Beason Lewis

Beason Lewis was born Feb 23, 1809 in Pendleton, South Carolina to Neriah and Mary Morse Lewis. Beason is a Pioneer of Richmond. Beason was a veteran of the Indian Wars.

History

When Beason was a baby, the Lewis family moved to Kentucky. Ellen Marinda Monson said about Beason's early life:

"Neriah's sons were all well trained in pioneering. They cleared the trees from their land, built homes, plowed and planted. And along with the early settlers of that time and section, they raised corn and grain from which they made whiskey and brandy. They made their barrels from the liquor from the wood they cut from their land. They were all coopers by trade. They raised tobacco and cured it. These products, liquor and tobacco, they sold or exchanged to supply them with their other needs. These men were breeders of fine stock, and horses, and being men of strength, they were able to protect themselves and other from the Indians and other dangers of that time."1

While the Lewis family lived in Kentucky, many members of the family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including Beason's younger brother Neriah. However, Beason did not join the church.4

In 1846, Beason adopted the children of his brother Benjamin and his wife Joannah. Just before her death on Jan 16, she asked Beason to take her children to Utah. He obliged and began preparations to move West. During this time, Beason became acquainted with Joannah's younger sister Elizabeth Ryon. Beason and Elizabeth were married on Feb 6, 1846 in Pendleton, South Carolina.4

The Lewis' joined the Daniel Spencer/Ira Eldredge Company on June 17, 1847 in Elkhorn, Nebraska Territory, and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 22. Beason entered the practice of polygamy on Feb 28, 1854 by marrying Elizabeth Almira Pond. 

On Jan 1, 1851, Beason was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Church Apostle Jedediah M. Grant.1

The Lewis' continued to live in the Salt Lake Valley until 1860 when they moved to Richmond. Ellen Marinda Monson relates:

"When the Lewis family arrived in Richmond,... they moved into a temporary Fort near a stream of water south of the new fort that was built that summer. They moved into the new fort in the fall."

For work, Beason was a cooper: someone who made wooden barrels, casks, vats, tubs, butter churns, and other similar containers. As a gift, he promised all the girls he adopted a butter churn, tubs, and other necessary utilities.

Beason Lewis would marry one last time on March 11, 1872 to Sarah Standring Simpson in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Adoption

Beason Lewis had no children of his own but adopted 14 children at different points in his life. On Oct 30, 1838, Beason's older brother, Benjamin F. Lewis, was killed during the Hawn's Mill Massacre. After Benjamin's wife died in 1846, their children were left orphans. Uncle Beason adopted all five children, including William C. Lewis.

When Beason married Elizabeth Almira Pond in 1849, he adopted her daughter, Almira Jane Bainbridge. In 1853, Elizabeth's younger sister, Loenza, died, leaving three daughters. Beason and Elizabeth would adopt the two youngest daughters, Martha Ann Kingsbury and Maria Loenza Kingsbury, around that same time.

The first non-related person Beason adopted was William L. Skidmore in 1853. William relates:

"When I was nine year old, mother gave me to Uncle Beason Lewis. For some time I had not tasted bread. I was hungry. Cooked wild roots and weeds were my bill of fare. When Uncle Beason took me to his house, Aunt Besty cut off a big slice of bread, spread it thickly with butter and gave it to me. That was the sweetest, best food I ever ate in my life."5

"Beason Lewis kept his word and cared for me as he would have done for his own son."6

Beason adopted Brigham Frederick Grant in 1860 while they were living in Richmond. Brigham F. Grant was the older half-brother of Church President Heber J. Grant.

"Uncle Beason and Aunt Betsy Lewis had a great influence over my whole life. No boy or girl that lived with them could have a more royal father and mother than they were to all of us that lived with them during my stay in their home. I believe God will bless their memory for what they did for us. And I am sure there is a place in the Kingdom of God where they can continue in the wonderful work of caring for boys and girls.”3

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. Richmond was organized as the 5th Battalion Infantry, with Thomas L. Whittle as Major, David P. Rainy as Adjutant, and Robert M. Kerr and Dana Walton as Captains. On June 16, 1863, Richmond was organized into two companies of Infantry and two squads of Cavalry. Beason served as a Private in both instances.

Stake Patriarch

The following was recorded by Chruch President Wilford Woodruff on May 7, 1883:

"We drove to Richmond & I visited Beason Lewis who was 74 years of age and was entirely helpless from a stroke of paralasis had been so far a year. He has been a good man and done much good. He wanted me to bless him which I felt impressed to do, & while my hands was upon his head I felt strongly moved upon to ordain him a High Priest and Patriarch which I did do and the spirit & power of God rested upon us while doing it and He felt vary thankful for the blessing."2

It is unclear if Beason ever made any blessings during this time.

Epilogue