Gateway to Texas: history of Orange County.
edited by Dr. Howard C. Williams
Page 232

The McFarland Lewis Family

William McFarland Lewis was the son of Colonel Samuel Lewis, a delegate from Bevil to me Consultation of 1835 and a representative from his county (now Jasper) to me first and second Congresses of me Republic of Texas. Colonel Lewis and his son were surveyor and are credited with laying out the towns of San Augustine and upper Belgrade.

Known as McFarland or "Mack", William McFarland Lewis brought his family to Orange County about 1850 and settled west of present-day Orange. He donated land for educational purposes and the area and school now known as McLewis were named "Mack Lewis" in his honor.

The 1860 Orange County census listed William McFarland Lewis as 40 years old, with $4oo in real estate and $3,000 in personal property; his wife, Mary Ann, 37; and children: William J., 20; Henry M., 18; Nancy, 1+; Alzada J., 12; Lawhon McFarland, 10; Samuel Thomas, 7; Mary, S; Wingate Alonzo, 3.

Lawhon McFarland Lewis served as Orange County Commissioner from 1890-1898, and 1904-05. His son, Lawrence J. Lewis, was a well-known banking executive, retiring after 20 years with the First National Bank. He was also first president of the County National Bank.

Lawhon McFarland married Hester Ann Cole, daughter Of Joshua and Elizabeth Harmon Cole (the daughter of John and Elizabeth Clark Harmon). Lawhon and Hester's daughter, Susan Emma (Sudie), married Jerome Burton, youngest son of Owen Burton.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


From "More Early Southeast Texas Families" pg 147

Mary Ann (Sudduth) married William McFarland Lewis, youngest son of Colonel S. S. Lewis. Known as McFarland or Mack, he gave his occupation as farming but was also a town site developer and enterpriser, it seems. In 1860 he had only three slaves, not indicative of large planter activity. He and his older brother Martin B. Lewis, laid out the town of Upper Belgrade on the west bank of the Sabine River in what is now Newton County and Just north of Col. T. S. McFarland's town Belgrade. As a city the project may have been a disappointment, but today it is a populous community, though unorganized and scattered, but very much alive. After 1850, the Lewises moved to Orange County and Settled west of Madison (now Orange). Today a community and School near the old home site bear his name. The spelling however, McLewis, has been corrupted from Mack to McLewis.

from

EARLY SETTLERS OF JASPER COUNTY

THE FIRST TO ARRIVE BY MRS. CHARLES MARTIN

Kirbyville Banner, Kirbyville, Texas 75956, Wednesday 17, 1971



The youngest son of Colonel Lewis, William McFarland, was named for his father's old friend and business associate, the accolade of Ayish Bayou District, and was known as McF. (Mack F.) and Mack Lewis. His grant of land is located on the Sabine River south of the present town of Bon Wier, adjoining the ghost town of Belgrade on the north.
Mack Lewis and his older brother, Martin B., laid out the townsite, Upper Belgrade, in the southeast corner of the former's league, and today the area is still a populous and widespread, though scattered, community bearing the name Upper Belgrade. After the demise of Belgrade, the post office, discontinued about 1936, was moved to Upper Belgrade.
McFarland Lewis moved to Orange County during the 1850's and settled west of Orange. His name, though corrupted in spelling, is remembered in the McLewis (sic) community and school.

Youngest son of Col. S.S. Lewis.

• Married: in Texas

1. Sarah Ann LEWIS b: 1838 in Newton Co, Texas
2. William Jefferson LEWIS b: 1840 in Newton Co, Texas
3. Henry Martin LEWIS b: 1842 in Newton Co, Texas
4. Jonathan Q. LEWIS b: ABT 1844
5. Nancy A. Permelia LEWIS b: 1846 in Newton Co, Texas
6. Jane Alsday LEWIS b: 1848 in Newton Co, Texas
7. Lawhon McFarland LEWIS b: 21 Jul 1850 in Orange Texas
8. Samuel L LEWIS b: 1853 in Orange Texas
9. Mary K LEWIS b: 1855 in Orange Texas
10. Alonzo Wingate LEWIS b: 3 Aug 1857 in Orange Tx

