John Francis Lewis was born on March 1, 1818 near Port Republic, Rockingham County, Virginia, United States, the son of Gen. Samuel Hance and Nancy (Lewis) Lewis. Both parents were descended from John Lewis, an Irish immigrant "Who slew the Irish lord, settled Augusta County, Located the town of Staunton And furnished five sons to fight the battles of the American Revolution".
Lewis' formal education was meager.
Management of the family plantation, along with some practice of law, was normally his chief occupation. Though both his father and his father-in-law were prominent public men and he himself professed ardent Whig sympathies, not until 1859 did he approach active politics. Having then expressed in the local newspaper his opposition to secession as a theory and as a policy, he was elected to the state convention of 1861. Here he offered no resolution, made no report, seems not even to have spoken; but he persistently voted against secession and ultimately refused to sign the ordinance.
The coming of the Civil War prevented, it is said, his acceptance of President Lincoln's tender of the marshalship of western Virginia. During the war his rôle was that of a peaceful Unionist; it has been asserted, however, without recorded contradiction, that he also "manufactured large quantities of iron for the Confederacy, under special contracts with it". In 1865 he was a candidate for Congress against A. H. H. Stuart, but was badly beaten. Lewis seems to have followed the lead of his friend John Minor Botts during the early part of the Reconstruction period, attending the various meetings which led to the formation of the Republican party in Virginia, appearing before the congressional investigating committee, endeavoring to build a strong and liberal party and to secure a place of prominence in it.
Later he joined the combination with the Conservatives and was, in consequence, elected lieutenant-governor in 1869. The same combination (apparently much influenced by railroad and bond-holding interests) elected him to the federal Senate for the short term, John W. Johnston of the Southwest being the Conservative (Democratic) selection for the full term. In the Senate (January 1870 - March 1875) he was chairman of the committee on the District of Columbia, but otherwise obtained no particular recognition. After the expiration of his term he was appointed marshal by President Grant, and served 1875-1781. When the Republican-Readjuster combination was being effected, he was of much assistance and in consequence was again elected lieutenant-governor (1881). In 1889 he broke with Gen. William Mahone, head of the combination, and materially aided in his overthrow by working for a Straight-Out Republican movement.
His last years were spent at "Lynwood, " the family estate in Rockingham County, where he died of cancer after a long, brave fight.
Lewis was known for his service as the 9th and 14th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia. He represented Virginia as a Republican in the United States Senate during the Reconstruction period after the Civil War. He was also the only member from east of the Allegheny Mountains at convention of 1861 that refused to endorse the ordinance of secession.
The Democratic press noted that though his independence of thought and impulsiveness of action had often led him into disagreements with his friends and neighbors, these had never doubted his integrity, and even his political opponents credited him with robust, manly virtues.
Quotes from others about the person
"There's Cameron, he's for the Democrats; and there's Lewis, he's for the negroes. " - Richmond Dispatch
In 1842 Lewis married Serena Helen, the daughter of Daniel Sheffey. Three sons and four daughters survived him.
