C. Reed Lewis, the well-known horse dealer and auctioneer of Unity, was born in Marlow, N.H., July 10, 1837, son of Gilbert and Orrilla H. (Huntley) Lewis. His grandfather, Dudley Lewis, was a prosperous farmer and lifelong resident of Marlow. Gilbert Lewis was born and reared in Marlow. In 1839 he moved to Goshen, where he conducted a store, and remained three years. In 1842 he located in East Unity, and was there engaged in farming for some time. His last days were passed on a farm in Unity Centre, where he died November 16, 1872, aged sixty-two years. His wife, Orrilla, who was born in Duxbury, Vt., daughter of the Rev. Isaiah Huntley, became the mother of three children, namely: C. Reed, the subject of this sketch; Corrinna O., now the wife of Thomas T. Smith, who is a watchmaker, and resides in Canton, Ohio; and Nathan G., who died June 19, 1862, aged seventeen years. Mrs. Gilbert Lewis was eighty-one years old when she died, April 20, 1893.
C. Reed Lewis was educated in his native town. At the age of nineteen he went to Decorah, Ia., where he bought a farm, and remained a year. He next went to Oneida, Ill., where he was employed as a farm assistant for the same length of time. After his return to New Hampshire he purchased a farm near the village of Unity. He occupied that property until 1889, during which time he attained prosperity as a general farmer and stock dealer. Then selling it, he bought the Gilman place, where he now resides. This estate contains three hundred and fifty acres, which for the most part are under cultivation. In addition he owns some outlying land. The greater part of his time is given to auctioneering and the buying of horses, which are shipped to him from Boston.
In March, 1856, Mr. Lewis married Hattie E. Sleeper, daughter of John and Caroline Sleeper, of Unity. Mrs. Lewis is the mother of three children, namely: Nellie, born in June, 1862; Olive, born in May, 1870; and Emily, born in May, 1872. Nellie was educated in Claremont, N.H., and is now teaching school. Olive is the wife of Charles Hoffman, a plumber of Windsor, Vt. Emily is employed by the Falls Mountain Paper Company at Bellows Falls, Vt. In politics Mr. Lewis supports the Democratic party, and he served as Collector of Taxes for four years. He is widely known throughout this section for his energy and business ability, and he has the confidence of his many friends and acquaintances.