Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Philander Briton Lewis
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
PHILANDER BRITON LEWIS, Attorney-at-law, Randolph. Riley County. The legal profession of Kansas is adorned by many members of the bar whose brilliant minds, scholarly attainments and legal acumen make them lights in the profession. Capt. P. B. Lewis is prominent among these men and is not only well qualified for the profession which he is following, but for a high rank in other professions. It is a pleasure to chronicle as well as can be done in a brief sketch, his life and labors, but before doing so it may be well to say a few words regarding his ancestry and parentage.
The grandfather of our subject was of Welsh and English descent. He fought in the Colonial Army and died in Kentucky, to which he had removed from Virginia. In the latter State his son, John, the father of our subject, was born in the year 1790. When twenty-one years old, he went with his father to Kentucky, and the latter dying soon after he was left to support his mother. They remained in Kentucky but a year, thence removing to Ohio, being among the first settlers of Springfield. There John Lewis engaged in the blacksmithing business in partnership with Mr. SmallwooJ. He afterwards became Government blacksmith for the Indians in Crawford County, and remained in the government employ for eight years. He next bought 320 acres on the Reservation, being almost the place where Col. Crawford was burned by the savages. This farm Mr. Lewis operated until his death in 1841. He was u Whig in politics. He had been Justice of the Peace, and Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The wife of John Lewis, and the mother of our subject, was in her maidenhood Miss Sidney Sweet, and was born in Kentucky, being a daughter of Joshua Sweet, a farmer and weaver of that State. He subsequently removed to Ohio, giving his whole attention to weaving in Springfield for some years, and afterwards changed his location to Urbana, Champaign County. where he remained until his death. Mrs. Sidney Lewis was well educated, and being possessed of much natural ability was able after her husband's death to manage the farm and successfully carry on the business connected with the estate. Her excellent religious training, combined with the other qualities she possessed, led her into prominence in the church, and she became a Class-Leader, taking the place formerly occupied by her lamented husband. In 1847 she sold the estate and removed to Bellefontaine. where she resided until her death in 1853. She had been twice married, her first husband being a Mr. Hedges. The result of the union was one son - Robert - now living in Missouri. Her union with Mr. Lewis was blessed by the birth of eight children: Eliza is now the wife of the Rev. J. R. Cary, of Garden Grove, Iowa; Mary lives in Huntsville, Ohio; James is engaged in carriage-manufacturing in Garden Grove, Iowa; Ann R. is now Mrs. Crandall, of Leavenworth, Kan.; William S., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church died 1866; John C. is a farmer and merchant at St. Paul, Neb. He was First Lieut. of Company I, 51st Ohio Inf., having enlisted at Canal Dover, while engaged in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being enrolled in 1861, and served until he resigned on account of ill-health during the following year; Sarah E. is now Mrs. Harrod. of Huntsville, Ohio.
P. B. Lewis, of whom we write, was born near Crawfordsville, Wyandot Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1834, and during his boyhood, attended both subscription and free schools. In 1847 he went to Logan County with his mother, and about a year later engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise establishment in Hardin County. In the fall of 1849 he entered the Ohio Wealeyan University at Delaware, taking the classical course. He spent a year in the Preparatory department, then entering the Freshman Class, continued his studies at the University until 1854, but with an attendance at irregular intervals. He then went to New Albany. Ind., and after sojourning there a few months returned to Logan County and began teaching school.
In the spring of 1855 Mr. Lewis began the study of law under Judge Lawrence, with whom he continued twelve months. In 1857 he had been licensed as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and leaving the office of Judge Lawrence, he entered upon the work of the ministry, which he continued until 1859, when his health became so poor that he was obliged to retire from the field. He again took up his legal studies, was admitted to the bar in 1861, and immediately began practice in Ottawa.
The attempts made upon the life of our Nation aroused in Mr. Lewis a sense of the imminent danger in which the Government stood, and he determined to assist in preserving the Union he had been taught to revere. He therefore enlisted in the 3d Ohio Cavalry, being mustered into service at Monroeville in the fall of 1861. and was at once sent to
Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was attached to Gen. Buell's army. During the following winter the command had no heavy engagements, but severe work began for them in the spring. They fought at Pittsburg Landing, and the siege of Corinth, taking part in the first battles there, following which Mr. Lewis was detailed for detached service as a clerk and postmaster in Gen. Wood's division. He remained in that position until Oct. 18, 1862, then being present in the terrible battle at Perryville. The day after the conflict he started back to Louisville with Gen. Wood's order, having two men with him. They were captured by John Morgan's men, riding directly into that band which wore the Union uniform. Mr. Lewis and his comrades were kept prisoners for twenty-two hours and then paroled, the messages which Mr. Lewis carried having been securely hidden by him, and there being no plausible reason for their further detention. The dispatches were delivered at Louisville in proper shape, if somewhat delayed in their transmission.
