John Lewis

World War I

John Lewis was born in Bryer Bluff, Illinois on May 30, 1893. His parents were Benjamin and Mary (Duffy) Lewis who had been born in Pennsylvania and New York respectively. The family moved to Carroll County shortly after John’s birth. His father passed away in Dedham on May 9, 1896.

John was inducted into the US Army on July 26, 1918 along with a large number of Templeton and other Carroll County boys. They were transported via Camp Dodge to Camp Gordon, Georgia for initial training. John was assigned serial number 4006888. By early September, that training was complete and many of the boys were preparing to sail to Europe to join the fighting. John, however, was assigned to the 157th Depot Brigade.

The 157th Depot Brigade’s mission was to receive and organize new recruits, provide them with uniforms and training and prepare them to be transported to France. While many of his contemporaries were sent to New Jersey to board ship, John must have received some leave as the records indicate he was in Des Moines on September 2, 1918 to be married to Minnie Schwaller.

He returned to Camp Gordon to continue his work with the 157th Depot Brigade. The war came to a close on November 11, 1918 and Camp Gordon shifted its efforts to receiving soldiers returning from France. John was discharged from Camp Gordon on December 7, 1918 and returned to Templeton and was a salesman.

In 1921, the Lewis family moved to Lanesboro and two years later opened their own general merchandise store. They closed their store in April, 1938 in anticipation of moving to the western United States due to Mrs. Lewis’ health. However, Minnie Lewis took her own life on May 11, 1938. John Lewis moved to Sioux City after his wife’s death. He lived in Sioux City for many years before spending the last years of his life in the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He died in a Sioux City hospital on October 17, 1950 at age 57. He is buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Templeton.