admin HON. LORAN L. LEWIS, President of the Third National Bank and former Justice of the Supreme Court, was for many years one of the foremost advocates in the State. Of Welsh lineage, his ancestors were among the early settlers of Central New York. His grandfather, Joshua Lewis, was a pioneer in Mentz township, near the city of Auburn, Cayuga County. His son, John C. Lewis, the father of Loran L. Lewis, became one of the most successful and substantial farmers of the locality.
Judge Lewis’s maternal grandfather was Friend Barbour, a farmer of Cayuga County. His mother was a woman of remarkable endowments and fine educational attainments. In her early womanhood she was noted for her accomplishments, and became a well recognized oracle in the neighborhood.
Loran Lodowick Lewis was born at Mentz, Cayuga County, N. Y., May 9, 1825. He attended the public school and a private school in Auburn. While still a stripling he supported himself by teaching school. When twenty-one years old, and already well embarked on his course in law reading, he maintained himself by selling law books. When able to enter the regular study of the law, he became a clerk in the law office of William H. Seward, at Auburn. July 4th, 1848, he was admitted to the bar and came to Buffalo and opened an office. The progress of Judge Lewis in his profession was steady and rapid. In a surprisingly short time he advanced to the front rank. He formed several successive associations. The firm best known to the latter day generation was that of Lewis, Moot & Lewis.
Judge Lewis had a genius for the trial of cases, and ranked as an advocate of the highest order. He had a reserve of sarcasm which made him dangerous to attempt to trifle with, and as a forensic orator he was brilliant, eloquent and convincing. He was regarded as almost unequaled in powers of persuasion, and it was currently remarked, and still is said today, that no advocate ever practiced at the Erie County bar who won so great a proportion of jury cases as did Loran L. Lewis.
Politically Judge Lewis has always been a strong Republican. He served in the State Senate from 1870 to 1874. In 1882 he was nominated for Justice of the Supreme Court. It was the year of the political tidal wave which swept Mr. Cleveland into the office of Governor by 200,000 majority. Yet Mr. Lewis was elected by about 3,000 majority, being the only candidate elected on the Republican ticket in Erie County. He presided as a Judge at circuit till 1890, when he was designated by the Governor a Justice of the General Term, now called the Appellate Division, serving till January, 1896, when he reached the 70-year age limit. The judicial career of Judge Lewis was distinguished by learning, dignity and impartiality.
Judge Lewis has been for many years a director in the German American Bank of Buffalo, and when that bank was in serious trouble caused by its unfortunate connection with some of the officials who wrecked the German Bank, and during the time that an active run upon the bank was pending, he received a remarkable tribute of confidence of men who stand in the front ranks of Buffalo’s esteem, by his election to the presidency of that bank. He continued in that position until complete confidence was restored to the bank. He has been a director of the Third National Bank of Buffalo for many years, holding the position of Vice-President for several years, and is now President. He is also a trustee of the Fidelity Trust Company.
June 1, 1852, Judge Lewis was married to Charlotte E. Pierson, daughter of Gordon Pierson, of East Aurora, N. Y. Their children are: George Lester Lewis, Louise Lewis, Kahle Elizabeth Lewis, Preston and Loran Lodowick Lewis, Jr. Both of the sons of Judge Lewis are lawyers, practicing under the firm name of Lewis & Lewis. Judge Lewis, though not in active practice, is advisory counsel of the firm.
He is one of the staunchest supporters of the Buffalo Law School, and for years gave it the benefit of his lectures.
Throughout his life Judge Lewis has been a man of simple tastes. He is the owner of a fine farm in Lewiston, Canada, and there he spends much of his time. Now past the age of eightytwo, he enjoys firm health and the resources of a mind whose vigor is equal to the best days of his prime. His is a career in which youth may find emulation, manhood, courage and hope.
SOURCE: Memorial and Family History of Erie County New York; Volume I