Claude Alvin Lewis, well known pioneer of the Big Horn Basin, died of a heart attack Apr. 14 at the age of 78.
He was born Nov. 28, 1885, the son of David Lewis Jr. and Eva Lavinia Thurgood, formerly of Bountiful, Utah. He came, with his father from Bountiful, in the spring of 1900 when he was 14 years old, at the time the Mormons were called to colonize the Big Horn Basin. Mr. Lewis was a member of the Quorum of High Priests of the Big Horn Stake, and had at one time served as a member of the Bishopric of Cowley Ward.
During the spring and summer of 1900, Claude worked with his father at grubbing sagebrush and preparing land for a log cabin and space for a garden. In September of that year, he continued his labors alone while his father returned to Bountiful to bring his family to Wyoming. At that time the family consisted of the parents, two brothers, Rudger and Elroy and two sisters, Leone and Verla. Another brother, Clyde Ruedell and a sister were born in Cowley, though the little girl died in infancy.
The family reached Bridger, Mont. by railroad and Claude drove a team of horses from Cowley to meet them. A blizzard struck and he was forced to make camp until it subsided, taking two days to make the trip. During the next two years he worked with his father on the Sidon Canal, and later on the CB&Q railroad when its line was extended through Wyoming. While his father worked as foreman of the construction crew,, Claude, now 16, assisted in hauling railroad materials, pipe and bridge timbers from Frannie along the new line to Basin. Still later, after his marriage, he operated his own teams and freight wagons, moving freight from Worland to Thermopolis after the rail head had reached that point.
Apr. 3, 1907, Mr. Lewis was married to Charlotte May Marchant in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. Seven children were born to this union. Mrs. Charlotte Lewis passed away at Lovell Dec. 14, 1950.
Jun 12, 1954, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Nellie R. Terrell of Burlington, N.C., at the LDS chapel in Billings.
In 1909 and 1910, C.A. farmed his father's place on shares. With his savings he brought 160 acres of land from H.S. Jolley of Lovell and some calves. By 1916 he had 20 head of cattle, and these he sold and bough 320 head of sheep. His father owned 880head of sheep and together they leased 600 more. In 1917 the secured a permit on the Big Horn Mountains, sold their lambs in the fall and increased their herd to 2500 head.
The Lewis Sheep Company was formed and Claude was started on his way to becoming a successful rancher and stockman. With untiring efforts he developed a large cattle, sheep and ranching operation, which gained for him the respect of stockmen and businessmen throughout the west.
He was a prominent and large scale rancher and stockman, and had received awards from the Great Western Sugar Co. for his maximum sugar production for over 18 years. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, by invitation, for his efforts in promoting good citizenship, good government and good business. This recognition was given him in May, 1957.
Mr. Lewis is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Ila May Hopkin of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Mrs. Louise Welch and Mrs. Ethel Crosby of Cowley; one son, Croft M. of Cowley; two brothers, R.R. Lewis of Cowley and C.R. Lewis of Casper; one sister, Verla L. Smith of Casper; 22 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. One daughter, Eva, and two sons, David M. and Claude A. Jr., preceded him in death.
He was born Nov. 28, 1885, the son of David Lewis Jr. and Eva Lavinia Thurgood, formerly of Bountiful, Utah. He came, with his father from Bountiful, in the spring of 1900 when he was 14 years old, at the time the Mormons were called to colonize the Big Horn Basin. Mr. Lewis was a member of the Quorum of High Priests of the Big Horn Stake, and had at one time served as a member of the Bishopric of Cowley Ward.
During the spring and summer of 1900, Claude worked with his father at grubbing sagebrush and preparing land for a log cabin and space for a garden. In September of that year, he continued his labors alone while his father returned to Bountiful to bring his family to Wyoming. At that time the family consisted of the parents, two brothers, Rudger and Elroy and two sisters, Leone and Verla. Another brother, Clyde Ruedell and a sister were born in Cowley, though the little girl died in infancy.
