Inventory of the Lewis Family Papers
D-329
Sara Gunasekara
University of California, Davis General Library, Dept. of Special Collections
© 2005
1st Floor, Shields Library, University of California
100 North West Quad
Davis, CA 95616-5292
speccoll@ucdavis.edu
URL: https://www.library.ucdavis.edu/special-collections/
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
University of California, Davis General Library, Dept. of Special Collections
Title: Lewis Family Papers
Creator:
Lewis family
Identifier/Call Number: D-329
Physical Description:
0.8 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1784-1909
Abstract: The Lewis Family Papers contain materials relating primarily to Reed
Lewis (1787-1836), his son John Bacon Lewis (1825-1909), and John's wife, Elizabeth (1826-1866). John Bacon Lewis was a
California pioneer who operated a draying business in San Francisco from 1849-1856. He later purchased and farmed land in
Sonoma County. Thirty seven letters written to or by John or Elizabeth Lewis make up the bulk of the Papers. Transcriptions
of nearly all of these letters are also found in the Papers. The letters discuss family news, life in Farmington, Connecticut
or San Francisco, California, and travel between Connecticut and California via the Isthmus of Panama.
Physical Location: Researchers should contact Special Collections to request collections,
as many are stored offsite.
Biography
Reed Lewis was born on October 14, 1787 in Vermont. He later moved to New York and was a pioneer of Saratoga County. In
1810, he married Margaret Bacon (1794-1869). They had five children: Sarah, Catherine, Jane, Mary, and John.
John Bacon Lewis, the youngest of Reed and Margaret Lewis' children was born on March 15, 1825 in Northumberland, New
York. After the death of his father in 1836, John was sent to live with his sister Jane and her husband, James Cowles in
Farmington, Connecticut. He resided there until 1847 when he returned to New York and entered into the mercantile business
in
Schuylerville.
On February 2, 1848, John married Elizabeth Bodwell. Elizabeth (October 10, 1826-October 20, 1866) was born in Farmington
to Augustus and Olive (Buck) Bodwell. John and Elizabeth had two children: John Bacon Lewis (1849-1850) and Charles Wadsworth
Lewis (1853-1942).
In January 1849, John joined the New York Union Mining Company, formed for the purpose of gold mining in California. The
company set sail for California on February 23. However, when the group reached Panama, they found "two to three thousand
people all anxious to get to California before the gold was all exhausted, and there was but one steamer available, therefore
we were detained." After a four month stay in Panama, the company arrived in San Francisco in late August 1849 and soon
dissolved their partnership. Shortly after his arrival in San Francisco, John bought a horse and cart and started a draying
business. Elizabeth joined John in California in 1851.
In 1856, John sold his draying business and moved to Sonoma County. There he purchased a tract of land with his
brother-in-law, Charles Augustus Bodwell. They cultivated the land together until 1864, when John bought out Charles'
interest. In 1900, John moved to Petaluma where he resided until his death on January 6, 1909.
Sources:
Gregory, Tom.
History of Sonoma County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county, who have
been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time
. Los Angeles, Calif.,
Historic Record Company, 1911.
The Pioneer and Historical Review. [San Jose, Cal.: A.P. Murgotten], September 1898.
Scope and Content
The Lewis Family Papers contain materials relating primarily to Reed Lewis (1787-1836), his son John Bacon Lewis
(1825-1909) and John's wife, Elizabeth (1826-1866). Thirty seven letters written to or by John or Elizabeth Lewis make up
the
bulk of the Papers. Transcriptions of nearly all of these letters are in the Papers. The letters discuss family news, life
in
Farmington, Connecticut or San Francisco, California, and travel between Connecticut and California via the Isthmus of
Panama. Several deeds relating to Reed Lewis' purchase of land in New York are also included.
Collection Arrangement
The Papers are arranged into six series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Deeds, 3. Financial Document, 4. Writings, 5.
Transcriptions, and 6. Ephemera.
Access
Collection is open for research.
Acquisition Information
Donated in 1999.
Processing Information
Sara Gunasekara processed these papers and created and encoded this finding aid.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Lewis Family Papers, D-329, Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of
California, Davis.
Publication Rights
Copyright is protected by the copyright law, chapter 17, of the U.S. Code. All requests for permission to publish or quote
from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on
behalf of the Department of Special Collections, General Library, University of California, Davis as the owner of the
physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by
the
researcher.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Farmington (Conn.) -- History
San Francisco (Calif.) -- History
Saratoga County (N.Y.) -- History
Lewis, Reed, 1787-1836
Lewis family
Lewis, John Bacon, 1825-1909
Lewis, Elizabeth, 1826-1866
Series 1
Correspondence
1817-1868
Scope and Contents note
Contains thirty-eight letters. Thirty-seven of the letters are written to or by John or Elizabeth Lewis.
Transcriptions of nearly all of these letters are found in Series 5. Arranged chronologically.
Box 1, Folder
1
[William Bacon?] to Reed Lewis
1817 December 3
Box 1, Folder
2
Margaret Roberts to John B. Lewis
1845 March 2
Box 2, Folder
1
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 November 10
Box 2, Folder
2
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 November 23
Box 2, Folder
3
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 December 6
Box 2, Folder
4
William Bodwell to John B. Lewis and Elizabeth Lewis
1848 March 8
Box 2, Folder
5
Catherine [Bement] to Elizabeth Lewis
1848 May 13
Box 2, Folder
6
Sarah Fake to Elizabeth Lewis
1848 October 18
Box 2, Folder
7
Clara Wadsworth to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 February 14
Scope and Contents note
Includes letter from Sarah Fake.
Box 2, Folder
8
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 August 30
Scope and Contents note
Photocopy of original letter.
