Obituary of Rees Lewis, Jr., 1899
DEATH OF REES LEWIS
[Transcribed from newspaper clipping dated November 4, 1899 found
among family mementos. Name of newspaper not indicated]
An Aged and Well Known Resident of Deerfield Passed Away This Morning.
Rees Lewis died at 2:30 o'clock this morning at the residence of his
daughter, Mrs. Robert Coventry, in Deerfield, aged 85 years. Up to the
last months he had retained his health and vigor to an unusual degree
for one so advanced in years. He had been confined to his bed but a
few days.
Mr. Lewis was born in Meronethishire [sic] North Wales 85 years ago
and was the youngest child of Rees and Mary Lewis. He came to this country
with his parents when a boy, the family settling in Utica. He attended
the schools of this city and later learned the wagon maker's trade.
For many years he conducted a wagon shop at Deerfield Corners, where
the greater part of his life was passed. During the Civil War he was
for a year or more engaged at his trade, working on government contracts
at Washington, D.C. Afterwards he returned work in his shop at Deerfield.
His oldest brother, Lewis J. Lewis, for many years conducted a marble
yard on Bleecker street in this city. For the last six years Mr. Lewis
has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Conventry. He was a member
of the First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lewis was married in 1836 to Jane
Jones of Deerfield. She died in 1890. Nine children were born to them.
Three died in infancy. One son, Thomas J., enlisted in the Fourteenth
New York Volunteers at the outbreak of the Civil War and was killed
at the battle of Gaines Mills in Virginia. A daughter, Harriet B., wife
of Calvin H. Kasson of Deerfield, died in 1890. The surviving children
are Rev. John R. Lewis and Katherine J., wife of Robert Coventry of
Deerfield. Mary E., wife of Joseph R. Garthside of Pomona, Cal. and
Jane L., wife of Sanders Robbins of Paola, Kan. Mr. Lewis also leave
twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Transcribed by E. Newby
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