LADD J. LEWIS
Ladd J. Lewis was born in the town of Orangeville, Wyoming County, N. Y., December 22, 1845, and is the third child and eldest son of John L. and Lois (Squier) Lewis, natives of Rhode Island and this State respectively. Members of the Lewis family were somewhat prominent n the Revolutionary War, one of whom was a member of General Washington’s staff, and have always borne active parts in local affairs. The lineage dates back to 1661, when John Lewis settled in Westerly, R. I., coming there presumable (which is quite well verified) from Wales via Boston and Newport. The line is as follows: 1) John, 2) Samuel, 3) Jonathan, 4) Jonathan, 5) Jonathan, 6) Moses, 7) John Ladd, and 8) Ladd John. John Ladd Lewis (7) was born in Exeter, R. I., May 1, 1811, in the same house in which was born his father and grandfather. This historic homestead was built about 1740 by his great-grandfather, Jonathan Lewis, of the fourth generation in America, and is still standing and occupied as a residence. John L. died January 24,1889, in Johnsonburg, Wyoming county, N. Y., having been a resident of that town (Orangeville), except one year, since 1818. His wife Lois, born near Fosterville, Cayuga County, August 27, 1819, was a daughter of Gordon and Dolly (Foster) Squier, and is living in Warsaw, N. Y. Jonathan Foster, father of Dolly (Foster) Squier, fought at Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War, while her husband, Gurdon Squier, served, prior to their marriage, in the was of 1812, being taken prisoner by the British at Queenstown with General Scott, carried to Quebec, and exchanged. Dolly (Foster) Squier lived to be almost ninety-nine years of age. She was three times married, Lois (Squier) Lewis being a daughter of the second marriage. John L. and Lois Lewis had six children, all of whom attained maturity, married, and had families.
Ladd J. Lewis spent his boyhood and youth on the parental farm, helping his father during the summer months and attending the district school during the winters. The homestead was small, and when he had reached the age of fifteen the younger sons were old enough to render such assistance as was necessary to carry on the place. He therefore sought and obtained employment by the month, and for four summers worked for farmers in the neighborhood. His winters were spent in school, one term being passed in Genesee seminary at Alexander, N. Y. Before reaching the age of eighteen he began teaching school and continued during three winter terms. When twenty, being desirous of a practical business education, he entered Eastman’s Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. and was graduated there from in 1865. Early in the year of 1866, he became shipping clerk and assistant bookkeeper for S. A. Millard & Co., manufactures of agricultural implements at Clayville, Oneida County, with whom he remained until the fall of 1869.
Mr. Lewis then moved to Grand Rapids, Mich., and accepted a position as cashier and bookkeeper for Henry S. Smith, a manufacturer of agricultural implements, with whom he was admitted to partnership in 1873 under the firm name of Henry S. Smith & Co. Mr. Lewis early became identified with the school interests of that city and in 1876 was elected in a strong Democratic ward, a member of the Board of Education, consisting of seventeen members including the mayor. He was associated with that body for six years, for three successive terms, and for two years served as its president. While officiating in that capacity he twice refused the nomination for mayor of the city and once declined an election to the State Assembly. There honors, coming as they did entirely unsought, and when he was but thirty-one years of age, well illustrate Mr. Lewis’ high standing in the community and the esteem and confidence in which he was held by his fellow citizens. He had won the respect of not only the adherents of his own party, the Republican, but of his political opponents as well, and was conspicuous for his impartiality, honesty, integrity, and uprightness.
In 1884 Mr. Lewis sold out his business interests in Grand Rapids, and removed to New Hartford, Oneida County, where he has since resided. Here he had purchased an interest in and in the fall of 1883 became one of the incorporators of what is now the Utica Tool Company (a sketch of this industry appears in the article devoted to Charles H. Philo.), located at Washington Mills, and from that time until the present has served either as its treasurer or secretary, holding now the latter office. Here he has become prominently identified with the town, of which he was elected supervisor, March 3, 1896. Prior to this he served for six years as a member of the Board of Education of the village of New Hartford. He is a member of the Lodge, No. 664, F. & A. M. of Washington Mills, of Imperial Council, No. 70, R. A., of Utica, and of the New Hartford Presbyterian Church. Mr. Lewis is a generous promoter of every project having the welfare and advancement of the community at heart and is actively interested in town and public affairs. For several years he has been engaged in preparing a genealogy of his family, and after much research has traced the lineage back to 1661, as previously mentioned. He has a large amount of valuable matter relating to the subject which he expects soon to have published.
Mr. Lewis was married on September 22, 1870, to Miss Alice M., daughter of Samuel S. and Samantha Bailey (Gill) Eldridge, of Warsaw, Wyoming county, and they have had six children: Ladd J. jr., Nellie L., Alice Louise, and Frances E., who are living, and Helen L., and Eldridge E., deceased.
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