The Lewis Family
If you’re having a hard time keeping track of who’s who is early Mormonism, well…me too! While working on the Lost Witnesses of the Restoration series I was trying to get a feel for the social environment of the Hale, Lewis, Harris, and Smith families, but was dizzied by the names, dates, and Senior/junior descriptors.
This post is part of the collection of my notes about the people in these key families. For the story of this family, read the Lost Witnesses of the Restoration for the Hale, Lewis, or Harris families. Once you know the overall feel of the family’s story, you can then return to these notes to see more particulars about the unique family members.
In the case of the Lewis and Hale Families, naming children after relatives that they loved and respected was a very heavily practiced. I have placed the 👥 symbol beside names that were borrowed from a person in the previous generation of the family. If a child died young, I have written their name in italics. If the person converted to Mormonism, I place a 🎩 symbol beside their name. The downloadable document at the bottom also provides key links to profile pages of these figures. Most of those sites are owned by the corporate LDS Church but the pages can ben accessed without a full account.
It was easier for me to have any face attached to the name rather than no name at all, however the visual descriptions here are based on only scanty or occasional descriptions of some member of the family and should not be taken as true portraits. All illustrations are my own and done by hand, so I hope you can enjoy the mistakes, pen smudges, and smashed lettering as part of the authentic AI-free presentation. 🙂
Lewis Family Overview
- Direct ancestors served in the American Revolutionary War, their children served in the American Civil War.
- All members of the family were firmly Methodist throughout their lives
- A relative through Sarah Cole was the naturalist Pickering who traveled with Commodore Perry.
- See the Lost Witnesses of the Restoration: the Lewis Family
REV. Nathaniel Lewis jr👥
About Nathaniel
Born: May 27, 1769 in Cornwall, Litchfield, Connecticut
Married: Sarah Harriet Cole on February 11, 1790 in Wells, Vermont
12 Children:
- Esther Lewis (1793-1878) 👥 shares a name with paternal grandmother
- Levis Lewis (1796-1857)
- Lurena Lewis (1798-1857)👥 shares a name with maternal aunt
- Nathaniel Cole Lewis (1803-1864) 👥 shares a name with father and paternal grandfather
- Sarah H. Lewis (1805-1864) 👥 shares a name with mother and maternal grandmother
- Joseph Ellis/Ellias Lewis (1807-1882)
- Timothy Pickering Lewis (1810-1872) 👥shares a name with mother’s extended family member’s surname
- Elizabeth Lewis (1811-1899) 👥 shares a name with aunt
- Ann Lewis (1814-1880)
- Jehiel Lewis (1817-1880)👥 shares name with his paternal Uncle
- Miles Lewis (1818-1877)👥 shares name with his paternal Uncle
- Olive Ann Lewis (1823-1892)
Died: October 26, 1860, age 91
Buried in Temperance Hill Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Younger brother of Elizabeth Lewis Hale, wife of Isaac Hale
Moved to Pennsylvania with his sister after they both got married in 1790.
Methodist Preacher from a very early age (about 11), ordained a reverend later in the early 1800s
Nathaniel jr offered affidavit about Joseph Smith in 1834
Born in Connecticut, grew up in Wells, Vermont, raised family in Harmony, Pennsylvania, died in Lee County, Illinois near a large group of relatives.
Sarah Hart/Harriet Cole
About Sarah
Born: July 13, 1775 in Hartford County, Connecticut
Married: Nathaniel Lewis, jr on February 11, 1790 in Wells, Vermont
12 Children (above)
Died: November 8, 1852, age 77
Buried in Temperance Hill Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Sarah’s older brother Anthony Cole married Nathaniel’s younger sister Esther Lewis. Anthony and Esther also moved West and settled in Wisconsin near the rest of the extended Hale-Lewis extended family.
Born on the coast of Connecticut, raised during the American Revolutionary War, married in the green hills of Wells, Vermont, raised her family in the mountains of Harmony, Pennsylvania, died in Lee County, Illinois near a large group of relatives.
