John Dempster Lewis (1845 - 1901)

Born 17 May 1845 in Jackson, Ohio, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Abigail Annette (Hills) Lewis — married 3 Aug 1877 in Glenbeulah, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, USA

Died 2 Feb 1901 at age 55 in Rio Grande, Colorado, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: b Paulson [send private message]

Biography

May 10 1865 promoted to full Corporal John Lewis served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: February 19 1863
Mustered out: May 17 1866
Side: USA
Regiment(s): Co. A 7th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry

John was born in 1845. He was the son of Rodman Lewis and Mary Alderman. He passed away 1901 in Colorado.

Early life

-The earliest definitive record of John is in his parents 1850 home in Montrose, Iowa^[1] i.e., dad Rodman Lewis (30) mom Mary (27); Kids: Dempster (5) & Theodice (3). Census enumerator misspelled his sister's name which on her headstone is 'Theodothia'^[2]. She was known in the family as 'Dora'. John's census records say he was b. Ohio.^{[1] [3][4][5][6]}

- Tracking John's mother's father, we found a residence in Jackson County, Ohio, within miles of the families of the women the 3 Lewis boys married, including John Dempster's mother, Mary Ann Alderman. Mary Ann's father was conducting real estate business in Scioto, Ohio, which we believe was the reason the couple chose Scioto for their 1841marriage.^{[7] [8]} John's paternal family lived in Jackson before the Scioto marriage, and migrated to Iowa together some years after the marriage. So it is surmised that John Dempster was b. in Jackson, Ohio. In 1850, John's parents left Jackson Ohio, accompanied by his mother's family, and moved to Montrose, Lee County, Iowa.^[1] Close study of 1850 census shows all Lewis relatives (Rodman/ Amos/ Justus/ Garry/ & Thomas) arrive together and are living next or near to each other in Montrose, Iowa. All her records show that John's sister, Theodothia, was b. 1851 in Iowa. It is reasonable to conclude her place of birth was Montrose.

-1856 John's family has moved 25 miles SW from Montrose, to Farmington in Van Buren county, Iowa, USA. 1856 census shows John's grandpa Thomas (61) and grandma Dianna (71) are sharing a residence w his parents (Rodman ( ), Mary (32). Kids Dempster (11) Dora (9) & Wm (5) are in the Farmington house, too.^[9]

- The 1860 census for Farmington, Van Buren, Iowa, USA shows John's parents, Rodman (35) Mary (35) and the kids: Dempster (15) Dora (13) Wm (9) & little sister Lilly (2)

Three years later the Civil War has broken out.

Military

• 19 Feb 1863 • Iowa USA: JD Lewis... Enlisted in Company A, Iowa 7th Cavalry Regiment; from "Roster & Record of Iowa Soldiers in the War of Rebellion"^[10].
• 1 Mar 1865 • Iowa USA: Promoted to Full 8th Corporal;
• 10 May 1865 • Iowa Promoted to Full 7th Corporal;

-6 Oct 1865 - Death of mother, Mary Ann Alderman (1823–1865), in Farmington, Van Buren, Iowa, USA;

• 17 May 1866 • Ft Leavenworth, Kansas, USA: Seven months following mom's death... and after 15 months of service... JD mustered out on 17 May 1866 at Fort Leavenworth, KS ** from grave memorial, inscription reads: "Corpl, Co A, 7 IA Cav Civil War ~ Woodsman of the World" (see attached headstone).

• United States Civil War Soldiers Index

Name John D. Lewis

Also Known As Name Dempster/Lewis 881823

Also Known As Note Private

Event Type Military Service

Military Beginning Rank Private

Military Final Rank 7th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry

Military Side Union

State or Military Term Iowa

Military Unit A

Affiliate Film Number 16

Citing this Record: ^[11]

-1870 census: Living with mother's brother, uncle Theo (Alderman). John was discharged from military service. Two of his sibs are with him. Census enumerator misspells Wm C and Theodosia ** reading census: Theodosia (Dora), Caroline = Corydon. His sister Dora, marries in 1871 at location very near her uncle Theo's home. Perhaps the kids were at their uncle's place in prep for their sister's wedding? Have sent queries to the Alderman estate in Story County w/o reply. There may be no way to know why the kids were at Theo's in 1870.

Marriage

- The marriage record for John doesn't jibe w birth(s) of his child(ren). Both sets of parents are correctly listed; only his mother's maiden name is incorrectly transcribed as 'Mary Adeline Lewis' instead of 'Mary Alderman Lewis^[12]... Children are attributed to John (Clarence Jun 1874) in Iowa & (Leon 1876) in Wis prior to marriage date.

John appears in Colorado (1880 Census) listed as 'married' and living solo with his brother, Wm C.

-1885 State Census for Saguache, Colorado shows that JD is 50 miles south of where brother, Wm C, is setting up shop as telegrapher in Maysville. JD is tinsmith (45) Nettie (27); Kids: Clarence (6) Don E (4). and brother-in-law, Clarence Hills (25), a druggist, is living in their home.

