Thomas A. Lewis

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: LEWIS, ROBINSON

THOMAS A. LEWIS, the subject of the following short biographical sketch, second son of Andrew and Elizabeth LEWIS, was born in the town of Franklin, Johnson county, Indiana, on the 25th day of June, 1839. In the spring of 1824 his parents removed from Kentucky, and settled in the above- named place, where they remained until the spring of 1856, when they removed here.

Three years previous to their removal here Mr. Lewis visited this place and purchased the N. E. one-quarter of Sec. 33, 19 R. 9 E., upon which he has ever since resided until within a few years, when admonished by the weight of accumulating years and the fast falling shadows of the evening twilight of a long and active career, devoted to the honorable but laborious duties of an agricultural life, he left the old homestead around which linger so many hallowed and pleasant memories of the past, to enjoy with his aged partner and helpmeet, amidst the scenes of a more quiet and retired life the honest but hard-earned fruits accumulated by their joint efforts, through many years of patient toil.

Mr. Lewis, with his estimable lady, is now a resident of this city. And although his head is silvered over with the frosts of many winters, and has almost reached the limit of years allotted to mortals here below, having nearly attained his fourscore years, yet his mental faculties are almost as bright, his step as buoyant and elastic, and eye as keen, as a man in the prime of life. Verily, "Old Time" has dealt tenderly with the aged patriarch.

There were nine children born to Andrew and Elizabeth Lewis, of which four are now living. Willis F., the eldest son, at the breaking out of the late rebellion, joined the 20th Regt Ill. Vol., and fell fighting for the Union in the memorable siege of Fort Donelson. The subject of our sketch and whose portrait appears at the head of this article, was reared upon the farm and remained upon the old homestead until the spring of 1861, when the bugle blast of war summoned him from following the plow, as it did thousands of others, to go forth and do battle for his country. He obeyed the call, and enlisted for three years in the 2d Ill. Cavalry, on the 6th day of July, 1861, just three hours after he heard the news of the disastrous defeat of the Union forces at the first battle of Bull Run. The 2d Ill. Cavalry was attached for the greater part of the time to the army of the Mississippi, and was under the immediate control of Gen. Grant, and remained so until after the fall of Vicksburg, when the 2d was sent to New Orleans, and joined the army in the Department of the Gulf, under the command of Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks. On the 8th of April, 1864, the Federal forces under the command of Lee met the vastly superior force of rebels under the command of Gens. Green and Taylor, near Mansfield or Sabine Cross Roads, and after a short but desperate fight the Federal troops were forced to retire, being overpowered by the force of numbers. The 2d Ill. Cavalry participated in this engagement. It was in this battle that the subject of this sketch received a severe wound in the ankle-joint of the right foot. The wound was of such a character that amputation was necessary to save the life of Mr. Lewis. The loss of the limb compelled his retirement from the army, after having participated in fourteen regular battles and numerous engagements and skirmishes, and being in active service for the space of two years and eight months, and two months in the hospital before being discharged, which made nearly three years of hard service, such as is only known to a soldier in the defense of his country and maintenance of the Union.

After the war, he being incapacitated for active labor by reason of the loss of his limb and still suffering from further amputation before the limb became entirely healthy, he found it necessary to fit himself for such duties in life as he, by reason of his honorable wounds, would be forced to follow. He therefore entered the Normal School at Bloomington, Illinois, and also, took a course in the Commercial College of Chicago. About two years later he entered the grocery and provision trade, and continued in that business for four years. On the 27th day of October, 1870, he married a Miss ROBINSON, of Ventura City, California. The marriage ceremony was performed at Council Bluffs, Iowa. In June, 1871, he removed to Sumner county, Kansas, and engaged in business, but not finding the climate congenial nor the business profitable, he sold out and returned to this county in October, 1872. One year later he offered himself as a candidate for the responsible position of county treasurer, and the people remembering his patriotic record, elected him triumphantly. In 1875 he was again nominated and elected. And still again in 1877, he was the unanimous choice of the Republican party and was elected for the third time by an increased majority, and at the present time occupies the position of county treasurer, and discharges the duties of that office to the entire satisfaction of the people of this county. In his early life Mr. Lewis enjoyed such advantages for securing an education as the country schools of Indiana and Illinois afforded. Later in life, as before stated, he received the benefits of increased educational facilities. Endowed by nature with a sound practical mind, aided by later educational advantages, he has qualified himself to discharge with credit all the important trusts committed to him by a generous people.

In summing up the life and character of Mr. Lewis there remains but little to say. He is perhaps the best known man in the county. The people have time and again signified their appreciation of his worth by repeatedly electing him to the responsible office he now holds and so acceptably fills, which fact sufficiently attests his popularity and qualification. In deportment Mr. Lewis is a courteous and affable gentleman, which, united with honest and industrious habits, and a noble and patriotic career as a soldier, has secured him the respect and confidence of the people of this county. Honest, prompt and upright in the management and disbursements of the county's finance, he has won for himself a reputation for fairness and integrity which will be a proud heritage to leave to his posterity.