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Fannie
P. Lewis
1825 -
1905
Fannie P. Lewis Park Bobby Maas Memorial Fountain
Photo by John Hart, Watertown Daily Times
Watertown Daily Times, 11 28 1987
Fannie
P. Lewis died back on
Mrs.
Lewis lived and died at her residence which is located at
Both
Mr. and Mrs. Lewis took great pride in Watertown and were among its most public
spirited citizens.
In
memory of their son, Clifton Lewis, they contributed a
memorial fountain which was erected on West Main Street at Washington Street.
It was mounted by a huge figure of a Chippewa Indian and offered drinking
fountain facilities.
A
replica of that original was later made and was placed at Union Park which is
located at Monroe and Lafayette streets. It was there for many years before it
was moved to the Octagon House grounds where it remains today.
At
the base of the original statue was a collection of water troughs - some for
horses and others for dogs and other smaller animals. There weren't many cars,
during the era that the statue graced the intersection of Main and Washington
streets, and there were many a team of horses which stopped there for a drink.
The
statue remained there for many years, watching over the many changes of this
community's downtown. It even survived the introduction of the street car
system to Watertown, and for years a track ran on both sides of it with street
cars and interurban cars scooting by every hour.
Then,
one night a motorist, driving up the street, happened to pass the statue just
as a street car came along. The motorist's car was caught and wedged between
the statue and the street car and when they got the whole thing untangled the
auto resembled an accordion.
The
driver escaped without injury but we can't say the same about the Indian. He
was really knocked for a loop. Soon, after that accident, what remained of him
was gathered up, put in boxes and carted away. The entire base was removed from
the intersection and was never replaced.
It
was the Watertown Common Council that some years later decided to replace the
statue but in a new location - Union Park.
Mr.
and Mrs. Lewis' son died in 1894, and a daughter, Hattie Lewis, died in 1868.
They were the only two children of the couple.
Mr.
and Mrs. Lewis also donated the huge soldiers' monument in what was known at
the time as City Park and is now known as Watertown Veterans Memorial Park. The
monument was originally dedicated to the men who fought in the Civil War.
That
memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1899 and Governor Edward Scofield was one of the speakers.
In
later years Mrs. Lewis set up the Fannie P. Lewis Park Fund, with the provision
that the interest from it was to be used to beautify the city's parks and
provide certain other facilities for the parks.
Mrs.
Lewis left a sizable bequest to Northwestern College in her will. Interest from
that fund has allowed the college to provide scholarships for students.
Mr.
and Mrs. Lewis also left a handsome bequest to the city of Glens Falls, N.Y.,
where they had been married, and it was used for endowing a home for the
elderly.
Mrs.
Lewis, like her husband, is buried in 0ak
Hill Cemetery.
Today
the Fannie P. Lewis Fund is governed by a three member board of trustees.
Members are Attorney George Niemann, Lorraine Schatz
and H. Bruce Kasten.
Attorney
Niemann said the interest from fund makes several
projects in the city possible, which otherwise might not be funded.
He
said each year the fund pays for the, plantings which are placed in the
decorative flower, pots on
The
issue of funding the tree replacement program came before the council this year
and initially the finance committee had recommended removal of the $4,000
annual city share, for that purpose. That was later changed. Under this
program, the homeowner, the city and the Fannie Lewis Fund share equally in the
cost of the tree replacements.
We
think that's an excellent way to insure the future beauty of Watertown. As
diseased trees are removed, new ones must be replaced.
Another
project undertaken in recent years by the Lewis fund is development of the
Fannie P. Lewis Park. For those of you who don't know, that's the park where Klink's old ice house and beer distributorship was located
on
Attorney
Niemann said there have been other projects over the
years and added the fund is financially sound so that the ongoing
beautification efforts will continue. The fund is in good hands.
Over
the years there have been a number of Watertown residents who have contributed
substantially to the overall well being of the community.
It's that
kind of community spirit that makes Watertown the wonderful community that it
is. Imagine, the funds this woman put in place nearly a century ago are still
doing exactly what she had intended for them to do.
Death of Fannie Parker Lewis,
Widow of Robert E. Lewis,
12 02 1905
Early Saturday morning,
Deceased was born at Windsor, Vermont,
Mrs. Lewis joined with her husband
in bestowing charity with a lavish hand, and in a public way they contributed
largely of their means, their contributions including the beautiful soldiers'
monument in our city park, and the memorial fountain in
Funeral services were held at her late
home, services being conducted by Rev. Thomas L. Thompson, Rev. M. L. Everez and Rev. Geo. C. Weis. The pallbearers were: George
W. Webb, Edward J. Brandt, H. T. Eberle, Fred A.
Hoffmann, Fred Schmutzler, and J. C. Harrison. The
honorary pallbearers were a detail of O. D. Pease Post, No. 94 G. A. R.
