Samuel Howell Lewis was born in Mecklenberg County, Virginia on March 12, 1796, son of Robert (Robert of Mecklenberg) and (Susanna) Ann Bugg Lewis. 

Samuel is believed to have been married three times.  His first wife was named Henrietta Maybrey whom he married July 4th 1818. His second wife's maiden name was Lorance.  They are said to have had four sons James Lewis, Samuel Lewis, Hardin Lewis and Ansell Lewis.  All four sons are believed to have moved to Illinois before their father.  Family tradition has that at least one went to Arkansas and one to Missouri.

 After Samuel’s second wife died, he married Jane Darnell in Warren County, NC.   They had sons Benjamin Darnell Lewis, Robert and William Baugh Lewis.  Family tradition has a daughter Ann Lewis born in 1830.  Jane would have died circa 1844 in Kentucky.  Samuel moved to Pope County Illinois about 1845 bringing with him three sons, Benjamin, Robert and William. 

 Samuel said he grew up on the Virginia plantation of his father Robert.  Since his father had slaves, his duties were mostly of an unimportant nature.  He remembered well how the slave cabins sprang up on the land.  He did not care for the idea of slavery, and decided to run away from home at about age 16.  He never returned home.  He first entered South Carolina, and from there into Tennessee where he lived for several years.  He later moved through Kentucky before coming to Illinois.

 He died November 28, 1867 in Johnson County, IL and is buried in the Joyner Cemetery outside Stonefort, IL

 (adapted from Leland Lewis, c 1982)