John F. Lewis was born on the "Lynnwood" plantation in rural Rockingham County, Virginia, a son of Samuel Hance Lewis (1794–1869) and Nancy Cameron Lewis (1795–1841). He attended a private school and farmed as a young man. He owned one 25 year old enslaved mulatto woman in 1850.[1] He (or nore likely another John Lewis who married a woman named Amanda in Rockingham District 1) owned 8 slaves in 1860.
Lewis married Serena Helen Sheffey (1823–1901) in October 1842, and they raised two sons and four daughters. Daniel Sheffey Lewis (1843-1912) became a newspaperman as well as served for many years as treasurer of the city of Harrisonburg, and became one of the state's most prominent Republicans. His brother John Francis Lewis Jr. (1860-1915), survived him but committed suicide after suffering a stroke and learning he would not heal completely.
Careeredit
He was a delegate to the Virginia secessionconvention in 1861, but refused to sign the ordinance of secession. He was the only member from east of the Allegheny Mountains that refused to endorse the document.
During the Civil War, portions of the Battle of Port Republic were fought on his family's land.
Lewis was an unsuccessful Union Party candidate for Congress in 1865. He was elected as Virginia's lieutenant governor in 1869 and served from October 5 of that year until January 1, 1870. Upon the readmission of Virginia to representation in the U.S. Congress, Lewis was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from January 26, 1870, to March 4, 1875. He served on the Committee on the District of Columbia in the Forty-third Congress. He was not a candidate for reelection as the Republicans had already become a minority party by 1874[2] and wouldn't control either house on their own in Virginia for the rest of the 19th century.
john, lewis, john, francis, lewis, march, 1818, september, 1895, american, planter, politician, from, rockingham, county, virginia, represented, rockingham, county, whig, during, virginia, secession, convention, 1861, refused, sign, final, document, twice, ser. John Francis Lewis March 1 1818 September 2 1895 was an American planter and politician from Rockingham County Virginia He represented Rockingham County as a Whig during the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 and refused to sign the final document and twice served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia following the American Civil War and represented Virginia as a Republican in the United States Senate during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War John Francis Lewis9th and 14th Lieutenant Governor of VirginiaIn office January 1 1882 January 1 1886GovernorWilliam E CameronPreceded byJames A WalkerSucceeded byJohn E MasseyIn office October 5 1869 January 1 1870GovernorGilbert Carlton WalkerPreceded byLeopold C P CowperSucceeded byJohn Lawrence Marye Jr United States Senatorfrom VirginiaIn office January 26 1870 March 4 1875Preceded byLemuel J BowdenSucceeded byRobert E WithersPersonal detailsBorn 1818 03 01 March 1 1818Lynnwood VirginiaDiedSeptember 2 1895 1895 09 02 aged 77 Lynnwood VirginiaPolitical partyRepublican Contents 1 Early and family life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 External linksEarly and family life editJohn F Lewis was born on the Lynnwood plantation in rural Rockingham County Virginia a son of Samuel Hance Lewis 1794 1869 and Nancy Cameron Lewis 1795 1841 He attended a private school and farmed as a young man He owned one 25 year old enslaved mulatto woman in 1850 1 He or nore likely another John Lewis who married a woman named Amanda in Rockingham District 1 owned 8 slaves in 1860 Lewis married Serena Helen Sheffey 1823 1901 in October 1842 and they raised two sons and four daughters Daniel Sheffey Lewis 1843 1912 became a newspaperman as well as served for many years as treasurer of the city of Harrisonburg and became one of the state s most prominent Republicans His brother John Francis Lewis Jr 1860 1915 survived him but committed suicide after suffering a stroke and learning he would not heal completely Career editHe was a delegate to the Virginia secession convention in 1861 but refused to sign the ordinance of secession He was the only member from east of the Allegheny Mountains that refused to endorse the document During the Civil War portions of the Battle of Port Republic were fought on his family s land Lewis was an unsuccessful Union Party candidate for Congress in 1865 He was elected as Virginia s lieutenant governor in 1869 and served from October 5 of that year until January 1 1870 Upon the readmission of Virginia to representation in the U S Congress Lewis was elected as a Republican to the United States Senate and served from January 26 1870 to March 4 1875 He served on the Committee on the District of Columbia in the Forty third Congress He was not a candidate for reelection as the Republicans had already become a minority party by 1874 2 and wouldn t control either house on their own in Virginia for the rest of the 19th century He returned home and was appointed by Presidents Ulysses S Grant and Rutherford B Hayes as the United States Marshal for the western district of Virginia 1875 1882 when he resigned Lewis was again elected lieutenant governor in 1881 alongside Readjuster Party candidate William E Cameron and served with him from 1882 to 1886 After his term no Republican served as Virginia s lieutenant governor until John N Dalton served from 1974 to 1978 He retired from politics after his term and resumed farming Death and legacy editLewis died at Lynnwood in Rockingham County Virginia He was buried in the family burial ground on the plantation References edit 1850 U S Federal Census Slave Schedule for District 56 and a half Rockingham County Virginia p 9 of 11 on ancestry com The Republican Party of Virginia in the Nineteenth Century www encyclopediavirginia org External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John F Lewis New York Times obituary for John F Lewis September 3 1895 Biographic sketch at U S Congress website Encyclopedia Virginia entry on the Lieutenant GovernorshipPolitical officesPreceded byLeopold C P Cowper Lieutenant Governor of Virginia1869 1870 Succeeded byJohn L Marye Jr Preceded byJames A Walker Lieutenant Governor of Virginia1882 1886 Succeeded byJ E Parson MasseyU S SenatePreceded byLemuel J Bowden U S senator Class 1 from VirginiaJanuary 26 1870 March 4 1875 Served alongside John W Johnston Succeeded byRobert E Withers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John F Lewis amp oldid 1157170264, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
