whom attained high reputation Tor products
which were sold throughout the entire North
west and South of our country and also III Eng
land, on the continent of Europe, and even in
Australia. The operations OF these firms yield
ed very gratifying returns, and established at
the same time reputation more valuable still
for fair dealing, euergy and liberaity.
Mr.. Lewis retired from the tobacco business
in 1866 and engaged in the commission line
with the well known and popular Captain JOS
S. Manson, under the firm Of Lewis Manson
4 Co., and did large business. In 1870. Mr.
Lewis withdrew from the firm aud commenced
the banking business in the firm Of BarthoIow,
Lewis & Co., under auspices which promised
success equalling those Of his other under
takipgs.
While attending most assiduously to his own
immediate business Mr.. Lewis has always been
ready and liberal promoter of enterprises, the
benefits Of which were largely shared by the pub
lic Many years since when the St.Lous Mutual
was struggling to maintain itself. Mir Lewis
lent a helping hand to sustain it. He took
stock in the company, and large policy, and
gave what was of still greater value, his scrvi,
ces as director. He has been large stock
holder in various steamboat interests. He was
president OF the ST. Louis and Memphis Packet
company for some years in the commencement
of that successful association He was for some
time president of the Atlantic and Mississippi
Steamship company. He inaugurated and car
ried into successful operation the furnaces be-
longing to the Lewis Iron Company" now in
full blast in the Carondeet district Of our city,
producing eighty tons Of pig iron per day OF
be president until the furnaces were sold to the
Missouri Iron Company" He is also presi-
dent Of the Commercial bank aud vice presi-
dent of the banking institution OF Bartholow.
Lewis & Go. On the first Of January, 1870,
he was elected by a majority. president Of the
Union Merchants Exchange Of St. Louis.
Under a very quiet exterior Mr.. Lewis car
ries great energy, system and foresight, which
have enabled him TO perform his many varied
and extensive operations with apparent ease
Few men of his years are more widely known
and none more favorabIy, for all the quail
ties which distinguish the honorable, intelll
gent merchant, the liberal citizen and the cour-
tcous gentleman, For more than twenty years
he has been a resident of this city, and during
that time has scarcely lost day from the cares
and duties Of business. Yet in the midst Of
incessant industry he has always had time to
listen to new projects for the development Of
the native wealth Of the State, or the improve
| Il, &
education and charity. To these be is a cheer
tul and liberal giyer.
Mr. Lewis is still in the prime Of life, as ac-
tive and energetic 10 tran,actng business as he
was twenty ago. He will iu all probability, Ger
tainly, if the wishes of his humorous friends be
fulfilled, live to enter upon the next century
and see St. Louis grown in popu!atlon
manufacturers and wealth Of all kinds to
rank second only to that of New York.