The family reached Bridger, Mont. by railroad and Claude drove a team of horses from Cowley to meet them. A blizzard struck and he was forced to make camp until it subsided, taking two days to make the trip. During the next two years he worked with his father on the Sidon Canal, and later on the CB&Q railroad when its line was extended through Wyoming. While his father worked as foreman of the construction crew,, Claude, now 16, assisted in hauling railroad materials, pipe and bridge timbers from Frannie along the new line to Basin. Still later, after his marriage, he operated his own teams and freight wagons, moving freight from Worland to Thermopolis after the rail head had reached that point.
Apr. 3, 1907, Mr. Lewis was married to Charlotte May Marchant in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. Seven children were born to this union. Mrs. Charlotte Lewis passed away at Lovell Dec. 14, 1950.
Jun 12, 1954, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Nellie R. Terrell of Burlington, N.C., at the LDS chapel in Billings.
In 1909 and 1910, C.A. farmed his father's place on shares. With his savings he brought 160 acres of land from H.S. Jolley of Lovell and some calves. By 1916 he had 20 head of cattle, and these he sold and bough 320 head of sheep. His father owned 880head of sheep and together they leased 600 more. In 1917 the secured a permit on the Big Horn Mountains, sold their lambs in the fall and increased their herd to 2500 head.
The Lewis Sheep Company was formed and Claude was started on his way to becoming a successful rancher and stockman. With untiring efforts he developed a large cattle, sheep and ranching operation, which gained for him the respect of stockmen and businessmen throughout the west.
He was a prominent and large scale rancher and stockman, and had received awards from the Great Western Sugar Co. for his maximum sugar production for over 18 years. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, by invitation, for his efforts in promoting good citizenship, good government and good business. This recognition was given him in May, 1957.
Mr. Lewis is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Ila May Hopkin of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Mrs. Louise Welch and Mrs. Ethel Crosby of Cowley; one son, Croft M. of Cowley; two brothers, R.R. Lewis of Cowley and C.R. Lewis of Casper; one sister, Verla L. Smith of Casper; 22 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. One daughter, Eva, and two sons, David M. and Claude A. Jr., preceded him in death.
Claude Alvin Lewis, well known pioneer of the Big Horn Basin, died of a heart attack Apr. 14 at the age of 78.
He was born Nov. 28, 1885, the son of David Lewis Jr. and Eva Lavinia Thurgood, formerly of Bountiful, Utah. He came, with his father from Bountiful, in the spring of 1900 when he was 14 years old, at the time the Mormons were called to colonize the Big Horn Basin. Mr. Lewis was a member of the Quorum of High Priests of the Big Horn Stake, and had at one time served as a member of the Bishopric of Cowley Ward.
During the spring and summer of 1900, Claude worked with his father at grubbing sagebrush and preparing land for a log cabin and space for a garden. In September of that year, he continued his labors alone while his father returned to Bountiful to bring his family to Wyoming. At that time the family consisted of the parents, two brothers, Rudger and Elroy and two sisters, Leone and Verla. Another brother, Clyde Ruedell and a sister were born in Cowley, though the little girl died in infancy.
The family reached Bridger, Mont. by railroad and Claude drove a team of horses from Cowley to meet them. A blizzard struck and he was forced to make camp until it subsided, taking two days to make the trip. During the next two years he worked with his father on the Sidon Canal, and later on the CB&Q railroad when its line was extended through Wyoming. While his father worked as foreman of the construction crew,, Claude, now 16, assisted in hauling railroad materials, pipe and bridge timbers from Frannie along the new line to Basin. Still later, after his marriage, he operated his own teams and freight wagons, moving freight from Worland to Thermopolis after the rail head had reached that point.
Apr. 3, 1907, Mr. Lewis was married to Charlotte May Marchant in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. Seven children were born to this union. Mrs. Charlotte Lewis passed away at Lovell Dec. 14, 1950.
Jun 12, 1954, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Nellie R. Terrell of Burlington, N.C., at the LDS chapel in Billings.
In 1909 and 1910, C.A. farmed his father's place on shares. With his savings he brought 160 acres of land from H.S. Jolley of Lovell and some calves. By 1916 he had 20 head of cattle, and these he sold and bough 320 head of sheep. His father owned 880head of sheep and together they leased 600 more. In 1917 the secured a permit on the Big Horn Mountains, sold their lambs in the fall and increased their herd to 2500 head.
