James Harding Lewis (1850-1893)

James Harding Lewis (1850-1893)
Born	May 21, 1850 Parawan, Iron, Utah
Died	June 9, 1893 Taylor, Navajo, Arizona
Father	James Lewis
Mother	Emily Jennison Holman
Wife	Hilda Drew Solomon
Children	Elizabeth Emma Lewis Hilda Louise Lewis James H Lewis Alice Lewis Eva Lewis William Henry Lewis James Lewis Ida Lewis Effie Lewis

James Harding Lewis, eldest son of James and Emily J. Lewis was born May 21, 1850, at Parawan, Iron County, Utah. At the age of four his father’s family moved to Harrisburg, Utah. He was baptized when eight years old, and as he became of age he was ordained to all the grades of the Lesser Priesthood. About the year 1871 they moved to Kanab, Kane County, Utah. He was then a young man about 21 years old. He helped to make a home for the family and farmed for a living. When the United Order was established in the Ward, he was appointed Foreman of the field work, and labored in that capacity until it was discontinued. On Dec 26th, 1877 he was ordained an Elder in the St. George Temple and married Hilda Solomon. He built a little home in Kanab for his family and ran his fathers farm for a living. Here their first two children were born, two little girls, Lizzie and Louie. In the year 1880 he was called with his father and brothers to go help settle the San Juan County. His father sold his home preparing to comply with the call, but the company broke up. Some returned and others settled in other parts of the country. On December 3, 1880 he and his family left Kanab, Utah for Arizona to find and make a new home. On December 22 they arrived at Taylor, Apache County, Arizona with his brother George and bought two city lots and commenced to build a new home and become members of the Taylor Ward. He bought farm land in Taylor and interest in a sawmill near Pinedale, Arizona with his brother George. All his stock he had left in Kanab he sold and bought a reaper and Moore Combine and other farm implements, being the first man to own these farm implements in the Ward. He did most of the cutting for the farmers. About this time President John Taylor and others visiting the people advised them to move on higher ground pointing to the west and he lived then on the East side of the creek and the Bishop advised him to the west side and set the example as one of the Bishopric. So he made preparations to move again. On November 26, 1889, he bought his fathers home. He succeeded his father as Post Master and later started to build a new brick house, had the brick and other plans made. When he died June 9, 1893 of consumption brought on by Lagrappe, leaving wife and seven small children. He was buried in the Taylor Ward.

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Daughter Alice Lewis Palmer