EARLY LIFE IN PHILADELPHIA

Wilmer was a native of Philadelphia, PA. being born on the 8th of November, 1853.**  His parents lived for many years in his native city and occupied a recognized position in the Quaker City society.  His father, Lewis Lewis, was a member of the well-known firm of Wilmer, Cannell & Co., and a native of Scotland.  (Our Wilmer was probably named for the senior partner of that firm.)

**Wilmer's first four censuses indicate he was born sometime from 1846 to 1848.

THE LEWIS ANCESTORS

The Lewis family was particularly well known in church circles, with Lewis Lewis occupying the position of vestryman of St. Mark's Episcopal Church for a period of twenty years.  He was a descendant of Sir William Blackstone's brother, and lawyers and jurists in his family have been numerous.   Wilmer's mother, Mary E. Dick, was a native of the city of Chester, Penn., and a daughter of Archibald T. Dick, Esq.  Wilmer's mother's great-grandfather, Dr. Elisha Dick, was George Washington's physician, and attended that illustrious patriot during his last and fatal illness.
 

1860 Census,, 8th Ward, Philadelphia, Penn.

The Lewis family 1860 Census in Philadelphia, Pen.. indicates Wilmer was born c.1846-47 in PA to Lewis Lewis (b. ca. 1809-10, England) and Mary (b. ca. 1809-10, Penn.)  Lewis Lewis was a rather wealthy silk merchant.  Wilmer had two younger sisters:  Anne (b. ca. 1852-53) and Florence (b. ca. 1855-56). DEATH OF WILMER'S MOTHER Wilmer's mother, Mary E. (Dick) Lewis, wife of Lewis Lewis, died on March 11, 1866 in Philadelphia.  Her funeral notice shows she was a daughter of the late Archibald T. Dick, Esquire.  The funeral was held in their home at 713 Locust Street on March 13th, at 10 a.m.

DEATH OF WILMER'S NIECE The 1870 announcement of the sudden death of 11-month-old Mary Elizabeth Lott names her mother Charlotte H. Lott and grandfather Lewis Lewis, now of 2032 Winter Street.  As Henry Lott wouldn't have been Lewis's son, it was Charlotte who would have been Lewis and Mary Lewis's daughter. (In 1853, Henry Lott was a candidate for district commissioner in Phila. DEATH OF WILMER'S FATHER

Here the death of Wilmer's father, Lewis Lewis, was announced on Mar. 8, 1876.  "Louis" is a misspelling as can be seen, his address was the same as the one given for Lewis Lewis in the article above.  His age indicates a birth year of 1806-1807.

 

EDUCATION Mr. Wilmer D. Lewis was a gentleman of culture and natural refinement, and received a very careful training and education.  He was under the tutorship of Rev. Dr. Faires, of Philadelphia, and also attended the Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia. His musical education was obtained under the guidance of the celebrated Max Ballmann of St. Louis, Mo. and Enrico Campobello, the great baritone.
Enrico Campobello a.k.a. Henry McLean Martin/Henry Campbell Scottish bass-baritone (1848-?) Read about him and his various names in life, it does not appear he was ever in Philadelphia., though at one time he was scheduled to perform there along with others, he did not come.
	Henry Martin (Campbell) was one of a number of British (or Scottish) singers to pursue a musical career using an exotic foreign-sounding stage name.  On May 2, 1874, he married the singer Clarice Sinico  in London, and for a time they produced opera together.  Both worked alongside many well known operatic singers of the period and toured the world. They also worked with James Henry Mapleson, Italian opera impresario.   Photo at left from Victorian Vocalists, by Kurt Gänzl, at Google Books.	Image above and some info from Ipernity.com's "OperaMania."
MAX BALLMANN Max Ballmann was born in Leipzig, Germany in 1842 and studied music in Berlin and Vienna under Franz Krenn, Victor von Rokitansky and Louisa Cappiania.  He was a nationally-known and  accomplished music teacher, composer, and sacred song writer as well as organist and music director at Christ Church in St. Louis, Mo.  His obit in the St. Louis Globe in 1908 says he was a resident there since 1860.

