Edith Burke did not have any children. Her father was a Methodist minister. Edith's brother was elected to the Nebraska State Legislature for a long period of time. Edith & Frank operated their grocery store in Crawford, Nebraska. There were 18 siblings in Edith's family. Edith's birthday may be either August 2 or August 21, 1888.
"Edith Lewis Celebrates 91st Birthday Tuesday," is an unidentified article with accompanying photograph of Edith on her 91st birthday, in 1979:
Edith Lewis, who was born Aug. 21, 1888 in Sioux County and moved to Crawford in 1907, celebrated her 91st birthday, Tuesday, in Crawford. Mrs. Lewis, who was the daughter of Julius and Chole Burke, came from a family of 17 children. After homesteading in Sioux County, Julius Burke was a Presbyterian minister for many years in Nebraska. The oldest daughter of nine sons and eight daughters, Mrs. Burke has just four remaining sisters today. After graduating from Harrison High in 1905 in a class of five, Edith married Frank Lewis in 1907 and has lived in Crawford ever since. The couple, who had no children, operated Lewis Grocery for many years. The Eagles building is the former site of the well known business which ....... 10 cents." says the alert and gracious elderly lady. Since her husband's death 16 years ago, Mrs. Lewis has cared for her home alone. Even though she broke her kneecap a few years ago in a car accident and is now unable to leave her home, she still cleans and cooks daily. Her home is immaculate. At a Burke Family Reunion held a Fort Robinson June 16 and 17, Mrs. Lewis was the oldest family member present. From the 124 relatives who attended, including her two sisters, Minnie Johnson, Geano, Nebraska and Hazel Nelson of Huntsville, Alabama. Mrs. Lewis found she now has 124 nieces and nephews. Mrs. Lewis has also been a member of the Crawford Methodist Church since ........
Frank and Edith are buried in the Crawford Cemetery.
The Crawford Clipper, August 21, 1986
Edith Lewis Turns 98
Crawford and Harrison have been celebrating 100 years of existence this year. Mrs. Edith Lewis is not far behind. She remembers both towns when they were young. Everyone who has lived in or around Crawford for very many years will have memories to share with Mrs. Lewis who will be 98 on August 21. From the towns' beginnings, Mrs. Lewis was there and involved. Edith Burke Lewis was born in a log house, built by her father, on his homestead northwest of Crawford, near Bodarc, on August 21, 1888. "My father helped build the Bodarc church," she recalls. Research indicates that he was the first president of the board of trustees for the church. That old church still stands sturdy and silently guarding the cemetery beside it. The Bodarc community received its name from the U.S. postal services not many years prior to her birth. The Mail was delivered to Bodarc from Harrison by horseback riders. The area people would then pick it up from the post office. The original homestead deed to her parents' home is among Mrs. Lewis' heirloom treasurers. Her parents came to Sioux County in a wagon from West Virginia with three small sons, Howard, John and Mott, to live on their homestead claim. Her father, Julius B. Burke was later Sioux County superintendent of schools. It has been a busy life, Mrs. Lewis will cheerfully tell anyone. She explains, "I was the fifth from the top and the oldest daughter in the family." The family consisted of eight daughters and nine sons. Edith and her youngest sister, Hazel Nelsen of Marshall, Missouri are the only remaining family members from the clan of 17. She lost her sister, Minnie Johnson, of St. Edwards, Nebraska earlier this summer on June 15. Being the oldest girl in a big family meant numerous responsibilities at an early age in their rural country home. Early life revolved around finding and fixing enough food for everyone. Times were often tough. Twins were born to the Burke family but the infants, a boy and a girl, died at 3 and 4 months. Their graves are to be found among the earlier ones in the Bodarc Cemetery. "There were always dishes and diapers to be washed." Edith confesses. It was a seemingly never ending job. There were no modern conveniences. The water for all the uses was carried from a creek in a water bucket. "Later Father dug a well," Edith remembers. It was complete with a wooden bucket and a rope over a wheel. The washboard was the tool for washing and it took lots of hand labor and energy for the daily chore. The family raised cows for milking and horses for transportation. Mrs. Lewis remembers rattle snakes and prairie dogs among the wildlife around their home. Food was lots of rabbit, beef, pork, chicken and eggs. Light came from kerosene lamps. Mrs. Lewis clearly remembers many events from long ago, as