David Walker Lewis was born the 11th of August, 1848 in Cedar Creek, Arkansas to James M. Lewis and Catherine McCurdy. David had a troubled childhood. His parents, James and Catherine Lewis had marital difficulties and were separated when he was very young. He is found twice in the 1850 census, once living in a household headed by his mother with two siblings and living next door to her parents, and again in a household headed by his father living with who is believed to be his father's sister and next door to his father's supposed brother. His father died about 1854. His mother married 2) John Boen about 1855 and died in 1858 after having three more children. In 1860 he is found living with his sister "Winney", Buena Vista Lewis, in the home of Andrew T. and Elizabeth Willey.
David married Eliza Jane Shipley the 11th of August, 1870 in Crawford County, Arkansas. She was born the __ of July, 1852 (1) in Lees Creek, Upper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas to Nathan Pascal Shipley, Sr. and Elizabeth Mildred Lester. Eliza Jane saw tragedy in her early life too. Her father was murdered during the Civil War when she was only ten years old. The family oral history says he was hanged by bushwhackers in front of the family along with his brother, Richard Shipley. According to family oral tradition Eliza lived with other family members after this. Her mother was very poor and after her house burned down she lived with David and Eliza for awhile. Supposedly, Eliza purchased her parents' property. In 1880 Eliza's mother and her three brothers were living next door to David and Eliza.
David patented 120 acres in Crawford County, Arkansas September 18, 1894. They had eleven children all born in Crawford County, Arkansas:
1. Roseltha Delcie b. August 20, 1871
2. Elizabeth "Lizzie" b. February 15, 1873
3. William Franklin b. July 17, 1875
4. Gertrude Ellen b. January 11, 1879
5. Henry Davis Baskum b. February 25, 1881
6. Moody b. February 8, 1883
7. Darwin Sherman b. February 19, 1885
8. Walker Harlen b. April 23, 1889
9, Harvey Leander b. August 13, 1890
10. Thomas Wesley b. February 18, 1893
11. Joseph Webber b. July 16, 1895
David died the 2nd of March, 1919 in Chester, Crawford County, Arkansas(2) and is buried in Oliver Cemetery in Crawford County, Arkansas.(3) Eliza died the 20th of August, 1931 at 435 So. Valencia, Burbank, California. She was buried the 22nd of August, 1931 in Valhalla Cemetery, North Hollywood, California. According to family folklore there was "a falling out" amongst the descendants.(4) Apparently, when David died he owned a large acreage. In his will he left it to his wife and children. When Eliza died some of the living siblings arranged to have the children of their deceased sisters, Elizabeth and Roseltha, left out of the disbursement. This created a rift that split the family apart.
Footnotes:
(1) Eliza's death certificate #31-04 3891 indicates she was 82 years old when she died, incorrectly making her birth year 1849. The cemetery lists her birthday as the 8th of August, 1849. Some Lewis family researchers list it as the 18th of August, 1852. The 1860 census lists her age as 8 years and the 1870 census lists it as 18, making her birth year 1852. In the 1900 census she gave her birth date as July, 1853. In Sarah Shipley's pension application No. 379,798, p.41, the 20th of March, 1890, Eliza states, "I will be 37 years old in July:" This would make her birthday, July 1853. July 1853 makes her just 6 months older than her brother, William Lester, which seems very unlikely, therefore I put her birth year as 1852 (9 months after her parents marriage).
(2) Virginia Kimes Pierce GedCom April 18, 1999 and Holly Breidenbach.
(3) Peggy Seidler, Descendants of Catherine McCurdy, (May 28, 2003), "Electronic."
(4) E-mail from Virginia Pierce to Susan Burgess, Jan. 11, 2000.
Compiled and written by Susan Kimes Burgess
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3-446.)
DEPOSITION ________
Case of Sarah Shipley , No. 379,798
On this 20th day of Mch. , 1890 , at
near Chester , County of Crawford ,
State of Ark. , before me, H. N. Patton , a
Special Examiner of the Pension Office, personally appeared D. W.
Lewis , who, being by me first duly sworn to answer
truly all interrogatories propounded to him during this Special Examination of
aforesaid pension claim, deposes and says: I am 40 years old past : occupation
farmer : P. O. address Chester Crawford Co. Ark.
I knew James Shipley all my life. During
the war we were separated. I did not know him
after the war until about a year before he died.
During that time his health did not seem to be
good. From his appearance he seemed to be consumption.
He seemed to be disposed to a cough.
I sat up with him one night; some 3 or 4 days,
as well as I recollect, before he died. He seemed quite
restless and the misery seemed to be in his head +
side, can't say which side. He was of a dark red color
and appeared to have a high fever. It was my under-
standing that he died with some kind of fever, but I
don't remember what kind of fever. He was not
sick but a short time. The night I sat up with him
I noticed no particular offensive smell, more
than a fever smell attending all such cases. I
don't remember of him having any breaking out. If
there had been any large sores or scabs on his face
or hands I might have noticed it, but I don't remember
any now. Since his death I have heard one or two speak
about him having some kind of a breaking out, but
I know nothing personal about it. At the time of
his death I did not hear it mentioned that a "breaking
out" was the cause of his death.
No Sir. I never made an affidavit in this case
that I remember of. Yes Sir, I wrote that signature. I had
Page 39 Deposition L
Page 40
forgotten about making an affidavit. Since hearing
affidavit read I remember of making a statement once.
The question was asked me about him being "broken out": I told
them I heard he was, but then I knew nothing personally
about it. There is a little exaggeration there. I never noticed
any breaking out. I never testified either to the Co or
regt. that Shipley belonged for I didn't know. Former
affidavit is correct as to his supporting his mother
and the amount of property +c.
I married Claimants granddaughter. I
have no interest in the claim.