WILMER D. LEWIS IN ST. LOUIS  Wilmer was in St. Louis by the time of the 1870 Census in June, probably to study under Max Ballmann. 1870 Census, St. Louis, Mo. Wilmer D. Lewis Wilmer was 25 years old, which results in a calculated birth year of 1844-45.  He was working as a clerk in a hardware store, not just to  support himself but also to earn enough to study under Max Ballmann. Wilmer was living in a boarding house with several others from around the country and one female from Ireland.
WILMER IN THE CONCERT NEWS - ST. LOUIS It's here in St. Louis where Wilmer began his performance career.
On May 7, 1875, Wilmer appeared as a soloist with five others in a two-day series of Grand Oratorio concerts featuring works from Handel's Messiah and from Samson at the Methodist Church in St. Louis	On the week of Nov. 22, 1875, as part of a grand two-week fundraiser for the Women's Christian Home, the Thackeray Dept. of the Pilgrim Congregational Church gave a dramatic entertainment of instrumental and vocal music.  Wilmer was among the four soloists, as well as a member of the cast of characters in a two-act drama entitled "Mr. John Smith."  Wilmer was the Ghost in "Hamlet."
Below: This announcement on Dec. 19, 1875 was for a complimentary concert program to be held on the 23rd at the Mercantile Library Hall in honor of Mrs. Kate J. Brainard.  Wilmer performed in a duet as well as two quartets and at the finale, in a chorus featuring all the voices.
	In a Christmas Eve article about the performance of the previous night, Wilmer was one of those described as "our best local talent."   Unfortunately, attendance was small due to the weather.  But the hearty reception given to all who performed compensated for the smaller audience.

Bronson is located halfway between Cedar Key and Gainesville.

Marriage of W. D. Lewis to Miss A. I. McIlvaine as recorded in Levy Co. records, Oct. 22, 1879.

The writing on the certificate was very faint.  Click the image to see it larger.

Lewis would spend the next 10 years in Lafayette County and Sumter County at Lake  Panasoffkee as a successful  citrus merchant and orange grove owner. (Later articles will reveal this.) 

1880 Census, Lafayette Co., Fla.  Wilmer Lewis and wife Annie

Sloppy writing makes "Lewis" look like "Louis" and "D." look like "V".  Here Wilmer was a merchant, it shows he was born in PA, fb. England, Mb. PA, in agreement with his 1860 Census.  Annie b. Tenn, fb. Del. mb. Tenn is also accurate for her.  It appears that there is a "J. A. McIlvaine" and wife Josephine in their  home.  He was born in Alabama.  There doesn't seem to be any siblings of Annie who were born in Alabama, nor any with initials J. A.

On July 5, 1880, a crowd gathered at Miller's Wharf in Crystal River to watch the great steamer "Eva" captained by John Wilson dock at half tide.  Wilmer and "lady" (Annie) from Cedar Key were on board, as well as a wealthy passenger from Jacksonville.

WILMER D. LEWIS LAND PATENTS The map at right shows Florida's counties as they appeared around 1883.  The locations where Wilmer was known to be are marked: His marriage in Bronson, Levy Co. in 1879, his 1880 census in Lafayette Co, and 1885 census in Sumter Co. Notice the red square marking the location of his land patents was originally in Hernando Co., but in 1887, Hernando Co. gave up it's northern lands to form Citrus Co, and its southern lands to form Pasco Co., thus putting Wilmer's lands in the new county of Citrus. (Sumter Co. also gave up its east half to form Lake Co.) PLACE YOUR CURSOR ON THE MAP TO SEE HOW THE COUNTY LINES HAVE CHANGED.   See this map website which shows how Florida's county lines have changed from 1821 to 1961.         In Oct. 1883 Wilmer and John R. Biggs bought 40 acres in section 18 of Township 18 south, Range 20 east in Citrus County** from the U.S. Government.  On March 20, 1885 Wilmer bought approx. 66 acres in section 6 of the same township. **At the time he bought these lands, they were in Hernando County.
	It's not known what Wilmer intended to do with these lands, he may have farmed them as orange groves, or intended to make one of these his homestead, or even just for use as an investment. He and Annie were living in Sumter County at the time, which is off the map in the extreme upper right corner on the east side of the Withlacoochee River. Place your cursor on the map to see a satellite view.
The larger orange square is Township 18S, Range 20E.  Read about Cadastral surveying at the Bureau of Land Management website where the above info and images were obtained.	"Hernando" is the name of the town, not a reference to the county which is located much further south.)

1885 Florida Census, Sumter County, FL - W. D.Lewis and wife Annie

Here Wilmer was a farmer and Annie's sister Florence (Vestina) McIlvaine is living with them.  She was single but would later marry Harry S. Ray.  Wilmer will appear as W.D. Lewis from this point on in Florida, even in newspaper articles.
 