Box 2, Folder
9
Catherine and William B. Bement to Elizabeth Lewis
1850 October
Box 2, Folder
10
Catherine Bement to Elizabeth Lewis
circa 1850 October-December
Box 2, Folder
11
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 April 29
Box 2, Folder
12
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 May 14
Box 2, Folder
13
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 May 30
Box 2, Folder
14
Jane Cowles to John B. Lewis
[1851?] September 30
Box 2, Folder
15
Augustus Bodwell to Elizabeth Lewis
1856 January 12
Box 2, Folder
16
M.H. Humphreys to Elizabeth Lewis
1856 February 17
Box 2, Folder
17
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 May 27
Box 2, Folder
18
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 June 2
Box 2, Folder
19
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 July 3
Box 2, Folder
20
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 June 19
Box 2, Folder
21
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 July 17
Box 2, Folder
22
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 August 3
Box 2, Folder
23
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 September 2
Box 2, Folder
24
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 September 20
Box 2, Folder
25
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 October 19
Box 2, Folder
26
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 November 4
Box 2, Folder
27
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 November 19
Box 2, Folder
28
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 December 3
Box 2, Folder
29
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 December 18
Box 2, Folder
30
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 January 17
Box 2, Folder
31
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 February 4
Box 2, Folder
32
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 February 18
Box 2, Folder
33
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 March 18
Box 2, Folder
34
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 April 3
Box 2, Folder
35
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 April 18
Box 2, Folder
36
Charles W. Lewis to John B. Lewis
1868 March 16
Series 2
Deeds
1816-1834
Scope and Contents note
Contains three deeds for land in the town of Northumberland or the County of Saratoga in New York. Arranged
chronologically.
Box 1, Folder
9
Deed for Conrad Cramer for land in Saratoga County, New York
1816 March 22
Box 2, Folder
38
Deed between Reed Lewis, Jeremiah Terhune, and Seth Pope for land in Nothumberland, New York
1816 December 10
Box 1, Folder
10
Deed between Daniel Burt and Reed Lewis for land in Northumerland, New York
1834 March 14
Series 3
Financial document
1784
Box 2, Folder
39
Tax list prepared by Elijah Cowles
1784
Box 2, Folder
40
School compositions by Elizabeth Lewis
1843
Box 2, Folder
41
Poem by "Valentine" to Thomas B. Dodd
undated
Series 5
Transcriptions
Scope and Contents note
Contains transcriptions for nearly all of the letters in Series 1. Also included are transcriptions for several items
that are not available in original form in the Papers. These include: transcriptions of fourteen letters written to or by
John or Elizabeth Lewis and a transcription of John B. Lewis' diary. The diary records his trip from Farmington,
Connecticut to San Francisco, California from January to September 1849.
Box 2, Folder
42
Margaret Roberts to John B. Lewis
1845 March 2
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
43
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 November 10
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
44
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 November 23
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
45
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1847 December 6
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
46
William Bodwell to John B. Lewis and Elizabeth Lewis
1848 March 8
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
47
Catherine Bement to Elizabeth Lewis
1848 May 13
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
48
Sarah Fake to Elizabeth Lewis
1848 October 18
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
49
Diary of John B. Lewis
1849 January-September
Scope and Contents note
Chronicles his trip from Farmington, Connecticut to San Francisco, California. Original diary is not in the
papers.
Box 1, Folder
3
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 February 2
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 1, Folder
4
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 February 14
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
50
Clara Wadsworth to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 February 14
Transcription of letter
Scope and Contents note
Includes letter from Sarah Fake
Box 1, Folder
5
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 February 22
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 1, Folder
6
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 March 7
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 1, Folder
7
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 March 21
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 1, Folder
8
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 April 7
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
51
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1849 August 30
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
52
Catherine and William B. Bement to Elizabeth Lewis
1850 October
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
53
Catherine Bement to Elizabeth Lewis
circa 1850 October-December
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
54
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 April 29
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
55
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 May 14
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
56
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1851 May 30
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
57
Jane Cowles to John B. Lewis
[1851?] September 30
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
58
John B. Lewis to Margaret Roberts
1853 November 29
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
59
Augustus Bodwell to Elizabeth Lewis
1856 January 12
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
60
M.H. Humphreys to Elizabeth Lewis
1856 February 17
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
61
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 May 27
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
62
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 June 2
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
63
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 June 19
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
64
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 July 3
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
65
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 July 17
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
66
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1857 July 19
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
67
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 August 3
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
68
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 September 2
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
69
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 September 20
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
70
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 October 6
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
71
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 October 19
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
72
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1857 October 19
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
73
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 November 4
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
74
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 November 19
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
75
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 December 3
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
76
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1857 December 18
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
77
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 January 3
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
78
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 January 17
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
79
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 February 4
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
80
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 February 18
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
81
John B. Lewis to Elizabeth Lewis
1858 March 1
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
82
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 March 18
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
83
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 April 3
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
84
Elizabeth Lewis to John B. Lewis
1858 April 18
Transcription of letter
Box 2, Folder
85
John B. Lewis to Jane Cowles
1867 February 2
Scope and Contents note
Original letter is not in the papers
Box 2, Folder
86
Charles W. Lewis to John B. Lewis
1868 March 16
Transcription of letter
Series 6
Ephemera
1893-1909
Arrangement note
Arranged chronologically.
Box 2, Folder
87
Drawing of floor plan
circa 1846-1848?
Box 2, Folder
88
Lock of hair from Julia Lewis at age 7
1893 June 14
Box 2, Folder
89
Certificate of promotion for Julia Lewis from first grade to second grade
1894 June 29
Box 2, Folder
90
Newspaper clippings on John B. Lewis
1909; undated