Lewis Kees, merchant, Oakland; born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 10, 1843, where he attended school until 16 years of age, when he emigrated West and located in Embarrass Tp., Edgar Co., where he engaged in farming until July, 1862, when he enlisted in the 70th I. V. I. for three months; he was sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, where he remained two months guarding prisoners, then to Alton for two months performing the same duty; he was in the service four months and was mustered out with his regiment in November, 1862. He then returned to his farm, which he worked until 1874, when he engaged in the grocery trade at Isabel one year, when his store and stock being consumed by fire, he met with a loss of nearly $2,000, upon which he had no insurance; he then purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he worked until May 1, 1878, when he exchanged a portion of the same for a stock of goods at Oakland, since which time he has added largely to the same, until he now has a full and complete stock of dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, hats and caps, notions, etc.; his business card will be found in the business directory of Oakland, in another part of this work. He married Aug. 29, 1863, Mary Ann Housel; she was born in Edgar Co. Sept. 20, 1845; her parents were among the early pioneers of Edgar Co.; she died Jan. 28, 1868, leaving one child, -Sarah J., born July 4, 1865.
