Isaac Charles LEWIS 1855-1937

Isaac Charles LEWIS, born 20 July 1855 in Ontario Canada (Canada West), is the grandfather to Jack & Bill Lewis, great-grandfather to their children, 2nd great-grandfather to the next generation. 

Over the course of Isaac's 82 years, he lived in Lennox & Addington county in Ontario, moving to Selkirk Manitoba Canada before 1885, marrying in 1885, having 8 children, and by 1911 he and several of his family moved to Vancouver British Columbia (BC) Canada. Westward ho! 

Isaac Charles LEWIS was the eldest of the 8 children born to Charles LEWIS (1828-1913) & Elizabeth CAMPION (1832-1899). I have little information on 3 of his 5 brothers - more research to do, with common names and many possible men to weed through. Click on CAMPION for a blog post with more information on Elizabeth's family from County Cork, Republic of Eire.

On the 3rd of December 1885, Isaac Charles LEWIS married Alma Jane AIKEN (1858-1954) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her family can claim a United Empire Loyalist in their heritage, Gilbert PURDY, from Ulster county, New York. Alma was married briefly in 1881 to Melancton O. Ancrews, and had one disabled daughter Cora; the marriage was apparently annulled shortly after.

Isaac Charles LEWIS and Alma AIKEN had 7 children (8 with Alma's daughter Cora):

  1.  Arthur Aiken, b 16 Apr 1887, Winnipeg Manitoba, d 8 May 1917,
          Vimy Ridge, France

  2.  Edwin Charles, b 2 Jun 1889, Brandon Manitoba, d 30 Sep 1975,
          Sacramento California; m after 1930 Anna ____; one daughter

  3.  Frederick Isaac, b 8 Jan 1892, Selkirk Manitoba, d 2 Jul 1965, Los Angeles
          California; m 23 Feb 1915 Seattle Washington to Mayre E. Bailey; 3 sons 

  4.  Alma Elizabeth, b 29 Jul 1894, Selkirk Manitoba, d Vancouver BC;
           m (Dr.) Otto De Muth before 1925, Vancouver BC; 2 children

  5.  Evelyn Eliza, b 29 Jul 1898, Selkirk Manitoba, d 30 Oct 1950, Sacramento
           California; m bef 1930 to Herbert Lloyd Phillips

  6.  Mona Ann, b 17 Oct 1898, Selkirk Manitoba, d bef 1906, Brandon Manitoba

  7.  Charles William [ancestor], b 19 Feb 1901, Brandon Manitoba, d 8 Feb
           1952; m est 1933 California to Reba Kathryn RICE (clink for more
            information); 2 sons [b in USA]

On the 1891 Census, he gives his occupation as "Farmer" with one 13 year old boy employee, named William Breen. He and Alma had had 2 boys at this time - Arthur 4yrs old, Edwin 2 years old. In 1901, he and Alma have their 7 children plus Cora. Cora Andrews remains with her mother until she dies in 1953. Isaac is still working as a farmer.

   

An advertisement in the Feb 1905 local newspaper in Manitoba shows him owning/running a grocery and butcher shop, I.C. Lewis & Son.  Possibly the eldest son, Arthur, was working with him, aged 19 years old at the time.

And in 1906, still in Manitoba, he states his occupation as Butcher, making $1800/year.  The family were living at 609 Lowe Avenue, with one boarder, Alice Crossland aged 35, from England. 

They clearly moved soon afterwards, as the 1911 Census shows the family living in Vancouver BC, and his occupation is working in a Butcher shop.  Home address at that time was 1842 West 5th Avenue. Both Arthur and Edwin are not living with the family at this time. Arthur is in Comox BC working as a Chainman to a surveyor; Edwin was apparently living in Vancouver BC, although not verified.

By the 1921 Census, Isaac was 65, retired, living with wife Alma, stepdaughter Cora, plus youngest son, Charles [ancestor]. Home address was  342 East 8th Avenue, Vancouver BC. Over the next decades, all sons are living in the USA, married, both daughters married - one in BC, one in USA.  

