Edwards, Rev. Jonathan.  "An Illustrated History of Spokane County, State of
Washington."  San Francisco: W. H. Lever, 1900.  p. 606.
 
LEE L. LEWIS

     Deceased, a pioneer of 1879, was born in Tennessee, April 2, 1824.  Upon
attaining to adult age he moved to Linn county, Missouri, where he resided until
1850.  In that year he crossed the plains to Marysville, California, and engaged
in mining and freighting.  About the year 1858 he removed to The Dalles, Oregon,
and thence later to Umatilla county, where, for many years, he was engaged in
the stock business.  He lost heavily in the Bannock Indian war and barely
escaped with his life.  He was slightly wounded in the battle of Willow Springs
and had the horn of his saddle shot away, but managed to effect his escape.  In
1879 he moved to Spokane county, secured a pre-emption near Spangle and again
engaged in farming and stock raising, an occupation to which his energies were
devoted until December 22, 1899, when he died.  Mr. Lewis possessed a goodly
measure of the true pioneer spirit.  Brave, courageous, unconquerable, he struck
to the west despite every danger, until civilization dawned, then for many years
was permitted to enjoy the sunshine his own energies had helped to bring.  He
was married, in California in 1860, to Miss Martha J. Ermi, a native of Indiana,
who, with six of their offspring, still survives him.  The children are:
Clotilda, wife of Harvey Porter; Millard F., a farmer; Arthur A., bookkeeper in
Spokane; Ossaphine, wife of R. G. Prichard; Walker, a farmer, and Elizabeth.
Mrs. Lewis still resides on the home place near Spangle.  Arthur A. Lewis, son
of Lee L., was born in Umatilla county, Oregon, June 15, 1870, but since 1879
has been a resident of this county.  He graduated from the Spokane Business
College, then engaged for a time in farming.  In January, 1895, he accepted a
position as clerk and later was promoted to the office of bookkeeper under
County Treasurer Mudgett.  He also served for six months under the new
administration.  At the present time he is bookkeeper for the A. & K. Packing
Company, of Spokane.  In fraternal affiliations, he is identified with Mount
Carleton Lodge, No. 103, I.O.O.F.


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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in November 2005 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.