William Henry Lewis

1886 - 1958  (71 years)  Submit Photo / Document    Has 2 ancestors and 13 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	William Henry Lewis
  Birth	14 Nov 1886	Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States
  Christening	7 Jan 1887	Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States
  Gender	Male
  Initiatory (LDS)	8 Apr 1915	SLAKE
  FamilySearch ID	L5JV-9YB
  Death	18 Feb 1958	Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States
  Burial	21 Feb 1958	Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States
  Person ID	I161708	mytree
  Last Modified	25 Feb 2024

  
  

  Father	James Harding Lewis,   b. 21 Mar 1851, Parowan, Iron, Utah, United States d. 9 Jun 1893, Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 42 years)
  Mother	Hilda Drew Solomon,   b. 27 Nov 1859, Truro, Cornwall, England d. 15 Jul 1921, Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 61 years)
  Marriage	26 Dec 1877	St. George, Washington, Utah, United States
  Family ID	F41040	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Nancy Whipple,   b. 3 Jun 1892, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 16 Mar 1971, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 78 years)
  Marriage	8 Apr 1915	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States
  Children	1. Willard Harding Lewis,   b. 5 May 1916, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 28 Jan 1941, Maricopa, Pinal, Arizona, United States (Age 24 years) + 2. Ella Lewis,   b. 25 Jan 1918, Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 22 Dec 2003, Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 85 years) + 3. Marbry Lewis,   b. 5 Feb 1920, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 23 Jan 2006 (Age 85 years)   4. Hilda Lewis,   b. 21 Feb 1922, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 10 Apr 2016, Tempe, Maricopa, Arizona, United States (Age 94 years)   5. Rilla Lewis,   b. 21 Dec 1923, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 9 Jan 2009, Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 85 years)   6. Doris Lewis,   b. 24 Jun 1926, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 2 Jan 2008, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 81 years)   7. Mildred Frances Lewis,   b. 13 Apr 1928, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 18 Mar 1996, Holbrook, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 67 years) + 8. Viola Rae Lewis,   b. 4 Oct 1934, Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States d. 12 Jan 2013, Snowflake, Navajo, Arizona, United States (Age 78 years)
  Family ID	F41071	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Sep 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 14 Nov 1886 - Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States Christening - 7 Jan 1887 - Taylor, Navajo, Arizona, United States Initiatory (LDS) - 8 Apr 1915 - SLAKE Marriage - 8 Apr 1915 - Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States Death - 18 Feb 1958 - Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States Burial - 21 Feb 1958 - Show Low, Navajo, Arizona, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Life sketch of William Henry Lewis William Henry Lewis was born November 14, 1886 in Taylor, Apache, Arizon a . He was named for his maternal grandfather William Henry Solomon. Hi s fa ther was James Harding Louis born May 21, 1850 in Parowan, Iron, Uta h an d his mother was Hilda Drew Solomon, born November 27, 1859 in Truro , Cor nwall, England. His vocation was farmer, sheep shearer and justic e of th e peace. He was 5'8" and weighed 147 pounds. He had blue eyes an d light w avy hair. Though Henry was born in Taylor, his parents came from Utah. After bei n g married in the St. George Temple in 1877, James Harding and Hilda Lew i s went to Kanab where they built a little home. Here their first two li tt le girls were born. Then in 1880 they were called to Arizona to mak e a ne w home. They came to Taylor where James Harding Lewis and his brot her Geo rge bought two city lots and interest in a saw mill near Pinedale . With t he money they received from selling the cattle they had purchase d in Kana b, they bought a reaper and a combine and other farm implements . They wer e kept busy cutting crops for the farmers in the area. William Henry Lewis was not the first born to these hard working pioneer s . Their first son was born in Taylor but lived only an hour. Next cam e tw o little girls, Allie and Eva. So after the birth of five children W illia m Henry came to the Lewis family. However he was not the last, fo r a brot her, James, was born in 1888 and later Ida and Effie came along . Ida livi ng only one short year. James Harding Lewis was chosen second counselor in the bishopric in 18 8 8 and during this time when President John Taylor advised the town peop l e to seek higher ground, as an example to the rest of the community h e pr epared to move again. He made brick and plans for the new home, bu t in 18 93 he died after having the flu. He left his wife with the seve n little c hildren. Henry was only five years old at the time of his father's death. The on l y memory Henry had of him was the spanking he and the other children re ce ived for playing on the hay in the barn and thereby damaging it. His mother was Postmaster for nine years. Henry felt the responsibilit y o f helping his mother care for the needs of the family. After eight gr ade s at school, he found jobs and work to help out the family. When h e wa s 14, in the spring when the ditches were being cleaned for irrigati ng, t he ditch boss, Jim Frost measured off the distance of the ditch an d tol d him and Jack Hatch that if they would clean it as well as the me n the y could have men's wages. They proved that they would do so. From t hen o n he gave them men's that wages. He worked hard at different jobs t o hel p out. When he was only 15 years old he started herding and shearin g shee p, first doing so with blades and then with machines. For many yea rs he m ade bricks from which several large homes were made. During the i nterveni ng years he and his mother succeeded in finishing their home. Without further education he was good with figures. He was an avid read e r and he had excellent handwriting. Henry had a wonderful boyhood. He and his friends fished and hunted fo r w ild ducks along the banks of the creek. In the grasses of the Mesa th ey s et traps for the wildlife the horses. They captured and brought the m hom e to train them to ride. He enjoyed the parties, candy