The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-25

came TO Scranton and embarked in
the general mercantile business i'm that
portion of the city commonly known
as Providence. Soon, however, selling
out, he started a hardware business in
the same vicinity and for two years
was a member of the firm of Lewis &
Fish, after which he continued alone
for Ave years. The venture proved un-
fortunate financially.
Starting out again without capital,
Mr.. Lewis began as a fire insurance
agent and conveyances in Providence.
and built IN a large business, contn-
uing until 1866. In 1879 Governor Hart
ranft appointed him paymaster of the
Ninth regiment, National Guard of
Pennsylvania. on separation Of the
county from Luzerne, he was elect
ed associate Judge, and with Judges
Hand, Handley and Associate Mof-
fit, held court In Washington
hall, on Lackawanna, for five
years, when, under the provisions Of
the new constitution. the office was
abolished. In the fall of 1885, after a
most hotly contested fight, he was
nominated on the Republican ticket
for county sheriff and was elected by
a majority of nearly one thousand,
Notwithstanding the fact that his pred
ecessor, Randolph Crippcn, Democrat
had been elected by a majority Of
seventeen hundred, while his success
sor, Charles Robinson, Democrat, wac
elected by more than two thousand
majority In January, 1856, he took
the oath of office and served for three
years, retiring with a record for otii-
cheney second to no similar officer in
the commonwealth. In 1889, after the
failure of the Scranton City bank,
Judge Lewis, representing the deposit
ors, and DR.. Throop, representing the
stockholders. were appointed trustees
of the properties, then known as the
"Jessup lcsses," and it was largely
through the able management of Judge
Lewis in disposnE of the properties,
that a speedy payment of the claims
| Of the depositors Of the bank was made
possible. On Oct. ], 1890, Judge Lewis
! accepted the position of general mana
| ger of the New York, Susquehanna and
| Western Coal company. The company
| takes the output of eighteen COllieries,
which in 1898, amounted to one and
| ne-half million tons. the capacity be-
ing two and one-half million tons per
annum. Besides being general mana
| ger he Is a director of the company.
| He is one of the inCorporators and
has been chosen president of the Sus-
| quchanna Connecting Railroad COM
pany, which was chartered in 1896. with
a capital of 100000, for the construc-
ton and operation of a railroad from
a point on the WilkesBarre and Eas-
ton railroad, eleven miles easterly
from Wilkes Barre and extending
through the counties or Luzerne and
Lackawanna to a point in the borough
Of Winton. He is a director of the
Dime Deposit and Discount bank, and
is largely interested in many indus
tries in and about Scranton. He owns
a substantial home on Edna avenue,
commanding one of the most extensive
and finest views obtainable in the
city He aided in the organization OF
the North End board of trade and was
its president for several years, but
finally declined further reelection. His
first vote was cast for Abraham Lin
coin in 1864, and since that time he
has taken an active and prominent
part, as a Republican. in politics; serv
ing at various times on the county and
: state committees. He is possessed o'
an extensive store of general knowl
edge and is the owner of valuable
p library, ranking high among the activ'
men OF the day