The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-09
STUDYING LAW AT SISETY.
Kansas Man Reading Blackstone in
His Old Age

His Old Age.
Thomas Lewis has the distinction OF
being the second oldest citizen OF Kan
sas City Although he viii be ninety
years old on the eth of next July. ne an
nounces. with not little degree Of pride.
that he still reads ana writes without
the aid of spectacles-
only a few months ago he retired from
active business pursuits. never before
having taken a vacation. and now he sits
among his books. but finds his greatest
pleasure in INDUCING in "reminiscences OF
the past when he was an intimate friend
Of Abraham Lincoln. ana when he was
struggling to win tor himself success in
the mercantile world.
There are few lines Of business in which
Thomas Lewis, at one time or another in
his life. has not engaged. Apprenticed in
his bOyhOod to the trade of a shoemaker.
he has been successfully the proprietor
OF a general store a manufactu rer law
yer. mill builder and real estate dealer.
He has founded a number OF corporations
and has been the financial genius Of bank
ing. railroad mining and publishing en-
terprises.
In the last seventy years of his life ne
has never INDUCED in the use OF either
liquor or tobacco. During sixty years ne
devoted every day an average of sixteen
hours Of the twenty-four to business or
reading.
Il am n uueaI descendant of Edward
Doty. who was a passenger on the May
flower when il landed at Plymouth in
November. 1870. said Mr.. Lewis Ny
grandmother, Anna DOty, was his great
granddaughter.
Il was born in Bernards township. SOM
~ Tr~Tr- Ffrla-
/ cast my first Presidential vote. for An
drew Jackson. in ISIS. when Jackson re-
ceiVed all the votes OF the township eX-
cept four that We're cast for J. @ Adams
/ have always been "A Jackson Democrat
1t was in Springfield. ILL.,. that Mr. Lew
is first made the acquaintance of Abra-
ham Lincoln. then a struggling young
lawyer The friendship arising between
the young merchant and the man les
tined to rise to the highest Office in the
gift of the American people was cOntin-
ued i'm bonds of the closest intimacy until
the tragic death of the President IL =
the proudest boast of Thomas Lewis that
he often champiOned the cause of Abra-
ham Lincoln when the latter was laying
| seige to the heart of Mary Todd.
Mary was Il good deal as other young
! girls have been before her and probably
/ always win be- said MIR. Lewis. while
a merry twinkle Ighted up his eyes.
/ she had an ideal, and Lincoln fell farth-
/ est short of it of any man in the world.
I but when she announced one day 10 nv
wife and me that she had determined.
! when she was little lass. that she woHld
! never marry unless she could marry
handsome man. but that il seemed to be
I her fate to marry the hOmiiest man in the
world We knew then that handsome
Mary Todd was to be LincOIn's wife
/ When he was in business in Spring
fa1A ATr I avx-ies ST. in az
EN- cities. travelling by stage to Pittsburg.
where he bought glassware. In Baiti-
more he bought sheetings. in Philadelphia
prints. and the finer goods in New York
AS a real estate dealer he has owned
( in New York. New Jersey. Illinois. Mich
I igan. Missouri. Kansas and Indiana over
10000 acres of land. and more than SOD
: city and town lots and he boasts that he
| never sold an acre or lot at less than
/ cost.
With two partners he at one time owned
/ the Springfield Daily Union Herald. Sub
sequentIy ne published the Cairo Daily
/ Democrat the Xolksblat for Cairo and
4 Springfield and ladies' monthly maya
zine.
As an administrator. executor or guar
dian he has settled nearly loo estates, and
{ says that never a complaint was made
4 regarding his methods.
The ambition Of this hale and hearty
! nOnageHariau is yet to realize the dream
/ of his life and become a lawyer He has
practiced law as an Office adviser. but
/ owing to an impeachment in his speech
which was not cured until he was thirty
five years of age, he was prevented from
undertaking work in the courts,
Il am not too old yet to become q law
yer" he declared. as his visitor was about
TO leave him. ''and 1 am thinking serious
ly of beginning the practice Of law. Why.
! 1 am a good deal younger than a good
/ many men half my age.