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<em>Edson Arthub Lewis</em> was born in Canada on February 1, 1863. While a boy, his family moved to Michigan and it was from this state that he won his appointment to West Point.</div>
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He had studied for and had started on a career as a school teacher when he had the opportunity of taking the examination for appointment to West Point. Having passed this, he entered the Academy July 1, 1883, at the age of twenty, and graduated with the class of 1887.</div>
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He was married to Mary Virginia Ward of Baltimore, Maryland, on September 20, 1887.</div>
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When the Indian Territory (now a part of Oklahoma) was opened for settlement by the White Man in 1889 he was on duty with the troops sent there to preserve order and to assist in the evacuation of the Indians to the Reservations of Arizona and New Mexico.</div>
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He served for four years as P.M.S. and T. at Michigan State College, Lansing, Michigan. He always looked upon this tour of duty as four of the most pleasant years of his service. While there, he took a course in carpentering and cabinet making, which became his hobbies during the remainder of his service and after his retirement.</div>
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During the Spanish-American War, he served in the Philippines, and remained there until the Philippine Insurrection was put down.</div>
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His stations after the War were many, from the Mexican to the Canadian borders, and from California to the Atlantic Coast. He served a total of four tours of duty in the Philippines. Shortly before World War I he was assigned to and graduated from the Army War College. He served with General Pershing's force in its pursuit of Pancho Villa, deep into the heart of Mexico.</div>
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At the outbreak of World War I he was assigned to organize and command a school at Fort Bliss, Texas, for training N.C.O.s as officers. This school was recognized as one of the best of its kind, and he was justly proud of its accomplishments. Many officers who later won renown during both world wars received their initial officer training at this school.</div>
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Later he served in France as a regimental and brigade commander. He was with his unit on the line south of Verdun when the Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918.</div>
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He retired in 1921 and finally, in 1935, moved to California, settling in Santa Ana, about thirty-five miles southeast of Los Angeles.</div>
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After retiring he devoted most of his time to the pursuit of his hobby, cabinet making and carpentering. His children and grandchildren have beautiful articles of furniture made by him, and all of the furniture in his own home he made himself. His garage was his workshop and here he spent many hours as long as his health and strength permitted. Aside from making the furniture, he also hand carved many of the pieces. In addition, he took up leather work, and during the cold, wet winter seasons, he often worked inside the house making such articles as handbags and purses for his friends and relatives.</div>
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He participated in the activities of the United Spanish War Veterans and held several offices in their organization, at both the local and state level, including that of State Commander of the Com-mandery (an organization of Spanish War Officer Veterans). Having lost his first wife, Mary, he married Effie Howard Hawley, a friend of many years, in 1949.</div>
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He died at his home in Santa Ana on February 27, 1958, at the age of ninety-five. At the time of his death, he was the second oldest living graduate of the Military Academy. He is survived by his widow, one of his sisters, Mrs. Phoebe L. Rollins of Bridgewater, Massachusetts; two daughters, Mrs. Mary L. Elser, wife of Colonel Max A. Elser, retired, (U.S. M.A. 1906) of Berryville, Arkansas, and Mrs. Dorothy L. Kottmeier of Visalia, California; and by his son, Colonel Warfield M. Lewis, retired, (U.S.M.A.—April 1917) of Santa Ana, California. He is also survived by twelve grandchildren and twenty-four great grandchildren. One of his grandsons is First Lieutenant Warfield M. Lewis Jr., (U.S.M.A.-1956).</div>
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Edson Lewis lived a long and useful life. Born during Civil War days, he lived to see this world emerge into the atomic age. His memory remained clear and his mind acute nearly to the end, and friends and relatives loved to hear him tell of his childhood and early Army days.</div>
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He was loved by all who knew him, from his contemporaries to his youngest great-grandchild. He was never too busy to repair or to make a toy for a child, or to repair a table for a friend or relative.</div>
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Burial services were conducted by the United Spanish War Veterans and his body was laid to rest in beautiful Melrose Abbey, in the outskirts of Santa Ana.</div>