James Taylor Lewis
Order 19th
Office 1Governor of Wisconsin
Lieutenant 1Wyman Spooner
Term start 1January 4, 1864
Term end 1January 1, 1866
Predecessor 1Edward Salomon
Successor 1Lucius Fairchild
Order 27th
Office 2Secretary of State of Wisconsin
Governor 2Louis P. Harvey
Edward Salomon
Term start 2January 6, 1862
Term end 2January 5, 1864
Predecessor 2Louis Harvey
Successor 2Lucius Fairchild
Order 34th
Office 3Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin
Governor 3William Barstow
Term start 3January 2, 1854
Term end 3January 7, 1856
Predecessor 3Timothy Burns
Successor 3Arthur MacArthur Sr.
State 4Wisconsin
State senate 4Wisconsin
District 425th
Term start 4January 3, 1853
Term end 4January 2, 1854
Predecessor 4Position Established
Successor 4John Q. Adams
State assembly 5Wisconsin
District 5Columbia
Term start 5January 5, 1852
Term end 5January 3, 1853
Predecessor 5William T. Bradley
Successor 5Orrin D. Coleman
Birth nameJames Taylor Lewis
Birth dateOctober 30, 1819
Birth placeClarendon, New York, U.S.
Death dateAugust 5, 1904 (aged 84)
Death placeColumbus, Wisconsin, U.S.
Resting placeHillside Cemetery
Columbus, Wisconsin
PartyRepublican
Democratic (before 1861)
SpouseOrlina M. Sturgis
FatherShubael Lewis
MotherEleanor (Robertson) Lewis
Professionlawyer, politician

James Taylor Lewis (October 30, 1819 – August 5, 1904) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the ninth governor of Wisconsin (1864–1866). Prior to his election as governor, he was the seventh secretary of State of Wisconsin (1862–1864) and the fourth lieutenant governor of Wisconsin (1854–1856), and served one year each in the Wisconsin State Senate (1853) and Assembly (1852).[1]

Early life

Lewis was born in Clarendon in Orleans County, New York, to Shubael Lewis and his first wife, Eleanor (née Robertson).[2] His father was a farmer and colonel in the New York State militia, and came to own large estates in New York and Wisconsin Territory. James Lewis was the third of four sons, his brothers were William L. Lewis, Shubael R. Lewis, and Hiram W. Lewis.[3] His mother died in 1834, and his father's second wife, Parna Nichols, assisted in raising him.[4]

He received a common school education and completed a course of English and classical study at Clarkson Academy and Clinton Seminary. He was interested from an early age in military affairs, and participated in the New York Militia. He was made a sergeant in 1838, and, in 1840, was made a lieutenant in the 215th Regiment. In 1842, he began studying law at Clarkson, New York, under Henry R. Selden,[2] who later became Lieutenant Governor of New York. After completing his studies, he was offered a legal partnership in Clinton, New York, but declined. He instead chose to move west to the Wisconsin Territory and established himself at Columbus, which remained his principal residence for the rest of his life.[4]

Career

He taught school briefly in the district schools around Clarkson. In 1842, he began the study of law with former New York lieutenant governor Henry R. Selden.[3] In 1845 he moved to what is now Columbus, Wisconsin, where he was admitted to the bar.

Between 1846 and 1852, Lewis held the positions of district attorney and county judge and was elected to terms in both the Wisconsin State Assembly and the State Senate. He was also a member or the Wisconsin Constitutional Convention of 1847–1848, representing Columbia County. Lewis was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Columbus (Columbia Lodge #40)[citation needed] and served as Noble Grand of the Lodge in 1851. He also served as the fourth Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin from 1854 to 1856, Wisconsin secretary of state from 1862 to 1864.[2]

Nominated by the Union Republicans for governor, Lewis was elected and served as Governor of Wisconsin from January 6, 1864, until January 5, 1866. He was the last Wisconsin governor to hold the office during the Civil War.[5] and was concerned during his tenure with providing sufficient troops for the Civil War and helping to protect them and their dependents. He visited troops in the field and helped establish hospitals in Wisconsin for the care of the wounded. Refusing renomination in 1865, he was offered a diplomatic post by President Lincoln, but chose instead to return to his law practice in Columbus.

Death and legacy

Lewis died in Columbus, Wisconsin, on August 4, 1904.[2] He is interred at Hillside Cemetery, Columbus, Columbia County, Wisconsin. His former home, now known as the Gov. James T. Lewis House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[6]

Family life

Lewis married Orlina M. Sturgis, of Clarkson, New York, in 1845.[2] They had four children together, though their first son died in infancy. He named his second son Selden, in honor of his law instructor, Henry R. Selden. His third son, Charles, was named for Charles D. Robinson.[4]

His elder brother, Shubael R. Lewis, won esteem at the Battle of Chapultepec in the Mexican–American War.[4]

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ White 1904, p. 75.
  2. ^ "War Governor off State Dead; James T. Lewis Died Yesterday in Columbus. Was Honored by Laurence; Was in Public Life From Early Manhood and Has Served the State Well. A Friend of the Soldiers.". The Post-Crescent. August 5, 1904. Page 8, column 1. Retrieved April 10, 2024. – via Newspapers.com
  3. ^ Sobel & Raimo 1978, p. 1727.
  4. ^ The United States Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-made Men. Vol. Wisconsin. Chicago: American Biographical Publishing Company. 1877. pp. 5–7. Retrieved March 23, 2021. – via Internet Archive
  5. ^ "Lewis, Gov. James Taylor 1819-1904". Dictionary of Wisconsin History. Wisconsin Historical Society. Archived October 5, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Homes of Governors". Archived May 27, 2014 at the Wayback Machine.

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