[1] When the American Civil War broke out, Lewis joined the Army of the West and participated in the Battle of Booneville and later engagements before his December 19, 1861 capture by Union forces.

He was paroled the next spring after serving in Gratiot Street Prison and began studying law.

[1] Lewis moved to Utah Territory to teach in 1865 and converted to the LDS Church the next year.

He served a mission to the Southern States, then in 1870 began teaching at a school that later became Brigham Young Academy.

In the October 1882 General Conference of the church, following the custom of the day, Lewis was issued a surprise calling to become a Seventy and serve as one of the quorum's seven presidents.