I have understood the questions asked and
my answers have been correctly recorded in this affidavit.
D. W. Lewis
Deponent
_______________________
Deponent
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 20th day of Mch ,
1890, and I certify that the contents were fully made known to deponent before signing.
H.N. Patton
Special Examiner.
Transcribed by Susan Kimes Burgess
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Research of Susan Kimes Burgess
1850 Census: Jasper Township, Crawford County, Arkansas, Microfilm # M432-25, Page #334A
20th day of Dec 1850 by S G Clark
LN HN FN LAST NAME FIRST NAME AGE SEX RACE OCCUP. VAL. BIRTHPLACE MRD. SCH. R/W DDB
35 38 38 Lewis Catharine 25 F None Ten X
36 38 38 Lewis Winny V 3 F Ark
37 38 38 Lewis Dvid M 2 M Ark
38 38 38 Lewis Jefferson 1/12 Ark
1850 Census: Richland, Crawford, Arkansas; Roll: M432_25; Page: 318; Image: 630.
James Lewis 43 M Laborer Kentucky
David Lewis 3 M Arkansas
Mary Haynes 36 F Kentucky
Sarah Haynes 18 F Tennessee
David Haynes 15 M Tennessee
next residence:
Joseph F. Lewis 25 M Laborer Tennessee
Melissa A. Lewis 20 F Arkansas
Thadeus Shear 13 M Arkansas
1860 Census: Cedar Creek Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated July 24, 1860
Series: M653 Roll: 40 Page: 753
27 991 957 Andrew T. Willey ??? Walley 43 M Farmer 600 633 Tenn
28 Elizabeth Willey ??? Walley 35 F Ky
29 Winney Lewis 13 F 900 Arks attended school
30 David Lewis 11 M 900 Arks attended school
31 James Allen 6 M Arks
1870 Census: Van Buren Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated July 11, 1870
Series: M593 Roll: 51 Page: 273
17 486 478 Lewis D. W. 21 M W Farmer 300 200 Arkansas Male Citizen 21 years and up
also in this census record:
1870 Census: Cedar Creek, Crawford, Arkansas; Roll: M593_51; Page: 179; Image: 130.
Eli Owens 74 M W Farm Laborer Louisianna
S. F. Owens 16 F W Keeping House Arkansas
Walker Louis 22 M W Farmer Arkansas
Dock Oliver 23 M W Farm Laborer Arkansas
1880 Census Place: Upper, Crawford County, Arkansas, USA Page 478D
Source: FHL Film 1254041 National Archives Film T9-0041
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Walker LEWIS Self M Male W 30 AR Farmer TN TN
Eliza J. LEWIS Wife M Female W 28 AR Keeps House AR AR
Rosettha LEWIS Dau S Female W 8 AR At Home AR AR
Elizabeth LEWIS Dau S Female W 7 AR At Home AR AR
Franklin LEWIS Son S Male W 5 AR At Home AR AR
Gertrude LEWIS Dau S Female W 1 AR At Home AR AR
Land Patent Details
Patentee: DAVID W LEWIS
Survey
State: ARKANSAS
Acres: 120
Metes/Bounds: No
Title Transfer
Issue Date: 9/18/1894
Land Office: Dardanelle
Cancelled: No
U.S. Reservations: No
Mineral Reservations: No
Authority: May 20, 1862: Homestead EntryOriginal (12 Stat. 392)
Document Numbers
Document Nr.: 6341
Misc. Doc. Nr.: 18632
Accession/Serial Nr.: AR2060__.274
BLM Serial Nr.: AR NO S/N
AliquotParts Sec./Block Township Range Fract. Section Meridian State Counties Survey Nr.
W½SW 2/ 11-N 31-W No 5th PM AR Crawford
NESW 2/ 11-N 31-W No 5th PM AR Crawford
1900 Census: Cedar Creek Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated June 14, 1900 by Joseph L. Kimes
Series: T623 Roll: 56 Page: 146
23 127 134 Lewis David W. Head W M Aug. 1848 51 M 30 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Farmer 0 Yes Yes Yes 0 F F 107
24 Lewis Eliza J. Wife W F July 1853 46 M 30 12 10 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas Yes Yes Yes
25 Lewis Darwin S. Son W M Jan. 1885 15 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 3 Yes Yes Yes
26 Lewis Walker H. Son W M Apr. 1888 12 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 3 Yes Yes Yes
27 Lewis Harvey L. Son W M Aug. 1890 9 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas at school 4
28 Lewis Thomas W. Son W M Feb. 1893 7 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas
29 Lewis Joseph W. Son W M July 1895 4 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas
30 Bethany Isacc N. Boarder W M Jan. 1854 46 Wd Virginia Virginia Virginia Minister 0 Yes Yes Yes
1910 Census: Cedar Creek Township, Crawford County, Arkansas enumerated May 5, 1910
Series: T624 Roll: 48 Page: 28
79 32 32 Lewis David W. Head M W 62 M1 39 Arkansas Tennessee Tennessee English Farmer General Farm Emp Y Y
80 Lewis Eliza Wife F W 58 M1 39 Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Y Y
81 Lewis Harland Son M W 21 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y
82 Lewis Wesley T. Son M W 17 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y N
83 Lewis Joseph W. Son M W 14 S Arkansas Arkansas Arkansas English Farm Laborer Home Farm w N 0 Y Y N
Find a Grave:
David Walker Shipley
Birth: Aug. 11, 1848
Crawford County
Arkansas, USA
Death: Mar. 2, 1919, USA
son of James M. LEWIS and Katherine, Mrs. Lewis
Burial:
Oliver Cemetery
Chester
Crawford County
Arkansas, USA
Created by: Blote
Record added: Aug 25, 2008
Find A Grave Memorial# 29322335