Fresno County, California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm


ALLIE T. LEWIS. � A native son who, as a successful ranchman, stock- 
man, dairyman and breeder of registered Poland-China swine, has done much 
to advance the best interests of California agriculture, is Allie T. Lewis, who 
has twenty-four registered brood sows and one of the best Poland-China 
boars ever brought to California. It is from the celebrated prize-taking Po- 
land-China boar, "Iowa Wonder," which is everywhere recognized among 
Poland-China breeders as a world-champion. 

Born on October 14, 1888, near where Riverdale now stands, Mr. Lewis 
is the only son of John B. Lewis, an esteemed resident of Fresno who was 
once well-known as a pioneer in the Riverdale sector and an extensive rancher 
and breeder of thoroughbred cattle and hogs. He was born in Bond County, 
Ill., in 1862, the son of Alfred and Rhoda (Powell) Lewis, who early came 
from North Carolina. In Illinois he engaged in agriculture until his death in 
1879 at the age of forty-five. Mrs. Lewis, who was the mother of nine chil- 
dren, lived for a while in Selma. John B. Lewis, after availing himself of a 
limited common school education, remained at home until the beginning of 
the eighties, when he came west to California, accompanied by his mother. 
In the course of six years he was able to set himself up in the stock business 
in the Riverdale district, and there he lived until he purchased forty acres, 
nine miles west of Laton. Later he acquired for grazing 700 acres. With a 
dairy of forty cows, he became one of the leading dairymen of the county. 
While at Gilroy, he was married to Miss Nannie A. Turner, a native of Mon- 
terey County and a daughter of James H. Turner, who crossed the great 
plains to California in 1849 and again in 1852. He was a stock-raiser in Mon- 
terey County, but when he moved to Santa Clara County, he followed general 
farming. In 1883 she came to Fresno County to teach, taught three years in 
the Riverdale district, and also a year each in Santa Clara and Butte Counties. 
Mr. Lewis was one of the stockholders and first promoters of the Farmers' 
telephone line. Mrs. R. M. Cushman is the only sister of Allie T. Lewis and 
she lives on the old J. B. Lewis place adjoining the Alfred Lewis ranch on 
the east. 

Alfred, or Allie Lewis attended the public schools of his locality, and at 
twenty-one he was married to Miss Ruby Pritchard, of Riverdale, by whom 
he has had three children : Vivian, Alyne and Johnny. 

Mr. Lewis' ranch consists of 220 acres, and he milks thirty milk cows, 
and usually raises at least 600 head of hogs a year. He takes naturally 
to the work of the cow-boy, whose dress he often adopts ; and he spends a 
good deal of time in the saddle. Mrs. Lewis shares his interest in the prob- 
lems of the day and contributes what she can of time and effort to help along 
all worthy movements for the betterment of the neighborhood.