 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GENEALOGY |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and |
|
|
|
MEMORIAL |
|
|
|
for my |
|
|
|
GRANDFATHER and GRANDMOTHER |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
This page is dedicated to the memory of my ancestors, without whom
I would not be the person I am today. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
| Charles Julian Lewis was born on the29th of January 1869 in Piedmont, Wayne County, Missouri and came to Texas with his parents when an infant. The parents, Wiley Franklin Lewis and Elizabeth Anne (Randolph) Lewis settled in Lamar County, Texas. |
|
|
| Charles J. was the eighth child of nine children named as follows: |
|
|
|
Lavert Livingston; William Bohannon; Coleman Randolph; Grant Allen; Dora (Lewis) Nidever; Susan (Lewis) Ragsdale; Lucy (Lewis) Derrick; Charles J. and Constant Jerome Lewis. All of whom preceded Charles J. in death. |
|
|
| The family lived for several years in Lamar County and then went West, first settling in Sipe Springs, Texas and then on to Coleman, Texas where most of the family lived and are buried there. |
|
|
| The first work of Chas. J. Lewis was in a rural store in Lamar County and then a few years for Bob Ragsdale, a brother-in-law, in a photography gallery at Honey Grove, Texas. The next employment was as a postal Clerk in the post offices at Bonham and Honey Grove. It was after this period that he went to Ladonia, Texas to make his home with his cousin, A. B. Cox. |
|
|
| It was in Ladonia that he began his work in banking. He spent thirty years in banking, serving as book-keeper, cashier and president. The banking experience was four years at Ladonia, nine years at Sonora, twelve years at Meridian, one year at Alexander, one year at Coahoma, two years at Hermleigh and one year at Fluvanna. |
|
|
| He served as County Clerk of Scurry County, Texas from January 1937 to December 1940 (** note by grandaughter, grandfather recorded my birth on January 27, 1937.) |
|
|
| He then engaged in the Fire Insurance Business and the Retail Merchants Association until the time of his death. During his residence at Meridian he was City Alderman, Mayor for two terms and a trustee for Meridian College. |
|
|
| It was on 17th of February 1906 that he married Rose Mayfield of Sonora, Texas. To this union was born: |
|
|
|
Laurence Mansfield: Lottie Maude; Mary Elizabeth who dies in infancy and Charles Julian, Jr. |
|
|
Throughout his life his hobby was writing poetry and prose. He left a volume of unpublished verses and sketches. He was loved by family and friends for his kind and gentle manner and his faith in GOD to rule the world, to guide him and to provide for his needs and finally to be received by his Master.
** Post Script by Granddaughter, Loretta (Lewis) Dallas.
Genealogy is a factual report. It tells nothing of their child-hood; their sicknesses; their joy and laughter; their dreams and ambitions; their fears or loves or hates; their heartbreak and grief. |
|
|
| And so it goes down through the years. I hope in future generations there may be one who will make this report more interesting. I have enjoyed the time I have spent compiling this family history. I have done this page as a memorial to my Grandfather and Grandmother. I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone. In fact, he often said, "If you can't say something nice about someone, say nothing at all." |
|
|
|
Charles Julian Lewis
1869 - 1943 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Rose Mayfield was born on the 18th of December 1883 in Valley Mills, Texas to John Andrew Mayfield, Jr. and Simmie (Odle) Mayfield. Rose was the fourth of nine children named as follows: |
|
|
|
Fountain Tolbert; John Carter; George Isaac; Rose; Lillian; Mary Maude; Charlotte; Nannie Belle and Clara Helen Mayfield. |
|
|
| Grandmother was a "lady" in every sense of the word. She was raised by strict parents who did not believe in showing affection. Grandmother could not show affection either. In her later years she confided in me that she regretted not being able to "show" her love. |
|
|
| At the turn of the century (around 1900) Miss Rose Mayfield attended Texas Christian University which at that time was located at Waco, Texas. The University offered courses in Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts, Education and Business. In March 1910 a fire destroyed the main building. Fort Worth offered the institution a fifty - acre campus and $ 200,000 and the offer was accepted. |
|
|
| As a young lady, Miss Mayfield enjoyed painting with water-colours and I am fortunate to have inherited one of her paintings. Grandmother loved lilacs and pink minature tea roses. |
|
|
| She was a good help-mate and Mother, working along side her husband in the insurance and tax preparation business. She was quite frugal with the house-hold funds and left a sizable inheritance to her surviving children and grandchildren. (** a lesson to be learned perhaps - her life long dream of travelling around the world was never realized.) The money left instead to the heirs..!!! |
|
|
| I loved my Grandfather and Grandmother dearly. Grandmother insisted on being called "GRANDMOTHER" but found in her mementos was a greeting card from me saying, "Happy Easter with love to Grandma". |
|
|
| I was read to, as a child, by all the adults and I was always encouraged to read, which has been a habit that has served me well, my philosophy of life is "If you can read, you can DO anything ..." |
|
|
|
Rose Mayfield
1883 - 1969 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following is the introduction of Grandfather's book of Prose and Poetry.
"My Excuse"
For I feel I owe one to those who in my earlier days had greater aspirations for my future than the following pages would indicate..
The greater part of these rhymes were written during my boyhood or early manhood and at times that I felt myself enthused with an idea or sentiment peculiar to my age when lovesickness seeks an outlet for its tumultuous sensations...
Perhaps I dreamed in those days of fame as a poet or writer and listened with eager ears to those of my friends whose enthusiam was greater than their judgement, urging me to continue with my efforts with hopes of success..
But remembering my scant training in the literary profession and my financial out-look, which necessitated more direct results, I was induced (unwillingly) to descend from this fragrant and rosy atmosphere and take my place along with my fellows..
Perhaps this decision that my judgement directed is one of the strongest evidences (if indeed any other than this exhibit is necessary) that I did not possess that poetical genius that brings success at all odds..
Any how in the later days no thought of changing the trend of my lifes career has prompted me to arrange these little outbursts of my youthful sentiment, in a more convenient form for the perusal of my friends..
With these excuses , which preclude any ambition of mine that they meet with any special attention from the public , but merely to mark the epochs of my life in which only those who knew me would be concerned, I acknowledge authorship...
Charles J. Lewis
My Grandfathers favorite poet was Edgar A Guest. Mary Garren Morand has a beautiful page of "E.A.Guest" Poems on her web site which follows.... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
.gifs by
Mary G Morand at
*************A Beautiful Web With Heart*************
http://www.dnc.net/users/garrenmg
Genealogy of Loretta M. (Lewis) Dallas users Home Page
http://familytreemaker.com/users/d/a/l/Loretta-M-Dallas/
Web Page provider
www.geocities.com
Suggestions or comments e-mail me at
lmld@wcc.net |
|