Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

Salmon Lewis, farmer. P.O. Harding, was born (September 23, 1833), reared and educated in Exeter township. He is a son of Levi C. and Hannah (Shay) Lewis, the former of whom was born in Connecticut, the latter in New Jersey. Levi C. was a son of Oliver, who was a native of Connecticut, and removed to this county about 1828, locating in Exeter township, on the farm now occupied by Alexander Swartwood. He was one of the first settlers in the town, and suffered all the hardships of pioneer life; but by honest labor and invessant activity, he suc-ceeded in a measure, in subduing the natural forest, causing it "to blossom as the rose." He reared a large family of thirteen children, who became sturdy farmers and the wives of farmers, who proved themselves worthy citizens of this county, causing the forest to give place to the golden grain, and the rude log cabin to give way to a more pretentious dwelling house. Oliver Lewis lived to be eighty-six years of age. Levi C., his son, removed from Connecticut, his place of birth, to New Jersey, where he lived for several years. During his residence there he was married to Miss Hannah Shay, by whom he had nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, and four of whom are now living: Rev. J.S., Salmon, Vincent L. and Giles B. In early life he followed the carpenters trade, at which he worked for a number of years. In 1830 he removed from New Jersey, to Exeter, purchasing about four hundred acres of land, 120 of which were cleared during his lifetime. He was a hard-working man who, by honest labor, became a successful farmer. While he was not a leading politician in the town, yet his influence was felt in his party. He was a leading man in the M.E. Church, holding the office of steward and class-leader in that body. He took a special interest in the advancement of the Gospel, and was the leading spirit in the erection of the church building at Mount Zion. He made ample provision for all his children, his estate being divided between them previous to his death, which occurred in September, 1881, at the age of eighty-two years. Salmon is the fifth member of his family in order of birth, and always followed farming as his natural calling, though in early life he taught school very acceptably and successfully for over ten years. He married April 7,1859, Miss Clarinda, daugh-ter of Abiath and Lucretia Shippey. By this union there were born seven children, four of whom are now living; Eva, Emma, Levi S. and Arthur. Emma has been teaching school with great success. In 1859 Mr. Lewis removed to Kansas, where he purchased a farm of 330 acres, on which he reisded for six years. He then, in 1865, returned to Exeter and pruchased eighty-five acres of the old homestead, on which he has erected fine buildings and outhouses, capable of accommodation his large dairy. Mr. Lewis is a wide-awake farmer, who looks after the interest of "Sol," and keeps well abreast of the times. He is a man of influence in his neigh-borhood and an active worker in the Grange. His special line of farming is vegeta-bles, dairying and fruit culture. Besides the farm on which he lives, he owns 265 acres in Wyoming county, on which Peter Harris settled in 1798. Mr. Lewis is a practical man as well as a practical farmer. Politically he is a Republican.

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

1. Eva LEWIS b. 1861, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
2. Emma LEWIS b. 1863, Kansas.
3. Levi Sh. LEWIS b. 1866, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
4. 1. Arthur LEWIS b. 1879, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.

[levi_chapman_lewis.ged]

"Levi Chapman Lewis, second son (?), and child of Oliver Lewis and his wife, Eunice Chapman, was born April, 1798, in Connecticut. He was reared in Orange Co., New York... He removed to Sussex County, New Jersey, where he learned the trade of carpenter, and after completing his apprenticeship came to Exeter Twp., about the year 1828, accompanied by his two brothers, walking the entire distance. He was an expert carpenter and there built a mill for Mr. Sutton, from whom he purchases land consisting of four hundren and fifty acres, and with his brothers was engaged in building mills, large buildings, etc., in the district.... in Sussex New Jersey he married Hannah Shay, born in that county daughter of Ephraim Shay, and they were the parents of nine children. "

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

1. Amanda LEWIS b. Between 1834 and 1835, Pennsylvania; d. Bef 1880.
2. Joshua (Rev.) Shay LEWIS b. 18 Jan 1829, Pennsylvania; d. Aft 1880, Probably in Forty Forts, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
3. 2. Salmon LEWIS b. 23 Sep 1833, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; d. 1911.
4. Ruhamah LEWIS b. 1835, New Jersey; d. Aft 1880.
5. Levi Vincent LEWIS b. Between 1843 and 1844, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; d. Aft 1880.
6. Giles B. LEWIS b. Between 1845 and 1846, Pennsylvania; d. Aft 1880.
7. Sarah E. LEWIS b. Between 1830 and 1831, Pennsylvania.
8. George LEWIS b. Between 1837 and 1838, Pennsylvania.

[levi_chapman_lewis.ged]

From the Wyoming and Lackawanna Valleys History: "Both his parents and all four grandparents are direct descendants of John Lewis, the founder of this family in America. Oliver Lewis resided some years in his native town and there married Eunice Chapman, and they were the parents of fourteen children: Oliver a blacksmith by trade, but was better known as the weeping prophet. He traveled on horseback throughout the Wyoming Valley, and as a result of his labors hundreds of men were converted.... The family removed to Orange County, New York, where death claimed his loving wife an dhelpmate. Subsequently he removed to Exeter Township, six miles above West Pittston, Pennsylvania. Here Oliver Lewis and his children resided, and here he died."

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

Source: Please cite original sources.
Compiled by: J. K. Loren

1. Oliver (Rev.) "The Weeping Prophet" LEWIS b. Abt 1797, Connecticut; d. Abt 1873, Pennsylvania.
2. 4. Levi Chapman LEWIS b. Apr 1798, Connecticut; d. Sep 1881, Exeter Township (now Franklin), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
3. Joseph LEWIS b. Abt 1800.
4. George LEWIS b. Abt 1802.
5. John LEWIS b. Abt 1805.
6. Rumulah LEWIS b. 1806, New York; d. Aft 1880.
7. Simeon LEWIS b. 14 Nov 1807, New York; d. 31 May 1883, Wiliams Pond, Bridgewater Twp., Susq. Co., Pa; bur. Williams Pond Cemetery, Bridgewater Twp., Susq. Co., Pa.
8. William LEWIS b. Aft 1808.
9. Nathan LEWIS b. Abt 1810, Orange County, New York.
10. Robert D. LEWIS b. Aft 1811, Exeter Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
11. Sally A. LEWIS b. 23 Jun 1819, New York (Probably Orange County); d. 7 Aug 1885, Franklin Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.