AARON J. LEWIS. As a fine type of the citizens who have contributed to the prosperity of Moultrie County, the gentleman whose name introduces these paragraphs deserves especial mention. His splendid farm comprises one hundred and two acres on sections 6 and 7 Lowe Township, and is embellished with every necessary and convenient structure, good stock being kept and improved machinery used. The residence is a home-like structure, in which good cheer for mind and body is always to be found. During an honorable career as a sagacious agriculturist Mr. Lewis has displayed those solid traits of character that are needful to the attainment of fortune in any calling, and in his dealings with all he has ever shown himself to be a man of probity.

The immediate progenitors of our subject are James T. and Paulina (Hostetler) Lewis. The father, now deceased, was born in Kentucky, but when quite young removed with his parents to Orange County, Ind., where he grew to a vigorous manhood amid primeval scenes. When ready to establish a home of his own he was married to Paulina Hostetler, a native of Indiana, where after their union they settled in Orange County. This continued to be the home of the father until he closed his eyes to the scenes of earth September 22, 1852. The mother still survives at the advanced age of eighty-one years, and makes her home in Indiana. She is a noble-hearted woman, whose children may "rise and call her blessed". She carefully reared her children, of whom there were eight, to fill positions of usefulness and responsibility, and in working for their welfare her hands never wearied.

The subject of this notice is now in the prime of life, having been born March 23, 1839, in Orange County, Ind. He was reared on a farm and early acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture, and having a natural aptitude for this avocation, he chose it for his life calling when the time came for him to start out in life for himself. At the age of twenty-four years he was married, March 23, 1863, in Lawrence County, Ind., to Miss Martha J. Coward, the daughter of William and Eliza (Martin) Coward. Mr. Coward is supposed to have been a native of Tennessee, while the mother was born in Washington County, Ind. They settled in Lawrence County, Ind., where the faithful mother died in 1854. Twenty years later the father came to Moultrie County, Ill., of which he has since been a resident. Mrs. Lewis, who was the fourth among seven children, was born in Lawrence County, Ind., November 7, 1844, and by careful training at home she became well prepared for the responsibilities of her married life.

Immediately after marriage of our subject he brought his young bride to Moultrie County on a visit, and both were so well pleased with the appearance of the country that they concluded to make it their home. Accordingly, in the spring of 1864, they came hither to locate permanently, and this has since been the scene of their active labors. Having from youth been engaged in agricultural pursuits, Mr. Lewis is a practical agriculturist, and the air of thrift about his homestead indicates to every beholder that he is a man of enterprise and good management. He settled on his present place in December, 1875, and here he and his estimable wife have reared to maturity their seven children, whom they named as follows: Benjamin F., Anna E., Mary E., William C., H.C., Gertie M. and Jessie L. Mr. Lewis has never been an office-seeker but uniformly casts his ballot for the candidates of the Democratic party, whose principles he believes to be right.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 298/299

Transcription copyright 2003/2007, Moultrie County ILGenWeb/USGenWeb