Biography of W. W. Lewis
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY
W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Page 1002
W. W. LEWIS, ex-Mayor, Jefferson. The father of our subject was George W. Lewis, who was born February 11, 1807, in the settlement of Brush Creek, Adams Co., Ohio. He was a son of Philip Lewis, a native of Virginia, from where he came to Adams County, Ohio, in an early day. In the fall of 1807, he, wife and one child, George, came to what is Madison County, and settled near the present site of London. His first residence was on the lot of Speasmaker's hardware store, where he kept tavern. He was among the first settlers in the town of London, where he died, leaving his second wife, who died about 1879. By his first marriage, he had five children, and by the second, one. George W. was the eldest of the family, and, from six months old, lived in London, Ohio. He acquired an education which was in accordance with the privileges and facilities of those early days. At an early age, he was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, which he completed in Xenia, Ohio. On October 7, 1830, he was married to Mary T. Melvin, who was born July 11, 1812, on what is known as the "Upper Glade," Madison Co., Ohio, four miles east of London. In the spring of 1831, they moved to New Hampton, the first efforts toward a town in the vicinity of Jefferson, which was laid out that fall, and, in the spring of 1832, they settled in the new town, Jefferson, on Lot No. 19 of the original plat, where he ever after lived, save two years spent on his father-in-law's farm. He was the first man to set up a forge in the new town. He was a fair mechanic, enjoyed a good patronage, and continued his trade until shortly before the late war, when he abandoned it to recruit the sight of his eyes. Subsequently, he was variously engaged, from 1861 to 1865, on a mail route from Jefferson to Springfield, Ohio. His death occurred August 28, 1878. He was always ready to assist in furthering the interest of the village, and died a worthy citizen. His widow survived him two years, having spent a life of fidelity to the Methodist Church. Of their seven children, three died in early life, and four are now living, and heads of families, viz., John M., born June 22, 1833; Virginia M., August 19, 1836; B. H., August 11, 1839; and Wallace W., March 12, 1843, in Jefferson, where he matured, and enjoyed the village schools. In the summer of 1862, he taught three months, but, soon after the close of the term, enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served throughout his enlisted term – three years – but was only in actual service until the battle of Guntown, Miss., where his right lower limb was injured, June 10, 1864, and amputated the following day, by a rebel Surgeon, as he was taken prisoner while lying wounded on the field. He served in the rebel prisons eleven months, returned home in May of 1865, and was mustered out on August 14 of the same year. He has been in the post office of London five years, and, since 1871, has been a permanent resident of his native town, in which he has been chosen to fill the office of Mayor and Town Clerk, each one term, and Township Clerk two terms. He was married, May 3, 1876, to Nannie L. Slothard, a native of Madison County. Two children are the fruits fo this union.
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