USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. III > Part 8
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Lehigh county, and became assistant to his father. Upon his father's death in 1904, he was elected to succeed him in the charge consisting of the Ce- tronia, Fogelsville, Ziegel, Weisenberg and Mor- genland congregations. He served these congre- gations as pastor for four years, during which time he was also chaplain of the county alms- house.
In 1908, he was elected pastor of the Egypt charge, consisting of the Egypt, Cementon and Laury's congregations, and was installed Nov. 29, 1908. Rev. Leopold is a powerful and pleas- ing pulpit orator and has endeared himself to his parishioners. In 1911, under the new school code passed by the Legislature in that year, he was elected to a six-year term as one of the nine school directors of the city of Allentown. He is a mem- ber of Greenleaf Lodge, No. 561, F. & A. M .; Allen R. A. Chapter, No. 203; Allen Command- ery, No. 20, K. T .; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; Caldwell Consistory, 32°, A. A. S. R .; Vienna Lodge, No. 847; and Unity Encamp- ment, No. 12. I. O. O. F., and Allentown Lodge, No. 130, B. P. O. E.
Rev. Owen Leopold, father of Rev. Elmer O., was born June 15, 1828, the son of Joseph and Annie (Miller ) Leopold. He received his edu- cation at the Allentown Seminary, and after leav- ing his studies was teacher and organist at Shoen- ersville church for five years. He studied the- ology privately under Revs. B. M. Schmucker, C. F. Schaeffer and Joshua Yeager, and was or- dained in 1859. He was pastor of the Lynnville charge for two years; and the Jordan charge for 22 years, from 1861 to 1883, and of the charge consisting of the Fogelsville, Cetronia, Ziegel, Weisenberg, and Morgenland congrega- tions, for 43 years, from 1861 until his death, June 10, 1904. He was married, Feb. 24, 1853, to Maria Daniel, of Shoenersville, daughter of Wiliam and Maria (Laubach) Daniel, who makes her home with her son. They had six children : Mantana, married Hiram Sieger ; Alice, married Rev. Edwin Smoll, of Schuylkill Haven; Ella, married Rev. Oscar Pfleuger ; Martha, married Rev. I. B. Ritter ; Laura, who died in infancy; and Rev. Elmer O. Leopold.
LENTZ FAMILY.
Conrad Lentz was born in Walderhoff, Ba- den, Germany, and was accompanied to Amer- ica by two brothers. He settled in North Whitehall township, in what is now Lehigh county, Pa., one brother settled in Lentzdale, Montgomery county and the other in Berks county. Of the sons of the third, one and probably two located in Northumberland coun-
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
ty, Pa., where Lentz's church perpetuates the family name.
Conrad Lentz was a stone mason and a farm- er and lived near Unionville, where he is buried on the old church graveyard. His children were: William (who lived in Heidelberg town- ship) ; John (owned and conducted Lentz's Hotel at Mauch Chunk, Pa., which is now known as the American Hotel, and he was also a railroad contractor and built the C. & F. R. R. in Lehigh county) ; Conrad, Jr .; Daniel lived at Walnutport) ; Stephen; Polly; Savitz; and Mrs. J. Biechy.
Conrad Lentz, Jr., was born in North White- hall and followed stone mason and weaver by occupation. He lived in the vicinity of the Frieden's church in Washington township and there he died but probably buried at Unionville. At one time he conducted a tavern situated near Unionville, which has long ago been abandoned. His wife was Elizabeth Hausman and their children were: Gideon; Abigail (married to David Kern) ; Ephraim (married to Mary Rex) ; Sally Ann (married to J. Leh) ; Peter and Janette (who died young) ; John (not mar- ried, was a soldier in the Civil War, wounded by a bullet in the elbow, causing lockjaw from which he died in a Southern hospital) ; Eliza- beth (married John Newcomer, and lived at Coopersburg, Pa.) ; Harriet (married Jonas Hoffman and the only one of this family who survives ) .
