Martin Elkanah Lewis

     Robert E. Lewis: Only child of William Lewis and Sarah F. Robertson. See William Lewis census records. Birthdate from memory of A. G. Lewis and R. Elmer Lewis Bible, recorded by Mrs. Hazel Lewis. Patrick Co VA Marriage Register gives marriage of M. E. Lewis, age 19, born in Rockingham Co NC, son of Wm & Sarah F. Lewis, to L. A. Mason, age 20, born Henry Co. VA, daughter of Christopher and R Mason. According to Tom Newman (as related to Robert Lewis, February 1994), Martin (sometimes called Elkaney) obtained a fairly good education. William Lewis helped supply money. Most of his education was obtained after he got married. He taught school in the winter and went to school in the summer. With Larkin Cochram and Frank Edwards, he built a school at Vesta. It went through the 7th grade. The building still stands (1994) 'on #58 at Vista and has been used as a dwelling for over 50 years.' He tried to build a high school also but could not get enough money and cooperation from others to do it. Martin E. also built, with Larkin Cochram, a Post Office and general store at Vesta. Both buildings are still standing (1994). At that time the community had not been named. Some persons wanted to call it 'Lewisville' because there were so many Lewis families there. Martin E. finally called it Vesta, which may have been a name drawn from Roman mythology. In his adulthood, Martin E. was a heavy man with about the same build as his son A.G. At some point, perhaps about 1886, Martin E. took his wife and sons Eugene, Luther, and Dorsey to St. Louis, where he had a teaching job. They stayed 4 years, then Letitia returned to Virginia, while Martin E. went to Texas. During the time in Missouri, Eugene met a girl and got married. According to Tom Newman, the marriage was not too good in the later years. Letitia wanted to be back in Virginia. William and Martin E. provided support for her in the later years. That Martin E. was home in VA at the time of his father's death, we know because he supplied the death certificate information to the state. Death date from family sources contradictery. Death given in Elmer Lewis Bible as 20 Feb 1919, according to Mrs. Hazel Lewis. Tom Newman gives death date as 21 Feb 1918 in Dallas TX.¹

Martin Elkanah Lewis was born on 5 December 1848 at Rockingham, North Carolina. He was the son of William Lewis and Sarah F. Robertson.

Martin was enumerated with William Lewis on the census of 16 September 1850 at Southern District, Patrick County, Virginia, as Elkanah Lewis. He is a 2 year old male.²

Martin was enumerated with William Lewis on the census of 28 June 1860 at Northern Divison, Patrick County, Virginia, as Martin Lewis. He is an 11 year old male born in Virginia.³

Martin Elkanah Lewis married Letitia A. Mason, daughter of Christopher Columbus Mason and Ruth Philpott, on 12 August 1868 at Patrick County, Virginia.

Martin is head of household on the census of 29 September 1870 at Smith River Township, Patrick County, Virginia, as Martin E. Lewis. He is a 21 year old white male born in North Carolina. He works on a farm and can read and write. He lives adjacent to his father, William Lewis. Enumerated with him were Letitia A. Mason and James Edgar Lewis.⁴

Reearch Note: On the Smiths River, Patrick County, Virgininia 1880 census is the Andrew J. Lewis property. This farm is nearly adjacent to the farms of Martin E. and William Lewis. Andrew J. Lewis is a 36 year old (b. circa 1844) married white male born in Virginia. His father was born in Virginia and his mother was born in North Carolina. He is a farmer. His wife is Mary J. Lewis 32 year old white female born in Virginian as were her parents. They have 6 children. The second youngest is Martin E. Lewis, a 2 year old white male born circa 1878 in Viginia. Ten years earlier, on the 1870 Smiths River district census, Andrew J. Lewis is found not far from the adjacent farms of Martin E and William Lewis. Andrew J. Lewis is a strong candidtate as a relative to William. Possibly a younger brother or perhaps a nephew. Further research is needed to determine the nature of this felationship.⁵

Martin is head of household on the census of 15 June 1880 at Smith River District, Patrick County, Virginia, as Martin E. Lewis. He is a 32 year old married white male born in Virgina. Both of his parents were born in North Carolina. He is a farmer and can read and write. He lives adjacent to his father, William Lewis. Enumerated with him were Aubrey Gordon Lewis, Luther Beamer Lewis, Virgil Mason Lewis, William Eugene Lewis, James Edgar Lewis, Letitia A. Mason and Ruth Philpott.⁶

Martin is head of household on the census of 11 June 1900 at Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, as Martin E. Lewis. He is a 50 year old married white male born in North Carolina Dec 1849. He has been in his present marriage for 30 years. Both of his parents were born in Virginia. He is a broom manufacturer and rents his home.⁷

18 Apr 1910 Dallas, Dallas County, Texas. Martin E. Lewis is enumerated as a boarder in the John Hunter household. John Hunter is a 79 year old married white male. He has been married twice and his present marriage is of 13 years. His wife is Lucy E. Hunter, a 32 year old white female born in West Virginia. She is the proprietor of a grocery store. Martin E. Lewis is a 61 year old white married male born in North Carolina. Both of his parents were born in Virginia. He has been in his present marriage for 40 years. He is a salesman for a grocery store.⁸

Martin Elkanah Lewis died on 19 February 1919 at Dallas, Texas, at age 70.