Postmaster Dies at Post Office 1948

Lawrence County News Thursday July 1, 1948

Paul Frederick Lewis, 59, Lawrenceville postmaster, was found dead in the bathroom of the Lawrenceville Post Office about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon. He had been dead an hour or two when found by Harry Fee and Ray Whitson, postal clerks on duty.

Mr. Lewis was accustomed to leaving for lunch at 11 o'clock and postal employees supposed that he had already gone. About 20 minutes after one o'clock, Mrs. Lewis telephoned the post office to ascertain why her husband had not come home to lunch. A search of the place was made, and he was found dead in the postmaster's private bathroom.

Dr. Charles G. Stoll was called and pronounced him dead. He stated that Mr. Lewis had been one of his patients, and that when he last examined him in January, his blood pressure was quite high. It was his opinion that Mr. Lewis had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.

Paul Lewis was one of the best known and most popular men in Lawrenceville. He was of a friendly disposition and one who stood for the betterment of mankind and of the community in which he lived. A former businessman, he was, while engaged in business, active in the civic affairs of the city.

Early in life he learned the drug business and was engaged in it for several years, most of which time was in Lawrenceville. He was associated in the drug business with his father, Dr. H. V. Lewis, in the location now occupied by the Maxey Drug Company and later opened as the Rexall store, operated by John Studley. This latter store he sold to the Peckinpaugh Drug Company and again traveled, selling drugs wholesale for the Nelson Baker Company of Detroit.

Several years ago, Paul Lewis re-established the Lewis liver pills, originated by his father and built up a substantial wholesale trade in this item.

Paul Lewis was appointed postmaster at Lawrenceville in 1943, and assumed the office on December 1 of that year, succeeding Henry C. Johnson who died in office. His ability and early business training gave him a good background for the position, and he was considered an exceptionally good man for the job.

Paul Frederick Lewis was born in Bridgeport on August 21, 1888, the son of Dr. H. V. Lewis and Hettie Ray Lewis. He moved to Lawrenceville, Illinois when a lad of twelve and lived the rest of his life in this city. He was educated in the schools of this city, graduating from Lawrenceville High School in 1905. He was married to Miss Julia Smith, who survived. One son, Frederick preceded him in death. He was also survived by one brother, Victor Lewis of Toledo, Ohio.

At his death, Mr. Lewis was a member of the First Christian Church of Lawrenceville, and the Edward Dobbins Lodge of Masons. The funeral service was held at the Emmons Funeral Home, on Thursday at 2:30 and burial was in the Lawrenceville City Cemetery.