Isaac died 17 Apr 1937, aged 81 years,  and is buried in Mountain View Cemetery - which indeed has a beautiful mountain view of the North Shore mountains. His wife Alma lived to 11 Dec 1954, aged 96. Cora died  in 1953, the year before her mother died. There is no gravestone for either Cora or Alma, although both are buried there. Photo of his flat gravestone above. Note it states he was born in Bath Ontario - wish every gravestone had such nice genealogical details!  

                                                        

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If any of these people are also your ancestors, I am happy to share what I have about their families and ancestors as well. You can best contact me at calewisATtelusDOTnet as Blogger is not allowing me to reply to any comments on my posts.  

 

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, #27: Elizabeth CAMPION 1833-1899 Canada

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow , here is my 27th installment, Elizabeth CAMPION, wife of Charles LEWIS, my ex-husband's great-grandmother.

Elizabeth was born approximately 1833 in County Cork, Ireland.  She was apparently the eldest child of the 10 living children of Arthur Gifford CAMPION and his wife, Ellen (surname unknown). According to their death registrations, Arthur was born in Bristol, England; Ellen, in County Cork, Ireland. 

The Campion family appear to have lived in Ireland after marrying, and emigrated to Canada West approximately 1843-1844, judging from birthplaces of the 10 children - the first 5 born in Ireland, the remaining 5 born in Canada West.  I have not found them on any passenger lists as yet.

Elizabeth married Charles LEWIS, a neighbouring blacksmith, in about 1853, in Earnestown, Lennox & Addington County, Ontario.  Note that Earnestown was later renamed Bath. They had the following eight children:

1. Isaac Charles [direct ancestor], b. 20 July 1855 Bath ON; in 3 Dec 1885 in Winnipeg MB m. Alma Jane AIKEN; d. 17 Apr 1937 Vancouver BC; 7 children
2. Arthur, b. abt 1857 ON
3. William, b. abt 1859 ON
4. Ellen Arminia, b. Feb 1860, ON; in 1 Dec 1887 Brandon MB m. James Carrick Miller; 2 children
5. Frederick Allen, b. 25 Apr 1863 ON;  in 13 Jun 1894 Brandon MB m. Isabella Lockeridge; 8 children
6. Richard, b. abt 1865 ON
7. Charles, b. abt 1868 ON
8. Eva Maria, b. 2 Jun 1870 ON; in 20 Jun 1894 Brandon MB m. Alexander C. Davidson; 5 children

I have been unable to find information on most of the boys in the family, unfortunately. Their names are too common, and I haven't been confident I have the correct persons. More research to do!

By 1891, the LEWIS family had left Ontario and moved to Brandon Manitoba, where Charles and Elizabeth remained.  Several children eventually settled in British Columbia.  

Elizabeth died at the age of only 66 years of "heart trouble" lasting 12 hours (a severe heart attack), on 10 Aug 1899 in Brandon, Manitoba.  She is buried in Brandon Municipal Cemetery, with a lovely large obelisk marking her full name. Her husband is also buried here and his details are on the same obelisk on the other side.  Charles died aged 84, on 16 Feb 1913 in Saanich (Victoria) BC, apparently visiting daughter Ellen (Lewis) Miller. 

Hopefully one day I will be able to find Elizabeth's birthplace, possibly in County Cork where her mother was born.  

If you have further information or questions, please don't hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below.  I appreciate all comments and corrections! 

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, #24: Alma Jane AIKEN, Ontario Canada

Following the challenge of writing 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, issued by Amy Johnson Crow, here is my 24th installment, Alma Jane AIKEN, my ex-husband's paternal grandmother, our children's great-grandmother.

Alma Jane was born 28 May 1858 in Kingston, Ontario, Canada (date on 1891 Census). Unfortunately the only thing I know about her parents - from her first marriage registration - is that her father was John - or possibly Robert John AIKEN; her mother was listed as Eliza Jane [other research shows possible surname of BAKER].  So far I have not been able to verify either of her parents, nor find them on the 1851/52 Census. Much more work to do here, but there are certainly clues.

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Alma Jane married for the first time to Melancton Odell (or Odella) Andrews, 24 Nov 1881, aged 23 years old, son of John and Ellen Andrews.  Witnesses were Frances Aiken of Collinsby, and Robert E. Aiken, Collinsby; likely they are both relatives, possibly siblings.  [This place is Collins Bay, part of Kingston, Ontario.]  

