Simon Escobius Lewis (1840 - 1906)

Born 12 Dec 1840 in McCurtain County, Oklahoma

Descendants

Died 1906 at about age 65 in Garvin County, Oklahoma

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Simon was Choctaw.

Biography

• Simon was born in 1840. He passed away in 1906.

• From Find a grave

on of John T. W. Lewis (a white man from Tennessee) and Lavinia McKinney who was the daughter of Jesse McKinney and Elsie Frazier.

Simon was also related to the Wall family in the old Cedar County through his aunt Delilah McKinney, wife of Jesse Wall. Her son Thomas J. Wall and Simon were first cousins.

NOTE: It is not verified that he is in this cemetery but his daughter Ruth Lanham is buried here and it is believed that she took care of her father until his death.

Judge Lewis was a lawyer by profession; he was a well-known Choctaw who served his nation in many capacities. -He served the Choctaw Nation as District Attorney. During his tenure in 1893 he prosecuted the nine Choctaws involved in the Wilburton shooting and demanded that US government officials consent to the execution of the nine men. Only one - Silon Lewis - was finally executed by the Choctaw lawmen. -In 1896 he was asked to assist in the prosecution of the men involved in the Jones-Locke War. -He was a respected Choctaw representative to the Dawes Commission. His ability to recall the family connections between members of his tribe was legendary.

From O'Bierne's Leaders and Leading Men, 1891:

Judge Simon Lewis was born in Towson County (Choctaw Nation, I.T.) in December 1840, and was educated at Spencer Academy. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Gen. Cooper’s command, and served four years.

Soon after the war he married May Hildebrand, a Cherokee, by whom he had one child, named Kathleen [Katherine]. In 1875 he was united to Eliza Striplin, a white girl, and having procured a divorce in 1876, married Julia Hunter, by whom he had one child who died in infancy.

In 1877 his wife died, and in two years afterward, he married Mrs. Murphy [Mary Jane Beard], widow of the late Benjamin Murphy, of Jacks Forks County, the issue of their marriage being four living children, named Simon Frazier [Lewis], George Claburne [Lewis], Julia Alma and Ruth.

In 1879 Mr. Lewis was Deputy Sheriff of Sans Bois County; from 1881 to 1883 he served as Deputy Circuit Clerk, and the two years following was regular clerk.

In 1883 he was appointed Circuit Judge to fill the unexpired term of Rufus Folsom, and in 1884 was elected to the same office, which he held for four years.

In 1888 he was appointed District Collector of the First District, but resigned in 1890, removing to Ardmore, Chickasaw Nation.

Judge Lewis is one-eighth Choctaw, a man of learning, and highly esteemed by all. His wife is a lady of culture and refinement.

The subject of our sketch has been a member of the Masonic Order for the past fourteen years. He is the owner of a fine farm, five hundred head of stock cattle, and has an interest in three coal claims.

Sources

• Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 September 2018), memorial page for Judge Simon Escobius Lewis (12 Dec 1840–1906), Find A Grave Memorial no. 180362685, citing Oaklawn Cemetery, Wynnewood, Garvin County, Oklahoma, USA ; Maintained by Choctaw Journeys (contributor 47251652) .
• Choctaw Roll card 4709, line 1