An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893 HONORABLE JOSEPH R. LEWIS was born in London, Ohio, September 17, 1829. His great-grandfather was a native of Wales, and emigrated to Pennsylvania at an early day. Colonel Philip H. Lewis, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, but in boyhood emigrated with parents to Adams county, Ohio, subsequently removing to London, Madison county, where he met and married Miss Abigail Melvin, a native of east Tennessee and a descendant of the Huguenots of the Carolinas, formerly from the province of La Vendee, France. Colonel Lewis was engaged for some thirty-odd years in hotel keeping at London. He was a large man of commanding presence and prominent in the affairs of the State and county. He served as Sheriff of his county for several terms; was several times elected as a member of the Senate and House of the Ohio Legislature; was well-known all over the State and had much to do in shaping the laws and policy of the State Government. During the sessions of court Colonel Lewis' house was headquarters for the bar which in those days traveled the circuit, and during the times of court congregated about the houses and discussed the affairs of State and nation and "cracked jokes." Among the wise men were the Swans, Wilcox and Parsons, of Columbus; General Sampson, Mason and Anthony, of Springfield; Corwin, of Urbana; Douglas, of Chillicothe, and other distinguished lawyers of the State. In this school young Lewis acquired a desire for the law and an admiration for lawyers. His mother was a large woman, active and earnest. She was a member of the Methodist Church for seventy-five years, and died in the faith. She was charitable and earnest in the affairs of her church, a devoted wife, a fond mother and devout Christian. Up to his thirteenth year young Lewis attended the common schools of his native town. His father was then stricken with palsy, and not being blessed with sordid riches of life, Joseph B. was thrown upon his own resources and worked about the town at whatever employment he could get during the summer, and in the winter attended the academy at London. At the age of seventeen he engaged in teaching in the common schools of the county and did a great deal of general reading, besides taking up the study of law under the preceptorship of Honorable Richard A. Harrison, of London, now a distinguished attorney of Columbus, Ohio. The subject of this sketch was admitted to the bar in the circuit court of Ohio at Chillicothe in 1854, and at once proceeded to the (then) "West," - the State of Iowa. Arriving in that State in 1855, without funds, he taught school four months and then proceeded to Washington, Iowa, and commenced the practice. Court was held infrequently and of but short duration, and to enable him to get along he engaged in the Recorder's office in that place for some two years. He was present at the organization of the Republican party in Iowa City in 1856, and in August following was elected as Prosecuting Attorney for Washington county, and served until 1859, then engaged in active practice in Washington and surrounding counties. He took an active part in the affairs of the young State and worked for men and principles of the Republican party. He was in Iowa during the great Lincoln campaign of 1860. After the election of General Grant in 1868, Mr. Lewis' health broke down, and on April 15, 1869, he was appointed by the President as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Idaho, and proceeded to Boise City in that Territory, in May, 1869. He held court the first year in Silver City, the Owyhee Mining District and at Boise City, and in 1870 organized a court in southeastern Idaho at Malad City, where he held two terms. May 25, 1871, he was appointed Associate Justice of New Mexico, but did not accept the appointment, and in the fall of that year he engaged in the practice of law in Boise City, continuing to March 21, 1872, when he was appointed Associate Justice of the Supreme Bench of the Territory of Washington, and in April following he proceeded to Walla Walla, the first judicial district to which he was then assigned. At that time the whole of eastern Washington constituted but one district. He held court at Walla Walla and Cotville, and in 1872 organized other courts in the district. Without any effort on his part, upon January 26, 1875, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme-Court of the Territory, and in April of the same year moved to Seattle, where he has since resided. He held court at Seattle, Tacoma, Steilacoom and Snohomish, and as Chief Justice of the Supreme Bench attended terms of that court at Olympia. He served one full term of tour years as Chief Justice, and in July, 1879, joined the bar of Seattle. He at once entered an active and lucrative practice, and has at all times taken a great interest in the affairs of the city and State. He was active in building up the superior school system, and was earnest in defending the city against the attacks from without. During the controversy between Seattle and the Northern Pacific Railway Company in 1885, he was elected a member of the Territorial House of Representatives to look after the interests of the city and county in that body. In 1887 he retired from general practice, but acts from time to time as counsel in cases of moment. In 1883 he organized the First National Bank of Yakima, and served as its president until November, 1889, when he disposed of his stock and resigned. He was one of the early stockholders of the First National Bank of Seattle, acted as attorney and for a time as president, but subsequently sold his interest. He was also one of the incorporators of Dexter, Horton & Company, bankers, in 1887, but has since disposed of his interest. Judge Lewis was married in Washington, Iowa, in January, 1859, to Miss Mar A. Chapman, a native of Iowa and of English descent. They have two children: Howard W. and Joseph C. The Judge retired from active practice in 1887, and has since been engaged in looking after his personal interests. He has been active in improving residence and business property in Seattle, and his best efforts have always been enlisted on the side of enterprise and development. During his seven years of service upon the Supreme Bench of Washington, he never missed a term of court, with one exception, when he was prevented by Indian troubles, and no decision made by him was ever reversed while he was on the Supreme Bench. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * 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.