The Lewis Sheep Company was formed and Claude was started on his way to becoming a successful rancher and stockman. With untiring efforts he developed a large cattle, sheep and ranching operation, which gained for him the respect of stockmen and businessmen throughout the west.
He was a prominent and large scale rancher and stockman, and had received awards from the Great Western Sugar Co. for his maximum sugar production for over 18 years. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, by invitation, for his efforts in promoting good citizenship, good government and good business. This recognition was given him in May, 1957.
Mr. Lewis is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Ila May Hopkin of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Mrs. Louise Welch and Mrs. Ethel Crosby of Cowley; one son, Croft M. of Cowley; two brothers, R.R. Lewis of Cowley and C.R. Lewis of Casper; one sister, Verla L. Smith of Casper; 22 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. One daughter, Eva, and two sons, David M. and Claude A. Jr., preceded him in death.
He was born Nov. 28, 1885, the son of David Lewis Jr. and Eva Lavinia Thurgood, formerly of Bountiful, Utah. He came, with his father from Bountiful, in the spring of 1900 when he was 14 years old, at the time the Mormons were called to colonize the Big Horn Basin. Mr. Lewis was a member of the Quorum of High Priests of the Big Horn Stake, and had at one time served as a member of the Bishopric of Cowley Ward.
During the spring and summer of 1900, Claude worked with his father at grubbing sagebrush and preparing land for a log cabin and space for a garden. In September of that year, he continued his labors alone while his father returned to Bountiful to bring his family to Wyoming. At that time the family consisted of the parents, two brothers, Rudger and Elroy and two sisters, Leone and Verla. Another brother, Clyde Ruedell and a sister were born in Cowley, though the little girl died in infancy.
The family reached Bridger, Mont. by railroad and Claude drove a team of horses from Cowley to meet them. A blizzard struck and he was forced to make camp until it subsided, taking two days to make the trip. During the next two years he worked with his father on the Sidon Canal, and later on the CB&Q railroad when its line was extended through Wyoming. While his father worked as foreman of the construction crew,, Claude, now 16, assisted in hauling railroad materials, pipe and bridge timbers from Frannie along the new line to Basin. Still later, after his marriage, he operated his own teams and freight wagons, moving freight from Worland to Thermopolis after the rail head had reached that point.
Apr. 3, 1907, Mr. Lewis was married to Charlotte May Marchant in the LDS temple in Salt Lake City. Seven children were born to this union. Mrs. Charlotte Lewis passed away at Lovell Dec. 14, 1950.
Jun 12, 1954, Mr. Lewis married Mrs. Nellie R. Terrell of Burlington, N.C., at the LDS chapel in Billings.
In 1909 and 1910, C.A. farmed his father's place on shares. With his savings he brought 160 acres of land from H.S. Jolley of Lovell and some calves. By 1916 he had 20 head of cattle, and these he sold and bough 320 head of sheep. His father owned 880head of sheep and together they leased 600 more. In 1917 the secured a permit on the Big Horn Mountains, sold their lambs in the fall and increased their herd to 2500 head.
The Lewis Sheep Company was formed and Claude was started on his way to becoming a successful rancher and stockman. With untiring efforts he developed a large cattle, sheep and ranching operation, which gained for him the respect of stockmen and businessmen throughout the west.
He was a prominent and large scale rancher and stockman, and had received awards from the Great Western Sugar Co. for his maximum sugar production for over 18 years. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, by invitation, for his efforts in promoting good citizenship, good government and good business. This recognition was given him in May, 1957.
Mr. Lewis is survived by his widow; three daughters, Mrs. Ila May Hopkin of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Mrs. Louise Welch and Mrs. Ethel Crosby of Cowley; one son, Croft M. of Cowley; two brothers, R.R. Lewis of Cowley and C.R. Lewis of Casper; one sister, Verla L. Smith of Casper; 22 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. One daughter, Eva, and two sons, David M. and Claude A. Jr., preceded him in death.
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