Stephen Lentz, son of Conrad, Sr., lived at Fifth and Gordon streets, Allentown, for more than fifty years. He was a stone mason and died in 1862, aged 68 years. He is buried on the Union Cemetery, Allentown. His wife was Catharine Ringer, and they had the following children: Hettie (m. Tilghman Freyman) ; Sallie (m. Samuel Brown and now (1913) 90 years old) ; Joseph (lived at Sherersville) ; Caro- lina; Stephen (an aged resident of Allentown) ; Rev. David (a prominent minister of the Evan- gelical Church) ; Dr. Levi (died at Fleetwood, Pa.), and Lewis (of Allentown).
Carolina Lentz, a daughter of Stephen, was born beyond Rockdale, along the Lehigh river, this county on Feb. 1, 1829. In 1852 she mar- ried Edward Schantz and they had two chil- dren: D. Llewellyn and Edward H., who died in infancy. Her husband died in 1858, aged 38 years. In 1869 the widow married Paul Ehret, who was born June 29, 1829, in Baden, Ger- many, and emigrated to Pennsylvania Sept. 14, 1854, settling at Allentown. He was a laborer, died Nov. 16, 1907, and is buried at Allentown. His aged widow (whose sweet disposition and
Christian life was an inspiration to all who know her), made her home with her son, D. Llew- ellyn Schantz at Seipel's Station, this county, until her death in the spring of 1913.
Gideon Lentz, son of Conrad, Jr., in 1842 settled 'on the farm in Washington township, where his son Gideon now resides and where he built his present house in 1852. He served Frieden's church as a deacon and elder and is buried there. He served his country in the Civil War and his township as school director and supervisor. His wife, Mary Fenstermacher, was a daughter of John Fenstermacher who lived near Hoffman's and there followed the veterin- ary profession. They had issue: Lewis H. (of Freeland, Pa.) ; Wilson, John, Charles and Alice (who was married to W. Kunkel, now deceased ) ; Gideon ; James A. (of Eckley, Pa.) ; and Robert (of Freeland, Pa.)
GIDEON LENTZ, son of Gideon, of Washing- ton township, was born in that district May 25, 1859. At the age of eighteen years he began working in the coal mines of Luzerne county, Pa., and after remaining there three years was employed in the slate quarries in Lehigh county for eleven years. Then he and his son carried on hauling for four years. In 1893 he moved upon the 33-acre farm near Hoffman's, where he has since lived. He is the road-master of the district since 1904. Socially he is a member of the J. O. U. A. M.
He and family are members of the Reformed church. In 1884 he married Maggie Lentz, a daughter of Moses and Senia (Krauss) Lentz. She died May 30, 1908, aged 46 years and is buried at Frieden's church. Their children are : Preston E .; Daisy (married Jeremiah Schneck) ; Stanley; Senia ; Hattie, and Dewey.
PRESTON E. LENTZ, the oldest son of Gideon, was born Sept. 10, 1884. He worked in school slate factory for six years, then carried on ex- cavating, hauling, and levelling roadbeds for steam and trolley railroads, having had large contracts in Lehigh, Northumberland Bucks and Luzerne counties. In the contract business he was associated with his father and they employed as many as forty men. On April 3, 1908, he be- came the proprietor of the Eagle Hotel, at New- hard. He is a member of the J. O. U. A. M., of Slatington.
On Dec. 24, 1907, he married Lillie M. Roth, daughter of Frank Roth, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. They have an only son, Clarence H. Lentz.
(George) William Lentz, a descendant of Conrad and his wife, Magdalena, had issue : William Lentz, born April 17, 1809, in Heidel -
Eng by E la Williams d' Bre tis
John to Keny
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
burg township, Lehigh county, after reaching by more than 100 employees, who met him at manhood, located in Whitehall township, and the railroad station upon his return home: became a farmer, dying in 1885. He married 1867 Testimonial presented by the employees of John E. Lentz, wholesale boot and shoe manufacturer of the city of Allentown, Pa. : 1892 Sarah Balliet, born Oct. 10, 1834, died Dec. 4, 1876. Both were interred in the Egypt church cemetery. Issue : Fannie, 1837; an infant, 1839; Moses A., July 16, 1840; John E., of whom be- "Whereas, our employer, John E. Lentz found it necessary for the benefit of his health to make an extended trip to California, and before leaving on this well-earned vacation, expressed his belief that his employees would conduct his business and manu- facturing department during his absence in a manner that would reflect credit upon him and them and low; Edward H., April 8, 1844, died 1901 ; Francis, 1846; Amanda, 1851; Sarah A., 1853; Silas A., March 29, 1855, died April 29, 1909; Mary C., Dec. 25, 1857, died 1858; and Aman- da W. and Amos D., twins, Feb. 15, 1859.