Mayor Wertheimer
and members of the city council attended in a body.
(It will be of interest to the
public to know that Mrs. Lewis by her last will has dealt very generously with
the people, both in a public and private way, her bequests including many
thousands of dollars for public park and educational purposes. Her private
bequests are also many and generous. For the present, the executors of her will
request that the press refrain from publishing the bequests until the will is
read in probate court.)
Fannie Lewis' Will
Mrs. Fannie
Parker Lewis' will was filed on the probate court at Jefferson. The witnesses
to the will were Frank E. Woodard, W. H. Woodard and John M. Olin, of Madison.
The following were the bequests:
First. I will and direct
that all my just debts and funeral expenses and expense of my last sickness be
promptly paid out of my estate.
Second. I give and bequeath to
the following named persons the property and articles hereinafter specified, as
follows, towit: To Mrs. Henriette
Parker, wife of W. H. Parker of Lawler, Iowa, all silverware not otherwise
herein disposed of, and also one large hair mattress as good as there is in the
house at the time of my death, to be selected by her, and also the lace
curtains in the parlor of my homestead, and also the sum of one thousand
dollars. To Mrs. Fannie Esther Anderson of West Union, Iowa, all silverware,
marked “Fannie." To my sister, Mrs. Angie Wood, of West Randolph, Vermont,
all my clothing not herein otherwise disposed of. To my niece, Mrs. Augusta
Read of Griswoldville, Massachusetts, my large seal
box coat. To Clifton Mason Parker, son of W. H. Parker of Lawler, Iowa, the
plain gold watch formerly belonging to Clifton P. Lewis, and which I now carry.
To my grandniece, Arabelle Seeley of Glens Falls, New
York, my new diamond ring set with two diamonds and my long watch chain which I
now wear, and also the sum of one thousand dollars. To Frank E. Woodard and his
present wife the picture of my son in pastel and also one of my daughter’s
portraits, to be selected by them.
Third. I give and devise to
my four cousins, Mrs. Mary Bailey of New Hampton, Iowa, Mrs. Henrietta Martin
of Lu Verne, Minnesota, Mrs. Fannie Esther Anderson and Miss E. Frankie Parker,
living in the state of Iowa, all real estate owned by me in Watertown. I also
give and bequeath to my said four cousins above named everything which shall be
in the house located on the land above described at the time of my decease,
except such as is herein otherwise disposed of, and excepting all securities
and evidences of debt.
Fourth. I give and bequeath
to Mrs. May Bailey of New Hampton, Iowa, the note of one thousand dollars which
I now hold against her and signed by Mrs. A. J. Bailey.
Fifth. I give and bequeath
to Clara Belle Read, Jennie M. Read and Bertha Read, children of my niece, Mrs.
Augusta Read of Griswoldville, Massachusetts, to
Harry C. Parker, son of my niece, Mrs. Hattie Parker of Winchendon,
Massachusetts, and to Clifton Mason Parker, son of W. H. Parker of Lawler,
Iowa, to each the sum of three thousand dollars.
Sixth. I give and bequesth to Cora A. Martin and Fannie M. Martin, children
of Mrs. Henriette Martin, to each the sum of one
thousand dollars.
Seventh. I give and bequeath
the sum of five hundred dollars to each of the following named little friends,
who were maids of honor at the unveiling of the monument erected in the city park of
Watertown by my husband, towit: To Helen Whiting,
Marguerite Whiting, Dorothy Quentmeyer.
Ruth Nellins and Isabella Ryder: also the sum of five
hundred dollars to my little friend, Phillip Quentmeyer
who was color bearer at the unveiling of said monument.
Eighth. I give and bequeath
to my friend, Mrs. Weslie Woodard, and also to her
daughter, Elizabeth C. Woodard, to each the sum of five hundred dollars.
Ninth. I give and bequeath
to Mrs. Ida Keyes the sum of five hundred dollars.
Tenth. I give and bequeath
to my brother, Zenus Parker of Stewart, Tennessee,
and to Etta Paret, his granddaughter, to each the sum
of two thousand dollars.
Eleventh. I give and
bequeath to my niece, Mrs. Mary Seeley of Brayton,
New York, the sum of three thousand dollars.
