William  Lewis

LEWIS,  WILLIAM - Farmer, Section 1, P.O. Trent.
Was born in Butler County, Ohio April 17, 1817, and in 1824 moved with his parents to Shelby county, Indiana.  In 1838 he went to New Orleans and from there came to this county in 1848.  The year following he came again, and also in 1850, but did not permanently settle with his family until the fall of 1853.  He brought the first load of wheat to Des Moines and had to haul it back.  In 1857 he planted the first corn with a planter, and an ox team, in the county.  Has been clerk of Camp township and also justice of the peace for four years, and was clerk when that officer was secretary of the school board.  He was married in Shelby county, Indiana, in March 1846 to  Miss Elizabeth Haskins, a native of Kentucky but raised in Indiana.  They have seven children:  Lucinda,  Thomas A.,  Elsie,  Lottie  and  Mary.  Two sons are dead.
The History of Polk County, Iowa,  "Saylor Township,"  Union Historical Company, Birdsall, Williams & Co. 1880, page 964.
Contributed by Barb Huff

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