An Illustrated Congressional Manual. The United States Red Book, 1896, (detail), Collection of U.S. House of Representatives

LEWIS, John William, a Representative from Kentucky; born near Greensburg, Green County, Ky., October 14, 1841; attended the common schools; was graduated from Centre College, Danville, Ky., in 1862; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1863 and practiced in Greensburg, Ky.; moved to Springfield, Ky., January 1, 1869; temporary chairman of the Republican State convention April 10, 1880; delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1880, 1884, 1888 and 1904; delegate to the State constitutional convention of Kentucky in 1890 and was unseated upon a contest; member of the Republican State central committee of Kentucky 1878-1891 and chairman in the State campaign of 1887; served as special judge in the circuit courts of Marion, Taylor, and other counties; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1895-March 3, 1897); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1896 to the Fifty-fifth Congress; chairman of the congressional convention of his district in 1904 and 1908; resumed the practice of his profession in Springfield, Ky.; died in Fort Worth, Tex., December 20, 1913; interment in Lebanon Cemetery, Lebanon, Marion County, Ky.