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THE AMERICAN BEE JOURNAL. 



Oct. IS, 1903. 



[ Sketches of Beedomites j 



GEORGE B. LEWIS. 



A short time ago we received the following notice from the G. B. 

 Lewie Co., of Watertown, Wis. : 



George W. York & Co.. Chicago, 111.— 



GenUemai :—Weha.ve just discovered that through an error you 

 were not advised of the death of our president, Mr. G. B. Lewis, which 

 occurred June 11, 1903. We herewith enclose newspaper clipping. 

 Yours truly, G. B. Lewis Co. 



Per G. C. L. 



The clipping referred to in the above reads thus: 



George Burnham Lewis, a prominent manufacturer and business 

 man, president of the G. B. Lewis Co., died at his home shortly after 

 9 o'clock last night. His death was not unexpected, as he had been 

 in a dangerous condition several days. Hardening of the arteries was 

 the primary cause of his death. 



Mr. Lewis was born in Moreau, Saratoga Co., N. Y., July 5, 1832. 

 He received an education in his native city, and when a young man of 

 21 came West, reaching this city in 1853, where he remained during 

 the summer visiting with his brothers who had preceded him here. He 

 returned to New York in the fall, and shortly after was married to 

 Miss Sarah J. Ingalsbe. Mr. Lewis tried farming for awhile, but his 

 thoughts reverted to Wisconsin, and in 1861 he removed to this city, 

 and has lived here ever since. In company with his brother, R. E. 

 Lewis, he purchased the water-power on the west bank of Rock river, 

 then owned by a man named Salsey. The firm name was then R. E. 

 & G. B. Lewis, and after sawing up the logs which were purchased 

 with the mill and water-power, the firm engaged in the manufacture 

 of sash, doors, and blinds. In IS'O, R. E. Lewis retired and G. B. 

 Lewis became sole owner, and conducted the business until 1878, when 

 the firm of Lewis it Parks was formed, and upon the death of Mr. 

 Parks, his son-in-law, the firm became known as the G. B. Lewis Co., 

 one of the largest manufactories of bee-keepers' supplies in this coun- 

 try. From a small beginning the business of the firm increased rap- 

 idly under his guidance and management, until it became one of tlie 

 largest of its kind, with a manufactured product which sells all over 

 the world. 



Mr. Lewis possessed a quiet and amiable disposition, and was a 

 man of integrity. In his business and social life he displayed those 

 characteristics which are so much admired, and those who had occa- 

 sion to have business or social intercourse with him always had a kind 

 word to say in praise of his many good qualities. Mr. Lewis never 

 aspired to political honors, preferring the quiet of his home. For the 

 last 20 years he has passed the winter months in Dunedin, Fla., where 

 he has large property interests, and it was while there, early this 

 spring, that he was taken sick. He returned home in April, and has 

 gradually failed in health until released from earthly suffering by the 

 hand of Death. By his death Watertown loses one of its oldest and 

 most progressive business men, and an honorable citizen who always 

 took pride in his home city, and helped in its upbuilding. He will be 

 sadly missed from the family and home circle, and by his many friends 

 and acquaintances here and throughout the State. 



His widow and two children, Mrs. L. L. Parks and George C. 

 Lewis, of this city, survive. 



Verily, the leaders among bee-keepers and bee-supply manu- 

 facturers are passing away. It was not our pleasure to have a per- 

 sonal acquaintance with Mr. Lewis, though, of course, we have had 

 business relations with the firm of G. B. Lewis Co. for years. And it 

 was always satisfactory in every way. That company has been repre- 

 sented in our advertising columns for over 30 years, we believe, and, 

 so far as we know, their dealings with our readers have always been 

 mutually pleasant and profitable. 



The fact is, the G. B. Lewis Co. is one of the strong, clean, busi- 

 ness-like bee-supply manufacturers and dealers of which all beedom 

 should be proud. We understand all of that was characteristic of 

 Mr. George B. Lewis. And that same honorable dealing is continued 

 by his son, Mr. George C. Lewis, who has been manager of the busi- 

 ness for years. We wish the firm continued success, although the 

 honored President has been taken away permanently. 