John E. Lentz, son of William and Sarah (Balliet) Lentz, was born Feb. 1, 1842. His educational advantages were limited to a few months attendance during the winter in the pub- lic schools. At an early age he learned the trade of a carriage maker. In 1860 he engaged in sell- ing carriages in which business he continued for three years, then removed to Allentown, continu- ing in the building in which Daniel Mager was later located on South Seventh Street.
In 1867 he sold his interest to E. H. Blank; the same year he entered into partnership in the wholesale shoe business, and later engaged in the shoe manufacturing business with William S. Young, as Young and Lentz. William S. Young retired in 1872 and Mr. Lentz organized the firm of John E. Lentz and Co. The associates were John Seabold and William Weinsheimer. He finally conducted the shoe manufacturing business in his own building at Sixth and Ham- ilton streets, where he continued for seventeen years, and in 1889 Mr. Lentz acquired his part- ners' share in the business and continued it alone as John E. Lentz. In 1901 the business was sold to the Honest Shoe Manufacturing Com- pany, and Mr. Lentz engaged in the wholesale rubber business, which he continued until his death.
He took a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of Allentown ; was one of the organiz- ers of the Allentown Hospital and started the permanent endowment fund by contributing a large sum and in many other ways he proved him- self the friend of the institution which he served as its first treasurer and was a trustee until his death; was a member of the board of managers of the Fairview cemetery; served on the school board; was a director of the Allentown National Bank, and the Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; and a member, trustee and deacon of St. John's Reformed Church.
He was a self-made man ; was enterprising and progressive, and devoted to his home and family. The following resolutions were presented to him by his appreciative employees in 1892. They were encased in a costly frame and were signed
Whereas, before his departure he placed the busi- ness entirely into our hands and thus manifested his confidence in our ability and integrity.
Therefore, be it resolved that we, the undersigned employees, present to him this token as a testi- monial of our appreciation of the confidence thus reposed in us, and in memory of his safe return."
In all his business relations he adhered strictly to the tenets and ethics which mark the upright and honorable man of commerce and business affairs and of social position. He died on Nov. 19, 1902, leaving an untarnished reputation and a name without blemish. His remains were laid away on the family plot on Fairview cemetery.
He married (first), Feb. 1, 1870, Amanda Schrieber, daughter of Edwin and Mary (Lau- bach) Schreiber. Issue: William S., born June 30, 1872, superintendent in his father's factory, died Sept. 23, 1902; Mary, born June 7, 1874, married John T. Little, died Nov. 29, 1912, leaving a daughter, Margaret L. Little. Mrs. Lentz died Nov. 30, 1885. Mr. Lentz married again July 10, 1888, Margaret E. Reninger, daughter of Aaron and Eliza Julia (Schreiber) Reninger, and grand-daughter of Jacob Schreib- er and Eva Catherine (Leisenring), and John Reninger and Elizabeth (Gilbert). (See his- tory of both these families in this work).
Mrs. Margaret Lentz, the widow, a most es- timable lady, resides at 526 Walnut Street. She is a member of St. John's Reformed Church ; and one of Allentown's esteemed and noble women.
Ephraim Lentz, son of Conrad, Jr., and Eliz- abeth (Hausman) Lentz, married Mary Rex. They had a son, James, who married Amanda Kern and they had a son, Julius E.
JULIUS E. LENTZ, son of James and Amanda (Kern) Lentz, was educated in the public schools and the American Business College. He became a bookkeeper at the Laury Plant of the Mauser Mill Company, continuing as such for six year; was then assistant superintendent for 3 years; and in 1911 was promoted to the office of superintendent. He married Elizabeth Schirtzinger, daughter of Julius and Emma (School) Schirtzinger. Issue: Marjorie Lentz.
