The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-29

one OF the professors The project was,
however, abandoned.
Major Lewis remained in Memphis only
four years Moved by yearnings for his
native State and the companionship OF
old friends, as well as by the conviction
that his health would become stronger,
he returned to Raleigh in 1860, to the
home which he had built twenty years
before. Clients soon found their way
to his Office as Of yore,
For many years he enjoyed a happy
and a prosperous life. Then severe
chronic rheumatism rendered him inca
pablde Of active labor During his active
period the General Assembly elected
him him trustee Of the University, his
Alma Mater, and he was chosen by the
board Of trustees one Of the Executive
Committee He was likewise placed on
the examining committee in 1890 and
spent several days at Chapel Hill, in a
careful investigation Of the working Of
! the institution.
! The board, as well as the faculty, ex-
pressed their qualification at the thor
! oughness and efficiency Of the work of
/ him and his colleagues, Rev. Calvin II.
| Wiley, y. D., and Captain James A.
! Graham.
| The cause OF education was dear to his
heart, and during the fourteen years Of
/ his service for the University, and pc
! riod of service as trustee Of Wake Forest
/ College, no man gave to, these institutions
| n more intelligent and constant superyis-
! ion. And no one was more gratifed at
/ their ever increasing success.
! Maj. Lewis was for 80 years an active
| member Of the Baptist church, having
/ been baptized in Tar river at Louisburg,
| when a school boy, in 1888. On his re-
| moval to Raleigh he transferred his mem
/ bership to its congregation Of the same
| faith, and was one of the liberal men
! who substituted for the plain structure
| on Wilmington street, the very handsome
| First Baptist church on Salisbury street.
| He also, in conjunction with others, an
| ticipated the noble project Of establishing
| a great seminary for girls at which the
| highest education can be obtained, now
| known as the Baptist Female University.
With this view, they entered into nego-
| tiatiOns for the purchase Of the cOnspic-
| uous sight on which now stand the Ag-
| ricultural Department and the Supreme
/ Court buildings, but the project was
/ crushed by the disastrous civil war.
| When in Memphis he served as deacon
/ in the Central Baptist church, and was
| for two years superintendent of its Sun
/ day School. To the utmost Of his means
at all times he supported the
| cause OF missions and all other
| charities undertaken by the congrega-
| ton OF which he was a member.
Nor was his generosity confined to
| those of his own faith, but extended as
/ e. ha obi IN all no fv no
/ came under his notice.
Mai. Lewis, in January, 184S, married
1 Sarah Matilda, youngest daughter Of Dr.
| J. Churchhfll Gorham, Of Greenville, N.C.,
a most estimable lady, who survives him.
/ To them were born eleven children, Of
| whom six boys and three girls reached
| the age Of maturity, the others having
| died in infancy Seldom have husbands
/ and wives enjoyed more invariable har-
/ mony than these, seldom have mutual
/ trust and never-failing love been more
1 conspicuous than was found in the home
/ Of this congenial pair.
| At the home of his son-in-law, Edmund
1 Jones, ~ the town Of LenOir, on the
10th day OF September, 1896, the end
| came
Calmly and at peace with all the world,
| in full Christian faith, he fell on sleep
| and by loving hands his body was laid
| in the beautiful Oakwood cemetery Of the
city OF Raleigh.
/ Major Lewis was the last survivor
| OF the lawyers attending the Franklin
| bar when he was admitted He was prob
| ably the last survivor of those in political
/ life who were his associates or competi-
| tors.
Rev. Or. Thomas e. Skinner and a
| few others are all who are left Of that
| jealous band who had the courage to
project and carry to successful issue the
building OF the first OF the great Baptist
| churches Of Raleigh. Feeble health for
| several years before his death kept him
| secluded from the public eye. A younger
| generation, who did not know him in the
days of his strength, are now prominent
| in the walks Of the professions, and in the
marts Of trade.
We Of the older generation, who COM
panied with him in his prime, love to
| dwell on his kindly courtesy, his CHEEKY
laugh, his broad-minded views, his open
purse, his ability in attack and defense
| in the court house, his eloquent speeches
on the hastings and at the bar, his pleas
ant relations with his associates, his fair
ness to opponents, his loyalty to his
| church, yet freedom from bigotry, his
tender love Of his family and friendly
| communion with his neighbors. The
memory Of such men shall never die.
KEMP p. BATTLE.