California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


JAMES SYLVANUS LEWIS. The identification of James Sylvanus Lewis, an esteemed and highly 
honored citizen of Tulare county, with the progress and development of this section of the 
state of California is not exceeded by that of any other pioneer. He was born among the prim- 
itive scenes of the early days, reared through boyhood to an understanding of the privations 
and hardships of pioneer life, and in manhood bent his every energy and effort, not alone to a 
personal success, but to a material upbuilding of the state that claimed his allegiance. 

The Lewis family came originally of southern stock, Kentucky being their home for many years. 
There Samuel Lewis, the grandfather of James S., was born, grew to manhood and became prom- 
inent in public affairs, serving as county judge for some years. He finally removed to Jackson 
county, Mo., where he served in the same capacity, and in 1849 became a pioneer of Cali- 
fornia. He spent a few years in Amador county, thence, with the Harrells, about 1853, came 
to Tulare county. He engaged as a stockman on the Tule river, where he became owner of a 
large ranch six miles west of Portersville, the first house on the place being built from timber 
which he split and dressed for the purpose. His death occurred in that location in 1872, at an 
advanced age. His son, Joseph Lewis, a native of Kentucky, accompanied his father to Missouri, 
where he was married. In 1849 ' ne crossed the plains to California by means of ox teams, lo- 
cating in Amador county, where he mined until 1855. In that year he located in Tulare county 
and became interested in stock-raising, entering a ranch on the Tule river six miles west of Por- 
tersville. In 1859 he moved his family to the ranch, where he followed stock-raising. After 
the passage of the no-fence law he engaged in grain-raising, purchasing land until he owned 
three hundred and twenty acres. This he afterward disposed of and bought one hundred and 
sixty acres one mile east of Portersville, where he continued to follow general farming and stock- 
raising. Disposing of that property also, he then purchased a farm on the Upper Tule, seven miles 
east of Portersville, where his death occurred October 17, 1904, at the age of eighty years. He 
was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and politically cast his ballot with the Democratic 
party. His wife, formerly Ellen Allen, a native of Missouri, survives him, now residing on the 
old homestead at the age of seventy-four years. Of their nine children, of whom four are living, 
James Sylvanus is the eldest, and was born in Jackson, Amador county, June 25, 1855. 

From the year 1859 the home of James Sylvanus Lewis has been in Tulare county. He first 
attended the Oak Grove school, which building was put up through the efforts of his father 
and several neighbors, and later studied in the school at Piano. He remained at home until at- 
taining his majority, when he began general farming and stock-raising for himself. In 1876 he 
purchased his present property, a mile and three-quarters northeast of Portersville, which 
was all wild land and open plain, antelope and various animals abounding. He at once began 
the work of improvement and cultivation, putting up adequate buildings, setting out trees and 
in time making his ranch a credit to the county. He now has seven hundred and twenty acres, 
which is known as the Hillside Slope farm. In 1891 he set out ten acres of navel oranges and 
later eight acres more, besides which he engages in the cultivation of grain and in stock-raising. 
His farm is irrigated from the Pioneer ditch, of which company he was one of the organizers, 
and for many years acted as a director. He is also interested in the Portersville Water & Develop- 
ment Company, of which he is director and the president. 

In Visalia Mr. Lewis was united in marriage with Mrs. Emma (Strout) Sibley, a native of Maine 
and the daughter of Elijah and Mary A. (Tyler) Strout. Her father was a contractor and resided 
near Lewiston, Me., where both he and his wife died. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lewis, 
Elijah Strout, was a native of Maine, and of German descent. He served as a soldier in the war 
of 1812 and left an honored name to his descendants. By her first marriage Mrs. Lewis became 
the mother of two children, Wilfred S. Sibley and Mrs. Angela M. Tyler, of Portersville. Mrs. 
Lewis is a member of the Baptist Church. Fraternally Mr. Lewis was made a Mason in Portersville 
Lodge No. 303, and also belongs to Portersville Chapter, R. A. M. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.