Milford chronicle., 1909-05-28
Business Men of Frederick From
1910 to the Present Time.
LEWIS FAMILY.

year Of his age he married Mary George
bv whom he had six children, two oi
which died in childhood. Mr.. Lewis was
halter by trade and carried on the busi.
ness extensively in the building now oc'
cupied by Dr. ]. B. Derrickson as an Of
fee. He employed several men, one Of
whom was the late Benjamin D. Ander-
son, who afterwards conducted business
in Milford. One of his apprentices was
/ Moses Crouch, grandfather of w. W..
! Crouch, present editor of The Milton
Times. Mr.. Lewis was an active, energetic
and shrewd business man who prospered
financially He controlled the trade Of
the lower Peninsula and in his establish
ment we're manufactured nearly all the
silk eaver titles" worn by the gentry
Of FRI lea and the surrounding country.
He Aso a local preacher, of the Meth
odist rsuasion. and often filed the ap-
pointments of other ministers. His ser
mons were noted for their magnificent
scope and depth of thought, also for their
lack of brevity. He was large man and
well proportioned, his statue being more
than s.V feet and his avoirdupois more
than two hundred pounds. His children
that survived were two sons and two
daughters. Thomas Joseph was born in
1926; Mary, afterwards Mrs. James Tom
linson, was born in 1927 and died in 1865
Alexander, born in 1925; Anna, (Mrs.
Thomas D Burton) was born in 1870
Thomas j. and Alexander L. Lewis
adopted the mercantile business as their
life work. Some time in the early ffties
they opened a large stock of merchandise
in Milford, Delaware, remaining there
several years and doing an immense busi- |
ness. They were polite, affabIe young
men and soon won the confidence Of
their customers. Alexander, the younger
brother, was conceded one of the best |
salesmen of his day. About 1858 they |
sold out their business in Milford and |
went to ST. Louis, Missouri, and embarked |
in business there. They were quite sue
cessfu in their venture until the death of
the younger brother, which occurred in
New York City November lst, 1882, where
he had gone to lay in stock of goods.
His remains were brought to Frederica
and deposited in the family plot at Bar
rats Chapel. Thomas Joseph Lewis re-
mained in Missouri until his death July
DIST, 1892
Mrs. Anna George Burton, widow of
Thomas D. Burton, Esq, and two grand
Mrs. Reynolds and Mrs. John
B. Derrickson, are the only surviving
members of the Lewis family.
JAMES WOOTERs.
Another active energetic business man
of Frederick in his day was James WeOt-
srs. At what date he was born is not
Known probably about 1870 1t is sup
posed that he came to Frederick from
some time during the decade
# the thirties and spent the remainder Of
lis life as a citizen Of that place. He
married Cintlia Story, very worthy
woman Of the vicinity, who in her sphere
# life, as housekeeper was unexcelled
Unfortunately tor Mr.. Wooters he was
scarcely being able to write
lis name, but he possessed much native /
bility and many manly virtues.
He was an industrious hard working
nan, but seemed destined to remain
newer of wood" and a poor man, tinan- e
tally considered, but he was rich in the ?
njoyment of his home. His home was
uiet an6 tranquil, no jars or domestic ;
-ouble ever seemed to mar its felicity lit o.
-as like the house of Obededim, the Ark v
T the Covenent rested within. He pos le
sssed great reverence for his Creator and
luch respect for his fellow man, and was u
devout and sincere wOrshiper at the ol
.mily altar. As a business man for many pl
ears James WOoters contributed his III
rare to the growth and development Of OF
le town. He was a carpenter and builder al
: trade, and many of the houses in town u
sar the impress of his workmanship
e would buy lot, erect dwelling, oc. tn
Ipy it himself for awhile, sell out 70 gr
me one needing a home and then build In
lother, by which means he was instru ue
entail in building up the greater portion lu
South Market Street. Thus he sue. .io
eded in furnishing cheap and cOmforta- io'
e homes to others, very often with con- an
lerahle loss to himself His work was MS
nerally done by contract and was often Gel
led at too low a figure, partly because an
his inability to make q correct estimate toI
d partly because of his extreme CON inl
Indeed he might have c'o
en- described as holding the ladder for
lers to climb. UNI
)ne thing can be truthfully spoken Of hal
mes Wooters his table was always well mo
lplied with the comforts and many of wit
delicacies of life, and the man who slit
lid not eat at his table, was either not eve
Il or not hungry. Perhaps this accounts det
q great measure for his not accumulat- gar
bo oIr,-or.e fia.frrr or l