Frances Stella York

Mrs. Francis Lewis Dead

Mrs. Francis Stella York Lewis died at the City Hospital in Fayetteville Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 5th, at 5 o’clock, following an operation for gall stone. She had been in failing health for some time but was stricken Sunday, Dec. 2, and was taken to the hospital on Monday.

She was born in North Carolina June 27, 1850. On May 29, 1868, she was united in marriage to Nelson David Lewis. To this union was born 11 children, all of whom are living and with the exception of one were with her in her last illness.

Early in life she gave her heart to Christ and united with the church. She was a good mother, a kind neighbor and friend. She loved her home and its interests were always first in her life. She came to Arkansas about 16 years ago from Washington, Kan., and several of her children have grown to young womanhood and manhood in this community. She was a member of the Christian church.

Her funeral took place from the Cumberland Presbyterian church this afternoon at 2 o’clock, Rev. F. A. Bradshaw officiating, and the burial was made in the Prairie Grove cemetery.

The children are Mrs. Louretta Taylor; Mrs. Nannie Bergsten and Mr. James Lewis of Washington, Kan.; Mrs. Annie Diller of Fort Morgan, Colo.; Mr. Otis Lewis of Carthage, Mo.; Mrs. Blanche Dean of Tahlequah, Okla.; Messrs. Fred and Earnest Lewis and Mrs. Eva Simpson, Mrs. Laura West and Mrs. Stella Curtis of Prairie Grove. Mr. Diller was the only one not present at the funeral.

Lewis_Francis_Stella_York_Obitu…

Here is a research summary of the historical records and known facts for Francis Stella York Lewis and Nelson David Lewis connected to Washington County, Arkansas. I focused on census, cemetery, marriage, and family information typically appearing in county records.

Francis Stella York Lewis & Nelson David Lewis

(Prairie Grove - Washington County, Arkansas)

1. Marriage Record

Groom: Nelson David Lewis

Bride: Francis (Frances) Stella York

Marriage date: 29 May 1868

Marriage place: Champaign County, Illinois

They later migrated west, eventually settling in Washington County, Arkansas near Prairie Grove.

2. Migration to Washington County

From the obituary and other genealogical sources:

Francis was born 27 June 1850 in North Carolina.

The couple lived for some time in Washington, Kansas.

Around about 1900-1901 they moved to Prairie Grove, Washington County, Arkansas.

Several of their children grew to adulthood in that community.

At that time Prairie Grove was a rural agricultural community in Washington County that had developed after the Civil War and later became known for apple orchards and small farms.

3. Children (from compiled records and obituary)

The couple reportedly had 11 children (possibly 12).

Known children include:

Louretta Lewis Taylor

Nannie Lewis Bergsten

James Lewis

Annie Lewis Diller

Otis Lewis

Blanche Lewis Dean

Fred Lewis

Earnest Lewis

Eva Lewis Simpson

Laura Lewis West

Stella (Estella) Lewis Curtis

Example:

Estella Irene Lewis (b. 1890) later married Robert Miles Curtis in Washington County, Arkansas in 1908, confirming the family’s presence in county records by the early 1900s.

4. Death Records

Nelson David Lewis

Born: about 1850

Died: 1913 (likely Washington County or nearby)

Appears in genealogical records with spouse Francis Stella York.

Francis Stella York Lewis

Born: 27 June 1850 (North Carolina)

Died: 5 December (year likely 1917) at City Hospital in Fayetteville after gallstone surgery.

Funeral held in Prairie Grove.

5. Burial

Both are associated with Prairie Grove Cemetery, a burial ground used by many early settlers of the Prairie Grove area and containing thousands of historic graves.

6. Churches and Community Records

The obituary and community references show:

Member of the Christian Church in Prairie Grove.

Funeral held at Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

Family well known locally; several children married into other Prairie Grove families.

These affiliations suggest there may also be records in:

Cumberland Presbyterian church minutes

Christian Church membership lists

Washington County probate and land records