A. L. Lewellen, born 1851 Preble, OH, son of Baford b KY 1820 (Bafford)

Billie Harris - Aug 1, 2009

A. L. LEWELLEN

A. L. LEWELLEN. In some communities are found men hard to classify except as prominent and representative, because their activities are so numerous and useful, and they have achieved success in all their undertakings. Such a man is A. L. LEWELLEN, merchant and banker and formerly mayor and assistant postmaster, who is also a well-known journalist, through editorial connection with the Rosendale Signal for a number of years. At present Mr. Lewellen is vice president of the Rosendale Bank and has a high standing as a financier all over Andrew County. He was born in Preble County, OH, 19 SEP 1851, and is a son of Baford and Nancy (Peters) Lewellen.

Baford LEWELLEN was born in Kentucky in 1820 and died on his farm, near Rosendale, in Feb. 1899. He married Nancy Peters, who was born in PA in 1821, and from Ohio they moved to Andrew County, MO, in 1866. They lived one year in Rochester Township and then located on the farm three miles from Rosendale, where they passed the rest of their lives, Mrs. Lewellen surviving until August 1900. Baford Lewellen was a substantial farmer, owning 500 acres of land, and also was a lender of money before his neighbors could get bank accommodations. There were nine children in his family: Caroline, who is the wife of Z. T. Wells, of Springfield MO.; Elizabeth, who is the widow of R. P. Bell, of Rosendale; A. L.; Joseph, who is deceased; Andrew M., who is a residence of Florence, AL; Ambrose , who lives at Gaylord, KS; John , who is a resident of Rosendale; Sarah F., who is the wife of G.W. Wells, of Pineville, OR; and Charles, who lives at Shenandoah, IA.

The public schools of Preble County, OH, provided the early education of A. L. LEWELLEN, his training since then having been given by farm work and the business activities into which his energy and enterprise have led him. He accompanied his parents when they came to Andrew County and assisted his father on the farm until 1882, since when he has been a resident of Rosendale and a leader in its business and public affairs. For sixteen years he was associated with his brother, A. M. LEWELLEN, in a general mercantile business, under the firm name of Lewellen Brothers. Under the administration of President Harrison, A. M. LEWELLEN was appointed postmaster of Rosendale and A. L. LEWELLEN was made assistant and in that capacity continued under other postmasters for eighteen years. He has always been very active in Republican politics, and at one time, in the old convention days, before the adoption of the primary system, he was made his party’s candidate for probate judge. Subsequently he was elected mayor of Rosendale and in that position, served his fellow citizens ably, many improvements being undertaken and completed under his administration. He has always been a friend of education and has served on the school board with patience and wisdom. Mr. Lewellen is one of the original stockholders of the Rosendale Bank, one of the soundest institutions of the county, and for ten years served as vice president. For the last six years he has been very active in this connection.

In 1896 Mr. Lewellen was unite in marriage with Miss Verna C. Holmes, who was born in Iowa, in February 1866, and was reared in her native state. They have two sons: Maurice and Everett. Mr. Lewellen belongs to Lodge No. 414, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, Rosendale, and also to the Odd Fellows at Rosendale.

For about four years Mr. Lewellen was associated with J. I. Bennett as editor of the Rosendale Signal, and during this period became a member of the Missouri Press Association, being recommended for membership by Dean Walter Williams, at Warrensburg. Mr. Lewellen has not made journalism his career, but he recalls with lively pleasure the acquaintances he made while in harness and can never forget the enjoyment he found during numerous trips, including one down the Mississippi River, as a member of the above organization.

Source: A History of Northwest Missouri, Vol. 3, edited by Walter Williams, pub. by The Lewis Publishing Company, 1915, pp. 1796-1797
Posted on September 7, 2008 at 11:53 am by admin •  Permalink •  Leave a comment
In: Research Data •  Tagged with: Baford, MO, OH, Preble


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NOTE BY BILLIE:

It has been said that Bafford was the son of Phillip and Anna Runyan Lewellen but source not given.   There was a Phillip in Bullitt County, KY.