LEWIS VISITS TAMPA AND GETS IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION FOR HIS SINGING VOICE

In early May 1890, Wilmer came to Tampa for about a week to meet up with his wife (Annie) who had been visiting here a few weeks with her brother, V. B. McIlvaine and sister, Mrs. (Florence) H. S. Ray. 

It was immediately noticed that Mr. Lewis had a fine singing voice when he sang at the Episcopal and Baptist churches there. While in Tampa, Wilmer dropped in on the local Philharmonic Society meeting, probably at the suggestion of everyone who heard him Sunday morning.

WILMER AND ANNIE LEWIS MOVE TO TAMPA,  MANAGE THE COLLINS HOUSE

By early late Sept. 1890, the Lewis family had come to reside in Tampa.  Wilmer became proprietor of the Collins House, previously owned and operated by B. B. Cole and family. Wilmer maintained ownership of his groves at Panasoffkee for about five more years, but it was not his choice to give them up.  (More on this shortly.)

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At the packed Branch Opera House on Oct. 9, the audience was treated to between-acts performances of a children's play, "Mother Goose."  The second intermission performance caught the audience by surprise and delight when Wilmer Lewis took the stage with a sweet rendition of "Good Night Farewell."

Click here if you wish to see the whole article.

Below, Branch's Opera House (leftmost 3-story bldg.)  on the 400 block of Franklin St., looking west.  The photo was taken from the roof of the courthouse around 1892-93, so it appears pretty much as it looked on the night Wilmer sang there.  The building in the distance with the steeple was the Knight & Wall Hardware Co. at Tampa St. and Lafayette.  Today, the Bank of America building occupies that corner.  In the distance can be seen the newly completed Tampa Bay Hotel across the Hillsborough River. 

The main performance was a children's play "Mother Goose's Kingdom."  The Weekly Tribune wrote, "Rarely has the Opera House held such an audience as the one that gathered last night to see Mother Goose."   Click here to read the entire article describing the play. then click the article to see it full size.

              1885 Ad in Tampa Board of Trade brochure.                              This is a Burgert Bros. photo from the Tampa -Hillsborough Co. Public Lib. Co-op

WILMER D. LEWIS ON U.S. TREASURY PAYROLL

Under President Harrison's administration, Wilmer was appointed Inspector of Customs and Deputy Collector at Tampa, which position he filled from 1891 to 1894.  
 

Wilmer & Annie Lewis apparently had lived in Ocala at some time between 1885 & 1890.

WILMER D. LEWIS LEASES THE DESOTO HOTEL FROM J. H. THOMAS

In 1894, W. D. Lewis leased the newly-built DeSoto Hotel at the corner of Zack and Marion streets from J. H. Thomas.   The hotel was completed  sometime from Aug. 31, 1892 through March 28, 1893 by James Henry Thomas, a native of Chillicothe, Ohio who came to Tampa in early 1892.   Lewis achieved great success at the DeSoto; his lavishly catered events were the talk of Tampa.  Thomas was a musician himself and often performing together with Thomas on the piano and Lewis with vocals, they received rave reviews.  It wasn't long before his excellent singing voice caught the attention of the local papers, guests, and the people of Tampa.   In the next few years he performed yearly in dozens of local concerts with solo numbers and in a local quartet, as well as at his church. 

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map (modified) courtesy of Univ. of Fla. Maps Collection.

The 1895 Sanborn map at right shows the original three-story wood frame hotel with a small kitchen at the rear.  On the other corner of the block is a vacant dwelling and an occupied dwelling to the south of it on Morgan St.  On the Northwest corner of the block is a wood frame two-story building with shops on the first floor and tenements on the 2nd floor.  The shops are: (L to R) tin ware, general store, restaurant, milliner, mattress shop, vacant, and shoe maker.

W. D. LEWIS IS NEPHEW OF W. P. HAISLEY

On this August visit of 1894, it was mentioned that W. P. Haisley, an uncle of W. D. Lewis, was in town for several days in the past week.   Refer back to the May 8, 1890 article: Lewis's wife was visiting her brother, V. B McIlvaine. 
 

Haisley was a career instructor and school principal, coming to Tampa in 1870 with impressive credentials, experience, and the best of recommendations.  But just how were they uncle and nephew?
 

FAMILY GATHERING AT THE DESOTO

This article names many families, but the main person of interest is the newest member of the Collier family:  The jolly (and probably plump) "Mr. Wilmer Lewis" (Collier), who resembled his "jolly" uncle W. D. Lewis. 

