My Genealogy Home Page:Information about Clinton L. Lewis
Clinton L. Lewis (b. May 23, 1863, d. November 06, 1930)
Notes for Clinton L. Lewis:
CLINTON L. LEWIS:
The son of ELI T. LEWIS by his second marriage, was born at Waseca, Waseca Co., MN May 1863. He was reared and educated in the states of Texas and Nebraska. Subsequently he found employment on the Nebraska farms. Here he remained until 1889, when he came to Montana and settled on People's Creek, among the Bear Paw Mountains, in Chouteau Co., where he continued to reside until 1893. In that year he removed to his present ranch of 640 acres, which is handsomely improved with all modern conveniences, including substantial house, outbuildings, barns and corrals. A large portion of the property is fenced and He is engaged, successfully, in growing cattle and general farming Politically he has always been active in the Republican party and has served several terms as school trustee. In 1887 he was united in marriage toMISS ELIZA, (Louise J. Freel), of Butte Co., SD Territory. To them have been born twelve children: HOWARD, deceased, CLINTON L.,ROBERT.,FRANK A., PERCY I., GRACE M., JOHN C., LILLY B., MAUDE V., LESLIE J.,FLORENCE M., and FRANCES C.
The brothers and subjects of the following biographical mention are well known and highly esteemed citizens of Chouteau Co.. MT and their present prosperity and affluence are highly deserved. Their enterprise in the development of there respective properties has been marked with unqualified success in every particular, and as influential citizens they are among the most prominent in the county.
These pages are copied from a big thick book called PROGRESSIVE MEN OF MONTANA. This book has been in the Lewis family for many years. One of Irvin Lewis daughters typed this from that book as the book is so big and heavy that they did not want to carry it around to have it photo copied. Irvin lives on the original home place. The old house is gone, they have built a different house where the original stood.
CLINTON L. LEWIS FAMILY:From community History book
By Maud (Lewis) StuderPrapot Prairie Trails printed 1979
Clinton Lewis came to Canada with his family in 1905. They had lived for the previous seventeen years near Cleveland, a small Hamlet in the Bear Paw Mountains of Montana.
The family of seven children and Louisa's mother. They came with covered wagons and tents, bringing several work horses and what they could haul. One item is particular, was an organ Grandmother had purchased form Montgomery Ward for her two eldest grandsons to to play. Sorry to say, they never did learn to play it , but John, Lily and I did play it in accompaniment when our brothers played violin.
Mr. Lewis took up his homestead at the head of Bone Creek, on Section34-8-22 W3.The three eldest sons, when of age, homestead The three adjoining quarters. Their place of business was Maple Creek, and they traded at the late John and Chester Dixon" store. With two wagons they would haul their supplies, usually making these trips twice a year.
I Maud, was born in March 1907. I was known as the hard winter baby, the first of the Lewis's to be born in Canada. Grandmother ushered me into the new surroundings, as she had my older brothers and sisters.
The closest school was a log building, northwest of South Fork, on the corner south of the Smith place. One summer a tent was set up in the coulee, among the poplars and pines, and Grandma kept house there for Percy, Grace, John,and Lily, so they could attend school. In 1909, another brother, Leslie, was born, and was at hand once again: but, sorry to say, Grandma fell ill after that, and passed away, at age 64 in Feb. 1911. How we all missed her.
Another sister, Florence, was born in Oct.,1911. A neighbor lady came to help, and someone rode into Maple Creek to have Dr. Dawson come out. His automobile was the first one we younger kids had ever seen. It had a rubber bulb to squeeze to honk the horn, and we all took a turn at the honking! The good doctor did not leave until the following morning, when he said he would take us kids for a ride up to the gate. My scarf caught as i rushed out the door, so I was left behind, which I didn't think much of at the time.
The mail at that time was hauled from Maple Creek though to Ben Rose's place at Eastend. Our folks had a mailbox set up at the gate, where our mail and that of some of our neighbors was left. i can remember the courier delivering our first De Laval cream separator.Dad took a wheelbarrow to bring it home from the gate. That did away with the tall milk cans which we used to separate the milk from the cream.They were set in a box up in the spring for a day. A tap at the bottom let the milk run off, leaving the cream
Clinton Jr. and Rober worked on round-ups for the town and 76 ranches for a few year. We moved into our new house in the summer of 1913. I August of the year Frnak was accidently killed by a team of horses, while hauling feed in from the meadow. He had just turned 21 years of age. Clint was away on round-up and Bob was laid up at home with a broken arm, when this accident happened to Frank. What a blow tous all.
Less than a month later, Frances, a sister was born to comple5e the Lewis family,. Dr. Dawson was summoned again, but got there to late. However, the good neighbor lady was there . What would people have done in those early days without good neighbors?
Bob never did go back to cow punching after Frank's death. Clint carried on at the same job a while longer, then drifted on, working on various ranches in Montana.
By 1913 several settlers had moved in, so a post office was established at our place, it being considered most central. I had to have a name, so the officials suggested taking the Clinton and adding the initial L, so came up Klintonel, to avoid confusion with another Sask. P.O. named Clinton. Klintonel P.O.was first served from Maple Creek. The courier was Billy Mutrie, who also served the Eastend P.O., located at Ben Rose's. Dad Lewis was postmaster from 1913 until Oct 1930.
