The Hayes Family History Site

I was recently contacted by Peter Aubrey-Smith.  He is my third cousin, once removed on the Lewis branch of my family tree.  He had seen my research on ancestry.com and decided to contact me.  We have since been sharing information back and forth, but the grand prize came the other day when he shared with me a portrait picture of a woman that his family firmly believes is Jane Lewis.

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Lloyd Lewis, 71, of Glen Mills, who for 19 years worked to improve the living conditions of senior citizens, died Thursday from pneumonia after treatment for acute leukemia.

In 1971, Mr. Lewis began his work with the elderly when he became founding executive director of the Kendal Organization in Kennett Square and established Kendal at Longwood, the first of the Kendal nonprofit life-care retirement communities.

Before that, Mr. Lewis worked at the Vanadium Corp. of America in New York for 11 years; the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia for about two years; and Pendle Hill, a Quaker adult-education center in Wallingford, for 11 years.

But it was his work at Kendal that inspired Mr. Lewis to devote the rest of his life to serving senior citizens. At the time of his retirement from Kendal six years ago, an estimated 2,000 seniors lived in Kendal properties in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and New Hampshire.

Mr. Lewis worked to improve the living conditions of seniors nationwide with the restraint elimination program, called Untie the Elderly, and led the effort by eliminating restraints from all Kendal facilities.

After retiring from Kendal, Mr. Lewis established a new company, US Retirement Communities, where he worked until last year.

He was active in the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where he served on the executive board, its continuing care committee and its public policy committee

Mr. Lewis also served on the American Gerontological Society, the Committee on Aging of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends, and Friends Services for the Aging in Philadelphia.

In addition, he served on the board of Swarthmore College, where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1949, from 1985 to 1989 and again in 1990 until his death.

He was a bird-watcher and was a member of the Society of Friends.

Mr. Lewis is survived by his wife of 49 years, Eliza B. Lewis of Glen Mills; son Paul M. Lewis and daughter Laurie K. Lewis, both of West Chester; a sister; and two grandchildren.

Services are private. The family suggests contributions to either Swarthmore College or the Cape May Bird Observation Center for Research and Education, Cape May Court House, N.J.

Today we celebrated Jeanne Lewis Hayes’ 84th birthday. Knowing that Mom is not the biggest fan of birthdays and birthday cakes, I think you will enjoy this one.  The children are Philip, Kevin, Ann and Kelly Hayes.

We know that Anna Roach (b.abt 1838 in ireland) immigrated to and lived in New York City. She married Henry Lewis of Wales. Her mother lived with her for a while in the 1860’s, carefully caring for Thomas, Anna’s newborn 4 lbs. son and my great grandfather, by “putting him in a little cigar box on one of those old-fashioned shelves.”

I have been deeply curious about the Roach’s because of the mis-spelling of her last name on Anna’s grave. Initially, I though the grave was correct and that the Census record keepers were just sloppy. But as I collected various death records, I became convinced that “Roach” is the proper spelling of her last name.

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Lloyd W. Lewis (b. 1928 d. 2000)  was my very special and wise Uncle. We shared the same birthday and my middle name was given to me in honor of him. I, in turn, have passed my full name on to my first born in honor of him.  I regret not spending more time with him in my younger years, but he did leave an ever-lasting impression on me and many others.  This video  demonstrates the impact Lloyd had on some of those people.
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The Hayes Branch Cemetery Headstone Photo Album contains pictures from various cemteries for the following surnames.

• Lewis
• Tierney
• Beattie
• Hayes
• Hanley
• Colwell
• Gackstetter
• Bishop
• Graham
• Hayes
• Sheehan

At the turn of the Century, Thomas F. Lewis (b. 1858, d. 1924), president of the Brooklyn City Building & Loan Association Co-operative found himself in the middle of a major power struggle with other members of the board.

The Association was organized on March 2, 1887 in the old hall at Third Avenue and 24th Street in South Brooklyn.  It opened with 15 charter members.  Within the first year, it had accumulated over $80,000 of assets.  By 1890, the association’s assets had grown to $250,000. When the “great Panic of 1893″ occurred, the association not only survived, but actually increased it’s assets.  In 1895, the association moved its offices to 91 Court Street.  It also had a branch office at 76 39th Street.  In 1897, the assets had grown to a whopping $465,000.