1. Title: Texas State Library and Archives Commision
   Publication: Republic Records
   Note:
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/trail/RepublicSearch.jsp>
   Text: The following are the links to William McFarland's Pension Application file.
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500581.pdf>
   -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500582.pdf>
   (Transcribed as follows)
   The State of Texas
   County of Orange
   To the Hon. A Bledsoe Comptroller of said state of Texas. The undersigned Herby Respectfully makes this application to you for the pension for services in Texas Revolution in 1835 and 1836 under an act of the last session of the state Legislature, entitled act granting pensions to the surviving veterans of the Revolution which separated Texas from Mexico. This 15th day of December AD 1870
   Wm McF Lewis
   The state of Texas
   County of Orange
   Before me R. H. Smith Clerk of the District court within and for said county on this day personally came William McF Lewis who is to me known, who after being duly sworn upon his oath doth say that he served as a soldier in the war of Texas Revolution in Capt James Chessher's company in Col. Paulson?s Regiment, from the 1st day of October to the 1st days of December 1835, in exposition against San Antonio de Bexar of said year, and that he is now nearly 52 years of age - so help me God
   Wm Mcf Lewis
   Sworn to and subscribed before me this 15th day of December A. D. 1870 - as witness my hand and seal of said county
   R. H Smith
   Clerk District Court
   Orange County
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500583.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500584.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500585.pdf>
   ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500586.pdf>
   (Transcribed as follows)
   State of Texas
   Orange County
   I Wm S Keaghey, do solemnly swear that I am personally acquainted with Wm McF Lewis and have known him since march 1836, I first for at saw him in or about the first of that month in the town of San Augustine in the company of Capt Chessher and knew him as a volunteer and member of said company in March 1836, I have always know and understood that he participated as a soldier in war of Texas independence or Revolution which separated Texas from Mexico both in 1835 and 1836, Son of Col Lewis who commanded & brother of M. B. Lewis who acted as Major in the battle of Nacogdoches, and brother of John T. Lewis who served in Capt Ingram?s Co. in 1835 He himself served both in Capt Jas Chessher?s Co. by sub Oliver H. Delassor and in M. B. Lewis Co Persona in the spring & summer of 1836, is a bout 55 years old
   Wm S. Keaghey
   Sworn and substantiate to before me as Orange Texas on this 14th day of May AD 1874 with the seal of the District Court of Orange Co. affixed
   R. H. Smith
   Ore. Dist Ct. O.Co
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500587.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500589.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500590.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500591.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500592.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500593.pdf>
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500594.pdf>
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   <http://www2.tsl.state.tx.us/repclaims/225/22500595.pdf>
   (transcribed as follows)
   Affidavit to procure Quarterly Pension
   State of Texas
   County of Orange
   Before me the undersigned authority, personally came Wm McF. Lewis who, is duly sworn says the he resides in Orange County, Texas; that he is the identical person to whom a pension was granted under the act passed March 25, 1885; and that he authorizes Joe. H. Stewart to collect any warrant for pension that may be issued to him, and to receive any deficiency or other certificate that may be issued to him as such pensioner, and to collect and sell such certificate revoking all other authority. Also at the same time personally came J. D. Bland a credible person to me, who, being duly sworn says that the facts stated by their first affiant are true.
   (Pensioner Sign here) WM McF Lewis
   (Witness Sign Here) J. D. Bland
   Sworn and subscribed before me this 1st day of July 1887
   Witness my hand and official seal hereto affixed the day and date last above
   given
   C. L. Goodman Clerk
   Co Cl Orange county Texas
2. Repository:
   
   Title: 1860 U.S. Census
   Note:
   1860 U.S. Census
   
   Source Media Type: Census
   Page: pg 318a/b pct1 Orange PO
   Text: 133 133 Lewis William McF. 40 m w Farmer IN
   Mary A. 37 f w House Keeper MS
   William J. 20 m w Labourer TX
   Henry M. 18 m w Labourer TX
   Lewis Nancy A. P. 14 f w TX
   Alzade J. 12 f w TX
   Laughon McFarlan 10 m w TX
   Samuel T. 7 m w TX
   Mary K. 5 f w TX
   Wingate D. 3 m w TX
   Lewis John 30 m w Farm Labourer GA
3. Title: 1870 Census
   Page: Precinct 3 page 24
   Text:
   175 173 lewis wm 52 m w farmer Indiana
   Maryann 48 f w keeping house Georgia
   Jane 22 f w at home Texas
   William 20 m w farm labor Texas
   Mary 14 f w at home Texas
   Lonza 13 M w At home Texas
   Date: 2 Aug 1870
4. Repository:
   Name: Family History Library
   Salt Lake City, UT 84150 USA
   
   Title: Ancestral File (TM)
   Author: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
   Publication: July 1996 (c), data as of 2 January 1996
5. Title: More Early Southeast Texas Families
   Author: Madelie Martin
   Publication: Nortex Press
   Page: Page 147
6. Title: 1850 Census, Newton County, Texas
   Page: 187-187