Bob Lewis was one of the first couriers to haul the mail from Eastend to Klintonel. In the early 20's the route was changed from South Fork to Klintonel. A man by the name of Hanson hauled it for a while, then Ray Cole, then Ted Taylor, a close neighbor of the Lewis's. Before his contract expired he turned the mail hauling over to Percy Lewis in 1924. Finally, the store, school and post office at South Fork closed, so the mail came again from Eastend. Winter transport was by team and sleigh, and many a storm these mailmen had to face. Percy also served as postmaster for 38 years, from Nov, 1930, until Klintonel P.O. closed in 1968. He was awarded recognition by the Postmaster General, and a gift of appreciation from the community for his services.
Klintonel School was built and began operating in 1914 or 1915, with 25 pupils or more attending. Some had quite a distance to drive, ride horseback or walk, as this was the first school for miles around. Byron Walters was our first teacher. he resides in Eastend, at the time of writing,. The town of Eastend sprang up about this time, also, as the steel was laid for the town of Shaunavon in 1913. klintonel served some of the third generation of the Lewis family, until country schools were closed down.
The Lewis's ranched in the earlier days, then turned to mixed farming. We all carried our share of theload. The boys raised, broke and sold many horses. The girls did the milking, fed the calves, cared for the cream and raised chickens, all of which helped to put food on our table. John kept bees for serval years. What couldn't be paid for was done without, and we managed somehow. Dad Lewis raised a large garden and sold vegetables.
The gardens were irrigated from a spring, and a ditch, about a mile in length, was dug with walking plough, shovel and slip scraper. This ditch ran, contour fashion, across the hillside. It served, as well, to water the hay meadow, some distance below where the buildings sat. Flumes were put in lower down. Rocks would roll down the steep hillside, and every spring they had to get picked out of the flumes to let the water flow. Some difference then to what it is now! Most everyone has water and sewage disposal, but the pioneers had to carry all the water in pails. Some had to haul water as far as two and half miles ft a time. The early settlers had a choice, and settled in the valleys where water ran freely.
Some homesteaders stayed just long enough to prove up on their land. Their places were bought up by the ones who stayed permanently.
The Lewis home, it seemed, was a meeting place for activity, especially at the time in its history. Three Lewis boys played the violin and several other instruments. People drove many miles to attend the dances at Lewis's: they came early and stayed late. Church services were also held in the large living room
Grace was the only one of the family who moved far away. in the late 'teens she married Charley Smith (now deceased). Their six children are Florence, Frank., Jean, Glen, Howard and Joyce. Grace lives at Port Moody, BC.
Clint (deceased ) married Marion Guthrie. They have two daughters, Virginia and Grace. Marion resided in Eastend.
Robert (deceased) married Emma Webber. Their children were Gilber, Ruth, Esther, John and Dorothy, John and Ruth are deceased.
Percy is a patient in nursing home in Shaunavon. Marjorie is still on their farm
John Married Bob widow, Emma. They live in Eastend.
Lily married Oscar Larson (deceased). They raised two daughters, Laura and Violet. Lily resides in Medicine hat.
Maud married Robert Studer. Their three daughter are Elsie, Ellen and Carolyn. Bob and Maud live in maple Creek.
Leslie married Beatrice Henry. They have four sons, Veron, Everette, Glen and Roger. Les and Beatrice live in Maple Creek.
Florence married Edward Jonson (deceased). They have one son, Robert. Florence makes her home in Maple Creek.
Frances did not marry. She resides in Medicine Hat.
Clinton L Lewis died in Nov 1930, at age 67. Mrs. Louisa Lewis passed away at age 88., Aug 23, 1958. the old home place stood vacant for a few years, before being torn down. A grandson lives where the old home stood. Some of the fifth generation are now of school age . Irvine Lewis lives here now.
More About Clinton L. Lewis:
Burial: Family Cemetary 34-8-22 W. 3 rd. M Klintonel Canada.
More About Clinton L. Lewis and Louise J Freel:
Marriage: November 15, 1887, Resedent-Craven-JP for Butte Co., SD Territory.
Children of Clinton L. Lewis and Louise J Freel are:
- Howard Lewis, b. 1888.
- +Clinton T. Lewis, b. April 1889, Cleveland, Chouteau Co., MT, d. July 1966, East End, Sask. Canada.
- +Robert Lewis, b. February 1891, MT, d. January 1930.
- Frank A. Lewis, b. July 1892, Cleveland, Chouteau Co., MT, d. August 1913.
- +Percy I. Lewis, b. November 1894, Cleveland, Chouteau Co., MT, d. February 1981.
- +Grace M. Lewis, b. February 1897.
- +John C Lewis, b. January 14, 1902, Chinook Blaie Co.,MT.
- +Lilly B. Lewis, b. April 08, 1904.
- +Mude V. Lewis, b. March 02, 1907.
- +Leslie J. Lewis, b. May 22, 1909, Sask, Canada.
- +Florence M. Lewis, b. October 04, 1911.
- Frances C. Lewis, b. September 12, 1913.