Mr. Lewis rejoined his regiment at Murfreesboro, March, 1863, and there acted as correspondent to the Cincinnati Commercial for the commissioned officers, the regiment remaining in camp until June 23. when Mr. Lewis became Orderly Sergeant. At the conflict of Tullahoma the command forced the works, following which exploit came a succession of daily fighting till after the battle of Chickamauga, when they again went into camp. They remained at Rogersville, Ala., till the first of November, when Mr. Lewis was again detached from his command and sent on recruiting service to Columbus, Ohio. The following spring he rejoined his regiment at Nashville, Tenn., having the rank of Second Lieutenant. Being detailed as Topographical Engineer, he joined Sherman on May 16, 1864, for the Grand Campaign through the southeast. He participated in the battles at Ackworth Station, Big Shanty and Kennesaw Mountain. Early in July, Lieutenant Lewis with five comrades was sent to Alpharetta, Ga., to find a practical ford, and being ambushed by a party of Confederates, they were overpowered and taken prisoner. In the affray which followed the discovery of the ambuscade, Lieut. Lewis received a severe blow on the head from a sabre, which occasioned a pronounced astronomical display to his vision. The prisoners were taken to Macon, thence to Savannah, thence to Charleston, S. C. Lieut. Lewis remained until his exchange, his imprisonment having extended from the 10th of July to the 28th of October. He rejoined the army at Atlanta and prepared to go home on a furlough. Two commissions were awaiting him, those of First Lieutenant and Captain, and he was sworn into the latter rank on Jan. 4, 1865. His company was not in condition to fight, so they were sent to Nashville by cars and thence to Chickasaw, Ala., where they remained till March 20, 1865. At that date they again entered upon the active duties of campaign life, participating in Wilson's raid and capturing the rebels at Birmingham. Following this were the engagements at Tuscaloosa.Selma,Montgomery and Columbus. The engagement at Selma on April 2d, was the hardest fight in which they took part. There 2,000 prisoners and a store of ammunition and guns were captured by the conquering army. Moving on toward Macon, they were within seventeen miles of that place when the news of Lee's surrender reached them.
The command went into camp, laying plans for the capture of Jefferson Davis, and Capt. Lewis was in the brigade that accomplished that capture, and saw the noted Confederate leader at the hotel afterward. Soon after this event, Capt. Lewis was directed by Gen. Wilson to go to Andersonville. survey and outline it. He was accompanied by eleven men. and capturing the notorious Wirz, sent him to Gen. Wilson. Capt. Lewis made a complete survey and map of the prison, and then, being anxious to see his home and friends he resigned in July, 1865, his resignation being accepted while he was at Nashville. His service had covered a period of about four years, during which time he had never spent a day in the hospital. The profession of civil engineering which Capt. Lewis had found so useful during army life, had been learned by him when seventeen years old, while working with surveyors of the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad.
Returning to his native State. Capt. Lewis opened a law office in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
remaining a resident of that city until 1870, when he went to Wayne Court House, W. Va. There he engaged in legal practice, and also took charge of a select school and academy. In addition to these labors he prospected for mineral and coal lands. After six years spent in West Virginia, Capt. Lewis resided in Tuseola, Ill., for a few months, thence going to Decatur County, Iowa, and in February, 1878, coming to this State. He located in Doniphan County and spent a year there, being ill most of the time. Randolph became his residence in July. 1879. and he engaged in legal practice and money-loaning. He has been very successful in building up a professional reputation, and secures a fine share of the practice of this vicinity. In 1882 Capt. Lewis started a four-column quarto, called the Randolph Echo, turning his brilliant talents to account in journalism, and conducted the paper for six years. He owns a pleasant residence and lots in this city, and eight acres in Monette, a growing town in Missouri. ,br>
On January 17, 1861. Capt. Lewis became the husband of Miss Sue Frazier, a lady of education, culture and womanly grace, who was bom in Canal Dover. Ohio. She began teaching at the age of fifteen years, and for seven years was the instructor in one school. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, two of whom now survive. Thomas B. is a printer in Denver, Col.; he married Miss Florence Morgan. Charles S. is also a practical printer, but is now studying law with his father. As might be expected of the sons of such parents, both the young men have mental abilities of a high order and are practical and energetic in the use of their talents.
Capt. Lewis has been a Notary Public nearly all his life, and in this county has held the position for ten years. He has been Police Judge for a year. In Ohio he was at one time candidate for Probate Judge in a Democratic district, but being on the Republican ticket was defeated. His first Presidential vote was cast for Gen. Fremont, and from that day he has been an earnest Republican, and has served as delegate to both county and State conventions. Capt. Lewis is Adjutant of Sergeant McCoy post, No. 210, G. A. R., at Randolph. He is a charter member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this city, and is active in every good work, and every public enterprise which promises to enhance the welfare of the community. His upright, life, his brilliant talents, and his years of usefulness, entitle him to the respect of his fellow citizens, who do not fail to render it.