Alfred Elwood Lewis was born on 18 Dec 1844 in Georgetown, Vermilion, Illinois, United States, son of Thomas Lewis and Edith Smith. Alfred's father died in 1845, and his mother died in 1851, leaving Alfred and his sister Melissa as orphans. After their mother's death, they went to stay with their paternal grandparents, Zimri Lewis and Martha Hollingsworth. Alfred joined the Union Army in 1862 as a Private for three years and was discharged in 1865 as a Corporal.

Alfred's father Thomas A. Smith died on Saturday, 9 Aug 1845 at the age of 24 years, 4 months, 8 days.   Alfred's mother Edith Smith Lewis died on Monday, 22 Sep 1851 at the age of 28 years, 0 months, 20 days.

The Early Years

In 1850, Alfred Lewis, age five, resided with his paternal grandparents, Zimri Lewis, the head of household and a Farmer in District 21, Vermilion, Illinois, United States. His grandmother Rebecca maintained the household and also raised his sister Melissa. In addition, the household included Henry and Lucinda Mills and William Cook (unclear if they are children of Zimri and Rebecca).    As of 1860, Alfred Lewis, age fifteen, resided with his paternal grandparents, Zimri Lewis, the head of household and a Farmer in Elwood, Vermilion, Illinois, United States, his grandmother Rebecca maintained the household and also raised his sister Melissa. In addition, the household included his adult sister Melissa Lewis.

The Civil War

Alfred Elwood Lewis, an eighteen-year-old resident of Vermillion County, Illinois, enlisted in the Union Army for three on 17 Jul 1862 as a Private. Private Lewis was assigned to Company C, 73rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry on 21 Aug 1862.

Prior to discharge, Private Lewis was promoted to Corporal. Corporal Lewis was discharged on 12 Jun 1865 at Nashville, Tennessee. Corporal Lewis was a proud member of GAR Post # 204 (Kyger) in Georgetown, Illinois.

Civil War Engagements with the 73rd, Organized: Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois on 21 Aug 1862, Mustered out on 12 Jun 1865: Civil War Data - Regiment

• Perryville, (aka Battle of Chaplin Hills), as the culmination of the Confederate Heartland Offensive (Kentucky Campaign), 8 Oct 1862, Perryville, Kentucky, United States, see aftermath Aftermath
• Stones River, (aka Second Battle of Murfreesboro), 31 Dec 1862-3 Jan 1863, Near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Union victory
• Chattanooga, series of maneuvers and battles in October and November 1863, 21 Sep-25 Nov 1863, Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, Union Victory
• Kennesaw Mountain, during the Atlanta Campaign, 27 Jun 1864, Cobb County, Georgia, United States, Confederate victory
• Jonesborough, 27 Jun 1864, Cobb County, Georgia, United States, Confederate Victory
• Franklin, 30 Nov 1864, part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign, Franklin, Tennessee, United States, Union Victory 
• Battle of Nashville, 15-16 Dec 1864, Nashville, Tennessee, Union Victor

Postbellum

Alfred married Lydia J. Ellis on 1 Mar 1866 in Vermilion, Illinois, United States. At the time of her death in 1929, they had been married 63 years, 5 months, 1 day.  They had the following known children: William H. Lewis, Minnie Mary Lewis, Florence (Flora) Lewis Tetley, Morten C. Lewis, Joseph Thomas (Josiah) Lewis and Nell (Nellie) Lewis Heermans.

Alfred, age twenty-five, was head of household, a Farmer and married to his wife of four years, Lydia and they resided in Champaign County, Illinois, United States in 1870. Lydia maintained the household and raised William H. and Minnie M.   As of 1880 Alfred, age thirty-six, was head of household, a Farmer and married to his wife of fourteen years, Lydia and they resided in Elwood Township, Vermilion, Illinois, United States in 1870. Lydia maintained the household and raised Minnie M. and Flora.    Alfred was mentioned in a Quaker Meeting Record in 1882.  In 1900 Alfred, age fifty-five, was head of household, a Farmer and married to his wife of thirty-four years, Lydia and they resided on 2 No Anthoneyel Threel-Number in Arcola Township, Douglas, Illinois, United States. Lydia maintained the household and raised Morten C., Josiah and Nellie. His adult daughter Flora was also a resident of the household. The census also indicates Lydia has given birth to six children and five are still living in 1900.

By 1910 Alfred (aka Alf), age sixty-five, was head of household, a Huckster and married to his wife of forty-four years, Lydia Jane (aka Lizzie Jane) and they resided in Georgetown, Vermilion, Illinois, United States. Alfred and Lydia are empty nesters.   Alfred, age seventy-five, was head of household, and married to his wife of fifty-four years, Lydia and they resided on 9 Pearl Street in Georgetown, Vermilion, Illinois, United States. Alfred and Lydia are empty nesters.   By 1930 Alfred, age eighty-five, was widowed for one year and resided with the Albert Sanders Family as a boarder, and married to his wife of fifty-four years, Lydia and they resided on Pearl Street in Georgetown, Vermilion, Illinois, United States. Alfred and Lydia are empty nesters

Alfred's wife Lydia Jane Ellis Lewis died on Friday, 2 Aug 1929 at the age of 83 years, 10 months, 13 days in Vermilion, Illinois, United States. At the time of her death, they had been married 63 years, 5 months, 1 day.

Death & Burial

Alfred Elwood Lewis, son of Thomas Lewis and Edith Smith, died on Thursday, 2 Jun 1938 at the age of 93 years, 5 months, 15 days at Oakwood Hospital from a heart attack and had been in the hospital for a fractured hip.

Alfred was born in Vermillion, Illinois and was the son of Thomas and Edith Lewis. Alfred was a Union Soldier, enlisting in 1862. After marrying Lydia Jane Ellis, he went into the hardware business forty-nine years. For nine years until his retirement, he operated a Dry Goods Store in Arcola, Illinois. Alfred was a GAR member.

Those left to mourn the loss of Alfred were two daughters, Ms. Minnie M. Lewis and Mrs. Frank Heermans (Nellie), Mattoon, Illinois, a son Joseph Lewis, Charleston, Illinois and four grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Sunday, 5 Jun 1938 at Friends Church in Georgetown. Alfred is interred and commemorated in Georgetown Cemetery, Georgetown, Vermilion County, Illinois, United States.