P. W. Lewis

    P. W. Lewis was born in Johnson County, Indiana, February 17, 1830, and is one of ten children, four of whom are yet living, born to Thomas and Sarah (Ware) Lewis, natives respectively of Ohio and Virginia. The Wares were of Irish ancestors, but for many years they have been identified in Virginian history. Members of this family emigrated to Johnson County, Indiana, as early as 1815, and here the parents of P. W. Lewis first met and were married. Thomas Lewis was born near Chillicothe, Ohio; came with his parents to Indiana in 1820, and after his marriage with Sarah Ware, he and family, in 1847, moved to Independence, Warren County, and made their home until their respective deaths.

    P. W. Lewis learned the plaster's trade with Peter Laberdee, a son-in-law of the French trader, Cicott. He remained with him two years, then passed one year at Attica, perfecting himself for his business. In the spring of 1864, he located in Williamsport

    . In December, 1855, he married Sarah J. Schoonover, who was born on Independence Day, 1836, in Williamsport. Mrs. Lewis is descended from two of the oldest families of Warren County, viz: the Schoonover's and Chrisman's. Her father was Stephen Schoonover , who came to Warren county with his parents previous to 1830; and her mother was Sarah Chrisman, who came with her father, Peter Chrisman in 1832.

    P. W. Lewis has fought his way up from a poor boy to a successful retired tradesman. In 1864, he entered the Government's employ in the Assistant Quartermaster's Department, and during the time of his service had charge of sixty-four mechanics. He is one of the public-spirited men of Williamsport; is a strong advocate of all temperance principles., a Republican, a Mason; has served Warren County as Coroner a number of years, and in April, 1883, was appointed by Gov. Porter as Commissioner to represent Indiana in the National Mining and Industrial exposition to meet at Denver, Colorado, in July, 1883.

    Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had born to them two children, both of whom are now dead.

Source: Counties of Warren, Benton, Jasper and Newton, Indiana. Historical and Biographical. F.A. Battey & Co., 1883.