Of the many children of Dr. Robert H. McIlvaine, there was Ann, who married Wilmer D. Lewis, there was Victor, who married Barbara Frances Collier, there was Maggie (Margaret) who married William David Collier, there was Florence, who married Harry S. Ray, and there was  David F. who married Sarah Ellis.  (There were more, but only these are represented in this article.)

Mrs. Ray (Florence), and V.B.M. were sister/brother.  The new baby Wilmer Lewis Collier, was the youngest of several children of Maggie McIlvaine, wife of Wm. David Collier, neither of whom were mentioned as being there.  Wilmer Lewis Collier was born in 1894, so he was 6 mos. old or less at the time.  Miss Ethel McIlvaine was one of at least four children of David F. McIlvaine and wife Sarah Ellis.  She was b. 1878 so would have been about 16 here.  Not sure who Nellie Collier belonged to.  The only daughter of Dr. MacIlvaine who married a Collier was Maggie, and there does not seem to be a "Nellie" daughter found for them.

FOLLOW THE HISTORY OF THE DESOTO HOTEL UNDER WILMER D. LEWIS AND SUBSEQUENT YEARS ON THE PREVIOUS PAGE OF THIS FEATURE

W. D. LEWIS & the DESOTO HOTEL

LEWIS LEAVES THE DESOTO IN 1897

In late December that year, Wilmer Lewis sold the DeSoto to the Williams brothers, experienced caterers from Waldo, Fla., and ended his connection with the Hotel DeSoto after a supper there on Jan. 3, 1897.  "Mr. Lewis has made a jolly good host and retires with the good wishes of the traveling public."  The Williams brothers planned a lavish feast with a number of imported dishes to celebrate.

WILMER AND ANNIE MOVE TO KENTUCKY
 

In early Feb. 1897, the local Tampa news announced that  Wilmer had formed a partnership with a Mr. Keyes in Louisville as a  merchandise brokerage firm in the name of Lewis & Keyes,** which would start business immediately.

**Nothing of the Lewis & Keyes partnership could be found.  Perhaps the plan fizzled.  Mr. Keyes may have been the president of the Keyes-Gallrein Music Co. in Louisville, who advertised as "We are the Largest Music Supply House in the South.  Manufacturers, Publishers and General Dealers."  This Louisville partnership between John W. Keyes formerly of Nashville and Herman Gallrein of Louisville appears to be short-lived; it advertised only from July to early Sept. of 1897 in a Hartford KY newspaper.  In mid-Dec. 1897, Mr. Keyes sold his interest in the company and on Jan. 1, 1898, took charge of the manufacturing and wholesale business of Wulschner Music House.

Last mention of Lewis in Tampa papers.

Wilmer and Annie Lewis moved to Louisville, KY, to start a new life.

Below: In August 1897, Wilmer visited in Lexington  for several weeks, where the local papers took note of his presence by writing, "The congregation at the Cathedral very much enjoyed hearing him sing the Offertory at the morning service yesterday.  He is an accomplished musician and member of the choir of St Andrew's Church in Tampa.  Mr. Lewis has a bass voice of unusual range and beautiful quality...

BELOW:  Feb. 1899 - The Alumni Club of the local High School sponsored the first afternoon concert of a series for 1899; this one was held at the girl's high school building.  The program consisted of vocal and instrumental solos, and a "charmingly rendered selection by a quartet which included Wilmer.

Below: Sep. 21, 1897 - Wilmer got fed up with so many people in the area thinking Florida was a Yellow Fever risk because they thought it was close to New Orleans, which was having an outbreak. He set the record straight giving the distance of 1,000 miles and assured them Florida was as free from YF as Kentucky was.  (Back then, YF was attributed directly to filthy conditions, and to falsely believe the fever was in Tampa was to say Tampa was filthy. Tampa did in fact have a history of YF outbreaks.)

BELOW:
In April of 1900, Prof. Lewis visited his former pupil, George W. Llewellyn, in Dayton Ohio.  During that short visit he sang at the Grace Church... "characterized by artistic finish in all respects.  His voice is a powerful sonorous basso profundo, and is under perfect control." 

While in Dayton, he let it be known that he intended to relocate there.