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I know there are many relatives who served our country that are not yet on this list. By next year, I hope that I can find you and add you to our little tribute.

From Philip Sr., Colleen, Philip Jr. and Kevin…. THANK YOU!

On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration. Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years; In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory. Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share. No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave up normal lives, For duties mundane and gory. Let every veteran be honored; Don’t let politics get in the way. Without them, freedom would have died; What they did, we can’t repay. We owe so much to them, Who kept us safe from terror, So when we see a uniform, Let’s say “thank you” to every wearer. By Joanna Fuchs

Private Ralph Yerks b. 1894 d.1918 World War I, US Army, 9th Infantry, 2nd Division Killed in Action and is buried in Thiaucourt, France at the St. Mihiel American Cemetery. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle Second Lieutenant Harry W. Lewis b.1892 d.1972 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Served on the United States Expeditionary Force in France. Stay an extra year after the Armistice was signed and played tennis for the AEF team assigned to rebuild relations in war torn Europe. Genealogy Note: My Grandfather James Tierney b. 1894 d.1931 World War I, American Expeditionary Forces Company M, 307 Infantry James served in France and saw many friends die in Europe. We have a letter from him, to his brother Frank, while in France. Genealogy Note: My Great Uncle Lloyd Lewis b.1928  d. 2000 Korean War Conflict Served in a “secondary” MASH unit in Japan.� Genealogy Note: My Uncle Colonel Robert E. Dunn, US Army b. 1892 d. 1974 Served in both World War I and World War II. In WWII Colonel Dunn lead a black Division of Engineers on Okinawa. Genealogy Note: Husband to Grace Elinor Tierney, my Great Aunt. James Leroy Yerks III b. 1938 Non-Wartime Served in the U.S. Navy Genealogy Note: Colleen’s Father. William B. Yerks b. 1891 d. 1960 World War I William fought in World War I and survived a Mustard Gas attack, only to die of complications of it some years later. Genealogy Note: Colleens Great Uncle and brother of Private Ralph Yerks. Jonathan J. Foley b. 1896 d. 967 Genealogy Note: Husband of Agnes Beattie, my Great Aunt. Brian Hogan Gulf War 1990 -1991 Genealogy Note: Husband to my cousin, Patty Brady Hogan. John W. Dunn b. 1930 d. 2000 USAF Active Duty 1948-1953 Korea 1950-1952 USAF AIR Guard – Berlin Wall Conflict 1961-1962 Retired USCG reserves 1979 Genealogy Note: Son of Edna V. Hone, a distant cousin to Colleen. John E Dunn 1985-1990, USAF Active Duty Genealogy Note: Another distant cousin to Colleen. William Sheehan Fred Barnes George Condos Nick Condos

Jeanne T. Lewis started to play the piano at age 7 in 1932. The base of what she learned and what she continues to pass on today to her students, comes from her first music teacher, Mrs. Charlotte Brush. Mrs. Brush had a little studio in a house located on Larchmont Avenue in Larchmont, New York, where she would go to for regular lessons right up to the time she entered high school. She then picked up lessons with Mrs. Elizabeth Read of New Rochelle. Mrs. Read taught her for several years and helped prepare her for her College. She also experienced “duo” piano playing with Mrs. Brush’s daughter, Virginia under Mrs. Read’s tutorage.

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Many years ago, my Uncle told me a story of my Great, Great Grandfather Henry William Lewis and how he had witnessed the beginning of the Civil War.   This  story was always very interesting to me so I decided to do some research into the events of that day. There are actually many very interesting stories about Henry William Lewis that I will write about in the future, but today’s story is about his time aboard “The Nashville” and it’s role in the start of the Civil War.    The history books and buffs have many versions of how things happened that day in Charleston Bay in relation to the Nashville. But thanks to an interview with H. W. Lewis, published in “The Sun”, a New York newspaper, on May 16, 1897, things become much clearer.

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