| Lewis-Bratti Genealogy |
 Zachariah Lewis 1843 - 1916 (72 years)
Emeline and Zachariah in the "Big City" Below is a story passed through the family and shared by Frances Woods, wife of Richard, son of Annie Belle, daughter of Gilbert, son of Zachariah. A story told by Emeline (Ramey) Lewis is that she was a country girl and had never seen a "big city." On the 4th of July (1864), she was age 13 and persuaded Zachariah to take her to Fayetteville with him to see the "festivities." Before he had to join the band (he played the E-flat cornet in the regimental band), they walked through the crowds seeing the most fascinating and wonderful sights she had ever seen. There were more people in Fayetteville that day than she had seen in her whole life, and she clung to Zachariah's hand so she wouldn't get lost. At one point she let go of her hand for just a second, then took it again and continued to see the sights. She asked a question and looked at him to get an answer, but it was not Zachariah's hand she was holding -- it was a soldier in a blue Union uniform, but he was black as coal and he was chuckling and grinning at her. She was "scared out of her wits" and stopped to look around for Zachariah, who was a few feet behind her and "laughing his head off!"
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