The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-24
one OF IOWA'S
ELDERLY WOMEN
Mrs. Katherine Lewis Celebrated 1o1
Birthday This Month at Middle
town, Des Moines
County.
QUIET, EARNEST LIFE
Born in New York, August 10th, 1909
and Came West in 1874 to
Spend Remainder Of Her
Days.
QUIET, EARNEST LIFE

Adrian Green, near Middletown, in
Des Moines county, occurred an event |
which is unique in Iowa if not in the |
northwest. A woman in fairly good /
health. bright and cheerful, and sit
ting in the company of friends and
neighbors, celebrated her 101st birth |
day anniversary last Tuesday. The
woman was Mrs. Katherine Lewis.
She has witnessed the growth of the
state from its primeval conditions to
its present advanced condition of life
and achievement. She is the mother
of nine children. Six of these chill
| dren still live, and are themselves
aged pioneers. For a number of
years Mrs. Lewis has lived with her
daughter,M Mrs. Adrian Green of Mid
! dletown. She is most interesting
person, being amiable, bright and full
of the appreciation of everyday affairs
Her life although long, and marked
by many interesting events, has been
a quiet and earnest one, full of good
deeds and self sacrifices. Her maid
en- name was Katherine Conrad, and
she was the fifth in family of twelve
h children. Only one besides herself
remains alive today. This one is her
Il youngest brother Oristis Conrad, of
Plainyille, Mich, who is now SO years
Of age.
Mrs. Lewis was born in Cortland
county, New York, August 16, 1909.
At the age OF 10 years she moved
with her parents to Hinsdale, in Catta-
ragus county, N. Y, known as the
Holland purchase. Nine years later,
young maiden, she was married to
Daniel K. Lewis and then began the
career of wife and mother which has
led to the present honored position
among loving group of relatives.
In 1874 Mr.. Lewis was attracted by
the possibilities of the new west, and
sold their household goods, except a
small portion which they wished to
take with them. they built raft
of logs, and on it cabin of modest,
yet comfortable appointments. On
this strange craft they began Their
journey into the unknown west Down
the Allegheny they floated, and rech-
ed Cincinnati in due time.
There the raft and log house were
sold and passage TO st. Louis taken
on an Ohio river steamboat. From
st. Louis they came to Burlington on
another steamer, having to transfer
their belongings by portage from Keo-
kuk to Montrose, Iowa. In short
time they reached Burlington, and Mr..
Lewis chose a tract of land between
Burlington and Middletown where he
settled down to the farming business.
Here they lived until 1875, when the
western spirit again took possession of
Mr. Lewis and they moved to Nebras-
. bra where Mr.. Lewis died, and few
years later Mrs. Lewis returned to
the old home to spend the remainder
i, of her days with her daughter. The
, family raised by Mrs. Lewis was re.
markable one. The six of nine chill
, dren who still survive are:
Miss Lois Lewis, Aged so, living
with Mrs. Green and her mother at
Middletown, Iowa.
John c. Lewis, aged "a, of Albion
Neb.
Oscar Lewis aged 10, of Arlington
!. Neb.
: osmer Lewis, aged 10, of Los Gates
Cal.
Mrs. Helen Gibson, aged GO, OF
Berkeley, Cal.
Mrs. Adrian Green, aged Sc, Of
. Middletown, Iowa.
e There were two sets of twins In
:. Mrs. Lewis family. Oscar and Os
!, mer and August and Augustus. Tit
two latter are dead and would have
Z been rs years of age had they lived
/ Mrs. Lewis life has been a re
markable one in some respects. Sht
has seen all but three of the presi
dents of this country. The sun hal
risen and set on her past life 1888.
times. She has eaten over Se,V0i
meals
/ At present she is in failing health
although bright and interesting. Sh'
has good memory, and recalls man,
| interesting happenings of her earl