Re: lewis family
RAYMOND BENJAMIN LEWIS
Posted By: Bill Hansen (email) In Response To: Re: lewis family (janice mason)
Date: 10/30/2004 at 16:19:42
Janice:
This has turned out to be one of the more interesting projects that I have worked on in quite awhile.
First Belle Spray:
Her birth name, according to Wapello County marriage records, was Florence Belle Evans. Her father's name was Thomas Evans and her mother's maiden name was Mary Ann Deevers. After the death of William Lewis (see below) she married Ira Glasford (son of Joseph Glasford and Elizabeth Bolens) on 4 April 1904. She married Ira Glasford a second time (don't ask - I have no clue) on 21 Feb 1915.
The following is from the Ottumwa Courier dated 4 April 1904
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WEDDING NIGHTMRS. BELLE LEWIS AND IRA GLASFORD TO BE MARRIED
The marriage of Mrs. Belle Lewis and Ira Glasford is announced to occur this evening at the home of Mrs. Lewis on Grove street. Mrs. Lewis is the woman who was was recently tried before the district court at Sigourney on the charge of murdering her husband. As a motive for the alleged crime the prosecutiing attorney attempted to show that Mrs. Lewis desired to secure her husband's life insurance and be free to marry again. It is stated that the couple plan an extended wedding tour before returning to Ottumwa to reside.
==================================================I would guess that William Lewis was murdered in Keokuk county sometime in mid to late 1903. I have not been able to locate a place of death or the entire story since I don't know exactly when the murder took place. I would assume that the Lewis family was living somewhere in Keokuk county at the time William was murdered. That might somewhat explain why Raymond was a ward living in Keokuk county in the 1910 census.
As far as William is concerned:
I have re-read the census entries for William and believe that his name was William F. Lewis and that he was born in Iowa in Aug 1855. He says his parents were both born in Indiana. The only William F. Lewis that I can find who matches is from the family below. I don't know if it is the correct family or not.
From the 1860 Federal census Afton, Union County, Iowa:
William B. Lewis, head, aged 34, born Indiana
Susan Lewis, wife, aged 28, born Indiana
James A. Lewis, son, aged 11, born Illinois
Sarah A. Lewis, dau, aged 9, born Illinois
G.H. Lewis, son, aged 6, born Illinois
William F. Lewis, aged 4, born Iowa
Samuel J. Lewis, aged 3 months, born Iowa.In the 1870 Federal census near Afton, Union County, Iowa:
W.B. Lewis, aged 43, born Indiana
Susan Lewis, aged 44, born Indiana
James Lewis, aged 21, born Illinois
Sarah Lewis, aged 19, born Illinois
General Hamilton Lewis, aged 17, born Illinois
William F. Lewis, aged 15, born Iowa
Samuel Lewis, aged 10 born Iowa
Mary E. Lewis aged 7, born Iowa
Richard Lewis, aged 4, born Iowa
Leonard Lewis, aged 2, born IowaLater census records add another daughter Hellen, born abt 1871.
Apparently William B. Lewis died betwee 1870 and 1872. Marriage records show that Mrs. Susan Lewis married Wilbur Hamilton on 26 Dec 1872, Whether Wilbur died or they divorced is unknown, but Mrs. Susan Hamilton married Thomas Edwards on 20 Sep 1874. Susan and her children, including William F. are living with Thomas Edwards in the 1880 census.
You may wish to post a query on the Union County site to see if anyone can verify that the William F. Lewis in Union County was born in Aug 1855.
Wapello Queries maintained by Deborah Lynne Barker.
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