Dear Listers! I have just received a newspaper article from the Fort Dodge Messenger (Iowa) dated Jan. 31, 1908 reading as follows: ~~~~~ «Benjamin J. Lewis, of the «Montana» Company Formerly lived here and Asked News of His Father Benjamin J. Lewis, a member of the «Montana» company which played at the Midland theater Thursday evening, is a former Fort Dodger, having lived here with his parents about 25 years ago when his father was a grain buyer and well known here. The young man, who plays the part of Cheyenne Harry, sought news of his father while he was here, as he has heard nothing of him for many years, but his search was unrewarded. 25 years ago «Ole Lewis» was well known in this territory as a grain buyer and at that time and previous got that, he was a man of considerable means. The family moved from here to Wisconsin and when the boy was 8 years old, his ;parents were divorced and the father supposedly went to Oklahoma. 10 years ago the mother died and her son was left alone in the world. Gradually he drifted into acting mainly for the reason that the business would take him over considerable territory and might help him find his surviving parent. Fort Dodge was considered by him, to be a good place to make inquiries, but they were of no avail except to rouse memories of the missing man in the minds of some Fort Dodge men» ~~~~~ Let me add that Jesse Benjamin Lewis was born in Webster Co., IA Nov. 2, 1882. He was confirmed at First Lutheran church in Stoughton, WI in 1897. His mother died in Stoughton, WI Sep. 27, 1898, and Benjamin disappears! However, we know he was in Waco, TX in February of 1909 when he inserted an advertisement in the newspaper of Guthrie, OK looking for his father. Ole moved from Fort Dodge, IA to Guthrie, OK in 1889, but was never heard from again after 1891 when he was at Austin, TX… Maybe, if the «Montana» Company can be found, it may lead us to Benjamin Lewis? Thanks a million in advance for any suggestions! Very sincerely yours, Lars E. Oyane

Dear Listers! A little more «digging» on my own has given these results for Benjamin Lewis: * 1910 census shows him as the manager of a travelling troup residing at Monte Vista in Rio Grande Co., CO with wife F. Victoria, an actress born in NY to Swedish father about 1889. They had been married three years, but had no children. * Benjamin Lewis (25) and Virginia Anderson (18) were married in Chicago, IL Dec. 16, 1907 * The Fairmount cemetery in Denver, CO shows burial dates for: Benjamin J. Lewis - born 1881 - buried June 23. 1914 Virginia A. Lewis - born 1889 - buried Oct. 28, 1912 Could very well be them?? Victims of TB? I wonder if they left any children behind?? Maybe OBITUARIES can be found? Thanks again for your wonderful assistance in this matter! Very sincerely yours, Lars E. Oyane ~~~~~~~~~~~~ > On May 19, 2018, at 5:32 PM, Lars E. Oyane <lars.e.oyane@sdsl.no> wrote: > > Dear Listers! > > I have just received a newspaper article from the Fort Dodge Messenger (Iowa) dated Jan. 31, 1908 reading as follows: > > ~~~~~ > > «Benjamin J. Lewis, of the «Montana» Company Formerly lived here and Asked News of His Father > > Benjamin J. Lewis, a member of the «Montana» company which played at the Midland theater Thursday evening, is a former Fort Dodger, having lived here with his parents about 25 years ago when his father was a grain buyer and well known here. The young man, who plays the part of Cheyenne Harry, sought news of his father while he was here, as he has heard nothing of him for many years, but his search was unrewarded. > > 25 years ago «Ole Lewis» was well known in this territory as a grain buyer and at that time and previous got that, he was a man of considerable means. The family moved from here to Wisconsin and when the boy was 8 years old, his ;parents were divorced and the father supposedly went to Oklahoma. > > 10 years ago the mother died and her son was left alone in the world. Gradually he drifted into acting mainly for the reason that the business would take him over considerable territory and might help him find his surviving parent. Fort Dodge was considered by him, to be a good place to make inquiries, but they were of no avail except to rouse memories of the missing man in the minds of some Fort Dodge