well as she does yesterday's visitors and today's discussions. She can discuss intelligently the latest newspaper items as well as local events through the years. Early school experiences were in a little one-room log school building a mile and a half from their home. During nice weather the children would walk, with each carrying their own lunch bucket. When the weather was too cold and stormy the mother or father would hitch up the team and take the children to school in the old wagon. When Edith was 13, she moved into Harrison along with her parents, brothers, and sisters. She continued her education and graduated with the class of 1905 from Sioux County High School in Harrison. The year after graduation Edith taught in a rural school at Glen. She had 12 students, in a one-room school house. Of course, the duties included pumping water, starting the fire, and all the janitorial work. Edith also began working for Clara Unitt in Harrison. Miss Unitt was a sister to Frank Lewis' first wife. Mr. Lewis was by now a young widower and had lost his wife to tuberculosis 5 years earlier. Frank would come to visit his sister-in-law and there he met Edith. They saw each other frequently. Before long Frank and Edith were making wedding plans. The young couple chose August 21, her birthday, for their wedding. This was not to be. Edith's parents had moved to Bridgeport where he was a minister. Her mother was expecting again and she requested they wait until after the baby was born, to marry. A new baby arrived the 6th of September and Frank and Edith then were married "the last of September on the 25th". Officiating for the ceremony was the Rev., Julius B. Burke, the bride's father. The wedding took place in Bridgeport. The newlyweds traveled on the Burlington train to Crawford where they continued to live. There was lots of work around Crawford. The Lewis' ran a grocery store for 45 years, until February 1959 when they chose to retire. Edith sang with the church choir for 46 years until she broke her knee in an automobile accident. She worked with the Sunday School and Epworth League. She was a willing and capable devoted worker for the service of the Lord and His people. Frank Lewis fell from the roof of their home while shingling. Friends came in and finished the job for the injuries were fatal. Mrs. Lewis has been widowed for 23 years. Edith Lewis has spent more years in Crawford than most of us have lived. She has seen the railroads and highways come through. She has seen the many groups operating at Fort Robinson beginning with the Indian Trading Post, including the canine, black cavalry, WW Prisoner of War Camps, the WAC's, and beef research to finally the tourist development of the museums. She has been witness to the changing of Crawford from the dirt streets with hitching posts to the building of businesses and paving of streets. Edith was the Sunday School treasurer for over 50 years. She was an active partner in the Lewis Grocery store which they purchased from Peter Rasmussen in 1914. In 1980 members of Edith Lewis' family gathered to help her celebrate her birthday and to have a family reunion at Fort Robinson. "There were relatives who came from California, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri and all over Nebraska," commended Edith. They had a wonderful time and the highlight for Edith was when they joined with her to attend church worship services on Sunday morning. She laughed, her eyes twinkling, as she remembered the large group. "Several reported there were more people in church that day than they had had for the Easter services!" she added. A broken hip was the turning point that signaled a slow down for Edith. Today she is restricted in her mobility. She moves carefully with a walker or to go very far she uses the wheel chair. She is making her home in the Ponderosa Villa now and has since September of 1980. She only comments on aches when asked. Edith Lewis continues to be a sweet smiling, cheerful, white-haired lady. She inquired "What's going on?" or "How's the grain corps this year?" She is genuinely interested. A photograph of Edith and Frank is prominently displayed on her dresser. It is a quiet reminder of days long past as Edith looks to the future with faith.
Obituary, possibly from Harrison Newspaper, found in Sioux County Museum, October 2, 1986
Funeral services for Edith E. Lewis of Crawford were held Saturday, September 27 at 10:00 a.m. at the Methodist Church in Crawford, with Rev. Richard Macha officiating. Burial was at Crawford Cemetery. Mrs. Lewis died Wednesday September 24 at Crawford Hospital. Donations may be sent to Crawford State bank. Mrs. Lewis was affiliated with Eastern Star, PBO and Royal Neighbors. Her survivors include a sister, Hazel Nelson of Marshall, MO.