lewis

THOMAS WALKER LEWIS

Thomas Walker Lewis was born in New Madrid County, Mo., March 7, 1841, and is the son of Warner and Margaret (Akin) Lewis. The father was born in Lexington, Ly., in 1810, and was left an orphan at an early age. He was then taken to New Orleans and was reared by his great-aunt, Martha Monroe. After reaching his majority he came to New Madrid, following agricultural pursuits, and was here married to Miss Akin, a native of Cape Girardeau County, and of Irish descent. She became the mother of three children of who Thomas W. is the youngest. She died in New Madrid County, October 15, 1842, and Mr. Lewis then married Mrs. Emeline (Russel) Jarrett, who was the mother of one child by her first husband and six by her second. Mr. Lewis moved to St. Francois County in 1858m and located near Farmington, where he purchased a farm and there remained until 1873, the time of his death. His grandmother was a sister of the famous and revered statesman, Thomas Jefferson, and her husband was a descendant from the Indian princess, Pocahontas. It is said that in some of the descendants now living can be seen strong evidences of Indian blood. Thomas W. Lewis was educated in the common schools until twenty-two years of age, when he married Miss Caroline Sebastian, a native of St. Francois County, born April 19, 1845, and of French descent. Her parents are still living, and reside on the farm where the father was born. To Mr. Lewis and wife were born ten children, nine now living: Edward L., Thomas E., Mary A., Cora E., Emma L., Maggie B., Carrie M., Alberta A., and John W. Thomas W. Lewis is the owner of 195 acres of land one mile west of Fredericktown. He is a Democrat politically, and he and family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.