Person:Fletcher Lewis (1)

Fletcher D. Lewis (Information obtained from Mississippi Vol., III) Page 452 by Rowland

Fletcher D. Lewis of Woodville is one of the representative citizens and successful planters of Wilkinson County, and is a scion of one of the most honored pioneer families of this count, where his father took up his abode more than a century ago. Mr Lewis was born in Woodville, Miss., January 10, 1884, being the son of John S. Lewis and Eunice W. (Higgins) Lewis, the former of whom was born in Virginia in 1780 and the latter of whom was born in Frenchmans Bay, Hancock County, Maine. John S Lewis was a child at the time of his parents removal from the Old Dominion to Kentucky, where he was reared to manhood. He made several trips to New Orleans of flatboat, down the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and returned home on horseback, passing through Mississippi. The first trip of this sort was made in 1794, when he was but fourteen years of age, and about 1800 he took up his residence in the little hamlet of Woodville, Wilkison county, Mississippi, where he passed the remainder of his life, having acquired much land in this locality, and having been one of these influential and honored pioneers of the state. He was a colonel in the Saminole war and was prominent in public and civic affairs in the early days. He died in 1848 and his wife survived him by a number of years. Fletcher D Lewis was about two years of age at the time of his fathers death, and was reared with solicitous care by his devoted mother. After leaving the school in his home town he entered the Contenary College of Jackson, La., where he was a member of the sophomore class at the time of the initiation of the Civil War. He forthwith enlisted in the confederate army becoming a member of Company K Sixteenth Mississippi Infantry with which he joined the fighting forces in Virginia, participating in the engagements at Front Royal, Port Republic and the valley campaign of Stonewall Jackson, Mr. and the seven days fight before Richmond, and the battle of Fredericksburg, Second Manassa, Sharpsburg or Antietam, Chanscellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, in the "bloody angle" Petersburg and a number of engagements of minor importance. He was wounded in front of Petersburg 1864 and was home on Crutches at the time of the final surrender. He returned to his native country after the close of his service, and has been ever since identified with agricultural pursuits, being the owner of a well improved plantation of about 3,500 acres, while he is held in high esteem in the county which has figured as his home throughout life. He is a stanch Democrat, and served two terms and part of an unexpired term in the office of public trust. He is a member of the United Confederate Veterans and maintains a lively interest in his comrades of the Civil War On May 7, 1865 Mr. Lewis wed Miss Mary E Harris, daughter of Rev. Henry J and Nancy N.(Rogors) Harris, the father being a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. and concerning the children of this union, the following data is entered- Dr William H is engaged in the practice of medicine in Fayette, Miss., Fletcher Jr and John S are deceased, Nannie E. is the wife of Henderson Aa Magruder of Woodville. Lyttleton is serving as treasurer of Wilkinson County, and Sidney M., is Deceased, and Mrs. Lewis are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

-Part of the Biographical and historical memoirs of Mississippi Volume 1 published by the godspead publishing company of Chicago in 1891. The infomation begins with Colonel John South Lewis, Son of Aaron Lewis, of Kentucky and Virginia.

Fletcher D. was born in Woodville, Mississippi, where he was reared, and while being educated at Centenary College, La., and in the freshman class, the first company for the war was organized at Woodville known as the Wilkinson rifles. He and his brother William H.H. came home at once to join them and went into the company a short time afterwards at Corinth, Miss., and four weeks latter was ordered to Virginia** After the war he returned to Wilkinson county, and was married to Mary E. Harris, daughter of Rev. H.J. and Nancy Harris, natives of Mississippi. To Mr. and Mrs Lewis were born five children one of whom is deceased. Mr Lewis was elected Sheriff of Wilkinson county in 1885, which office he still holds to the entire satisfaction of the people. He takes no special parts in politics more than express the right of suffrage and to keep himself posted. Mr and Mrs Lewis are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are very highly respected.