Twelfth. I give and bequeath
to Mrs. Augusta Read of Griswoldville, Massachusetts,
and to Mrs. Jennie Sheldon of Weathersfield, Vermont,
to each the sum of two thousand dollars.
Thirteenth. I give and
bequeath to my sister, Mrs. Angle Wood of West Randolph, Vermont, the sum of
three thousand dollars, and to Leona Kellhoffer, her
granddaughter, of the same place, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars.
Fourteenth. I give and
bequeath to my niece, Mrs. Hattie Parker of Winchendon, Massachusetts, the sum
of two thousand dollars.
Fifteenth. I give and
bequeath to my second cousin, Miss Lucy P. Moore of Ellsworth, Wis, the sum of two thousand dollars.
Sixteenth. I give and bequeath
to Mrs. Frank Stearns and to her daughter Arline of Winchendon, Massachusetts,
the sum of three thousand dollars.
Seventeenth. I give and bequeath to my physician, F. C.
Werner of the city of Watertown, the sum of three thousand dollars.
Eighteenth. I give and
bequeath to my nurse, Miss Emma Kielblock, the sum of
fifteen hundred dollars, and to my maid, Miss Anna Boltz,
the sum of five hundred dollars.
Nineteenth. I give and
bequeath to the said F. C. Werner of Watertown, the sum of five hundred dollars
in trust, however, for the following uses and purposes: The income from said
five hundred dollars, and so much of the principal as shall be necessary, shall
be expended by said trustee from time to time, for the support and comfort of
my servant, Edward Kunert, it being my intention that
said fund shall be so managed and used as to give to said Kunert
the greatest benefit therefrom.
Twentieth. I give and
bequeath to Thomas B. Thompson, congregational
minister of the city of Watertown, two thousand dollars; to George Weiss,
congregational minister of the city of Waukesha, two thousand dollars; and to
Morris Eversz, Methodist minister of the city of
Watertown, the sum of one thousand dollars.
Lewis Fountain, Memorial Park
Twenty-First. I give and
bequeath to the city of Watertown, to be used for the purpose of erecting a
spray fountain, on the southeast corner of the present city park, the sum of
one thousand dollars. In case I should erect and pay for such fountain during
my lifetime then this legacy to be considered as canceled.
Schempf’s Postal Card, Hand
Colored
Additional Lewis Fountain (Memorial Park) images at end of this file
Note: Lewis
Fountain (Main Street) is noted in different chapter
Twenty-second. I give and bequeath
to the trustees of the Baptist church of Northwood, Iowa, the sum of five
thousand dollars, said sum to be held by said trustees in trust, and the net
annual income thereof to be used each year for the purpose of keeping in repair
the church building belonging to said church or congregation.
Twenty-third. I give and
bequeath to the Regents of the University of Wisconsin, being a body corporate
by the laws of Wisconsin and herein for brevity called the Regents, and to their
successors, the sum of ten thousand dollars in trust, however, and for the uses
and purposes and upon the conditions as herein stated. Said fund of ten
thousand dollars shall be set aside by said regents as a separate and distinct
fund and shall constitute and be known as the "Fannie P. Lewis Scholarship
Fund," and the net annual income from the same shall be paid each year
equally to two women students in attendance upon said University, such students
to be selected by the regents upon the recommendation of the faculty of the
University. In making such selection there shall be taken into consideration
the need of the student of financial aid and her scholarship or standing as a
student. Said scholarship fund shall forever remain inviolate and be devoted to
the purposes herein indicated; and if at any time by any loss the principal of
said fund shall be impaired or diminished the Regents shall first apply the net
income from the remaining fund to make good such loss.
Twenty-fourth. I give and
bequeath to the Glens Falls Home of Glens Falls, New York, the sum of ten
thousand dollars.
Twenty-fifth. I give and
bequeath to the Northwestern University located at Watertown, Wisconsin, being
a body corporate by the laws of Wisconsin, the sum of ten thousand dollars, in
trust, however, and for the uses and purposes and upon the conditions as herein
stated. Said sum shall constitute and be known as the "Fannie P. Lewis
Endowment Fund," in memory of the donor, and the net amount income from
the same shall be paid by said Northwestern University each year to such
students as may be selected for financial aid by the faculty of said
Northwestern University. In making such selection said faculty shall take into
consideration the need of the person selected of financial aid and also his
scholarship. Said sum shall forever remain inviolate and be devoted to the
purposes herein indicated; and if at any time by any loss the principal of said
fund shall be impaired or diminished, said Northwestern University shall first
apply the net income from the remaining fund to make good such loss .
