History of DeWitt County Illinois: with biographical sketches of prominent representative citizens of the county.
Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1910
JOHN Q. LEWIS. (Volume II, Page 282)
Throughout his entire connection with business interests, John Q. Lewis has been identified with the banking house of John Warner & Company, and the success of the enterprise is attributable in no small measure to his efforts and straightforward and progressive business policy. Clinton numbers him among her native sons, his birth having here occurred October 1, 1857. His parents were Solomon F. and Esther B. (Quigg) Lewis, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Hampshire. The Lewis family was represented in the Buckeye state at an early period in its development. The grandfather, John Lewis, died in Zanesville, Ohio, when well advanced in years. To him and his wife were born four sons, Lemuel, Joseph, John and Solomon F. The Lewis family is of Welsh lineage, while the Quigg family, of which John Q. Lewis is a representative in the maternal line, were of Scotch descent, the name having been originally McQuigg. The grandfather, Abel G. Quigg, was a native of Chester, New Hampshire, and was reared in the old Granite state. He came to Clinton in old age and spent the evening of his days with his children in Clinton and Chicago, dying in the latter city after passing the ninety-sixth milestone on life's journey. His wife, Mrs. Lydia (Bixby) Quigg, died in Clinton when well advanced in years. They had a large family, including Martha, Laura, David, John, Esther, Ellen and Mary G.
Solomon F. Lewis was a lawyer by profession, preparing for the bar in Ohio. About 1854 he came to Clinton and here met the woman whom he married in Massachusetts in 1856. Returning to Clinton, he engaged in the practice of law for many years and afterward devoted his attention to affairs of the city and for several terms presided over municipal interests in the office of mayor, exercising his official prerogative in support of many measures of practical reform and progress. He died in 1886 and his wife survived him for a time. Both were consistent members of the Presbyterian church and their influence was ever on the side of righteousness, justice, truth and improvement. Their family numbered eight children: John Q., of this review; Fred G., of Chicago; Edwin J., a resident of Clinton; May E., also of Clinton; David Q., of Chicago; and three who died in infancy.
John Q. Lewis has spent his entire life in Clinton, passing through consecutive grades in the public schools and mastering the branches taught in the high school. After putting aside his text-books he accepted a position in the bank of John Warner & Company in 1875 and has since been connected with that institution, covering a period of thirty-five years. He was at first employed as a bookkeeper and as the years have gone by larger responsibilities and more important duties have been entrusted to his care. His position for about thirty years has been practically that of cashier and his labors have constituted an important element in the growth and extension of the business which has been conducted in accordance with a policy that never seeks nor requires any disguise. In this connection Mr. Lewis has come to be known as one of the representative financiers of DeWitt county, thoroughly familiar with the value of commercial paper and investment securities, stocks and bonds.
On the 31st of January, 1895, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Emma D. Klocksiem, who was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, while her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Klocksiem, were natives of Germany. Coming to the United States, they settled in Indiana and the father carried on Merchandising in La Porte until his death. His widow is still living. Their children were Emma D., Laura, Clementine, Julius, Fred, J. Halliday, Herbert, Adele and one who passed away in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis are devoted members of the Presbyterian church, greatly interested in its various activities and organized lines of work. He is serving as one of the deacons and for a quarter of a century has been church treasurer. His father was one of the early members and an elder of the church and was active in the erection of two houses of worship, acting as a member of the building committee at the time of the erection of the second. He was also school treasurer from 1855 until 1886 and at his death, which occurred in the latter year, his son John Q. Lewis was chosen as successor and has since held the office, so that this public service has been performed by the members of the Lewis family for more than a half century. In his political views John Q. Lewis has ever been an earnest republican, conversant with the leading questions and issues of the day, yet the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He is, however, interested in all matters of citizenship relative to the municipal welfare and has cooperated in many projects which are matters of civic virtue and civic pride. In his entire life history there is no esoteric phase. His record is well known to his fellowmen and is one well worthy the high regard in which he is uniformly held.