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- FRANKLIN F. LEWIS enjoys an enviable reputation, as well
as a
- wide popularity, through Rock and Columbia Counties, not
only because of his business success, but also on account of
his recognized probity, and his earnest Christian character.
He is one of Janesville's public-spirited citizens, conservative
while progressive, a friend of the poor and a liberal supporter
of the cause of religion, for whose advancement he is an earnest
worker.
- A somewhat detailed history of his family, for three generations,
is
- given in the biographical sketch of his brother, Stephen
B. LEWIS; to which the reader is referred for fuller information
in reference thereto. Franklin F. LEWIS was born at what is now
Lewiston, but was then Fort Winnebago, in Columbia County, Wis.,
Sept. 28, 1850. During his childhood the Winnebago Indian villages
surrounded the fort, the curling smoke of their wigwams mingling
with that of the sunrise and sunset guns, while the
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- tepees of these sons of nature swung low from the forest
trees. His boyhood was passed upon his father's farm, and his
early education was obtained at the high school in Portage and
at the State Normal school at Whitewater. For several years he
taught at Waupun, for two years being superintendent of the 'westward
schools' in that city. Returning to Whitewater, he was principal
of the "East Side School" for twelve months, and afterward
general superintendent of the city schools. His innate physical
activity, however, demanded an outlet, and he laid down the chalk,
the pencil and the birch to embark in commercial life. His first
experience in this line was at Red Wing, Minn., where he remained
two years. Next he became a traveling salesman for the Whitewater
Manufacturing Co., selling furniture and undertakers' supplies.
His keen intelligence, common sense, good judgment and tactful
address insured him success, and it was not long before he was
tendered a better position by the Cleveland Burial Case Co.,
his territory covering Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Nebraska, the (then) Territory of Dakota and northern Illinois.
In 1883, however he severed his connection with that concern,
to embark in the manufacture of knit goods, in association with
his father and brother, at Portage, Wis. A succinct history of
the enterprise may be found in the sketch of Stephen B. LEWIS.
Incorporation, under the name of the LEWIS Knitting Co., was
effected in 1889, Franklin F. LEWIS becoming secretary and treasurer,
which responsible position in the concern he yet holds. In addition
to rare capabilities as a man of affairs, he possesses native
genius as a mechanic and inventor. The company avails itself
of not less than four of his patents for improvements in machinery
and garments, and in addition to the manufacture of underwear
he successfully operates a plant for the manufacture of automatic
knitting machines (of the same pattern used in the company's
factory), devised and patented by our subject.
- Both Mr. LEWIS and his wife are active members of the Congregational
Church, while he has
- been both a pioneer and a leader in Christian work. For eleven
years he has been secretary of the First Congregational Church
and society. He is also a member of the board of directors of
the Young Men's Christian Association of Janesville, was chief
organizer of the Young Men's Christian Association concert band,
and for six years has been its president. The organization has
succeeded beyond his fondest hopes, having successfully played,
under the auspices of the Association, at Baraboo, Madison, Delavan,
Beloit, Green Bay, Wis., and at Grand Rapids, Mich., under the
auspices of the International Association.
- Politically Mr. LEWIS is a Republican. Of kindly disposition
and generous impulses, the many
- cares which weigh heavily upon his shoulder leave him but
little time to devote to personal recreation and social pleasures.
For twenty-two years he has been a member of the A.O.U.W., but
he belongs to no other fraternal organization. He was married
Nov. 29, 1877, to Victorine, a daughter of Anson and Hannah (THORPE)
ROCKWELL. The issue of the marriage has been one son, Edward
Rockwell, who died in infancy, and two daughters, Mabel Barrett
and Frances Eleanor, the elder born at Whitewater, and the younger
at Janesville.
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-
- Taken from "Commemorative Biographical Record of
the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin"
(c) 1901, pp. 312-313; lithograph from same book.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
-
- [Note: Franklin's daughter Mabel Barret LEWIS married
John Leonard WILCOX, whose biography is available here.]
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