Twenty-sixth. I give and
bequeath to Frank E. Woodard, James F. Prentiss and Wm. C. Stone, in trust,
however, for the said city of Watertown, the sum of ten thousand dollars upon
the following conditions. Said fund shall constitute and be known as the
"Fannie P. Lewis Park Fund," and the net annual income from said fund
shall be used toward keeping in repair, maintaining, improving, beautifying and
adorning the public parks, squares, boulevards and drives now or hereafter
owned or controlled by said City of Watertown or by any association or
corporation acting for and on behalf of said city of Watertown. But if is not
my intention that the income from said fund, or any part thereof should ever be
used for the purpose of keeping in repair, maintaining or improving for the
purpose of travel, the ordinary public streets located within said city of
Watertown, but that the same might be used, if deemed wise, for the purpose of
ornamenting the public streets within the city by the erection, for example of
artistic drinking fountains, statuary or other works of public or civic art.
Such fund shall forever remain inviolate and be devoted to the purposes herein
indicated, and if at any time by any loss the principal of said fund shall be
impaired or diminished, said trustees shall first apply the net income from the
remaining fund to make good such loss.
Whenever for any cause, a
vacancy occurs in said board of trustees, the same shall be filled by remaining
trustee or trustees. If at any time there is no trustee, in that event three
persons shall be appointed as trustees by the circuit court for Jefferson
county, Wisconsin, or by the proper judicial tribunal, and such persons shall
thereafter have the same power as to filling any vacancy that may occur as the
persons above named. It is my wish that at least one of said trustees shall
always be a good business man, with experience in the making of investments and
the handling of funds, and that all three of said trustees should be public
spirited citizens, and interested in the beauty and welfare of the city of
Watertown.
Twenty-seventh. In case I
should not have at the time of my death, sufficient property to full all the
foregoing legacies then it is my will that each legatee should be paid pro
rata, according to the actual value of the estate left by me.
Twenty-eighth. I hereby
devise and bequeath unto the Glens Falls Home, of Glens Falls, New York, the
Northwestern University located at Watertown, Wisconsin, and to Frank E.
Woodard, James F. Prentiss and Wm. C. Stone, trustees as aforesaid, all the
rest, residue and remainder of my estate, both real and personal, if any, I
leave at the time of my death, to each the one-third part thereof, share and
share alike, the amount so coming, if any, to each of said three legatees, to
be added to the principal fund hereinbefore bequeathed to said legatees
respectively, and to be held by said legatees upon the same terms and
conditions and to be devoted to the same uses and purposes as the specific
legacies hereinbefore given to said legatees respectively.
Twenty-ninth. I hereby
nominate and appoint Frank E. Woodard of the city of Watertown the executor of
this, my last will and testament, and hereby authorize and empower him to
transfer and convey, without any order of the court therefore, all or any
property, real or personal not otherwise provided for herein, belonging to my
estate, and to execute and deliver all necessary and usual conveyances and assignments
therefore, and to collect, compromise, receipt for, pay and discharge all or
any claims, for or against my estate, solely in his discretion, and I hereby
provide that he shall not be liable for any error or mistake in the carrying
out of my said will, provided he shall have acted honestly in the matter and in
good faith.
I, Fanny P. Lewis, of the
city of Watertown, Wisconsin being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do
make, publish and declare this my codicil to my last will and testament, dated
the first day of February, 1905, and comprising eight sheets, in manner
following, that is to 19 say: First. I give and bequeath, in addition in what
is given in the third subdivision of said will, to Mrs. Henrietta Martin of Lu
Verne, Minnesota, to Mrs. Fannie Esther Anderson, and to Miss E. Frankle Parker, living in the state of Iowa, to each the
sum of one thousand dollars. Also I give to Henrietta E. Martin, daughter of
said Henrietta Martin, the sum of one thousand dollars.
Fannie Parker Lewis: born
_____________________________________________________________________
1906
04 15 1906
Again, the attention of the board of
public works is called to the pleasure a few benches or settees would afford in
the Lewis park during the approaching warm summer
afternoons and evenings. The settees might be of iron, so that they could not
be carried away or broken.
1907
08 28 1907
The Fannie P. Lewis $1000 fountain
given to the city and which was recently placed in the southwest corner of the
city park, will be unveiled at
Image Portfolio
Click to enlarge
1909
