|
Joseph Horace Lewis was the commander of the Orphan Brigade.
"Death of Joseph H. Lewis. When Joseph H LEWIS died, one of the of the old time leaders of Kentucky past [passed] to his eternal rest. He was, in deed and in truth, a leader among men. So few has so large a measure of success in life been given; by none has that success been more deserved. In all the attributes of sterling manhood, Judge LEWIS towered like a great oak in the forst, among his fellow men. Personal fear he knew not; mortal cowardice was a stranger to him; honesty was his heritage, and strength of character was his armor in the long battle of life. As a scholar his record was brilliant; and no commanding offier was more beloved by those whose good fortune of was it to serve under him, and to achieve immortal fame under him. As a judge; both upon the Circuit and Appeals benches, his decisions were characterized by a clearness and wisdom that defied opposition, and disarmed even criticism. At the court he knew no man, nor was he swayed in the slightest degree by any influences. Always the friend of the people and the unrelenting foe of corporate oppression, there was neither taint nor suspicion of demagoguery of a single act of his whole public life. Artless and simple as a child in his everyday life, no more acute and powerful mind ever solved the intricacies of the law. A well rounded man, strong always and in all directions, he mastered problems as easy as he dominated men. No situation ever dwarfed his magnificant mentality, and to every occasion he rose superior. It is a splendid tribute to his greatness that political opportunities vied with friends in honoring him. Personal enemies he had none. His long and brilliant career was unsllied, by a single stain; his patriotic life was unsullied. It has been said that he was the most distinguished and favorite son of Barren County. While this is markedly true, it is nonetheless true that he never received an honor that was not deserved, nor won strictly upon his merits.
Among the people he loved, and who loved him witha surpassing devotion, he lies today in a grave hidden by flowery tokens of affection from those who knew him best and honored him most. Along the pleasant valleys of Beaver Creek and Barren River, where his childhood feet wandered, among the hills and plains of Southern Kentucky; where his mature voice always rang clear and true on the hustings - every where and in all hearts - sorrow swells and the voice of mourning is heard tthan a strong man, a good man, has passed away.
"The Last Tribute. The funeral and burial of General Joseph H. LEWIS, Sunday afternoon July the 10, 1904 was in keeping with the life of the man - plain, simple and free from all ostentations or displays - the large audience which assembled to pay the last token of respect to Barren County's distinguished son being composed of the plain people of Barren and adjoining counties who had always delighted to honor him, and the veterans of the Confederacy who had followed him through the greatest War in Christendom. Sunday morning at 10 o'clock the casket was placed in the Circuit Court room, where, surrounded by a guard of honor, it remained open until the time of the funeral, and the friends and comrades of the deceased chieftain and jurist were given the opportunity to take a last look at the face of him whom they had loved so long and fondly.
"The time for funeral services was fixed at 2:30 o'clock but long before that hour the room was filled to suffocation, every seat being filled and the aisles crowded, many turned away for want of room. The services were conducted by Rev. G. B. OVERTON of Russellville, familiarly known among his former comrades as "Buck OVERTON." Rev. Overton spoke feelingly of the dead chieftain and pointed to his life as one of emulation by the young men of the land. Rev. J. LOVING, on behalf of the Sons of the Confederate Veterans, made a brief address suitable to the occasion, and was followed by Rev. J. D. GILLIAM, who said he had known General Lewis for forty years, and always delighted to admire the sterling character of the man.
"The benediction was pronounced by Elder Y E PAYNE; Rev Overton announced that the sermon would be concluded at the grave. The procession headed by the Confederat verans and members of the bar on foot and followed by the hearse with the pall bearers on each side, was the longest ever seen in Glasgow, extending from the public square to the cemetery, a distance of half a mile.
"At the grave a short but eloquent address was delivered by Senator J C S BLACKBURN who paid a high tribute to the life and character of General Lewis. He spoke with much feeling and his lips trembled with emotion as turning to his aged comrades standing around the open grave of the dead chieftain, he said; "But for us this parting will not be for long. It will be only a few years at best until all of us will meet him on the other and brighter shore under the Banner of th Great Captain."
