Lewis, Virgil Anson, 1848-1912

Virgil A. Lewis was born near West Columbia, Waggener District, Mason County, (West) Virginia, on July 6, 1848, the son of George W. and Lucy Edwards Lewis, both of pioneer Mason County families. Upon the death of his father in 1858, Mr. Lewis, the oldest child, went to work to support the family. Working as a printer's assistant, and later as a shipping clerk, he continued his education, later teaching and serving as principal in Putnam and Mason Counties. He also read law and was admitted to the bar. In 1892 he was elected State Superintendent of Free Schools. It is as an historian, however, that Mr. Lewis is best known. Author of such works as General History of West Virginia, History and Civil Government of West Virginia, Life and Times of Anne Bailey ..., and The Original Indiana Territory, he also founded the West Virginia Historical and Antiquarian Society in 1891 and served as state archivist from 1905 until his death. In 1886 Mr. Lewis married Elizabeth Stone of Mason City, West Virginia, the daughter of Richard J. and Anna E. Biggs Stone. They were the parents of five children: Anna, born in 1888; Hale, born in 1890, died in 1891; Lucie, born in 1892; Virginia, born in 1896; and Alfred, born in 1898. They also raised Maude, a niece of Mr. Lewis'. Mr. Lewis died in Mason City, West Virginia on December 5, 1912.