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Part of an old map of the San Jacinto area from the Texas Revolution

Veteran Bio

Texian Location:  Participant

The Kemp Sketch

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LEWIS, JOHN EDWARD -- Born in New York City, October 3, 1808, a son of Joseph and Mary Lewis, who had three, children, John Edward, William, and Sarah Lewis.

John E. Lewis received title to one-fourth of a league of land November 22, 1832 in Austin's Fourth Colony situated in the present county of Fayette. He evidently returned to New York for when he appeared before tho Board of Land Commissioners of Fayette County January 5, 1838 and applied for a Headright Certificate for three-fourths of one league and one labor of land he swore that he had arrived in Texas in March, 1834. At least that statement is contained in the certificate. Perhaps he returned to marry, since according to his family records, he was married in Albany, New York to Anna Scott. Miss Scott was born in Albany, a daughter of Joseph and Leticia Scott.

Mr. Lewis received Bounty Certificate No. 1968 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army from February 20 to May 29, 1836. He sold the certificate August 28, 1833 to Samuel M. Frost for $100.00. In Service Record No. 6293 it is certified that he served in the army from February 28 to May 24, 1836 and this is accepted as being correct. He was a member of Captain William J.E. Heard's Company of CITIZEN SOLDIERS and on June 1, 1838 was issued Donation Certificate No. 263 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the Battle of San Jacinto. The land was surveyed in the Bexar Land District. The State of Texas had a joint monument erected at their graves in 1936.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis moved from Fayette County to Austin in 1883. There Mr. Lewis died April 1, 1892 while a member of the Texas Veterans Association. Mrs. Lewis died May 24, 1896, ages 84 years. Both were buried in the State Cemetary.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were: William, John, James, Jacob, Alfred, Lettie, Phebe, Emily, Mary, Annie, Nellie, Jesse, and Betty.

Nellie Lewis married James Thomas Warner Loe. Mr. Loe died January 25, 1917. Mrs. Loe in 1958 was residing in Dallas, Texas. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Loe were (a) Lola, who married Robert H. Lee and lived in Dallas; (b) Eula, who died in infancy; (C) Ben Nelson Loe, who married Jessie Burnett and lived in Dallas, Mr. Loe died in 1928.

Miss Emily Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John E. Lewis, was born deaf and dumb and was one of the ten in the first class of the Deaf and Dumb Institute at Austin, conducted at the time in a log cabin. After graduating she became a teacher in the Institute and continued as such for many years until compelled to resign due to ill health. At the death of her parents, she had their remains interred in the State Cemetery.

Phebe Lewis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, was born January 19, 1843 and died December 21, 1927. She was married to William Turnage, July 12, 1859. Mr. Turnage was born in Tennessee, October 14, 1837 and was killed in battle in the Civil War in June 1864. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Turnage were: Sophia, born March 9, 1861 and died July 10, 1861, and William Lincoln Turnage who lived in La Grange



Written by Louis W. Kemp, between 1930 and 1952. Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library.


Battle Statistics

  • Died in Battle: No
  • Rank: Private
  • Company: Capt. William J. E. Heard

Personal Statistics

  • Date of Birth: 1808 Oct 3
  • Birthplace: New York, New York
  • Came to Texas: 1834 Mar
  • Date of Death: 1892 Apr 1
  • Burial Place: Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas
  • Bounty Certificate: 1968
  • Donation Certificate: 263
  • Wife: Anna Scott
  • Children: William Lewis; John Lewis; James Jacob Lewis; Alfred Lewis; Lettie Lewis; Phebe Lewis Turnage; Emily Lewis; Mary Lewis; Annie Lewis; Nellie Lewis Loe; Jesse Lewis; Betty Lewis