The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, May 13, 1909 W.E. LEWIS passed away at his home in this city at 9:55 o'clock Wednesday evening after months of suffering with Bright's disease. He was one of the pioneer residents of the county and few had a wider acquaintance than him. He was born in Burlington, Iowa on Sept. 18, 1846, son of WILLIAM LEWIS, who came to the State in 1836. The family came to Chariton in 1855, and in 1860 MR. LEWIS entered the grocery business and after the senior LEWIS' death the son succeeded to the business and has thus been engaged ever since. W.E. LEWIS and MISS MAGGIE REED were married in August, 1869, the wife and two sons, WILLIAM ROBERT and EDWIN EARL, surviving him. He was a man of strong personality and was ever loyal to his friends and the things he deemed right -- and selfishness not being in his nature. Many has he relieved in their distress his rule being to emulate that charity described as not permitting the left hand to know what the right hand did, therefore his giving was not for ostentation but for the lifting of the burthens of the oppressed and depressed. In politics he was a life-long democrat and wielded a broad influence in State politics, serving several terms on the State committee and was instrumental in the election of Hon. Horace Boles, Governor. He was postmaster in Chariton under the Cleveland administration and his ambition was to do things well. He always took an active part in local affairs, serving many years as member of the school board and on the town council. He despised "policy" methods and never practiced deception in any of the affairs of life. The funeral will be held on Sunday afternoon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, May 20, 1909 'OBITUARY -- W.E. LEWIS' WILLIAM EDWIN LEWIS was born in Burlington, Iowa, on Sept. 18th, 1846, and died in Chariton on May 12th, 1909, being 62 years, seven months and 25 days old. When but nine years old he came with his parents to Chariton, where he has lived continuously ever since. On July 4th, 1860, his father, WM. LEWIS bought one of the first grocery stores in Chariton and his son began work therein. Since then, with the exception of time spent in Commercial College at Burlington, and a few months as commercial salesman on the road, he has been continuously in the grocery business. On Sept. 5th, 1869, he was married to MAGGIE MABEL REED, daughter of Elder ROBT. REED, a pioneer preacher of the Christian Church. They went to housekeeping in two rooms on the same lot where their modern home is now located and where he passed away, having lived there 40 years. Four children came to bless this home, one boy dying in infancy, a little girl, MYRTLE, dying at the age of 3 years, WILLIAM ROBERT, (BERT), of this city, and EDWIN ERLE, of Cheyenne, Wyom., besides his wife and children, a sister, MRS. WM. P. BEEM, and a brother, FRANK A. LEWIS, of this city, survive him, all of whom save the brother were present at the bed-side when he passed away. The deceased was a man among men. One of the gentlemen of the old school where "his word was as good as his bond" and where benevolence was as wide as the sea. He has held numerous positions of honor and trust and was always a progressive citizen working continually for the betterment of the community and relief of the suffering. He was postmaster of Chariton during both terms of Pres. Cleveland, was a member of the City Council on several different occasions, belonged to and was president of the School Board at different periods and held many places of trust in political and business enterprises. He was a member of the K.P. and the I.O.O.F. Lodges at the time of his death. He was always an earnest political worker in the democratic party, holding every office of trust in the party, from township committeeman to member of the State Committee and was largely instrumental in the election of Governor Horace Bols and Lieut. Gov. Bestow, the only democratic executives in the history of Iowa. Funeral services were held at the family residence on Sunday, May 16th, at 2:30 p.m., conducted by Rev. C.E. Wells, Pastor of the Christian Church, also eulogistic remarks were offered by Hon. James A. Penick, a life long friend of MR. LEWIS befitting the life and benevolent character of the deceased. A very large attendance of sympathetic citizens and friends were present at the funeral. Interment took place in Chariton Cemetery. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert July 12, 2005 iggy29@rnetinc.net