Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-04-02
Obituary OF Mr. Lewis

This community was shocked on last
Saturday evening by the announce
ment of the death of our honored and
esteemed citizen, Mr.. William Lewis,
who passed away after q very short
illness, only lasting about eighteen
hours. He was born in Wales, Janu'
airy 9, 1888; came TO America when he
was thirteen years of age;and died near
Gray, Iowa, March FL, 1898 He was a
patriotic citizen and good neighbour.
10 seemed to be pleasure to him to
accommodate others; was of very
social and cheerful disposition, very
modest, always keeping little in the
background and avoiding notoriety
de was man of wonderful force OF
character, honest and generous to a
fault both in work and deed, seldom
spoke of any persons failings, was
much more apt to speak OF their good
qualities, was friend TO every person
and every person seemed TO appreciate
his friendship. He was an exception
ally kind father and loving husband
Having espoused the cause OF christian
ity almost in infancy, he remained
faithful to the end, was an everyday
christian, showed it in his daily walk
and conversation and was often found
in secret prayer; once the day before
he died. He was universally liked /,
counting his friends by the number OF
persons with whom he was acquainted,
and the longer the acquaintance the
closer the friendship; he was, in fact,
very high type OF an American citi-
zen. He had a vast store of knowl-
edge on various subjects, having ac-
quired q large part OF itfrom reading
" The Register, he having been IL
constant reader OF The Register for
twenty-five years. Mr.. Lewis had many
thrilling escapes and experiences both
on land and sea. He made two trips
from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Cali
fornia in an early day, one In 1850
overland with oxen, being six months
on the way and having some narrow
escapes and much trouble with Indians
and Mormons, as at that timethe entire
country west Of the Missouri river just
swarmed with Indians and buffalo. In
a few years he acquired quite an in.
terest in mining property and return
ed by way Of Central America, Pana-
ma, South American ports, New York
and thence to Waukesha, Wisconsin,
and to the girl friend of his youth,
Miss Anna Evans, and they were mar
ried the Tenth day of May, 1858. To
them we're born eight children: Mrs
Charles Tucker, Dedham, Iowa; w.
M. r. Lewis, Gray, Iowa; Il. G. Lewis,
Goldfeld, Nevada; J. G.. Lewis, Man
ming, Iowa; Mrs. Sherman Hudson,
deceased; George Lewis, Reno, Neva-
DIS; Miss Libbie lewis, Gray, Iowa,
Miss Bertha Lewis. Arion, Iowa
After the death of his partner, in 1868,
he made his second trip to California,
going and coming by the way of New
York and Cape Horn. This trip was
made to settle the business OF the part
nership. In 1878 he moved to farm
near Templeton, Carroll county, Iowa,
and in 1891 located at the present
home. He lived here in a quiet and
unasuming way until March 81, 1908,
when he passed peacefully away.
The funeral took place on Tuesday,
March "a, 1908, at the M f. church,
in Gray, the services being conducted
| by the pastor, Rev. T.. l.. Golden, who
| preached from the BETTING text: The
steps OF good man are ordered by
the Lord. Psalms, 1928. The church
was beautifully decorated with ported
| plants and flowers. The large assem-.
| bly, OF friends attested the high esteem
in which he was held by all. The SER
vices were closed with the beautiful
hymn: Nearer My God to Thee, y
which was beautifully rendered by the
choir, and he was laid TO rest by the
side of his daughter in the Cameron
Center Cemetery. Messrs. William
Shaw, Nels Christensen, Frank MC
Laughlin, John Liken, Thomas Scot
and John Lovelace acted as the pal
bearers; and the following friends
from distance were honorary. pal
bearers, The Messrs. Thomas Evans
Tho u IS Davis, Allen Barber, Taylo
Guy, George Guy, Ben Edwards. ~