Esther 👥 Lewis and Joshua McKune
About Esther
Born: June 2, 1793 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Joshua McKune on a unknown date, probably sometime in 1811
10 Children:
- Amanda McKune (1812-1859)
- Phyllis McKune (1814-1822)
- Elmira McKune (1816-1864)
- Rebecca A McKune (1819-1887)
- Lewis McKune (1821-1861) 👥 shared name with Esther’s maiden name
- Sarah Elizabeth McKune (1824-1901) 👥 shared name withEsther’s mother, Sarah, Esther’s Aunt Elizabeth and Esther’s sister Elizabeth
- John Summerfield McKune (1827-1877)
- Lurena Semanthy McKune (1829-1832) 👥 shared name with Esther’s sister Lurena
- Benjamin E. McKune (1831-1833)
- Esther S. McKune (1835-1845) 👥 shared name with mother and great-grandmother
Died: September 19, 1878, age 85
Buried in Blooming Grove United Methodist Cemetery, Waseca Minnesota
Memorable Details:
Esther 👥 shared a name with her father’s mother, Esther Tuttle Lewis and her Aunt Esther Lewis Cole, who married her Sarah Hart Cole’s brother.
Married boy from respectable local boy, Joshua McKune
Esther’s husband Joshua offered affidavit about Joseph Smith in 1834
Born in Harmony, died Wisconsin near some of her siblings and cousins.
Levi Lewis & Sophia Banker
About Levi
Born: November 9, 1796 in Great Bend, Pennsylvania
Married: Sophia Banker (1801-1873) on an unknown date, probably around 1819
6 Children:
- George Lewis (1820-1893)
- Phila Ann Lewis (1822-1900)
- Joseph Washburn Lewis (1824-1894)
- Milletta “Millie” Lewis (1826-1907)
- Mary Lewis (1827-?)
- Reuben Lewis (1829-1864) 👥 shares name with Levi Lewis’ Uncle Reuben Lewis and his cousin, Reuben Hale
- Charlotta Lewis (1830-1855)
Died: September 28, 1857, age 60
Buried in Prairie Repose cemetery in Amboy, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Wife Sophia Banker was a newcomer to Pennsylvania from New York.
Levi offered affidavit about Joseph Smith in 1834
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Lurena👥 Lewis & Augustus Trowbridge
About Lurena
Born: December 22, 1798 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Augustus Trowbridge (1792-1869) on an unknown date
No known Children.
Died: December 7, 1867, age 68
Buried in Temperance Hill Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Born in Harmony, died in Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Shared a name with her mother’s sister Lurena Cole (1781-1860)
Nathaniel Cole Lewis III & Harriet Doty
About Nathaniel III
Born: May 3, 1803 in Great Bend, Pennsylvania
Married: Harriet Lousia Doty on August 12, 1827 in Owego, New York
9 Children:
- Mary Elizabeth Lewis (1828-1902) 👥 shared name with paternal grandmother and father’s aunt Elizabeth
- Julia Ann Lewis (1830-1864)
- Addison A. Lewis (1833-1900)
- Harriet Lousia Lewis (1835-1915) 👥 shared name with mother and maybe with paternal grandmother
- Nathaniel Zebulon Lewis (1837-1918) 👥 shared name with father, paternal grandfather and paternal great-grandfather Nathaniel and maternal grandfather Zebulon
- Ira Doty Lewis (1843-1931)
- Anthony Cole Lewis (1846-1928)
- Sally Malinda Lewis (1848-1864)
- Sarah Eugenia Lewis (1851-1934)
Died: November 24, 1864, age 61
Buried in Genoa Township Cemetery in Genoa, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Born in Harmony, died in Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Sarah H. Lewis & Sabin Trowbridge
About Sarah
Born: May 1, 1805 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Sabin Hatch Trowbridge (1821-1884) on April 23, 1839 in Harmony, Pennsylvania
3 Children:
- Lunira Lousia Trowbrigde (1839-1869)
- Lucy Ann Trowbrigde (1843-?) shares a name with the wife of Sarah’s brother Timothy, Lucy Maria Winchell
- Lewis Augustus Trowbridge (1845-1864)
Died: December 8, 1861, age 56
Buried in Temperance Hill Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Died of a sudden heart attack directly after Church services.
