On the roster of Nemaha county's officials appears the name of John B. Lewis in connection with the office of mayor, which is an indication of his popularity and prominence, and he is also serving as the station and ticket agent for the Burlington Railroad at Brownville. He was born in Atchison county, Missouri, February 22, 1869, and his education was received in the schools of Brownville, Nebraska. On the 30th of April, 1891, at Vesta, this state, he began his railroad career as a station agent, and there he also learned the art of telegraphy. At Vesta, on the 14th of September, 1892, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Hardenberg, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, August 29, 1874, a daughter of H. D. and Anna (Coe) Hardenberg, the former a native of New York. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hardenberg located in Vesta, Nebraska, where they engaged in mercantile business and in 1900 located in Osceola, Iowa, where they now reside. They became the parents of four children, three daughters and a son, namely: Mrs. Lewis; Edna, who is employed as a saleswoman; Alora, a stenographer in Dexter, Iowa; and Newton, the proprietor of a barber shop in Osceola. Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, -- Nevada, Vesta and Viola, aged, respectively, ten, eight and four years. The family reside in a pleasant, two-story brick residence in Brownville, which has been their home since the spring of 1902, but they have resided in this city since December, 1893, at which time Mr. Lewis was transferred from Vesta.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Lewis is a Master Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias. His political support is given to the Republican party, and as its representative he is now serving his second term as the mayor of Brownville, while for eight years he was a member of the city council for two terms president of the school board. Mr. Lewis is a well informed man, and enjoys the high regard of railroad officials, patrons and the citizens of Nemaha county.
© 1999, Lori L. Laird, NEGenWeb Project