The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-12-02
Many Neighbors and Friends
Wend Their Way, a Toll to
the Relentless Reaper.
[Daily standard, November 20. ]

affection of the heart-a difficulty In
breatlng. He did not retire as usual
but sat through the night in an easy
chair, with his wife resting on a couch
by his side. At the usual hour she
arose to prepare their breakfast. Greet
ing her with a kiss, he said to Mrs.
Lewis he was better. She had turned
to roll back the couch, when she heard
him gasp and the end came like flash.
Her agonizing cries brought the neigh
bors, but human aid was not needed.
He breathed his last at 6:45.
Ford Lewis was one of the best
known residents of Celina. He came
here in 1887 and opened a photograph
gallery. Previous to that time he had
engaged in the business elsewhere,
coming from Nevada, o. Before chos-
ing that profession Mr.. Lewis had been
successful teacher. He taught for
six years in Van Vert County, and in
Wyandot County he was superintend-
ent of schools at Wharton and Nevada.
He was born in Clermont County,
Ohio, October 20, 1S4S. He was a son
OF James 8. and Nancy Lewis, and was
one Of IL children. Attending the
schools in his home vicinity, he later
took a course in the Normal University
at Lebanon. He graduated from Ada
in 1876, and again spent another year
there in 1884.
Mr.. Lewis was successful throughout
his business career in Celina. Follow
ing the big fire in 1894, in which he
was a loser with many citizens, he
erected for his gallery the brick build
ing on East Market street, where he
continued to do business, excepting a
brief interval Of time, until he retired
permanently from the business this
present fall. His work had been
crowned with success. He was recog-
nized as one Of the leading artists in
this part of Ohio, and was twice elect
ed President of the Photographers
Association.
The present year, feeling that he and
his wife had we'll earned respite from
their unceasing work, he disposed of
his business and with his wife was
planning a winter in Texas and Mexi-
co, where he had extensive land inter
ests. He had earned his holiday, but
the rest he so happily anticipated came
in a different form from that which
they had planned.
Associated always with him in his
business life was his faithful, devoted
wife, Possibly no other couple in Ce-
lima lived in closer sympathy with
each others aims than Mr.. and Mrs.
Lewis. They were deVotedly attached
to one another. They had no family,
but their love for each other did not
make them selfish. Rather it over
flowed to include all those about them,
and in the neighborhood of their home
they were the center of the warm atfec-
tions of all those who lived about
them.
When Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis came to
Celina in 1887 they we're welcome ad-
ditions to the town and speedily be-
came identified with its religious and
social life. Both we're highly tntellec-
tual, and Mr.. Lewis was a fluent, eff
cient writer, and possibly one of his
dreams of leisure was that time might
be given to his favorite literary pur-
suits.
Fraternally, Mr.. Lewis was knight
of Pythias and a member of the Royal
Arcanum. To the wife who survives
him, Alice Clippinger Lewis, Mr.. Lew
is was happily married March IA, 1873,
in Van Vert, and it is to her in her
hour of earthly separation from him
she held so dear that the sympathy of
all Celina is extended in unbounded
measure.