Thomas D. Lewis

Thomas D. Lewis, Republican, who represents the First Assembly District of Oswego County in the Assembly, was born in Shannonville, Canada, July 7th 1853. He is of Holland descent. His grandparents emigrated from Holland in the year 1760 and settled in Dutchess county New York where they lived the remainder of their lives. Edward Huyck Lewis, the father of the subject of this sketch , was born in Kinderhook, New York and moved from there to Canada. When Mr. Lewis was only four years of age, his father removed from Canada to Fulton, New York. Here Mr. Lewis has lived nearly all his life, receiving his education at the public schools and at Falley Seminary in that village.

Previous to his election to the Assembly, he had represented the Town of Volney in the Board of Supervisors of Oswego County for five years. The Town of Volney had elected Democratic Supervisors for four years prior to his nomination, but by hard political work, Mr. Lewis was able to turn the tide in favor of his party, by a majority of 278, which was the largest majority received by a candidate for this office since the Civil War. The second year, he received a majority of 480, the third year 430, and the fourth year, which term was for two years, 696. This same year, he was honored with the nomination for President of the Village of Fulton, N.Y. and was elected by 217 majority, the largest ever given a candidate for this office. His majority over his Democratic opponent for the Assembly in 1898 was 1,542 and his plurality was 1,637.

In the Assembly of 1899, Mr. Lewis was a member of the following Committees: Canals, Commerce and Navigation, and Excise.

Mr. Lewis at the Assembly Election in 1899 received 4,742 votes to 3,253 cast for M. J. Daley, Democrat.

Mr. Lewis in 1900 was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Trades and Manufactures, and a member of the committee on Banks and of the Committee on Canals.

Re-nominated in 1900 for the Assembly, Mr. Lewis received 5575 votes and Frank Newkirk, Democrat 3,761 votes.

In 1901 Mr. Lewis was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Canals, a member of the Committee on Commerce and Navigation and of the Committee on Privileges and Elections.

Re-nominated for the third time in 1901, Mr. Lewis received 4, 504 votes: John T. Hendricks, Democrat, 2,848.

Speaker Nixon in 1902 appointed Mr. Lewis a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of the Committee on Canals , member of Electricity, Gas and Water Supply, and of Privileges and Elections.

Re-nominated a fourth time in 1902, Mr. Lewis received 4,811 votes; John N. Sharp Democrat, 3,510 votes.

Speaker Nixon in 1903 appointed Mr. Lewis a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of Insurance; member of Electricity, Gas and Water Supply, and Revision.

In 1903, as a candidate for Assemblyman, Mr. Lewis received 4, 916 votes, Moses J. Daly, Democrat, 3,428 votes.

Mr. Lewis in 1904 was a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of Insurance, member of Revision and Railroads.

Again nominated by the Republicans of his district, Mr. Lewis received 5,617 votes to 3,509 given for Ambrose Gregg, Democrat.

In 1905, Mr. Lewis was again Chairman of the Insurance Committee and was also a member of the Committee on Railroads.

For the eighth time a candidate for the Assembly in 1905, Mr. Lewis carried his own city of Fulton by663 plurality, which was 116 more than he ever received before. He carried the Assembly District by 1< 875 plurality.

Speaker Wadsworth in 1906 appointed Mr. Lewis a member of the following Assembly Committees: Chairman of Commerce and Navigation, and a member of Ways and Means, and of Canals.

New York State Red Book 1906
Pages 150 - 151