William Hendricks Lewis

William Hendricks Lewis was born to Neriah and Rebecca Hendricks Lewis on Oct 14, 1837, in Macoupin County, Illinois. William was one of the Founders of Richmond in 1859. William was a veteran of the Utah War and Indian Wars. William was a founder and namesake of Lewiston, Utah. William was the first President of the Benson Stake.

Early Life

William joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1846 when his uncle, David Lewis, taught it to him and his family. They then moved to Nauvoo, Illinois. He then entered Utah in 1851.1

While living in Utah, William worked on his father's farm.1 In 1856, he married Martha Petty and moved to his own farm.1

Life in Richmond

"Returning from the south with the main body of the people, I engaged in farming and was getting along very well, when I concluded to go to Cache valley. I arrived there July 18, 1859. We followed an Indian trail through Wellsville, and arriving on the spot where Richmond now stands. I staked off a claim, and in company with my brother-in-law (Robert T. Petty), a boy of some sixteen years, and a neighbor by the name of A. F. Stewart, I put up fifty tons of hay."

"We then returned to Fort Harriman, loaded up some ox teams with lumber for floors and roofs, and returned to Cache valley to put up our log cabins. After building them, we considered them very comfortable, for they had lumber floors and roofs. Returning once more to Fort Herriman I sold out there, and moved my family to our new home where Richmond now stands. We arrived there Oct 31, 1859.

"On the day after our arrival, my oldest daughter Rebecca A. Rawlins was born. About two weeks later Apostles Orson Hyde and Ezra T. Benson came to my house and ordained me a High Priest and set me apart as a member of the High Council in Cache Valley Stake, which position I held about twelve years."

Lewiston, Utah

In 1872, William was asked to move to The Last Chance, Utah as Bishop and to help the struggling settlers of the area. Earlier names of the area were Poverty Flat and Starvation Corner because of how difficult the area was to settle. He was not the only member of his family to be called there, as in 1877 his cousin William Dorris Hendricks was called to be his counselor. The settlement was later named after William Hendricks Lewis for his successful work, naming it Lewiston.2

Indian Wars Service

After the construction of the Richmond Fort in 1860 and other forts in Cache Valley, the Territory of Utah created the Cache Military District on Oct 15, 1861 with Church Apostle Ezra T. Benson as Colonel. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. William was a member of the Cavalry.

On June 17, 1861, William was enrolled in the Home Guard of Richmond with Captain Thomas E. Ricks. He was released from active duty on July 28, 1861.4

Church Callings

In 1872, William was called to serve as the first Bishop of the Lewiston Ward.3.1 He served until 1901 when he was called as the first President of the Benson Stake.3.2

Family

William married Martha Narcissa Petty in 1856 in Herriman, Utah. William entered the practice of polygamy on April 12, 1869 by marrying Eda Elizabeth Standage in the Endowment House, Salt Lake City, Utah. William also married Julia Mariah Taggart on March 14, 1886 in Logan, Utah. William had 23 children with only three not living to adulthood.

William's son through Julia, Lorin Lewis, would serve as Lewiston's President/Mayor from 1918-1920.

Epilogue