WILMER & ANNIE LEWIS MOVE TO DAYTON, OHIO

By summer of 1900, Wilmer and Annie had moved to Dayton, Ohio, where Wilmer led the Epworth League Choir, performing at the Grace M.E. church.  On September 24, 1900 Prof. Lewis opened the Dayton Conservatory, School of Music, where he was Director and vocal instructor, H.H. Kaeuper taught piano and music theory, Charles Holstein taught violin, and Anna Loy May taught elocution.  The school was located in the Cooper Seminary Annex at First and Perry Streets, which is where Wilmer had his studios and residence. The 1900 Census of Wilmer and Annie Lewis in Dayton reveals that Annie had given birth to a child who had passed away by the time of the census in June.  Wilmer was a vocal teacher and renting their residence.  Wilmer also taught vocal music at Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio.

Wilmer and Annie were members of the Episcopal Church, and attended the Christ Church of that faith in Dayton.  Wilmer continued as a concert soloist and teacher for many years in Dayton.  His reputation as a thorough, conscientious teacher of voice culture was well established and recognized, and a great many of his pupils gained the top of the ladder in their profession.

1900 Census, Dayton, Ohio

Wilmer led the Epworth League choir
at the Grace M.E. church.

At Right: Feb. 19, 1901 - Wilmer led a double quartet performance at the Dayton View Assembly and performed a solo "at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea" by Petrie.

At Right:  In late Sep. 1900, Wilmer and three others opened "THE DAYTON CONSERVATORY" a new school of music in Dayton at the Cooper Seminary Annex, with Wilmer teaching voice, and the others teaching piano, theory, violin and elocution.

DEATH OF WILMER'S WIFE, ANNIE I. LEWIS

On Oct. 3, 1908, Annie I. (McIlvaine) Lewis died at St. Elizabeth hospital in Dayton.  Her funeral was held on Monday afternoon on Oct. 5 from the chapel of Woodland Cemetery where she was buried.   Her funeral announcement stated that she had been ill and suffering from paralysis for six years, but her death record shows her death was caused by heart trouble and dropsy.  She was sixty years old.

LEWIS CONTINUES TEACHING

By Oct. 1909 Wilmer resumed his vocal classes at his studios at the Dayton Conservatory.  He had at least forty pupils singing in choirs in and around Dayton, and ten "making good" with various traveling companies on the road.  In addition to this, he had five former pupils who were successful vocal teachers, and twenty-five more singing in theaters and holding various positions there.  His ads in the Dayton Herald carried a three-quarter bust photo of him, and stated "Voice Culture, Established 11 years in Dayton.  Specialist in Tone Placing, Enunciation, Voice Building.  I have absolutely made voices "out of whole cloth," and am able and willing to convince you if  you will call on me."

The 1910 Census of Dayton showed Wilmer living alone at 276 1st Street as a music teacher.  It is at this time that Wilmer began to sell insurance, taking a job as a general agent of the American Casualty and Union Casualty companies with offices in the Reibold building.

LEWIS MARRIES SARAH REEL

In mid-April of 1911, Wilmer was engaged to be married to Miss Sarah Reel,  Miss Reel was a teacher at the Franklin School, and a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Reel. At this time the wedding date had not been set, but it was planned for early that summer.

LEWIS BECOMES AN INSURANCE SALESMAN

In July that year, Wilmer moved his music studio from the Dayton Conservatory to 498 Ludlow Street Arcade. In 1912 his insurance office was in the Reibold Bldg at rm. 707-8 where he sold fire insurance.  He continued teach voice culture at rm 283 in the ARcade, and in his office at the Reibold blidng. In May 1912, Wilmer incorporated as "The Wilmer D. Lewis Co." Dayton, along with F. C. Reel, J. P. Morgan, L.R. Lewis, and S.T. Maloney,  $10,000 investment.  By the end of 1913, Wilmer D. Lewis Insurance was selling Fire, Auto Liability, Personal Health, Property Damage, Elevator Liability, Accident, Auto Collision, Plate Glass, and Auto Fire insurance, at his offices at 707-708 Reibold Building. 

In 1915, Wilmer D. Lewis & Co. moved to 907 in the Schwind Building, selling Aetna Live and Accident, American Casualty Co, Union Casualty Co, and Equitable Secrity Co. policies.  There was a lot of competition in Dayton in the realm of music instruction, and this would be the last year Wilmer was a  vocal instructor, which he was doing at his residence at 125 Lehman St. and his office at 907 in the Schwind bldg.

By Jan. 1916, Wilmer D. Lewis & Co. was back in the Reibold Bldg, in #778.  He advertised "Insure your automobile in the Aetna Accident & Liability Co.  Aetna service is always perfect and prompt.  He added in fine print "I would not drive an automobile on Main St. from the Monument to Sixth St. without LIABILITY."

