VMI Archives Historical Rosters: John William Lewis

Historical Rosters Database

John William Lewis

Roster ID 952
This is a summary. Contact the Archives for additional biographical information.

First Name:	John
Middle Name:	William
Last Name:	Lewis
Suffix:
Affiliation:	Class of 1859
Biography & Genealogy:	John William Lewis, Class of 1859: Genealogy: Born- Oct. 8, 1837 at Fort Lewis, Bath Co. Va. Father- Samuel Lewis; Mother- Elizabeth Crawford. Pat. Grandfather- John Lewis; Pat. Grandmother- Rachel Miller. Mat. Grandfather- William Crawford; Mat. Grandmother- Nancy (maiden name unknown, unless it was also Crawford). Married- Laura Crewse. Children- 1- Mrs. Howard Bunch (given name unknown); 2- Sue Lewis. VMI Record: Entered VMI Sept. 4, 1855; Graduated July 4, 1859 ranking 7th in a class of 29. Military Record: Enlisted Aug. 19, 1861 and appointed Adjutant of the 52nd Va. Infantry; promoted to 1st Lieut. Dec. 2, 1861; Wounded in action at Port Republic; appointed Captain and Assistant Adjutant General Oct. 7, 1862 and ordered to Trans-Miss to report to Major Gen. T. H. Holmes; ordered to duty with Maj. Gen. T. C. Hindman's division Jan. 23, 1863 and assigned as Assistant Adjutant General to Brig. Gen. D.M. Frost; assigned to duty at Head Quarters, District of Arkansas April 4, 1863; assigned to Brig. Gen. T. F. Drayton's brigade Oct. 17, 1863 but soon back at District Head Quarters; There on staff of Maj. Generals S. Price and J. B. Magruder until assigned as Assistant Adjutant General of Price's Division March 7, 1865; Ordered back to Head Quarters March 15, 1865. No further record found. Careers: Teacher; cotton planter. Professor of Math and Tactics at VMI 1859-60; Commandant and Professor of Math, at St. John's College of Arkansas (a military academy) just before the Civil War; Cotton Planter after the war. Owned and operated his own plantation. Death: Feb. 12, 1882 in Homan, Miller Co. Ark.

About the Database

The database currently includes the names of all enrolled students (both graduates and non-graduates) from VMI's opening in 1839 through the World War II era. In addition, you will find biographical and genealogical information, including a summary of military service during the Civil War, for many individuals who attended in the 19th century. The database also includes some historical Faculty and Board of Visitors members, as well as U. S. Army students sent to VMI for training during World Wars I and II. The latter groups were not VMI cadets. For further information about an ancestor listed in the database, please contact the VMI Archives. We can check the complete record, let you know if other information available, and provide copies of original documents. This database is for historical research. We do not release information about living individuals.