Lewis article by Karen
Charles Sherman Lewis
By Karen Cuccinello
This photo is from the Stamford Village Library collection. The names that go with the buildings were written on the back by an unknown author. From previous research I know that the Bloodgood family home and garage were built in the middle of this photo after the photo was taken so I am not so sure that the building to the left was the Bloodgoods or if the lawyers office was really his office, for that matter. I do know that attorney Charles S. Lewis lived on Main Street.
Charles or Chas. was born and raised in Knox, Albany County, NY to Henry and Catharine (Mesick) Lewis January 21, 1842. He was one of seven siblings. His mother died when he was five years old so his sister Clarissa, who was eight years older and the oldest girl in the family, probably raised him.
Charles married Orpha Ann Smith (1855-1929), daughter of Henry and Cordelia Smith of Summit, NY, March 30, 1871 and they had one child Jennie A. about 1875.
The family is in Stamford in the 1875 census report and Charles lists his occupation as lawyer. Through the years Charles sat on the board of trustees for the Stamford Seminary (where his daughter went to school) in 1876, was the clerk for the Village of Stamford in 1877, was appointed a Notary Republic for a number of years, instructed George Chamberlain to become a lawyer in the 1890’s and was home with a broken rib in 1901.
Charles must have been a bit of a historian as the following newspapers mention his collection.
August 1903 (Otsego Farmer)- Among his relics C. S. Lewis of Stamford has the sword carried by his grandfather dining the war of 1812, a revolutionary cannon ball, the original Log Cabin song book used in the W. H. Harrison campaign and some of the Log Cabin papers issued by Horace Greeley during that time.
June 22, 1916 (Windham Journal)- C.S. Lewis of Stamford, has a piece of cloth from which his fathers wedding vest was made in 1821. It could not be distinguished from a piece of cloth woven at this date. At his home there are many articles dating farther back. He also has the reading books his father used in 1810 and 1816.
February 1917 (Milford Tidings)- C. S. Lewis of Stamford has a cigar over 100 years old, an Havana, and in its youth it cost one cent. He has had it 44 years, obtaining it from William Simpson of Simpsonville, who purchased it from an old stock when he opened the mercantile business at the place. From the description and comparison of dates there is no doubt the cigar has passed the century mark.
I wonder what happened to his collection.
In about 1899 Jennie married Nelson Jay Grove a farmer of Worcester, NY. They later moved to Seward (Hyndsville), NY and appear to be childless. In 1910 Henry Smith, Jennie’s grandfather age 83 and June Grove, Nelson’s mother age 82 are both widowed and living with them. Nelson died in 1932 and Jennie in 1953.
Shortly after Charles and Orpha’s 50th wedding anniversary Charles died May 24, 1921 in Stamford of a cerebral hemorrhage. He, his daughter, son-in-law and wife, who died 1929 at her daughters, are all buried in Stamford Cemetery section E-34.