Why Not Help a Little — both your neighbor bee-keep- 

 ers and the old American Bee Journal — by sending to us the 

 names and addresses of such as you may know do not now 

 get this journal ? We will be glad to send them sample 

 copies, so that they may become acquainted with the paper, 

 and subscribe for it, thus putting themselves in the line of 

 success with bees. Perhaps you can get them to subscribe, 

 send in their dollars, and secure for your trouble some of 

 the premiums we are constantly offering as rewards for 

 such effort. 



Sunday in California. — In the first few paragraphs of the re- 

 port of the Los Angeles convention, reference was made to the Sun- 

 day-school of the First M. E. church of that city. We had read and 

 heard so much about that school previous to leaving Chicago, that we 

 decided to visit it if we ever should be in or near Los Angeles on Sun- 

 day. So the coveted opportunity came on Aug. 33. 



As mentioned last week, we spent Saturday night at Pasadena. 

 So, we arose early Sunday morning and prepared to take the electric 

 car ride of some 10 miles to the church mentioned in Los Angeles. As 

 the Sunday-school begins at 9 ;30, it was necessary to move lively for a 

 Sunday morning. 



We arrived just a few minutes before the school was opened by 

 Dr. H. W. Brodbeck, the dentist brother of George W. Brodbecli, of 

 whom we have spoken before. He has been the superintendent of 

 the school for 11 years. He has it well organized, and everything run- 

 ning perfectly. One of the assistant lady superintendents very cour- 

 teously showed us, and about a dozen other visitors, around through 

 .the various departments of the school. This was appreciated by all 

 thus favored. 



The bee-keepers present were, Dr. C. C. Miller, A. I. Root, 0. L. 

 Hershiser, W. F. Marks, and F. E. Brown, besides the writer. It we 

 mistake not, each of those mentioned attends the church of a different 

 denomination excepting us, and yet all seemed perfectly at home in 

 our Methodist school. 



Dr. Brodbeck may well be proud of his excellent Sunday-school. 

 It has an orchestra of about 30 instruments. Just think of what 

 harmonies they can produce! It is an inspiration to any superin- 

 tendent or school to have such an orchestra. It also has an efHcient 

 corps of officers and teachers — "each one an expert." 



The school has enrolled about 1000 members. It has perhaps the 

 best system of records known. Dr. Brodbeck got it up himself, so it 

 ought to be a good one. 



After the study of the lesson. Dr. Miller and A. I. Root were in- 

 vited to speak to the main school, while we were asked to say a few 

 words to the members of the young men's and young ladies' classes, 

 which have their closing exercises together. There were probably 150 

 present on that occasion. How we wished we could have known 

 enough to be equal to the opportunity. Who wouldn't give a great 

 deal, if he had it, to be able to interest such an audience, even for a 

 short time? 



We believe both of these large classes were taught by ladies. 

 Think what it means to hold the attention of a hundred or more 

 young men every Sunday, and interest them profitably ! 



We can say we felt well repaid for making the effort to visit one 

 of the greatest Sunday-schools in all the West. 



After the close of the school, we bee-keeping visitors all went 

 across the street to hear Robert J. Burdette preach. He has left the 

 lecture platform, and is now the pastor of the Temple Baptist church 

 in Los Angeles. He gave a splendid discourse. But we couldn't 

 help feeling that the lecture-field needed him more than the pulpit. 



By the way, we understand Mr. Burdette, several years ago, mar- 

 ried a very wealthy lady, who resides, and owns a palace, in beautiful 

 Pasadena. We passed by that lovely home with its gorgeous flowers J 

 and restful greenswards, when " Seeing Pasadena " the following day. 



On Sunday evening we attended the First M. E. church of Pasa- 

 dena. The building and interior finishings and furnishings were 

 simply superb. It is a Methodist cathedral. It cost something like 

 ^100,000, we believe. Too much for any church. We believe in less 

 pretentious church buildings, and more of them scattered throughout 

 a city. 



The organ and music in this particular Pasadena church was 

 grand. The audience was large and attentive. The talk by the pas- 

 tor was helpful. He stopped when he got through. Not every 

 speaker can do that. Their "terminal facilities" are not always 

 what they should be. But those Pasadena Methodists ought to be a 

 happy and thoroughly good people. We suppose they are. We cer- 

 tainly saw no reason to be doubtful about it. 



Judging from what we saw and heard on that one Sunday, in Los 

 Angeles and Pasadena, we should say that not a few of their people 

 attend church. 



