Dates

• Existence: 1875-

Biography

Not to be confused with John L. Lewis, the founder of the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), both Lewises were raised in Iowa by Welsh coal miners and worked with labor unions in later life. The following is taken from a biographical sketch in the collection, apparently written by John C. Lewis himself in 1937. Born in Abertillery, Wales, March 20, 1875, son of John and Mary Ann Reece Lewis. His father was a miner. He came to America with his parents in 1881 at the age of five. After spending a few years in Brookfield [Ohio?] they travelled to Hickman, Pennsylvania, commonly known as Tom's Run where his father found work in the mines. From Hickman they journeyed to Zenorsville, a mining community in Boone County, Iowa, in 1886 where a home was established. He attended grade schools in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Zenorsville and completed studies as far as the sixth grade. However, he continued attendance at night school for six years in addition to home study after his marriage. He began to mine coal in Boone County in 1887 and was also employed in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. His experience as a coal miner covered a period of approximately twenty-six years. For many years he was active in the miners' local unions and in 1913 was elected a member of the Executive Board of sub-district 4, Dictrict 13 of the United Mine Workers of America, State of Iowa, which was a full-time salaried position. He served as an Exceutive Board member of District 13 for four years at the end of which time he was elected President of District 13. He was serving as President of District 13 when he was elected President of the Iowa State Federation of Labor in delegate convention in 1921. He attended nearly all the conventions of the International Union of the United Mine Workers of America from 1911 [well into the 1930s] and served on many national wage scale committees. He also represented the International Union in negotiations in states other than Iowa and has served as legislative representative of the Iowa Miners from 1913 [into the 1930s]. He was in constant touch with the economic development of the mining industry from commencing work in the mines in 1887. He participated in an advisory capacity at wage scale conferences. During World War I he served as a member of the War Labor Advisory Board. He was appointed by the Governor of the state to represent the Commonwealth of Iowa at numerous conferences that had to do with Labor and the Mining Industry. He represented Iowa miners on the Zoning Commission during the time the first Bituminous Coal Commission was functioning. In 1936 he was appointed representative to the International Labor Conference in Geneva by Madam Frances Perkins, Secretary of Labor, and served in the capacity of a technical advisor on the mining and steel industries. While is Europe he did research work in the affairs of the mining industry. In the latter part of May 1937 he resigned as President of Iowa State Federation of Labor to become a member by appointment to the National Bituminous Coal Commission.

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