men» > > ~~~~~ > > Let me add that Jesse Benjamin Lewis was born in Webster Co., IA Nov. 2, 1882. He was confirmed at First Lutheran church in Stoughton, WI in 1897. His mother died in Stoughton, WI Sep. 27, 1898, and Benjamin disappears! However, we know he was in Waco, TX in February of 1909 when he inserted an advertisement in the newspaper of Guthrie, OK looking for his father. Ole moved from Fort Dodge, IA to Guthrie, OK in 1889, but was never heard from again after 1891 when he was at Austin, TX… > > Maybe, if the «Montana» Company can be found, it may lead us to Benjamin Lewis? > > Thanks a million in advance for any suggestions! > > Very sincerely yours, > > Lars E. Oyane > >

2 listings in same paper - Denver Post, Denver, CO @ genealogybank.com 1914 Jun 21, pg 24 LEWIS - The funeral services of Benjamin J Lewis will be held Tuesday, June 23, at 10 am. Burial in the home plot at Fairmount cemetery. LEWIS - Funeral services of the late Banjamin J Lewis will be held Tuesday at 10 am, from Walley & Rollins chapter under auspices of T.M.A. -----Original Message----- From: Lars E. Oyane <lars.e.oyane@sdsl.no> To: norway <norway@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sat, May 19, 2018 5:03 pm Subject: [NOR] Re: Montana Company theatre group from the early 1900's - has anyone heard of that? Dear Listers! A little more «digging» on my own has given these results for Benjamin Lewis: * 1910 census shows him as the manager of a travelling troup residing at Monte Vista in Rio Grande Co., CO with wife F. Victoria, an actress born in NY to Swedish father about 1889. They had been married three years, but had no children. * Benjamin Lewis (25) and Virginia Anderson (18) were married in Chicago, IL Dec. 16, 1907 * The Fairmount cemetery in Denver, CO shows burial dates for: Benjamin J. Lewis - born 1881 - buried June 23. 1914 Virginia A. Lewis - born 1889 - buried Oct. 28, 1912 Could very well be them?? Victims of TB? I wonder if they left any children behind?? Maybe OBITUARIES can be found? Thanks again for your wonderful assistance in this matter! Very sincerely yours, Lars E. Oyane ~~~~~~~~~~~~ > On May 19, 2018, at 5:32 PM, Lars E. Oyane <lars.e.oyane@sdsl.no> wrote: > > Dear Listers! > > I have just received a newspaper article from the Fort Dodge Messenger (Iowa) dated Jan. 31, 1908 reading as follows: > > ~~~~~ > > «Benjamin J. Lewis, of the «Montana» Company Formerly lived here and Asked News of His Father > > Benjamin J. Lewis, a member of the «Montana» company which played at the Midland theater Thursday evening, is a former Fort Dodger, having lived here with his parents about 25 years ago when his father was a grain buyer and well known here. The young man, who plays the part of Cheyenne Harry, sought news of his father while he was here, as he has heard nothing of him for many years, but his search was unrewarded. > > 25 years ago «Ole Lewis» was well known in this territory as a grain buyer and at that time and previous got that, he was a man of considerable means. The family moved from here to Wisconsin and when the boy was 8 years old, his ;parents were divorced and the father supposedly went to Oklahoma. > > 10 years ago the mother died and her son was left alone in the world. Gradually he drifted into acting mainly for the reason that the business would take him over considerable territory and might help him find his surviving parent. Fort Dodge was considered by him, to be a good place to make inquiries, but they were of no avail except to rouse memories of the missing man in the minds of some Fort Dodge men» > > ~~~~~ > > Let me add that Jesse Benjamin Lewis was born in Webster Co., IA Nov. 2, 1882. He was confirmed at First Lutheran church in Stoughton, WI in 1897. His mother died in Stoughton, WI Sep. 27, 1898, and Benjamin disappears! However, we know he was in Waco, TX in February of 1909 when he inserted an advertisement in the newspaper of Guthrie, OK looking for his father. Ole moved from Fort Dodge, IA to Guthrie, OK in 1889, but was never heard from again after 1891 when he was at Austin, TX… > > Maybe, if the «Montana» Company can be found, it may lead us to Benjamin Lewis? > > Thanks a million in advance for any suggestions! > > Very sincerely yours, > > Lars E. Oyane