Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-12-14
HON. VIRGIL A. LEWIS
IS CALLED AWAY
The State Historian and Archivist
Passes Away, After a Long III
ness At Mason City.

Hon. Virgil A. Lewis, the State his
torian and archiyist, and former SUI
perintendent of schools, who has been
dangerously i'll. at his home at Mason
City for the past sixteen weeks, pass
ed away Thursday night at S.55
o'clock, surrounded by the members
Of his family. Mr.. Lewis had been I'M
conscious for many hours, and the
end came painlessly. At no time dur
ing his illness was there the least
hope Of his recovery, the attending
physicians uniting In the opinion that
the only termination would be death.
An affection of the heart was the dis
ease that ended in the sad termina-
ton.
At the bedside were the sorrowing
wife, three daughters, Misses Anna,
Lucy and Virginia, and a son, Alfred,
together with a sister, Mrs. Joseph
Window, of Mason county. The Misses
Anna and Lucy Lewis are school
teachers at M~oundsyille, while Miss
Virginia and Alfred are high school
students at Pomeroy.
Although Mr.. Lewis death had been
anticipated, the news of his demise
has been received with sorrow
throughout the State.
The funeral arrangements have not
been completed, but it is stated that
the obsequies will be held at Point
Pleasant Sunday afternoon, and that
the interment will be in the Point
Pleasant burial ground, where the an
cestors of Mr.. Lewis, who were among
the pioneers of Western Virginia, resN
1t Is probable that a number of the
members of the State administration
and many prominent citizens from all
sections of the State will be in at
tendance.
Career of Virgil A. Lewis.
Virgil Arson Lewis, one of West
Virginia distinguished men of letters
and State archivist and historian, was
born near West Columbia, Mason
county, w Va, July 6, 1S4S, and a
son Of George w. and Lucy ed
wards) Lewis.
Literally educated, Mr.. Lewis re-
/. ceived his A. NJ. degree in 1893 from
the West Virginia University, earlier
in life having prepared for the prac-
tice of the profession of law, being
admitted to the bar in 1879, His tast-
es. however, led him into the wide
field of literature and for many years
his name has been a familiar and
honored one in the educational and
journalistic circles.
In boyhood he worked in a printing
office and his ambition to own a paper
of his own was partially satisfied
when he became financially interested
in the West Virginia Monitor. In 1892
he founded the Southern Historical
Magazine, at Charleston, and from
1893-97 was the editor and publisher
of the West Virginia School Journal,
and during the same period was
State superintendent of schools, hav-
ing been elected as a Democrat. Mr..
Lewis had been honored by his State
on many occasions, his learning and
scholarship and his high standing as
a man and citizen receiving generous
recognition.
In 1892 he was sent as a delegate to
the Southern States Industrial Con-
gress, held at Asheville, N. C.; was a
member of the State Board of Public
Works in West Virginia from 1898 to
1897, and a member and secretary of
the West Virginia Commission to the
jamestown Exposition in 1907. He is
a member of the Southern Education
al Association; the National Geograph
zeal Society; the Mississippi Valley
Historical Society; the Ohio Valley
Historical Society; the National Geo
graphical Society; the American Poll
teal Science Association, and other
historical and educational organiza-
tons.
Recognizing the value of books as
educational tools, Mr. Lewis devoted
a part of his time to writing of vol
umes which are accurate, historical
annals and they find a place not only
in every complete library, but with
the records of historical societies ev-
e~rywhere. In 1889 he issued a history
of West Virginia; in 1891, the Life
and Times of Ann Bailey" the pion-
eer heroine of the Great Kanawha
valley; in 1896, a graded course of
study of the country and village
schools; in 1903, the story of the Lou
isiana Purchase; in 1904, EARLY Edu-
Gators of West Virginia." in 1901,
Civil Government of West Virginia"
in 1909, History of the Battle of
Point Pleasant" and other works.
This does not include a vast collec-
ton of valuable reports containing &C
curate data on historical matters per-
tanning to the United States and in
particular to West Virginia. In 1905
Mr.. Lewis was made State historian
and archivist, a position he held until
his death.
On October 81, 1886, Mr.. Lewis was
married to Miss Elizabeth Stone. He
was interested in the leading frater-
nal bodies, being a Mason, a Knight
Templar and member of the Lodge