pulls and sp orts . Playing baseball with his favorite past time. He had a beloved friend, Jack Hatch. There was only two weeks differen c e in their ages. They worked together, entered school together, playe d sp orts such as handball and foot racing, chased wild horses and traine d the m, hunted ducks and fished. They went sheering sheep almost every s prin g together until Henry quit about 1924. They were baptized the sam e day o n December 6 1894 by Jack's father, John Hatch. The ordinance too k plac e in the Taylor Creek, and both little boys took off in the opposi te dire ction for home and by the time they reached there, the long "hand les" the y were wearing were stiff with ice. He and his brother, James, had a deep love for each other. James was mec h anically inclined. They used pulleys to send things up and down to th e ro oms upstairs. When they would go to bed upstairs at night they woul d hav e trouble getting around all the pulleys and contraptions that Jame s ha d been experimenting with. James was very athletic, also. Henry wa s so pr oud of James and all that he could do. When James was grown, Henr y, wit h the help of Bishop Wakefield, financed a mission to the Souther n state s for him. James married and while visiting his wife's sister wh o had typ hoid fever he was exposed and came down with the fatal disease . James die d at the age of 33. As he was dying he looked up and said t o Henry, "I ca n see our angel mother.” Henry was ordained to all the offices of the priesthood. Brother Ezra Ha t ch & JJ Shumway were very mindful of him &counseled and advised him ju s t as his father would have done. In March 1915, he was ordained to th e of fice of an elder by Alof Larson. Henry met his wife, Nancy Whipple, while attending school in Snowflake a n d started dating her. He borrowed his brother Jim's little black mare a n d buggy for the trip to Show low to see her. As he came by the ranger s ta tion on his way to see her, Oz Flake came out to give him a good sugge sti on "Henry, why don't you marry the girl and save all the traveling?” When Henry came to see him Nancy one evening, her mother invited him t o h ave a bowl of bread and milk. He washed his hands at the washstand, s eate d himself at the table and began eating. He was almost through whe n Jes s Jarvis came along. He joined Henry at the table for a bowl of bre ad an d milk too. He took a spoonful or two and then said " Dern, Ma, thi s mil k is sour! " Henry was too polite to tell. Henry and Nancy became engaged and made plans to be married in Salt La k e City. They started off for Taylor with a little black mare and their buggy. Th e y rode the mail stagecoach to Holbrook. Then rode the train to Utah. A s t hey waited for their exit, Henry found the popcorn machine and joking ly a dmitted he was spending his last dime. "No need to worry, "he said , patti ng the letter in his pocket. There would be plenty of money whe n he reach ed the bank. Timidly he pushed the important letter toward th e teller. Af ter reading the letter, he was asked “And who might Josep h W Smith be? "" Why he's the president of the bank of northern Arizona . "" Well sir, I'v e never heard of him. "With a sinking heart Henry stum bled from the bank . Once outside, he drew a deep breath. He felt a gun i n his side and the n a rough voice said, "give me that money you just go t in there.” "Wit h a shaky hand he handed over the letter and said, "tak e this and get som e if you can. I couldn't. " Wondering what he would do, Henry returned to Nancy at the station. A st r anger overheard his story. He came over to offer Henry a coin. "Here,ca l l the uncle I heard you say you have." Henry gratefully accepted the co i n and made a call. After a short wait his uncle Sam Brown came drivin g u p in a beautiful automobile. Henry assisted Nancy into the large car . Aft er climbing in himself, they rode into the city. The sacred ceremon y too k place in the Salt Lake Temple on April 8, 1915. The newlyweds spent a month in Utah visiting relatives. Then they made t h eir home in Taylor. In 1918 he was ordained a high priest and made Second counselor to Bish o p J. Lester Shumway. In December of that same year he moved to Show Lo w t o a home and lot he purchased from Frank Adams. In 1919 he was made c ouns elor to Bishop John L Willis with him he served until 1932. In 194 2 he wa s made counselor to Bishop Ellsworth, with him he served until 19 47 . While Henry was counselor to Bishop Willis he had this spiritual experie n ce –From Henry's journal January 1924: Cora Kay Reidhead was a childhood friend of Henry's. She married Edwin R e idhead and lived in Show Low too. When her son Van was born she becam e de sperately ill with blood poisoning. The doctor told him that if sh e live d she would never be able to have more children. The bishop Jame s Clark O wens called for a prayer circle. The priesthood members, includ ing Henr y held hands around her bed and administered to her. He testifie d that sh e was promised to get well and as they prayed the virtue left e ach of the m and entered Cora. They felt weak as they arose from the bles sing she li ved and had five or six more children. He and his wife, Nancy were the parents of eight children. First a son w a s born to them, then seven daughters. He worked very hard to support th em . He was a good farmer and excelled in growing a lovely garden. He sha re d sheep during the years of the depression and his family never went w ith out during these hard years. He managed a high school education for every one of them. He had not t h e opportunity of high school due to having to help support his mother' s f amily. He was good at figures and could do as well as men with highe r edu cation. He served as school trustee for 16 years. He served about 8 years as Jus t ice of the Peace. He enjoyed this public service until three years befo r e his death. His only son, Willard, died at the age of 25. They had been very close , w orking the farm and cattle together. It was a huge blow to him to los e hi s only son after a long illness in a sanitarium in Tempe, Arizona. He had very good health, but died of a stroke on 18 February 1958 at t h e age of 72 years old. He set a good example by taking care of his church duties. He was alwa y s ready to advise children to do the right thing and felt badly when th e y didn't. He was cherished by his sisters, adored by his wife, daughte r s and grandchildren, loved and respected by his son-in-law's. To eac h o f them he bequeathed something: a noble, unspotted and good name.