Читать книгу History of Fresno County, Vol. 6 - Paul E. Vandor - Страница 31

A Kansas girl who has developed into a California woman of splendid attainments, influential both in the social and the commercial world, is Mrs. Nellie Lewis, widow of the late William A. Lewis, member of the erstwhile real estate firm of Lewis & Wells.

She was born at Colony, Anderson County, Kans., the daughter and oldest child of Joseph H. and Laura (Matthews) McDowell, who are now living at Selma, the parents of six children — Nellie; Carl, who served in the cavalry service in France, and Nina. Gladys, Velma and Chester, who are at home. She attended the grammar schools of Kansas, and in 1914 came to Selma with her parents. Here, in December, 1915, she was married to William Andrew Lewis, a native of Missouri. They were members of the Christian Church at Selma, and also active in War Work; and among the last efforts for others made by Mr. Lewis was to take a hand in the United War Work Drive.

W. A. Lewis died at the Emergency Hospital in Selma aged thirty-five years, and is survived by his wife and his mother. The funeral was in charge of the Selma Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he was a member in high standing. Because of the health regulations it was necessary to hold the funeral in the open air. Among the floral offerings was one piece presented by the real estate firms of Selma, who took this opportunity of expressing their appreciation of him when one of their colleague. Mr. Lewis was a member of the First Christian Church of this city, and was numbered among the most progressive and wide-awake business men, and in his death, Selma suffered a distinct loss.

Besides being an active church and war worker, and ever interested in the general uplift of the community, Mrs. Lewis has good business ability, and may be found every day at her desk in the office of the Sun Maid Realty Company, attending to the combined interests of that concern, which deals in real estate and insurance, and the firm of E. J. Wells & Co., operators of the seven ranches formerly owned by Lewis & Wells. Through her, in part, the many friends and patrons of the companies have been increased in number, thus affording a fine demonstration of the capability of a woman with a winning personality to make her mark in the business world.