Mr. and Mr. Lew Lewis 50th Anniversary

LEWIS, JAHNKE

Posted By: Hancock County Genealogy Society
Date: 11/19/2017 at 16:54:42

Wedded 50 Years

Klemme - Mr. and Mrs. Lew Lewis, who were married on Dec. 28, 1886 at Clear Lake, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at their home at Klemme when a number of relatives and friends gathered for dinner and to spend the day at their home. Open house was held during the afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have six children, Charles of Long Beach, Cal., Gertrude Jahnke of Garden City, Minn., Henry, Verner and Ernest of Klemme and Holly.

Mr. Lewis, who is a Civil War veteran, was born in Onida county, New York state on Aug. 8, 1845. He moved with his parents to Beaver Dam, Wis., and when the war broke out he enlisted Oct. 12, 1861 at the age of 16. He was a member of Company C, 16th Wisconsin Volunteers and saw much active service. He participated in the battle of Shiloh and was with Sherman on the march to the sea. At one time he was taken prisoner and held in the dreaded Libby prison. He was honorable discharge from service Aug. 25, 1865.

Mr. Lewis came to Clear Lake in 1876, and he met the woman who was to be his bride there. Mrs. Lewis was born near Elkader, Clayton county on Dec. 17, 1868. Mr. Lewis came to Klemme in 1890, but Mrs. Lewis did not join him until the following year.

Mr. Lewis was a hunter for the Union Pacific railroad. Wild game was plentiful in the early days and Mr. Lewis relates how he hunted buffalo and antelope on foot in 1888. Ducks, crane, geese and prairie chicken were plentiful and fish were so abundant in Clear Lake that it was possible to make a living fishing for commercial markets. Mr. Lewis also states that there a few deer to be found in Iowa when he came.

source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 31 Dec 1936, page A9, column 5 (with photo)