California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

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


 JOHN B. LEWIS. A native of Illinois. J. B. Lewis was born in Bond county. November 13, 1862, a son of 
Alfred and Rhoda (Powell) Lewis. The father was born in North Carolina, but at a very early day 
removed with his parents to Illinois, where he later became engaged in agricultural pursuits, which 
occupation he followed until his death in 1879, at the age of forty-five years. His wife, who was born in 
Tennessee, is still living and makes her home in Selma. By her marriage she became the mother of nine 
children, six sons and three daughters. 

John B. Lewis obtained a limited common school education and remained at home until 1880 when he 
came to California with his mother. Six years later he engaged in the stock business on his own account 
in the Riverdale district, where he lived until purchasing his present fine property of forty acres, nine 
miles west of Laton. To this he has lately added seven hundred acres, most of which is used for grazing 
purposes, Mr. Lewis being extensively interested in the cattle business. He also conducts a dairy of 
forty cows, being one of the leading dairymen in the county. 

In Gilroy, Santa Clara county, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lewis and Miss Nannie A. Turner. Mrs. 
Lewis was born in Monterey county and a daughter of James H. Turner, who came to California across 
the plains in 1849, and again in 1852. He was a stock-raiser in Monterey county and followed general 
farming in Santa Clara county. In 1883 she went to Fresno county and engaged in teaching in the 
Riverdale district and remained three years. She also taught one year in Santa Clara county and one in 
Butte county, when she returned to Santa Clara county, where her marriage occurred. To this union 
have been born two children : Alfred T., and Tina, both of whom are living at home. 

A Democrat in politics, Mr. Lewis is one of the active workers of that party in the county. Although he 
has never desired public office, he has served as road overseer for the past five years and during this 
time has constructed many miles of splendid road. Public-spirited to a large degree, any movement 
calculated to be of material benefit to the county receives his hearty endorsement. He was one of the 
promoters and is a stockholder in the Farmers' telephone line and is also interested in many other 
enterprises of like nature. As for his business ventures, they have been successful and he is named as 
one of Fresno county's leading and influential citizens.