Lewis Cass Wittenmyer was born on June 15, 1828 in Salsbury, Indiana. He was a pioneer to Contra Costa County in 1849 and to Martinez in 1857.
Lewis became County Clerk, County Recorder, and County Auditor from 1867 to 1869. He was replaced by Markley for a short time. Markley passed and Lewis became County Clerk, County Recorder and County Auditor again on May 2, 1870.
Lewis was County Clerk in 1876 and instrumental in the incorporation of Martinez as a city in that year. In 1884, he was the Secretary of the Alhambra Cemetery Association. Previous to 1884, he was the Clerk. In April of 1899, Lewis was elected Grand Scribe of the Royal Arch Masons. By 1900, he was a Deputy Internal Revenue Collector.
He was first married to Helen M. Simon who died after giving birth to Lewis’s first daughter, Clara K. He then married Clara Lasell Austin of Tunbridge, Vermont on August 28, 1872 at Del Norte, California.
The Wittenmyer’s built and lived in their house at 1634 Richardson Street in Martinez. Lewis and Clara had four children: John L, Lucerne A., Ilene M., and Darr.
On November 17, 1904, Lewis passed away at the age of 76. His service was held in the Martinez Masonic Hall, and he was interred in the Alhambra Cemetery Wittenmyer vault.
In the 1910 U.S. Census Clara is 60 years old and owns her home free and clear. She is also the owner of a fruit farm, with her daughter, Ilene and son, Darr living with her.
Clara Lasell Austin Wittenmyer passed away in Martinez on December 20, 1926 at the age of 77. She was a member of the Eastern Star of Martinez. Her funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 22 from Grace Episcopal Church and interment was in the Alhambra Cemetery family vault.
Ilene Miriam Wittenmyer Buchanan, passed away at the age of 73. She was the widow of Frank Buchanan who died Feb. 28, 1947. She was survived by her brother, Lucerne Austin Wittenmyer of San Francisco. Interment was also in the Wittenmyer vault in Alhambra cemetery.
The original content of this post was taken from the previous website and updated for republishing in 2021.
Updated information was taken from articles in the San Francisco Examiner, Sacramento Record-Union and U.S. Census documentation.