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
JAMES MONROE LENTZ.
James Monroe Lentz was born in South Whitehall township, Lehigh county, November 9, 1854. He acquired his education in the public schools of his native township and at the age of thirteen years commenced working in iron ore mines. Later he followed the duties of a fireman around the ore mines. In 1884 he became foreman for the Fuller Iron Company, a position he re- tained for a period of twenty-two years. He then accepted a position with the Lehigh Car Wheel and Axle Company, at first as a fireman and later as an engineer, and later filled a similar position in the furniture factory of Kurtz & Schadt for three years, then accepted his present position as engineer for the Dent Hardware Company in Fullerton in 1910. He is a Republican politic- ally, and owns his own home in Fullerton.
WILLIAM FRANK LENTZ.
William F. Lentz resides at Catasauqua for the past thirty-three years. He is a native of South Whitehall township and was born January 8, 1863, son of Josiah and Miranda (Sherer ) Lentz, the former named having been born in the vicinity of Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania.
William F. Lentz attended the common schools of his native town and upon arriving at a suitable age entered the employ of his father, where he became proficient in the engineering business, and at the early age of sixteen years accepted a position as engineer at Shimersville, serving in that capacity for six years. In 1881 he took up his residence in Catasauqua, and accepted the po- sition of engineer with McKee, Fuller & Com- pany, at Fullerton, remaining in their employ until 1892, when he was offered the position of engineer with the Kostenbaders Brewery, at Cata- sauqua, and subsequently, in recognition of his valuable services, was promoted to the position of chief engineer, in which he is serving at the pres- ent time (1914). Being industrious and frugal, he has accumulated sufficient capital to invest in a home of his own, located in the residential section of Catasauqua .. He is independent in his political views. He holds membership in the German Re- formed Church, Knights of the Golden Eagle, and Sons of Veterans.
Mr. Lentz married, August 13, 1881, Salina Minnig, a native of North Whitehall, daughter of Feltman and Salina (Buchanan) Minnig. Children: Harry, a machinist; Catharine, un- married, resides at home; Acquilla, unmarried, resides at home; Minerva, unmarried, resides at home; Helen, wife of Robert Weaver, a machin- ist; Ruth and Arthur.
LERCH FAMILY.
The Lerch family is descended from Andreas Lerch, who emigrated from the Palatinate, in Germany, and landed at Philadelphia, Sept. 16, 1738. His sons, Anthony, Peter, and Gratius, accompanied him, and they settled in Lower Sau- con township, in Northampton county. Gratius died in 1794, and with his wife, Anna Maria, had three sons: Philip, father of John and Henry ; Jacob, born 1755, died 1826; and Tobias, born 1761, died 1796. Sabina, a daughter of Andreas, was born 1710, married a Mr. Free- man, and died in 1802.
Anthony Lerch, the eldest son, was born Sept. 20, 1720, and died Aug. 28, 1793. He was a prominent farmer in Lower Saucon, where he owned several hundred acres. He was active in the Revolution, being a member of the Commit- tee of Observation. His wife, Anna Margaret, was born March 7, 1728, and died Feb. 14, 1796. They had ten children: John; Anthony (1750- 1798) ; Catharine (1752); Anna Margaret (1754); Nicholas (1757); Frederick (1759- 1826) ; Anna Maria (1762) ; Peter (1764- 1813); Elizabeth (1768-1833); and Susanna (1773).
John Lerch, the eldest son of Anthony, was born Nov. 17, 1747, and died March 17, 1818. He removed from Lower Saucon to Allen town- ship about 1770, where he became the owner of 300 acres of land which he farmed. His wife, Sybilla Christina, was born June 24, 1752, and died Dec. 30, 1817. They had nine children : Anna Margaretta (1772) ; John (1774-1798) ; Anna Mary (1776, married George Kleppinger, and had eleven children) ; Adam (1778, married Magdalena Waldman and had ten children) ; Jacob (1781-1860, married Catharine Newhart, and had eight children) ; Abraham (1784-1868) ; Joseph (1786-1856) ; Michael (1789-1847, mar- ried Susan Huston, and had four children) ; and Margaret (1792-1866, married Samuel Dietz, and had five children) .