Born in Harmony, died in Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Joseph Ellis/Ellias Lewis & Rachel Cargill
About Joseph
Born: April 15, 1807 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Rachel Cargill (1806-1895) on January 15, 1832 in Harmony, Pennsylvania
Children:
- Gaylord Judd Lewis (1832-1899)
- James Cargill Lewis (1835-1864)
- John Lewis (1839-1864)
- Andrew J. Lewis (1844-1863)
- Electa Jane Lewis (1844-1845)
- Electa Jane Lewis (1845-1855)
- Joseph Ellis Lewis (1847-1915)
Died: May 5, 1882, age 76
Buried in Binghampton Cemetery, in Amboy, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Moved to Amboy, Illinois in 1845.
3 Sons died in the American Civil War. Son James Cargill died in Chattanooga while serving Company C, 89th regiment of illinois Infantry. Sons John and Andrew Lewis died while serving in the 39th Illinois Infantry, known as the Yates Phalanx
Son Joseph practiced law in Illinois.
His wife outlived him significantly.
Sometimes he is also listed as “Joseph Ellias Lewis”
Father, Reverend Nathaniel Lewis jr died at his home.
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Timothy Pickering Lewis & Lucy Maria Winchell
About Timothy
Born: March 28, 1810 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Lucy Maria Winchell in November 17 OR 27 in the year 1836 OR 1840 in Harmony, Pennsylvania
6-ish Children:
- Elizabeth Lewis (1827-?) 👥 shares a name with Timothy’s Aunt Elizabeth Hale and his sister Elizabeth Lewis
- Theressa Lewis (1837-?)
- Porter Lewis (1841-1843)
- Charles P. Lewis (1843-?)
- Lurena Lewis (1845-1919) 👥 shares a name with Timothy’s sister Lurena Lewis
- Lucy Jane Lewis (1848-1939) 👥 shares a name with her mother Lucy Maria Winchell
Died: January 7, 1872, age 61
Buried in Binghampton Cemetery, Amboy, Illinois
Memorable Details:
The Pickering surname was part of Timothy’s mother Sarah Cole’s extended family. Some of the Pickerings also lived in Harmony, Pennsylvania and Timothy’s parents Nathaniel and Sarah worked for those relatives, lived in their house, and bought a portion of the Pickering property.
Timothy’s first child Eliza Lewis may have been born out of wedlock.
Timothy was Lucy Maria Winchell’s second husband. She was previously married to Wyllis Bronson Sr. They moved to Pennsylvania from Connecticut and then he passed away in 1835. This gives credence to an 1836 marriage date for her and Timothy–she probably needed to remarry to support her 4 children from that previous marriage. The 4 children from the previous marriage were: Hosea Burdett Bronson, Elizabeth Ann Bronson, Willard Bronson, Willis Bronson Jr.
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Elizabeth Lewis & Hezekiah McKune
About Elizabeth
Born: November 13, 1811 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Hezekiah McKune (1801-1884) on January 6, 1831
5 Children:
- Edward McKune (1832-1862)
- Lurena McKune (1835-1917)
- Dr. Albert B. McKune (1839-?)
- Harrison W. McKune (1841-1861)
- Eliza McKune (1841-?)
Died: February 7, 1899, age 87
Buried in Evergreen, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Sons Edward McKune and Harry W. McKune died in the American Civil War fighting for the Union. Edward died in the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky, leaving a wife and 2 children. Harry fought for 3 years and was taken prisoner in March 1864. He died in the horrible Confederate Andersonville Prison, the supervisors of which were later charged for war crimes. Harry’s mother Elizabeth Lewis’ cousin Jesse Hale’s son also died in this prison
Husband Hezekiah offered affidavit about Joseph Smith in 1834.
