Joseph Tarlton Lewis
Joseph Tarlton Lewis was the son of Samuel Lewis and Sarah Jane Huntsman. He was born in Minersville, Beaver County, Utah, 30th June 1868. When he was twelve years old his parents moved to Panguitch, Utah and was there until 1881 when his parents moved to Arizona. We have no record of his young life up until the time he went with his mother on a fatal trip to Ramah, New Mexico, where he was slain. An innocent young man who had done nothing against anyone, but there he met with a tragic death, on the road back to the Gila Valley home. The family turned around and went back to Ramah, where his body was prepared for burial. They had a funeral for him and his body is buried in that place.
Joseph was cut off like Abel of old, an innocent man. We know nothing of the funeral service, who preached the sermon or sang a song. Today, he is lying there in an unmarked grave with his life history buried with him.
I, Laura McBride Smith, used to stay with Grandmother Lewis and attended to the Academy. I have heard her crying in the living room when she thought I was asleep. Crying, "O Jodie, Jodie," and I knew her heart was broken for she thought so much of him, her last son. She had a picture on the wall where she could see it every day but we don’t know what became of it. That’s all I can find about my youngest Uncle Joseph Lewis.
(For more details of this story, see the story of Samuel Edward Lewis, his brother)