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Note: 1850 Ohio Census, Cuyahoga County, E. Cleavland, Page 301 1860 Ohio Census, Cuyahoga County, E. Cleveland, Page 24 1870 Ohio Census, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland, Page 198 working in oil refinery 1880 Pennsylvania Census, Venango County, Oil City, Enumeration District, Page 29 as a oil broker 1900 Pennsylvania Census, Venango County, Oil City, Enumeration District 156, Page 13 as a oil broker 1910 Pennsylvania Census, Cuyahoga County,Oil City, Enumeration District 134, Page 5B as retired From the Oil City Derrck, 1896 George Lewis born in Malmesbury England, May 20, 1843. He arrived in the US of A, arriving in Cleveland, Ohio in Jun 1844. They went from NYC to Albany by river,from there they went to Buffalo by Canal. From Buffalo to Cleveland on Lake Erie. His father started gardening on 30 acres in Cleveland. In 1863, George went to Titusville PA. and was employed by Great Western Refinery at Pioneer. In 1865 he went back to Cleveland and worked for Outhwait, Shurmer & Company. Later it became Clark Shurmer & Company, which he became a silent partner. He remained with Clark Shurmer & Company until the South Improvement Company in 1872 at which time they disposed of their oil interests to Standard Oil. In June of that year he entered their service and is still with them (1896) In 1872 he came to Oil City where he has resided permanently. He was one of the organizers of the American Oil Company in Bradford in 1876, which operated in the McLean Fields. Lewis, George - PROMINENT CITIZEN TAKES OWN LIFE 9 Sept 1912 George Lewis a suicide Fires Revolver Bullet into Brain at his Home -- was temporarily insane [family story says he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and didn't want to put his wife thru nursing another dying loved one] .George Lewis ,one of Oil City's most prominent business men, Vice President of Oil City Trust Co and one of the most prominent philanthropists of the County committed suicide by shooting himself. Mr Lewis was twice married. His first wife was Miss Sarah Bowman [his first cousin] of Titusville. His second wife was Miss Mary Lewis [another first cousin], the wedding taking place May 15 1911. The wedding was followed by a long visit abroad and after their return they spent the winter in California. Beside his wife he is survived by two brothers James of Avon, Ohio and William of Iowa and two sisters Mrs Polly Ponting of Cleveland and Nellie Briggs of Richmond Ind For many years he was identified with the Seep Purchasing Agency with headquarters in Oil city (can't read word) with the dissolution of Standard Oil Company in January. He was a trustee of the First Presbyterian Church. He was also associated with P.H. Judd & Company, in the production of oil in Venango County, and in both fields he was rewarded with a great deal of success. He was also one of the original stockholders in the Oil City Trust Company [Now part of National City Bank] and at present is one the largest holders of stock in that solid financial institution. In 1869 he married Miss Sarah Bowman of Titusville who with her husband makes their elegant place of residence on Bissell Ave., one of the most pleasant of Oil City's many hospitable homes Event: Venango County Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People Biographical note Note: Venango County Pennsylvania: Her Pioneers and People GEORGE LEWIS, deceased was during a residence of forty years in Oil City one of its leading figures in business activities a man of enterprise and initiative both in the management of his own affairs and those of interest to the people generally Though not in public life as an officeholder he gave as much thought to matters affecting the community as if he had been formally associated with its government and the influence of his ideas was strongly felt in shaping the course of local progress. Born May 20 1843 in Malmesbury Wiltshire England he was one of the seven children of George and Anne Bowman Lewis who brought him to America when he was one year old They crossed the ocean on the sailing vessel Albigon (incorrect spelling) arriving at New York after a safe passage of forty two days and proceeded westward by water also up the Hudson river to Albany by canal to Buffalo and thence by lake boat to Cleveland Ohio reaching that city in June 1844 In those days New York and Cleveland were farther apart so far as transportation facilities were concerned than America and Europe are now When he looked around for a business opening the father saw at once that market gardening offered a good opportunity for success and accordingly he purchased a thirty acre tract and started in that line in which he found the prosperity that he sought George Lewis had average educational advantages and helped his father with the agricultural helped agricultural work up to the age of twenty years when he decided it was time to begin on his own account. In November 1863 he arrived at Titusville Pa. then enjoying its first reputation as an oil town and soon found employment at the Great Western Refinery located at Pioneer, Venango county and owned by Schofield Fawcett & Company in whose service he continued until 1865. Returning to Cleveland, he took a position with Outhwait Shurmer & Company refiners and when the firm was subsequently changed to Clark Shurmer & Company he was the silent partner remaining in that association until the organization of the South Improvement Company in 1872 when Clark Shurmer & Company disposed of their refining interests to the Standard Oil Company In June 1872 Mr Lewis became connected with the Standard with which he was ever after associated making his home in Oil City from that time The great responsibilities which he handled and the high position he attained are known not only in Oil City but throughout the oil regions Though his duties with the Standard Oil Company occupied a large share of his time Mr Lewis acquired and sustained many other important interests In 1876 he was one of the organizers of the American Oil Company at Bradford Pa which operated extensively in the Mc Kean county fields during their most prolific days In Venango county he was associated with PH Judd & Company in the production of oil there as in McKean county meeting with a high degree of success Business enterprises in his adopted city always had his earnest cooperation and he infused into the management of all with which he was connected the same push and energy which characterized the management of his private affairs and which were so potent a factor in their prosperity He was one of the first to recognize the benefit which such an enterprise as the Tube Mills would be to a community as well as their worth from the investor's standpoint and he was one of the first to take stock in the company his example in this as in other concerns helping others to decide in its favor He was one of the original stockholders also in the Oil City Trust Company and at one time one of the heaviest owners of its stock His keen clear judgment and wise conservatism kept him free from ventures of uncertain worth practically all of his investments being in undertakings which were rewarded with more than average success Personally he had a name synonymous with integrity and honorable dealings in business and his prosperity in worldly affairs was a forceful illustration of the possibilities which this country affords to the man of perseverance fidelity and determination From the time that he established his residence in Oil City Mr Lewis took a loyal interest in everything pertaining to its advancement as a social community and did as much in that respect as he accomplished for her industrial welfare He earned the reputation of being one of the most progressive and far sighted workers through whose zeal many desirable local institutions were fostered. When the subject of a hospital was first broached he became deeply interested and his financial assistance as well as influence were used liberally in having the plans carried forward to completion his enthusiastic support never relaxing in behalf of this splendid establishment which has done such a great work in the relief of the sick and unfortunate Mr Lewis was always responsive to an appeal for charity no worthy cause ever being denied his assistance if he knew the need and though his donations were seldom made public they were always generous and bestowed with proper spirit. The only public position he ever filled was that of trustee of the State Hospital for the Insane at Warren under appointment from Governor Hastings the duties of which he performed carefully and efficiently. He never sought or cared for public honors though well fitted for their responsibilities had he desired them and he worked for the success of the Republican party untiringly with no thought of personal rewards. Fraternally he was a Mason affiliated with the Oil City bodies and Syria Temple AAONMS of Pittsburgh and he was a generous contributor to the Presbyterian Church His death occurred Sept 7 1912 at his home No 32 East Bissell avenue and he is buried in Lakeview cemetery at Cleveland Ohio. In 1869 Mr Lewis married Sarah Bowman of Titusville Pa and after her death he was united in 1911 to Mary J Lewis daughter of George and Anna Hayden Lewis natives of Malmesbury England She survives him occupying the old residence in Oil City long noted as one of the most pleasant homes in that hospitable communit. burial notice: 1912. Id#: 0205007 Name: Lewis, George Date: September 11, 1912 Source: Cemetery record; Cleveland Necrology File, Reel #050. Notes: Lewis- George, of Oil City, Pa., suddenly, at his home Monday, Sept. 9. Services at residence Tuesday evening, Sept. 10. Burial Lakeview cemetery, Cleveland, Wednesday, Sept. 11, at 2 p. m. 1843 - 1912. Lakeview Cem. Cleveland, Ohio http://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald/1912-09-13/ BODY OF GEORGE LEWIS TAKEN WEST FOR Accompanied by relatives and a number of friends and neighbors tho body of was removed from hlis home on Bissell avenue Wednesday morning to be taken via the Erie railroad to Cleveland in the Pullman car "Delilah". interment In cemetery The commitment services were by Rev JS Burgett Welsh pastor of the Presbyterian church. The Knights Templar formed an escort from there to the Union and the pall bearers were the following friends Stewart H Simpson J G Skelly H R Merritt D T Boreland, Major J M Reed George H Thomas M Blackwell and D R Mackenzie. The funeral party Included Joseph Seep, Mr and Mrs T M Blackwell, Howard R Merritt, S H Simpson, Rev E B Welsh Mr and Mrs William Buy lisa of Mr and Mrs S E Tucker of Dayton Oh, William Hawkins and George of Cleveland, Fred and George and Mrs Mayme Robinson of Norfolk Va and Phil Lewis of Columbus Oh. Oil City Derrick
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