James Taylor Lewis, lawyer, politician, governor, was born on October 30, 1819 at Clarendon, New York. Following an academy education, he taught school and studied law. In 1840 he traveled through Wisconsin, where his father had large land holdings, and in 1845 he settled in Columbus and was admitted to the bar. Especially fond of his profession and, for a time, the only lawyer in Columbia County, he enjoyed a successful practice and climbed the political ladder at a steady pace. A Democrat, he was a member of the constitutional convention of 1847-1848, served in the Assembly in 1852, the state Senate in 1853, and as lieutenant governor from 1854 to 1856. He then retired to his law practice, but entered into politics again in 1861, this time as a Republican, and was elected secretary of state. In the gubernatorial election of 1863, the Republicans nominated Lewis. The Democrat opponent, Henry L. Palmer, had been tainted in some railroad deals of the previous decade and Lewis won the election. Lewis was an ardent supporter of President Lincoln, faithfully supplied his state's quota of soldiers for the army, made numerous trips to army hospitals and camps, and secured a special order to transfer all of Wisconsin's sick and wounded soldiers to their home state. He was also instrumental in founding homes both for soldiers and soldiers' orphans. Keeping his 1863 election promise, he refused to run for a second term; he periodically refused all other offers of political office. For the rest of his life he lived in Columbus, and played an important part in bringing water and electric utilities to his home city. In 1876 he broke his retirement to become a delegate to the Republican national convention that nominated Rutherford B. Hayes. Lewis died on August 4, 1904.
From the Dictionary of Wisconsin Biography (Madison, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1960), 229-230.
