William E. Lewis (abt. 1858 - 1886)

William E. Lewis

William E. Lewis
(circa 1884)

William was born in Wales to Thomas and Ann Lewis.  I believe he was likely from southern Wales, perhaps Carmarthenshire or somewhere nearby.  Most Welsh immigrants who came to Northeastern PA in the late 1800s were from south Wales where anthracite coal mining and smelting were prominent.  The skills of the Welshman in these industries actually saved the floundering coal industry in Northeastern PA.  More to come on that interesting piece of history!

I am still researching birth records for William and expect that it may take some time to sort out.

Marriage to Mary Jane Hughes in 1884

William married Mary Jane Hughes (1839-1924) on May 7, 1884 at Miner's Mills Congregational Church in Miners Mills, PA.  At the time William was living in Plains, PA and Mary Jane was living in Mill Creek, PA.

William E. Lewis and Mary Jane Hughes Marriage Bann (1884)

Family and Residence

William and Mary had two children: a baby boy, possibly named Joseph (abt. 1885-1886/87) and Anna (1886-1932).  The family seemed to be living on Main Street in Plains, PA for the short two years they were together before William's death.  Anna was just four weeks old when he died.

William did have at least one brother, Thomas E. Lewis (abt 1838-1897) living in Plains and was a foreman at the Henry Colliery of Lehigh Valley Coal Company also in Plains.

Smothered by Clay

Tragically, William died at age 28 on February 25, 1886 in Plains, PA.  He and five other men were employed, likely by William's brother, to clean up a mine shaft following a collapse and sadly there was a second earth slide.  William was the only casualty.

"Smothered by Clay"
Wilkes-Barre Times Leader Evening News, February 26, 1886, p. 1

"An Earth Slide"
The Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Evening News, February 26, 1886, p. 1

 

Burial at Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery

View of Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery, Summer 2021. 
I believe the plot circled in red is William Lewis'.

It took some sleuthing, but one of my most treasured genealogy discoveries so far is finding the burial site for William.  He is buried in the Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery, next to the Hollenback Cemetery.  The Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery was originally located at the site of present day Wilkes-Barre City Hall.  I believe new burials there stopped in 1856 and most of the bodies were moved to either the Hollenback Cemetery or the present day Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery.  Today the Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery is in very rough shape.  It was damaged in the 1972 flood and further damaged by the passage of time and lack of attention.

"William E. Lewis, 28 years, killed in the mines,"
Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader Evening News, March 1, 1886, p.1

I first discovered William's burial location in the newspaper which helped to confirm his identity on the cemetery's master burial list (see page 110, Lot#830, Permit#6633) and the general location of his burial plot in the Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery via the map.

Part of Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery Map, highlighting the location of William's Plot.

Many years ago when the cemetery was in a little better shape volunteers went and captured photographs of the tombstones.  On findagrave.com you can see a photograph attributed to William's tombstone.  I don't know for sure if this tombstone is legit his or not.  I wasn't prepared for the poor state of the cemetery when I visited and need to go back and by the looks of it - sooner than later.

Directions: Enter from River Street and go all the way to the left and follow that road towards the back left corner of the cemetery.  The plot location is between Fountain Avenue and Central Avenue on the left, just across form Aster Path which may not be marked.

More to come in time!