On Friday, Nov. 9, 1917, Prof. Lewis had an attack of apoplexy around 10:30 a.m. while near the Young Women's League building in Dayton.  He was rushed into the building in serious condition and soon attended to by Drs. K. M. Ellsworth and A. B. Brower.  Wilmer was then taken by ambulance to his home at 125 Lehman St. where at 10 p.m. he lapsed into unconsciousness until his death at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Nov 11.

1917-11-09 DAYTON DAILY NEWS  Wilmer Lewis Seriously Ill

1917-11-09 DAYTON HERALD Insurance man removed to home.

1917-11-10 DAYTON DAILY NEWS - Lewis unconscious due to apoplexy (stroke).

1917-11-11-DAYTON-DAILY-NEWS Prof. Wilmer Lewis Called by Death

1917-11-12-DAYTON-DAILY-NEWS-  Private burial service for W. D. Lewis

"Mr. Lewis was a resident of Dayton during the past 18 years, having come here from Louisville, Ky and during a portion of that time he was a vocal instructor, maintaining a studio in the Cooper seminary Annex.  He also appeared often in public as a well-known singer. He was well-known in insurance circles during the last 10 years, and for the past two years he had ceased vocal instruction while he represented the Aetna Insurance Co. in this city.  His wife and six month old infant son survive him.  (His age puts his birth at around May 1917.)

Funeral services for Prof. Wilmer D. Lewis, 67,** former prominent teacher of vocal music in Dayton and at Wittenberg College at Springfield,  will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the residence , 125 Lehman St.  Rev. Arthur Dumper of Christ Episcopal church will officiate.  Burial will be made in Woodland cemetery and will be private.  Pall-bearers were Messrs. Howard Williamson, Charles Harwood, Frederick Bender, Hale Pardonner, Arnold Atlhoff, and Frank Walker.  Elks lodge of sorrow was held Monday evening at 7:30.

**Prof. Lewis was actually closer to 70 years old, as three of his earliest censuses indicate he was born 1847 to 1849.

In 1920, Sarah (Reel) Lewis lived at 236 St. in Dayton with her 2 yr. 6 mos. old son Lewis Lewis and her 62-yr-old widowed mother Amelia Reel.  Sarah would turn 41 that year, making her about 25 to 29 years younger than Wilmer.  Sarah was still a school teacher at a public school.

On August 25, 1940, 23-year-old Lewis Wilmer Lewis of Dayton, son of Wilmer D. Lewis and Sarah Reel, married 24-year old Marthia McCoy of Springfield, daughter of Hugh S. McCoy and Loa Evans, in Springfield, Clark Co, Ohio.  Both the bride and the groom were teachers.  (This information is public record.)

In 1946, their son Geoffrey Hugh Lewis was born in Springfield, Oh.  Geoffrey entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA when he married in Clark Co., Ohio on Jun. 13, 1967 to Nancy Eileen Landis of Dayton, Ohio.

Lewis Wilmer Lewis, son of W. D. Lewis, died Mar. 19, 1966 in Springfield, Oh. at age 48 and is buried at S. Solon Cemetery in Madison Co., Ohio.

W. D. LEWIS' RELATIONSHIP TO W. P. HAISLEY, EARLY TAMPA SCHOOL TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, AND FLA. SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT

As revealed in the history of the DeSoto Hotel feature, a brief article in  stated that W. P. Haisley was in town and stayed at the DeSoto, and that he was an uncle of the manager, W. D. Lewis.

Here we see that Wilmer's wife, An McIlvaine, was a daughter of Robert Hunter McIlvane & wife Margaret Jane Bledsoe.  W. P. Haisley's wife, Julia M Simmons, was a daughter of E. Simmons & wife Mary M. McIlvaine.  Mary McIlvaine Simmons, Haisley's mother-in-law,  was a sister of Robert H. McIlvaine.

So, was W. D. Lewis really a nephew of W. P. Haisley?  No.   W. P. Haisley's wife and W. D. Lewis's wife were 1st cousins.   They were of the same generation so Haisley and Lewis were "cousins-in-law" or "brothers-in-law-in-law."  (If ever there was such a relationship. Husbands of women who are sisters are brothers-in-law to each other.  But they were husbands of women who were first-cousins to each other.  Notice Wilmer was actually closer to Victor B. McIlvaine, owner of McIlvaine Florida Fish & Ice Company.  They were brothers-inlaw.

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