Abraham W. Lerch, son of Adam, and grand- son of Anthony, Sr., was born in Allen town- ship, Northampton county, Oct. 10, 1814. He was educated in the local school and reared on his father's farm until he became fourteen years old, when he entered the store of his uncle, Ab- raham Lerch, and served as a clerk and assistant until 1840. Then he became partner and con- tinued such until 1853, when he became the sole owner. In 1870, he formed a partnership with his sons, George H. and James M., and they traded together as Lerch & Company for many years .. He was also extensively engaged in the manufacture and sale of roofing slate in Lehigh township. He officiated as a justice of the peace
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
for a number of terms, and was a member of the State Legislature from 1878 to 1882.
In 1840, he was married to Mary, daughter of Elias and Sybilla Kleppinger, and they had five children: Sallie, married Lewis Koons; George H .; James M .; Catharine, married Dr. Clinton Sieger, at Siegfried's; and Amanda, de- ceased. He died in 1883. They were members of the Reformed Church, which he served as dea- con, elder and trustee.
Joseph Lerch, fifth son of John and Sybilla Lerch, was born Dec. 21, 1786, and died Sept. 4, 1856. He married Salome Bliem, who was born Dec. 15, 1796, and died April 24, 1847. They had eight children: Stephen; David; Joseph ; Catharine M., born 1825, died 1833; Sarah, mar- ried Reuben Kuntz; John ; Amandes; and Benne- ville. Stephen was born Feb. 12, 1820, and died Nov. 25, 1870. He removed to Stark county, Indiana, in 1853, married Margaret E. Falis, and had three children: Sarah, Martha, and Jennie L. David Lerch was born Aug. 11, 1821. He married Sallie Young and had nine children : Frank J., William H., Jacob, Tillie, Harry, George, John, Frederick, and Erwin. Amandes Lerch was born May 19, 1833, and died Jan. 6, 1896. Benneville Lerch was born June 29, 1839, married Senia Saeger, and had one son, Charles.
John Lerch was born Oct. 16, 1829, and died Jan. 16, 1886. He became a leading merchant of Bethlehem, and was the senior member of the firm of Lerch & Rice. He married Sarah E. Jones and had two children: Joseph A., died in infancy; and Frank J.
Joseph Lerch, third son of Joseph, was born Dec. 31, 1822, and died Aug. 12, 1858. He mar- ried Eliza Hummel and had three children : Amelia, Henry C., and Amandus W.
Henry C. Lerch, son of Joseph, was born near Kreidersville, Sept. 17, 1849. He conducted a general store at Cherryville, until his decease, May 16, 1886. He was buried in the cemetery of St. Paul's church at Indianland. He was married to Malinda, daughter of John and Eliza (Smith) Leibenguth, and they had three children : Emma J., married John Brader, of Treichler's; Aquilla E., married Robert Myers, now deceased, the widow residing at Allentown; and Harry J.
HARRY J. LERCH, son of Henry C., was born at Allentown, Oct. 17, 1875. He attended the public schools of Northampton county, and the high school at Mauch Chunk. He then studied telegraphy and was employed at it six years, after which he filled the position of station agent at Northampton on the Central R. R. of N. J., for two years. Later he became interested in the Mauser Milling Company, of Laury's, Treich- ler's, and Northampton, of which firm he is vice- president. He removed to Allentown in 1910.
He is a member of Chapman Lodge, No. 637, F. & A. M., at Siegfried ; R. A. Chapter, No. 278, at Catasauqua; and Allen Commandery, No. 20, K. T., Allentown ; Rajah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Reading; and Allentown Lodge, No. 130, B. P. O. E.
In 1899, Mr. Lerch was married to Stella R. Mauser, daughter of Jacob B. and Anna A. (Bieber) Mauser, of Treichler's, and they have four children: Josephine N., Elizabeth B., J. Mauser, and Harrison J.
