Butte County
Biographies
EDWARD JAMES LEWIS
EDWARD JAMES LEWIS. – The cashier
for the Diamond Match Company, at Chico, Edward James Lewis, was born in
Chicago, Ill., February 2, 1867. His father, Edward J. Lewis, was born in
Ireland, and as a lad came to Canada, where he was reared to manhood and
learned the business of putting on felt and tar roofs, and later followed it as
a contractor. He was one of the pioneers in that business in Chicago and put on
some of the largest roofs in that city, following the business until he was
sixty-five years old, when he retired. He married Mary Werden,
a Canadian by birth, who bore him seven children, three of whom are living. The
father died in Chicago, and after that his widow came to California and now
makes her home in Chico.
Edward J. Lewis was the sixth child in the
family. He was educated in the grammar and high schools of Chicago, but left
school to assist his father with the roofing business and continued with him in
that city until his marriage, June 20, 1887, to Miss Emma C. Ritter.
Mrs. Lewis was born in El Paso, Woodford County, Ill., a daughter of
William and Sarah (Phillips) Ritter, natives of Illinois and
Pennsylvania respectively. William Ritter served as a soldier in an Illinois
regiment during the Civil War. After that struggle was over he engaged in the
general contracting business at El Paso and later at Chicago, Ill., where he
died. Mrs. Ritter makes her home in Chicago. Mrs. Lewis is the youngest child
in their family of four children.
On May 4, 1887, Mr. Lewis entered the
employ of the Diamond Match Company, in Chicago, and has continued to work for
that company ever since. He started in the shipping department where he spent
three years, then went into the office in their Chicago store as a clerk,
spending a like period in that department. He was promoted to be cashier and
about that time left for the Pacific Coast as a salesman. In the course of his
business he traveled through California, Oregan [sic]
and Washington, spending about five years, from 1895 to 1900, meantime making
his home in Pasadena. He then spent a year back in Chicago, coming to Chico, in
1901, where he was in charge of the office under Mr. Clough’s management. In
1903, he once more went on the road as a salesman, making his home in Pasadena.
In 1910, he came back to Chico, since which time he has been cashier here.
Mr. Lewis has built, in Chico, an artistic
and modern house, of the bungalow style of architecture, at the corner of First
Street and Magnolia Avenue, Chico Vecino, and here the family live in quiet
contentment and in the enjoyment of the society of their many friends.
Mr. Lewis is a Mason, belonging to Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M.,
and both himself and wife are members of Josephine
Chapter, No. 104, O. E. S. Since they were children, both have been members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Lewis is a Progressive Republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are very proud of their
children, who are: Grace, Mrs. G. L. Strong; Frank, foreman for the Diamond
Match Company; Stella, Mrs. Norman K. Macy; Ethel, Mrs. J. Ramley; and Ruth, Mrs. B. H. Walter, all of Chico. Edward
James, Jr., Arthur, Hope and Everett are still under the parental roof. There
are eight grandchildren to brighten the homes of their parents and add comfort
and cheer to their grandparents.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
24 April 2008.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages
895-896, Historic Record
Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies