History of Clarendon, (Orleans County) New York United States of America

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James Taylor Lewis, governor of Wisconsin, was born in Clarendon, N.Y., Oct. 30, 1819; son of Shubael and Eleanor (Robertson) Lewis, and grandson of Samuel Lewis, a resident of Brimfield, Mass. He removed to Wisconsin Territory, where he was admitted to the bar of the United States district court in 1845, and settled in practice at Columbus, Columbia county. He was married in 1846 to Orlanda M., daughter of David Sturges, of Clarendon, N.Y. He was district attorney, county judge, a member of the second constitutional convention of 1847-48, and on the organization of the state government in 1948, he was admitted to practice in the supreme court of the state. He was a member of the state assembly, 1852; aerate senator, 1853; a member of the court of impeachment, 1853; lieutenant-governor of Wisconsin from Jan. 2, 1854, to Jan. 7, 1856; secretary of state, 1862-64, and governor from Jan. 4, 1864, to Jan. 1, 1866. As a war governor he aided in recruiting troops and was actively engaged in caring for the sick and wounded soldiers. He obtained a special order from the surgeon-general of the United States for the transfer of all the sick and wounded soldiers from Wisconsin to hospitals within the state, which he established. He also founded a soldiers' home and provided for soldiers' families. He refused a renomination as governor in 1865, a diplomatic office tendered by President Lincoln, the office of commissioner of internal revenue in 1866, the Republican nomination for representative in congress in 1866, the positions of railroad commissioner and regent of the University of Wisconsin from the governor of Wisconsin, and other public offices. He devoted a portion of his annual income to the building and support of educational institutions, and also to public charities. He received the degree of LL.D. from Lawrence university, Wisconsin, in 1864. He visited Europe during the Franco-Prussian war and subsequently made a journey around the world, visiting nearly every country of the globe.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Clarendon, (Orleans County) New York

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