My Genealogy Hound

Brackin Lewis, retired farmer and one of the oldest residents of Reed Township, Washington Co., Ark., was born in the Old North State in 1801, and is the only living descendant of Zachariah and Rachel (Brackin) Lewis. The father died in North Carolina, and the mother was afterward married to Peter Mankins [see sketch]. Mr. Lewis, whose name heads this sketch, came with his parents to Arkansas in 1835, but had lived from the time he was eight years old until he was thirty-four in the State of Kentucky, near the Virginia line, with the exception of one year spent in the State of Illinois. After coming to Arkansas he located near the head-waters of the White River, where he has since been engaged in farming, milling and cabinet work. He has lived a very active life, and is one of the prominent and highly esteemed old citizens of the county. He came to Washington when it was in a very primitive state, and has lived to see it grow into a well-populated and highly fertile agricultural region. Matilda Preston, who was born in Kentucky, became his wife, and the mother of sixteen children, seven now living: George W., Rachel (wife of H. Wilson), Hosea D., Emeline (wife of T. H. Robinson), Zachariah, John and Eliphas. Those deceased are Henry, Elizabeth, Edie, Nathan P., Lydia, Peter, Julia, Ann and Sarah. Mr. Lewis was formerly a Whig in politics, but is now a Republican, and for about fifty years has been a worthy and consistent member of the Christian Church. He has surmounted many difficulties and discouragements throughout life, and now, after a long and well-spent career, can enjoy the fruits of his labor. His son John was born on the 29th of August,1845, on the old homestead in Reed Township; has always been engaged in farming on the home place, and during the late war served in the Home Guards under B. F. Johnson. He was married to Miss Almeda Ramey, a native of the county, who died in 1880, having borne four children: William H. (deceased), Lydia, Thomas and Peter. Sarah Parker became his second wife. She was born in Kentucky in 1854, and in 1867 came with her parents, Dosier and Melvina Parker, to Arkansas. The parents are yet residing on the West Fork of White River, in Washington County. To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were born four children: Dosier, Matilda, Burleigh and Anna. Mr. Lewis is a deacon in the Christian Church, and has always taken a deep interest in church, school and public enterprises.