(Robert) Ira Lewis
Robert Ira Lewis was born on the family farm on Sept 24, 1879. He attended school in Stonefort, IL and the Milton College Academy, Milton Wisconsin. He entered the Army, and was honorably discharged Jan 5, 1909 from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He returned to his father’s farm where he worked, and married Joanna (Dollie) Martin on June 3, 1912 Dollie’s mother was Eugenia Gibbs (Deaney) Martin, who later married Rev Robert Lewis, father of Robert Ira Lewis.
Robert Ira and Dollie began agricultural farming, raising hay and grains for livestock feeding. They had Jersey cattle, hogs and a large flock of white leghorn chickens. They also did truck farming and gardening.
They later moved to Gentry, Arkansas and then to Riverside, California.
Dollie and Ira in Riverside
Ira died March 15, 1953 and Dollie died May 24, 1980. They are buried in the Evergreen cemetery in Riverside.
Ira and Dollie had seven sons:
- Edwin Paul b Feb 27, 1913 died 1986, lived in Southern New Jersey and Florida
- James Ford, Rev Dr. b Oct 14, 1914 died 1998 in Sacramento, California. He was with Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama.
- Robert Samuel b Sept 16, 1916 died 1991 in Atlanta, GA
- Norman Saunders b Mar 14, 1918 died 1992 in Plano, Texas. Was a national executive for the Boy Scouts of America.
- Phillip Hardin b Dec 25, 1919 died 1990 in Riverside, California
- Alfred Eugene b Aug 10, 1921 – died 1991 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Career Army
- Murray Martin b Jan 11, 1923 – died 2018 in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. Career Army
Edwin Paul b Feb 27, 1913, died 1986, lived in southern New Jersey and Florida
James Ford, Rev, Dr b Oct 14, 1914 d 1998, Sacramento, Ca. w/ Martin Luther King, Jr in Selma, Ala.
Robert Samuel b Sept 16, 1916 died 1991, Atlanta, Georgia
Norman Saunders b Mar 14, 1918 died 1992, Plano, Texas
Phillip Hardin b Dec 25, 1919 died 1990, Riverside, California
Alfred Eugene b Aug 10, 1921 – d 1999, Little Rock, Arkansas, career Army
Murray Martin b Jan 11, 1923 – d 2018, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, career Army
parents married June 3, 1912, one month after 1st reunion.
Deaney Eugenia Gibbs Martin married Rev Robert Lewis on
He was her third husband, and she was his third wife. They married January 31, 1909, a year after the death of his wife Minerva. Her 2nd husband had died eight years prior and she had supported her family taking in laundry.