JAMES B. LEWIS, editor of the Marion County Democrat, is a man of strong convictions and docs not hesitate to express them freely and frankly and with all the vigor he can command. He has devoted his best energies to the work of making a newspaper that should educate its constituency and be a potent factor in the upbuilding of city and county. This he is accomplishing, and the journal which owes its strength and high position to his genius is read far and wide.
Mr. Lewis is a native of Kentucky and the son of Orin M. Lewis, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., August 30, 1826. The latter was a finely educated gentleman, graduating from Alfred Center College in 1846. In 1847 he enlisted as a private and served in the war with Mexico until peace was declared. He taught school for a number of years and at different times was principal of the schools in Maysville, Carlisle, and other cities in Kentucky.
About 1848 the father of our subject removed to Ohio, making his home in Dayton. The following year he returned to the Blue Grass State, and was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth F. Hibler March 1, 1849. Mrs. Lewis was born in Nicholas County, Ky., January 14, 1833, and after her marriage continued to reside there until September, 1863, when she came with her children to Marion County, this state, and is still residing near Patoka.
In 1861 O. M. Lewis entered the ranks of the Union army, being commissioned Captain of Company II, Eighteenth Kentucky Infantry. He had one brother in the ranks of the northern army, but three brothers-in-law who fought for the south. While engaged in battle at Richmond, Ky., August 30, 1862, the father of our subject, with about eight hundred others of his regiment, was killed. His widow was married to George E. Binnion, of Patoka, September 15, 1866, and by that union has become the father of four children, three of whom are now living.
The parental family included seven members,of whom Louisa L., our subject and Anna J. are living. The elder daughter is the wife of J. W. Davidson, of Patoka, while Anna J. (now Mrs. James A. Burns) makes her home in California.
Our subject was born November 14, 1853, in Nicholas County, Ky., and was a lad of ten years when, on the death of his father, the family removed to Illinois. He possesses a fine education, having been a student in the Irvington Agricultural College in 1871, and finished his education at Milton College, in Wisconsin, in 1874. Professor Whitford, of the latter institution, was an old friend of his father while residing in New York.
For some years after completing his education our subject taught school in various parts of Marion County and at the same time carried on his medical studies. In 1878 he was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, immediately commencing practice in Patoka. He was very successful in his calling, for six years being one of the best physicians in the county.
In 1884, having been elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, Dr. Lewis abandoned the practice of medicine, and after serving in that oflicial capacity for four years, in February, 1889, established his present paper, for the successful carrying on of which he seems to be peculiarly fitted. For a period of five years Mr. Lewis was engaged in the drug business in Patoka in company with Dr. T. N. Livesay.
September 12, 1877, our subject and Miss Mona I. Quayle,the daughter of Thomas H. and Rebecca (demons) Quayle, were united in marriage. The father of Mrs. Lewis was born in Kirk Bride, Isle of Man, March 17, 1831, while her mother is a native of Indiana, having been born in Clark County, January 25, 1835.
Thomas H. Quayle during the Civil War was Captain of Company B, Ninetythird Indiana Volunteers, enlisted August 12, 1862, and after three years of hard service came out of the conflict unharmed. With his good wife he is at present residing in Patoka Township, this county, where the family located while the war was in progress.
Mrs. Lewis was born March 11, 1858, in Seymour, Ind., and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four children, Anna L., Orin M., Thomas O.and Owen W.
In social affairs Mr. Lewis is a prominent Mason, being connected with Marion Lodge No. 130. He was Senior Warden of Patoka Lodge No. 613 in 1884, and at the present time is a member of Mt. Olive Lodge No. 114, 1. O. O. F., at Salem, in which order he has occupied all the chairs. He is Chief Patriarch of Olive Branch Encampment No. 156, and in the numerous orders with which he is connected takes a great interest.
He is a member of the Illinois Citizens' Mutual Protective Association, and in politics always votes with the "Democratic party. He lias frequently served as a delegate to state and county conventions, and at all times works for the furtherance of his party's interest.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois"
Chapman Publishing Co, Chicago, 1894
Pages 269 - 270
Submitted by Sandy (Whalen) Bauer