Elizabeth wrote her own statement about Joseph Smith that her brother Hiel included in a letter in about 1869.
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Ann Lewis & Austin Bierce Trowbridge
About Ann
Born: February 4, 1814 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Austin Bierce Trowbridge (1816-1903) on January 6, 1831, probably in Harmony, Pennsylvania
6 Children:
- Nathaniel Augustus Trowbridge (1838-1864)
- Sarah Jane Trowbridge (1844-1927)
- Flora Aruba Trowbridge (1851-1856)
- Frank Miles Trowbridge (1854-1864) 👥 shares a name with his uncle Miles, his mother’s brother and with his great uncle Miles Lewis, a brother of his grandfather Nathaniel Lewis Sr.
- Alba B. Trowbridge (1858-?)
- Bridgette A. Trowbridge (1858-1907)
Died: February 11, 1880 , age 65
Buried in Woodside Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Oldest son Nathaniel Augustus may have died in the Civil War.
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Jehiel “Hiel” 👥 Lewis & Eveline D Stone
About Hiel
Born: December 31, 1816 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Eveline Stone (1816-1893) on September 24, 1837
Children:
- Ira W. Lewis (1842-1915)
- Nancy Susannah Lewis (1843-1895)
- Orrin Marcus Lewis (1847-1906)
- Perry Jerome Lewis (1849-1907)
- Irvin Lewis (1852-1920)
- James Dayton Lewis (1856-1889)
Died: April 28, 1880, age 63
Buried in Binghampton Cemetery, Amboy, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Jehiel went by Hiel Lewis. Sometimes his name was also spelled “Gehiel”
Jehiel 👥 shares a name with his Uncle Jehiel, his father’s brother.
Jehiel offered affidavit about Joseph Smith in 1834
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Miles👥 Lewis & Miranda Seager
About Miles
Born: May 11, 1818 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Miranda Seager (1818-1899) on January 31, 1839 in Harmony, Pennsylvania
Children:
- Alpha M. Lewis (1839-1914) 👥 this might be a shared name with Alphaeus Skinner, who would marry Miles’ sister Olive Ann
- Ann Lewis (1841-1841) 👥 shares a name with Miles’ sister
- Alice Ann Lewis (1844-1868)
- Everett Miles Lewis (1847-1917) 👥 shares a name with his father and great uncle Miles Lewis, a brother of Nathaniel Lewis Sr.
- Alvie Lewis (1849-?) 👥 shares a name with Miles’ Cousin Alva
- Elizabeth Clarissa Lewis (1853-1924) 👥 shares a name with Miles’ Aunt and his sister Elizabeth
- Robert Newton Lewis (1856-1925)
Died: August 27, 1877, age 59
Buried in Amboy, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Miles 👥 shares a name with his Uncle Miles, his father’s brother
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Olive Ann Lewis & Alphaeus Gustin Skinner
About Olive
Born: June 17, 1823 in Harmony Pennsylvania
Married: Alphaeus Gustin Skinner (1817-1897) on August 27, 1842 in Great Bend, Pennsylvania
Children:
- David Skinner (1850-1919)👥 shares a name with Olive’s cousin David Hale
- August Melvina Skinner (1852-1916)
- Levi Gustin Skinner (1855-1921)👥 shares a name with Olive’s brother Levi Lewis
- Homer Skinner (1857-1870)– TWIN
- Herbert Skinner (1857-1888)– TWIN
- Sarah Ann Skinner (1859-1876)
- Rhoda Priscilla Skinner (1863-1950)👥 shares a name with Alphaeus Gustin Skinner’s mother Rhoda McDowell and his sister Rhoda Skinner, who married Olive’s cousin David Hale.
- Baby Skinner (1878-1878)
Died: October 1, 1892, age 69
Buried in Temperance Hill Cemetery, Lee, Illinois
Memorable Details:
Born in Harmony, died in Amboy Illinois near a large group of cousins and siblings.
Download Available: The Lewis Family Genealogy
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