Her first husband's name is very unusual. There is one other "Walter Odell Andrews" individual I have seen in my searches; that person was b. in Michigan of an English-born father, but I'm not certain of the connection - if any. Still, it's an interesting coincidence, particularly as I've found a Walter Andrews with a sibling "Odle M. Andrews", father John. Doesn't that seem like a possible series of crumbs to research?

Her first marriage seems not to have lasted past the birth of their first child, Cora May Odella Andrews on 31 Aug 1882.  Cora May was born in Oxford, Ontario.  Cora apparently suffered from epilepsy during her lifetime, and may have been mildly mentally handicapped. From the Census records, and city directories, she lived with her Lewis family all her life, dying the year before her widowed mother, Alma. 

I did not find a divorce record, but apparently Alma Jane AIKEN Andrews moved with her daughter, Cora, to Winnipeg after 1882. Possibly she moved with her family members, but I have not completed searching for more information as yet. 

We do know that on 3 Dec 1885 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she married Isaac Charles LEWIS, the eldest son of Charles LEWIS and Eliza/Elizabeth CAMPION. The Lewis family was originally from Bath Ontario (possibly United Empire Loyalists), but moved to Manitoba after 1870.  Isaac opened a butcher store there.

Alma Jane and Isaac had seven children that I have been able to find, all surname Lewis of course:

1. Arthur Aiken , b. 16 Apr 1887, Winnipeg, MB; d. 8 May 1917, [WW1] Vimy Ridge battle, France
2. Edwin C(harles?), b. 2 Jun 1889, Ontario or MB; m. Anna K., d. 30 Sep 1975 Sacramento CA USA; at least one daughter
3. Frederick L., b. 8 Jan 1892, Selkirk, MB; apparently married in California, lived in Redondo Beach region; d. 2 Jul 1965, Los Angeles CA USA; at least 3 children
4. Alma Elizabeth, b. 29 Jul 1894, Selkirk, MB; m. Dr. Otto DeMuth; d. after 1967, Vancouver BC; apparently 3 children
5. Evelyn Eliza, b. 11 May 1896, Selkirk, MB; m. Herbert Lloyd Phillips before 1930; d. 30 Oct 1950, Sacramento, CA USA; children
6. Mona Ann, b. 17 Oct 1898, Selkirk, MB; d. before 1906, Brandon, MB. No information.
7. Charles William* [ancestor], 19 Feb 1901, Brandon, MB; liaison Ada Rice, 1 or 2 children; 2nd liaison or m. Reba Kathryn RICE, about 1933 in California; d. 8 Feb 1952 (complications of surgery), Vancouver BC; two children.

The parents, Isaac and Alma Jane, moved with their children to Vancouver before 1911. Eventually most of the children moved down to California.  Alma Jane's husband, Isaac, died 17 Apr 1937 in Vancouver BC.  She died 11 Dec 1954, in Vancouver BC.  Her last address was apparently 1056 Richelieu Street in Vancouver BC, near Queen Elizabeth Park area (see house on Street view of Google).  Both sons were living in California at time of her death, and her surviving daughter Alma E. DeMuth was living in Vancouver BC.  Cora, her eldest daughter (from first marriage), had died the previous year, having lived with her mother her entire life. Alma Jane is interred in Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver, but not in the same plot as her husband, nor is there a gravestone that could be found. 

I have no photographs of Alma Jane AIKEN Andrews(1) Lewis(2), nor of her husband, Isaac, which surprises me. Surely, someone in the family has a few photographs -?  Hopefully a relative (or several cousins) reading this post will dig through their old family photograph albums and find photos of either Isaac and/or Alma Jane and their family, which they would be willing to share with me.  I'd love to be able to provide copies of photos to my children. Treasure. They would be definite treasure.  I don't want to take your originals, of course, but any copies would be lovely.

If you have any questions about Alma Jane AIKEN, or have information to share or to correct some of the above details - or photos! - please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net, or in the Comments below.  I would be so pleased to add more details (Evelyn Lewis Phillips' children, for instance), any stories, any tiny clues.  Any detail would be much appreciated!