94. Rees Joseph⁵ LEWIS (Joseph⁶) was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, February 1832. He died June 15, 1887 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA, at 55 years of age.⁽¹⁶⁸⁾ His body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA.

He married Ann JONES November 16, 1853. She was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales 1832. She died 1869 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA, at 37 years of age. Her body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA. Ann's occupation: Homemaker.

Rees's occupation: Coal Miner. Rees came to America in 1868.

Spencer DAVIES told me in August 1961: Rhys (Rees) LEWIS and his brother, Tom, were Welsh miners working "on consideration." When they uncovered a rich vein of ore, they concealed it and approached "the Captain" to ask to be transferred to "venture" mining. After a respectable interval they "discovered" their find and received a $1500 sum for it. This paid their way to the United States with their families. This was the largest sum paid for such a find. Mr. Lewis was a very sharp man -- unschooled until his marriage when his wife taught him to read. I still have some stock he bought in 1870! Catherine D. THOMAS told me in 1957 that Rhys LEWIS came to the United States with his family in 1868. Ruth RICHARDS said William was only one year old at the time. Ruth said the first three weeks were spent with sister-in-law "Aunt Kitty" in Wilkes-Barre, PA, then the family came to Scranton. Rhys' wife, Ann Jones LEWIS, died the following year. In March 1976, Gladys James TAMBLYN told me: Two of my grandmother's sisters, Kitty and Jennie, married in Wales and came to the states before she did, locating in Wilkes-Barre, PA. The Rhys LEWIS family were met in Wilkes-Barre by the MORGAN and WILLIAMS family and taken to their home for a few days before going on to Scranton to live.

Rees Joseph LEWIS and Ann JONES had the following children:

95 i. Joseph R.⁴ LEWIS was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, circa 1854. He died in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA. Joseph's occupation: Coal Miner.

96 ii. Mary LEWIS⁽¹⁶⁹⁾ was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, 1856. She died 1919 at 63 years of age. Her body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA. She married William LEWIS. He was born 1855. He died 1932 at 77 years of age. His body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA.

97 iii. Annie LEWIS was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, November 30, 1858. She died November 16, 1942 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, PA, at 83 years of age. She married Daniel JAMES. (Additional notes for Daniel JAMES⁽¹⁷⁰⁾)

98 iv. Jennie LEWIS was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, 1862. She died December 17, 1940 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA, at 78 years of age.⁽¹⁷¹⁾ Her body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA. She married Elias EVANS after 1895. He was born 1861. He died April 30, 1947 at 85 years of age.⁽¹⁷²⁾

Jen was a powerful businesswoman. She was co-founder (1888) and part owner of the Lewis & Reilly Shoe Store in downtown Scranton and was co-manager there all of her business life. She was co-founder (1888) and part owner of the Lewis & Reilly Shoe Store in downtown Scranton.

+ 31 v. Catherine LEWIS was born October 3, 1864.

99 vi. William R. LEWIS⁽¹⁷³⁾ was born in Cil-y-cwm, Carmarthenshire, South Wales, February 26, 1867. He died September 17, 1942 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA, at 75 years of age. His body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA. He married Josephine ('Phin') LLOYD. She was born September 7, 1869. (Additional notes for Josephine ('Phin') LLOYD⁽¹⁷⁴⁾) She died December 9, 1943 in Scranton, Lackawanna County, PA, at 74 years of age. Her body was interred in Hickory Grove Cemetery, Waverly, Lackawanna County, PA.

William's occupation: County Judge. He spent his boyhood in Scranton and attended the public schools. He was graduated from Bloomsburg State Normal School in 1886 and spent the following five years as deputy prothonotary under Thomas H. Dale. During that period he read law with Judge Gunster and later with Judge Alfred Hand and William J. Hand, and in 1893 he was admitted to the bar of Lackawanna County. He served as district attorney of Lackawanna County from 1901 to 1906. He was active in numerous civic and fraternal organizations. With his sister, Mrs. E. E. Evans, he owned and managed the shoe firm of Lewis & Reilly, Scranton, PA. He resided at 614 North Main Avenue. (History of Lackawanna County, p. 696f)

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