Ed D. Lewis, born in 1856 in Virginia, was a successful businessman and prominent citizen of Worthing, South Dakota. Raised in Virginia, Ohio, and Wisconsin, Lewis moved to Dakota Territory in 1882, where he established a general merchandise business in Worthing before relocating to Sioux Falls to run a retail shoe business. Returning to Worthing in 1891, he became postmaster and later acquired the Farmers and Merchants’ Bank in 1894. He was married to Mary Morgan, with whom he had one son, Evan Elias Lewis, a West Point cadet. Lewis passed away on January 21, 1904.
Ed D. Lewis.—The subject of this sketch was born in 1856 and was a native of the state of Virginia, in which state, Ohio, and Wisconsin, he was reared and attended the public schools. His father is a native of Wales and after coming to this country he signified his allegiance to the Union by serving from 1861 to 1865 in the Federal army during the war of the Rebellion. After his return from the army he removed to Girard, Ohio, where he still resides, being in comfortable financial circumstances.
In 1877 Ed D. Lewis removed from Ohio to Spring Green, Sauk County, Wisconsin, where he engaged successfully in the drug business, and while there he was also assistant postmaster for two years. Believing that the new and rapidly developing west afforded better opportunities for a young man, he, in 1882, came to Dakota territory, locating at Worthing, Lincoln County, where he started a general merchandise business. He was thus engaged until 1886, when he went to Sioux Falls and entered into the retail boot and shoe business, in which he successfully continued until 1891, when he returned to Worthing. About the time of his return he was appointed postmaster of Worthing, and three years later, in 1894, he bought the banking business of the late Charles Judd, and which is now known as the Farmers and Merchants’ Bank. Upon taking hold of the banking business Mr. Lewis relinquished the post office to his wife. He was eminently successful in all his business enterprises and was considered one of the foremost citizens of Worthing.
On December 11, 1882, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Mary Morgan, of Spring Green, Wisconsin, and they have one child, Evan Elias Lewis, who is a cadet at West Point. Fraternally Mr. Lewis was identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at Lennox, the chapter at Canton, and the commandery at Sioux Falls. He died January 21, 1904, at Worthing.
Source: Robinson, Doane, History of South Dakota: together with mention of Citizens of South Dakota, [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen, 1904.