Wilson J. Lewis was the son of Claibourn Lewis and Margaret P. [--?--]. His wife, Elizabeht Rebecca Blakemore made a claim to the Southern Claims Commission in 1873. She gave his death date as April 16, 1864 when he went near Duvalls Bluff to settle his sister's estate. It is surmised that he was murdered by rebel bushwhackers. Publication Number: M1407 Publication Title: Southern Claims Commission State: Arkansas County: Scott Claimant: Elizabeth B. Lewis Claim Number: 22162 Claim Date: 25 May 1873 Page: 41 & 42 Collection Title: Southern Claims Commission Claim of Elizabeth B. Lewis of Blackjack, Scott, Arkansas is signed by Powhatten P. Lewis L. S. Justice of the peace in and for the county and Ark afore ???? Names and residences of witnesses to prove loyalty: Benjamin F. Hanes Scott Co., Arkansas Henry Ross " E. T. Walker " John Adkins " James Lewis " Witnesses to prove other facts: Talbert W. Lewis Scott Co., Arkansas C. R. M. Lewis " Stephen Graves " >From Elizabeth B. Lewis's deposition: " . . . I resided on my farm from the 1st of April 1861 until some time in February 1864 when I moved to Washington County Arkansas - where I resided until some 3 years after the close of the war - when I returned to my farm again. My farm consisted of 120 acres of lands from 16 to 20 acres under cultivation and situated in Scott County and about 15 miles West of Waldron the county seat of Scott county - during the time we resided on our arm our occupation was farming. and while I resided in Washington county I was engaged in farming my husband went away from home in January 1864 to settle up the estate of his sister who was living about one days ride from Duvalls Bluff and some time in April 1864 he died. . . . . . . 40 At the beginning of the rebellion myself and husband sympathized with the union cause and was opposed to secession and the rebellion - our feelings and language on the subject were in favor of the Union. We ?????? our influence and my husband cast his vote in favor of the Union and after the state was declared out of the Union we still adhered to the Union cause and was apposed to ????????? and the ???????? from the beginning to the end there of 41 Yes in full - and my husband the same 42 I am a widow my husband died in April 1864. He never was in the confederate army - nor the civil service of the confederacy he was loyal to the U.S. government thro the time of his death through the war - he left 6 children - four of whom are now living - named as follows Talbert Walker Lewis aged 23 years - C.B. R. Lewis 21 - Georgia Ann age 14 - and Margaret Ellen Lewis age 10 Years - They have no direct interest in this claim the property charged for in this claim belonged to myself and husband and at his death I became the owner of the same. I have all the children to take care of and support since the death of my husband after the close of the war there was nothing left but the land of my husbands estate to administer upon consequently there was no administration. My children will receive the benefit of this claim at my death should anything be allowed. Myself and my husband were both born and raised in the U.S. Neither myself or husband during his life time ever passed through bankruptcy. . ." Another's deposition: "By your abstract from the confederate archives ??? ???? ???? which show that their was a Willson J. Lewis in the confederate Quarter masters employ at Fort Smith ????? during the rebellion. I have made dilligent enquiry of and find that it was another man entire distinct individaul the Willson J. Lewis that was in the confederate emply died here before the federals came to this post. as I am relliably and credibly informed by those that knew him. The Willson J. Lewis that was the former husband of our claimant - Elizabeth B. Lewis was a strong unionist . Was not about the post of Fort Smith Arkansas at no time during the war but was at and about Little Rock and Pine Bluff Arks He had nothing to do with confederate imployment. And before and at the time of his disappearance cooperating with the Federal army it is supposed that he was captured by the rebel bushwhackers murdered and thrown into the Arkansas river near Pin bluff as there is where he was last herd of. He is dead without doubt and he has never been sean or herd of since. his family father & mother all lived in Scott Co. Ark. ???? nothing has ever been herd of him up to this time since 186? The property sued for is property produced by his widow and little sons. After the father went to Pine Bluff the rebels robbed Lewis of his mules horses & cattle before he went from his home he left his home to keep from being killed by the rebels of his neighborhood. This family is very loyal all North Methodists good people the boys red that republicans mother and all the mother still a widow. This claim had ought to be paid and I ???? it will. use this as you think these statements I make for the truth as I am informed and believe to be true." Signature is unreadable This claim was disallowed. They said their loyalty was not proved. Family of Wilson J. Lewis: 1 Wilson J. LEWIS b: Abt. 1831 in , , Tennessee, USA d: April 16, 1864 ..+Elizabeth Rebecca BLAKEMORE b: May 1830 in , , Tennessee, USA m: Abt. 1849 in , , Arkansas, USA d: March 6, 1901 in , Scott County, Arkansas, USA Burial: Pleasant Grove N0 2 Cemetery, Abbott, Scott County, Arkansas, USA ...2 Talbert Walker LEWIS b: September 1850 in , Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: December 30, 1937 in , Scott County, Arkansas, USA .......+Nannie [--?--] b: Abt. 1855 in , , Arkansas, USA m: Abt. 1875d: Bet. 1879 - 1886 ...*2nd Wife of Talbert Walker LEWIS: .......+Mary William WELLS b: June 1869 in , , Texas, USA m: August 11, 1886 in , Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: Aft. 1930 ...2 Clabourn M. LEWIS b: November 1852 in Tomlinson (now Lewis), Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: Bet. 1920 - 1930 in probably , Le Flore County, Oklahoma, USA .......+Emily M. [--?--]b: April 1859 in , , Arkansas, USA m: Abt. 1880 in , Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: Bet. 1920 - 1930 in probably , Le Flore County, Oklahoma, USA ...2 Wilson LEWIS b: Abt. 1854 in Tumlinson, Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: in died young ...2 Mary LEWIS b: Abt. 1858 in Tumlinson, Scott County, Arkansas, USA d: Bef. May 1873 ...2 Georgia Ann LEWIS b: February 27, 1859 in , , Arkansas, USA d: May 4, 1887 .......+James Lycergus YOWELL b: Abt. 1855 in , , Illinois, USA d: 1928 Father: Meredith Helm Yowell Mother: Martha Ann Scott ...2 Margaret Ellen LEWIS b: June 1863 in , , Arkansas, USA d: Bet. 1900 - 1907 .......+William J. DAVIS b: December 13, 1856 in , Heard County, Georgia, USA m: September 1886 in , , Arkansas, USA d: September 19, 1930 ...2 Wilson LEWIS b: Abt. 1867 in , , Arkansas, USA d: Bet. 1870 - 1873 -- Susan Kimes Burgess Fremont, CA suekbee@comcast.net http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=burgess_kimes&I11.x=34&I11.y=2 http://picasaweb.google.com/suekbee