OBITUARY: John Lewis; Prattsburgh, Steuben co., NY surname: Lewis, Johnson, Vrooman submitted by Karen Griffin (keg522 @ aol.com) *********************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/ny/nyfiles.htm *********************************************************************** From Scrapbooks, Vol. 9, p. 50 - Davenport Library, Bath, NY "Prattsburgh News" (1876) Mr. John Lewis died at the residence of his son-in-law Mr. H. A. Johnson in this village on Friday morning, August 4th aged 84 years. Mr. Lewis was born in Montgomery county in this State, January 24, 1792, and married Miss Clarissa Vrooman, December 24, 1816. Three years after their marriage they came to this town to carve out a home in this then wilderness country. Their selection was four miles west of the village, and at that time nearly the exact centre of this town. Here they continued to reside for more than 30 years, during which period Mr. Lewis was honored by successive elections to responsible town offices, and in the discharge of his public trust and as a neighbor he gained the confidence and esteem of those with whom he held business and social relations. During these years he reared and educated a family of six sons and three daughters, from whom the kind offices growing from the tenderest ties of family and kindred made the declining years of his life most peaceful and happy. Through the discreet example, and wise counsel of those parents, their numerous family were trained to fill important places in business interests of this and other towns. For the past 23 years Mr. Lewis has resided in this village and been in declining health, so much so as to unfit him for active labor or business occupation. For more than 40 years he has been a believer in the Gospel plan of salvation, and a stable member of the Presbyterian church. The support of the ministry of the church and the temporal means of grace have at all times met with his approval and ready response. His life though quiet and unobtrusive, has been honored by the strongest ties of kindred, his children having done all that affection could suggest during the decline that brought him down to the grave. As a husband, father and neighbor, Mr. Lewis best illustrated his earthly mission, and will longest be held in fond remembrance. His funeral was attended on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. A large circle of children, nephews, nieces, and one brother, being present to pay their last regards to his memory, and offer the confidence which grows from sympathy to the stricken widow.