History of Michigan, / by Charles Moore. [Vol. 3]

HISTORY OF MICHIGAN

1299

Mason, with Knight Templar affiliations, and also was a Shriner and
was a member of the Jackson lodge of Elks.
Mr. Lewis was married in Auburn, New York, on December 31,
I874, to Elizabeth A. Hollier, who survives her husband and has her
residence in a fine old colonial home at I609 East Main street, built
by Mr. Lewis not more than five years prior to his death, which occurred
on February 24, I912.
Mrs. Lewis was born at Skaneateles, near Auburn, New York, on January 12, I853, being a daughter of William J. Hollier and his wife,
Mary Ann (Lewis) Hollier. Both were natives of England, where
they were married in 1845. The -Hollier family had its origin in Wales.
The five children of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are: Minnie Belle, now the
wife of E. F. Lyon, of Detroit; Fred H., now managing head of the
large manufacturing plants in Jackson founded by his father, and a
prominent citizen of this city; Jessie May, who married Fred Bowman,
of Buffalo, New York; Mary Frances, the wife of George Tygh, of
Jackson, and Miss Alice Winifred Lewis, who is now a senior in tile
Jackson high school.
Among the many articles that have been published in local journals
with reference to the life and work of Mr. Lewis, one is quoted here,
from the pages of The Jacksonian, a journal published by the Chamber
of Commerce of Jackson. It follows: "Charles Lewis was an admirer
of young men and he always believed in giving the young man a chance.
He felt that the future greatness of Jackson depended upon the younger
generation; and he helped them with his money, with his advice and
with valuable words of encouragement. His optimistic spirit was one
of his greatest assets. His absolute and fearless honesty was another.
There was no side of his great nature that did not breathe wholesouled
geniality and inspire absolute confidence and trust. A growing community cannot be blessed with too many men of Charles Lewis' type.
We wish there were more of them in Jackson.
"Charles Lewis was one of the incorporators of the Chamber of
Commerce. From the date of its organization he served on its important committees and as one of the trustees of the Guaranty Association.
The high regard in which he was held by every member is perhaps best
attested by the following resolution adopted by the directors and later
ratified by the entire membership at the annual banquet, by a rising
vote taken in silence: 'But yesterday the Jackson Chamber of Commerce
was proud to claim among its active working members a man of whom
today, in the midst of his labors, has laid down the working tools of life.
"'We as an organization and to a man, individually, shall deeply
and sincerely mourn the loss of Charles Lewis. We shall long feel
the want of his enthusiasm, his ready moral and financial support and
his wise council in all that pertained to the general welfare.
"'But while we shall miss the cheery smile, the happy greeting and
the frank and friendly converse with him, we must still realize that all
these were but the mere outward attributes of a life so lived among
us as to long leave their firm impress for good upon this community.
" 'Be it resolved, therefore, that this slight tribute to his memory be
made a part of the records, and together with our heartfelt sympathy,
be communicated to his family.' "
The mayor of the city, on the day following the death of Mr. Lewis,
issued the following proclamation: "A sudden death has taken from us
the Hon. Charles Lewis. In his vigorous personality was embodied the
highest type of our citizenship. A life like his is an example, and Jackson had no nobler son. His wide sphere of beneficent activity is adorned
at every point by the grateful remembrance of all our people of the