James Lafayette Lewis (1850 - 1918)

Born 21 Apr 1850 in Pike County, Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Sophronia Frances (Fuller) Lewis — married 17 Nov 1872 in Coffee County, Alabama, United States

Descendants

Died 11 Jun 1918 at age 68 in Alabama, United States

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Biography

Excerpt from the Book "John Lewis Genealogy" by Jodie Fogleman Lewis:

The eldest son of B. H. and Emeline Lewis, James Lafayette was born 21st April 1850 in Pike County, Alabama. He married Sophronia Frances Fuller on 17th November 1872 in Coffee County, Alabama.

The 1880 Coffee County Census lists James and Sophronia living in the township of Tillman's Mill. James was a farmer and a miller.

James was a Representative to the Alabama State Legislature in 1896-97. It is told that before he left for a session with the Legislature he had given the land and timber for a church to be built at Bluff Springs (near Elba, AL). The church was to be built while he was away. Upon his return, the building had not been started. When he asked why, he was told that "he had not given them the nails!" It is said that he used a few choice expletives and advised them to get their own nails. All the years that Sophronia lived, the whole Lewis family held and all day sing at Bluff Springs in honor of James on the first Sunday in August.

He was also a post master from 9th February 1886 to August 1900, and he had a store in Rodney, Alabama. Rodney is no longer on the map, yet an older map of Coffee County gives the location near the old Lewis Mill. As a farmer and owner of 10,000 acres, he had a water powered lumber mill and a gin mill.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH57-JJ7 : 9 November 2014), James Lewis in household of B H Lewis, Pike county, Pike, Alabama, United States; citing family 114, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHKY-G4W : 17 October 2014), James L Lewis in household of Benj H Lewis, Alabama, United States; citing p. 10, family 84, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,536.
• "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4JC-J36 : 11 August 2016), James Lewis, Tilmans Mill, Coffee, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district ED 45, sheet 342C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0008; FHL microfilm 1,254,008.
• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M987-41T : accessed 8 January 2017), James L Lewis, Precincts 4-5, 15 Childersville, Tilman's Mill, Deanville, Coffee, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 45, sheet 7B, family 121, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,009.