Frederick Lerch, the third son of Anthony, Sr., was born April 17, 1759. He resided in Mt. Bethel township until 1788, when he secured a large farm in Forks township and this he culti- vated until he died, Aug. 1, 1826. This farm is now the property of a Mr. Messinger. In 1780, he was married to Elizabeth, who was born June 18, 1761, and died Dec. 6, 1838. They had seventeen children. At the time of her de- cease there were 12 children, 91 grandchildren, and 29 great-grandchildren. Among the sur- viving children were: Anthony, Frederick, Wil- liam, Philip, Henry, Jonas, Christian, and two daughters: one married Samuel Riegel, and an- other married Peter Woodring.
William Lerch, third son of Frederick, was born in Mt. Bethel township, July 31, 1785. He was a farmer and owned a farm of 136 acres which he cultivated until 1811, when he removed to near Weaversville, and resided there until he died, Sept. 12, 1860, aged 75 years. He was married to Elizabeth Messinger, sister of Michael and George. She died in 1858 at the age of 66 years. They had eight children: Mary Ann, Conrad, William, Thomas, Nathan, Elizabeth, Rosanna, and Araminda. They were members of the Reformed church at Shoenersville, which he served as deacon and elder.
Nathan Lerch, the fourth son of William, was born Aug. 12, 1819, at Shoenersville. He was brought up on the farm and this he afterward owned and cultivated. He was married and had ten children : Reuben H .; Sarah A .; Cornelia C. and William A., who were twins; Lucinda H .; Mary J .; Ida L. A .; Edmond A .; Preston T .; and Alabama M. They were members of the Reformed church at Shoenersville, which he served as deacon, elder and trustee.
REUBEN H. LERCH, the eldest son of Nathan, was born at Shoenersville, June 12, 1842, and reared on a farm. In 1871 he leased a property in North Whitehall and there carried on farming for three years. In 1877, he removed to near Emaus, where he also farmed, and later he lo- cated in Whitehall, where he purchased a farm of 76 acres, and this he has cultivated until the present time. In 1891, he improved the premises by erecting a dwelling-house. The farm was
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HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
formerly owned by Peter Moyer. In 1864,, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of George and Elizabeth ( Miller) Lazarus, and they had four children: William H., married Lydia A. Schaffer ; Emma J., married Benjamin Metzger, of Arlington, N. J .; Ida C., married Henry Rinker, of Whitehall ; and Lizzie R., who died when four years old. Mr. Lerch and family are members of Mickley's church Reformed congre- gation, which he has served as deacon, and is now trustee.
WILLIAM H. LERCH, son of Reuben, was born in Northampton county, July 28, 1865, and was reared on a farm. In 1894 he began farming in Whithall, near Mechanicsville, and was a ten- ant farmer for nine years. In 1902 he became the manager of the farms of the American Ce- ment Company, and since then has supervised the work on 300 acres of land.
He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, No. 97. In 1893, he was married to Lydia A., a daughter of Solomon and Catherine (Beltz) Shaffer, and they have one daughter, Lasta B., a graduate of Whitehall high school, class of 1912. They are members of the Re- formed church at Mickley's, which he has served as a deacon.
HON. FRED E. LEWIS.
The son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel B. Lewis, Hon. Fred. E. Lewis, is a member of one of the oldest and most prominent Lehigh county fam- ilies. He was born in Allentown, Pa., Febru- ary 8th, 1865, and has always resided there. He Was educated in the public schools, a New Eng- land Military Institute and Muhlenberg College, after which he took up the study of law in the offices of Hon. Robert E. Wright. He was ad- mitted to practice at Lehigh county bar in 1888, and by reason of his conspicuous talents almost immediately commanded recognition in his chosen profession.
Mr. Lewis' remarkable political career began early, so early indeed, that he was not taken seriously by the politicians, until in 1896 he secured the Republican nomination for mayor, and at the polls defeated the late Hon. William H. Sowden, a former member of congress, and a man of national reputation. Mr. Lewis was then just past thirty, but to his opponents, who had tried to make political capital out of his age and lack of experience, he soon demonstrated that he had a man's head on youthful shoulders. Indeed, self-reliant, courageous and progres- sive from the hour he took up the reins of gov- ernment, he faithfully performed his duties as he understood them, with the result that his ad- ministration was not only masterful but notable for striking reforms and improvements.
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