-1899, John and Nettie's son, Leon, age 23, dies and is buried at the Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake Cemetery (Find a Grave memorial #82954833)

-1900 Census for Precinct 1, Rio Grande, Colorado, USA shows the family is now living near Telluride, in mining country. JD is still a tinsmith (55), mom (48). Not sure when young Donny is, but he's not on the record. Nettie's druggist-brother, Clarence, is gone. But Clarence's son, Clarence Jr (8), is living w them.

-1901 is the year that JD's brother leaves for Washington State with his family and many of his wife's sibling's families (a large exodus). JD, however, dies February 2nd. He is buried in the Colorado State Veteran's Center @ Homelake Cemetery, Monte Vista (Find a Grave memorial# 57358295)

Death

- JD Lewis dies 1901. Place of Death: Rio Grande County, Colorado. Buried: Colorado State Veterans Center at Homelake Cemetery^[13]

Homelake Cemetery ^[14].

• NOTE that April 2019 obtained cemetery record confirming JD's burial in Homelake Cemetery. Have not yet received Area/Section/Plot/Grave coordinates.
• NOTE June 2019 I visited Homelake Cemetery and graves of both John Dempster and his son Leon.

DOB / residence/ parents /siblings

- 1860 US Federal census for Van Buren, Iowa^[15]

- 1870 United States Federal Census for Nevada, Story, Iowa^[16]

- 1880 Colorado State Census^[17]

- 1900 United States Federal Census for Rio Grand, Colorado^[18]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} 1850 United States Federal Census" / Year: 1850; Census Place: Montrose, Lee, Iowa; Roll: M432_186; Page: 405B; Image: 258 Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Seventh Census of the United States, 1850; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432, 1009 rolls); Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29; National Archives, Washington, D.C. Ancestry link to digitized record
2. ↑ https://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Lewis-23158
3. ↑ "1860 United States Federal Census" / Year: 1860; Census Place: Farmington, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: M653_342; Page: 194; Image: 435; Family History Library Film: 803342 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Ancestry link to digitized record
4. ↑ "1870 United States Federal Census for Jno D Lewis" found in 1870 US Federal Census for Nevada, Story, Iowa; Roll: M593_420; Page: 117A; Image: 192567; Family History Library Film: 545919 [1]
5. ↑ "1880 Colorado State Census" / Ancestry.com. Colorado State Census, 1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Schedules of the Colorado State Census, 1885. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M158, 8 rolls. Ancestry link to digitized record
6. ↑ "1900 United States Federal Census for J D Lewis" found in 1900 US Federal Census for Precinct 1, Rio Grande, Colorado; Roll: 129; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0149; FHL microfilm: 1240129 Ancestry link to digitized record
7. ↑ " Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993" / Ancestry.com. Ohio, County Marriages, 1774-1993 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. Original data: Marriage Records. Ohio Marriages. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, UT Ancestry link to digitized record
8. ↑ "Scioto County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1803-1860; 1 Ap 1841" / Ancestry.com. Scioto County, Ohio, Marriage Records, 1803-1860 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Shoemaker, Caryn R. F., and Betty J. Sisler Rudity, compilers. Marriage Records of Scioto County, Ohio, 1803–1860. 1987. Reprint, Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co Inc., 2003.Ancestry link to digitized record
9. ↑ "1856 Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 for Dempster Lewis" from Microfilm of Iowa State Censuses, 1856, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1925 as well various special censuses from 1836-1897 obtained from the State Historical Society of Iowa via Heritage Quest ; via Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007 Ancestry link to digitized record
10. ↑ enlistment, rank and discharge infor from "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch,/ John D. Lewis, 7th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company , A, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M541 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 16; FHL microfilm [2]
11. ↑ "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F95X-5MG : 4 December 2014), John D. Lewis, 7th Regiment, Iowa Cavalry, Company , A, Union; citing NARA microfilm publication M541 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 16; FHL microfilm
12. ↑ John Dempster Lewis mentioned in the marriage record of John Dempster Lewis and Abigail Anette Hills / marriage 23 Aug 1877 Glenbeulah, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States found in "Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911," database, FamilySearch, John Dempster Lewis and Abigail Anette Hills, 23 Aug 1877; citing Glenbeulah, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,275,568 FamSearch link to digitized record
13. ↑ Find a Grave https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=57358295&ref=acom
14. ↑ https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1960745/colorado-state-vet.-center-at-homelake-cemetery
15. ↑ "1860 United States Federal Census" / Year: 1860; Census Place: Farmington, Van Buren, Iowa; Roll: M653_342; Page: 194; Image: 435; Family History Library Film: 803342 Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d. Ancestry link to digitized record
16. ↑ "1870 United States Federal Census for Jno D Lewis" found in 1870 US Federal Census for Nevada, Story, Iowa; Roll: M593_420; Page: 117A; Image: 192567; Family History Library Film: 545919 Ancestry link to digitized record
17. ↑ "1880 Colorado State Census" / Ancestry.com. Colorado State Census, 1885 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: National Archives and Records Administration. Schedules of the Colorado State Census, 1885. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M158, 8 rolls. Ancestry link to digitized record
18. ↑ "1900 United States Federal Census for J D Lewis" found in 1900 US Federal Census for Precinct 1, Rio Grande, Colorado; Roll: 129; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0149; FHL microfilm: 1240129 Ancestry link to digitized record