"Arrived in mesa at age seventeen. He helped build the first mesa canal, and also helped run the "wagon wheel" that was used to survey the city." "Left for mexico with second wife Sina Florinda Pearce." "He helped build a dam and dig irrigation canals for farming. These canals helped bring water to develop farms at Florence and Casa Grande. In then became manager for the water district. He was hurt in a auto accident and never fully recovered. He spent his later years in the pioneers home in Prescott, Arizona where in died on July 30, 1933."

CENSUS: 1880.

1880 U.S. census population schedule, Mesa City, Maricopa, Arizona, enumeration district (ED) 19, p. 114 c, dwelling 40, family 40, family of John M. Lewis; digital images, Ancestry (ancestry.com : accessed 9 Aug 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 36; Name: John F. Lewis; Home in 1880: Mesa City, Maricopa, Arizona; Age: 19; Estimated Birth Year: abt 1861; Birthplace: Utah Territory; Relation to Head of Household: Son; Father's Name: John M.; Father's birthplace: Kentucky; Mother's Name: Martha A.; Mother's birthplace: Illinois;; Occupation: At Home; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Gender: Male.

BURIAL:

"findagrave," database, findagrave (findagrave.com : accessed 17 Sep 2009), memorial for John Franklin Lewis; Find A Grave Memorial# 23768037.