"Following Senator BLACKBURN, Rev. OVERTON read a chapter in the Bible and after a song by the Choir the benediction was pronounced. The pallbearers were General Fayette HEWITT, S H BUCHANNAN, John B PIRTLE, John H WHEELER, Theo. COWHERD, Thos. A. PAGE, John H. YANCEY, Geo. PRUNTY, W. S. MARTIN, Wm. STEENBERGEN, Sandy EDWARDS and Wm. WOOD. Among those present from a distance were Y. C. S. BLACKBURN of Versailles former United States Senator, Marshall James BLACKBURN of Woodford County, Maj. General Simon Boliver BUCKNER and Mrs. BUCKNER, Dr. C H WALTON, D Y WOOD, of Munfordville, J E LOGSDON, James BAILEY, Horse Cave, Hon. S M PAYTON of Elizabethtown, Mr. John ROGERS of Franklin.
The floral designs were many and beautiful. The three largest being an anchor of white carnations, a cover of white roses and ferns, and a large wreath of white roses entwined with ivy and having the letters SCV in red
and white carnations across the center of the wreath. This was the offering of the SONS OF THE CONVEDERATE VETERANS of this place. Among the many grateful incidents surrounding the exercises incident to the death and burial of General LEWIS was the meeting of the funeral train at Midway by the aged widow of General John C BRECKINRIDE, and the action of the Frankfort Joseph H LEWIS Chapter of the Daughters of the Confedracy in marching to the train in a body and covering the coffin of the deceased leader with flowers. The family and relatives of General LEWIS were most deeply touched by these attentions.
"At a called meeting of the JOSEPH H. LEWIS CAMP SCV, the following resolutions were adopted: First: That in the death of Geneal Joseph H LEWIS we mourn the loss of the noblest work of God's hand - an honest man - a man of the strictest integrity and purest motives, whose public records was without a spot or bleming, and his private life without a stain. Second: That he was a commanding figure both in War and in peace, and that his
daily walk and his successes in life are an inspiration and a guidance to the young men of our country."
"Third, That the memory of his deeds of valor will live as long as life is in the hearts of his old soldiers and comrades; while his talents and his eminent services, upon both the Circuit and Court of Appeals benches have
indelibly impressed themselves upon the public records of the State he loved so well and served so long and ably. Fourth, that whether on the field of battle, or in the halls of Congress, or sitting at the highest court of the State, his voice and his heart and his brain always turned to the right, and he was ever the champion of the people, and the strong and eloquent defender of their liberties. Fifth, that we, his old soldiers, and comrades, whose thinning ranks have yielded only to the all-conquering ravages of time, do now bow our heads and our hearts to these, our last services to our beloved commander, whom we followed in death and in life,
and we do declare that in valor he was second to none; that in patriotism, he was as pure as the sunlight of God; that in wisdom, he sat at the council board with the wisest, and that in all that constitutes an honorable citizenship he measured up to the highest standards of humanity.
"May the God of us all rest his soul in peace and may we follow him and be with him, when we shall pass over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees. Sixthh, That these resolution be spread upon the records of this
camp, and that copies theeof be sent to the widow and son and daughter of the deceased."
Partial family tree:
General Joseph Horace Lewis b 24 Oct 1824 Glasgow, Barren, KY; d 6 July 1904 Duval Station, Scott, KY, buried Glasgow Municipal Cemetery, Glasgow, Barren, KY. Married (1) Sarah Hensley Rogers. She born 22 Oct 1828 Glasgow, Barren, KY; d 1 Apr 1858 same, d/o Dr. George Rogers (born 18 May 1794) and Sarah "Sally" Hensley GORIN (b 11 Dec 1800, d/o General John GORIN and Elizabeth FRANKLIN). Their children:
1. Captain John Lewis b 28 Dec 1847 Glasgow, Barren, KY; d 10 June 1910 same; buried Glasgow Muncipal Cemetery; md (1) Elizabeth BYBEE; m(2) Ida WILLIAMS.
2. Sarah Rogers Lewis b 29 June 1849 Glasgow, Barren, KY; d 20 Oct 1871 same, buried same; md Joseph HALL. No children.
3. George Lewis b 1852 same; single.
4. Elizabth Lewis b 1854 same; died Lincoln, NB; md Silas H. BURHAM.
Back
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
