Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 803.
 
LEWIS ABRAMS

     the pioneer warehouse man and merchant of Lincoln, Polk county, Oregon,
came to the Pacific coast in 1849. He was born February 29, 1828, in New Jersey.
His ancestors settled in New Jersey prior to the Revolution. His father, Stephen
Abrams, was born there and married Miss Letitia Conover, a native of his own
State. They had seven children, of whom five are now living. They removed to
Illinois and resided in Scott county for a number of years and here the father
died, aged sixty-two, his wife having died previously.
    Our subject was seven years of age when he went to live in Illinois, and
although they located in Scott, after that county was divided they found
themselves in Morgan county. The facilities for obtaining an education, at that
early day were limited, but Mr. Abrams secured a slight knowledge of the three
"Rs" in the little log schoolhouse.  When he became old enough to look out for
himself he engaged as a boatman on the river and remained in this position for
three years, but in 1849 started for California, with oxen. As he was young and
adventurous, the trip was only a pleasant journey. He went direct to the mines,
in El Dorado and Placer counties, and mined on the American river. He did a good
deal of hard work, but was not rewarded by any great "finds." The mining was
carried on in winter and he suffered from exposure. In 1862 he came to east
Oregon and at Colville, Washington Territory, was engaged in running a store,
packing his supplies from Portland. He was there for seven years and met with
fair success, and from there he went to British Columbia and sunk $30,000 in the
mines. In 1867 he came to Salem and from there to Lincoln, Spring valley, where
he purchased an interest in the store of Mr. J. D. Walling. Later his partner
was accidentally killed by a horse and Mr. Abrams became sole proprietor of the
business. In addition to his mercantile business he has been engaged for years
in buying, storing and shipping grain. His store and warehouse are situated on
the banks of the Willamette which affords a good avenue of transportation to
Portland, and the remainder of the country. He has handled as much as 250,000
bushels of grain per annum, but the railroads have interfered with his business
interests to some extent, although he continues to do a large and flourishing
business. Mr. Abrams is the owner of a nice residence in Lincoln and a fine farm
of 240 acres nearby. He built his home in 1868. In 1870 he was elected
Postmaster and has since continued in that office.
     He was married in Illinois in 1864, to Miss Mary Shea, a native of that
State. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams have one daughter, Lois, who is now Mrs. L. Rea Green
and resides near her father. In 1869, after five years of married life Mrs.
Abrams died and her loss was very deeply felt by her husband. After remaining
single for five years he married Miss Phosa Witten, a native of Oregon, daughter
of Joshua E. Witten, a native of Tennessee, and Oregon pioneer of 1852. The
father is deceased, but the mother still survives and resides with her daughter,
Mrs. Abrams, aged seventy-two. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams have three children: Lettia,
Carlton, and Chester. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams are worthy members of the Methodist
Church. Mr. Abrams joined this church when it was organized in his place and has
since been a worthy member of it. He has aided in building the house of worship
and has done all in his power to assist in maintaining it in his county, and he
is now Steward of the church. In political matters he believes with the
Republicans and has been a member of said party since its organization. He is a
reliable citizen, is widely known and is held in high esteem by his fellow
citizens in the county where he has carried on his different business
enterprises.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.