Jewett, John W.
(born: 1874 - died: June 8, 1905)John W. Jewett was born near Lexington, KY, the son of Henry and Sarah Henderson Jewett. His parents later moved to Covington, KY, where John could attend school for free. He graduated from Gaines High School in Cincinnati, OH in 1883, salutatorian of his class. He began teaching in Cadentown, KY, in 1890, later serving as president of the Fayette County Teachers Association.
Jewett was a member of the Bluegrass Lodge No. 11 Knights of Pythias and was also a Mason. He served as a Republican delegate to Kentucky State Conventions and was appointed to the Internal Revenue Service. John W. Jewett was a prominent member of the African American community in Lexington, often called upon to speak at events.
John W. Jewett was the husband of Louise C. Miller from Paris, KY. They were married in September 1902. Two years after their marriage, in January 1904, the couple had a son, John Miller Jewett. The baby died of pneumonia in June 1904. The following year, John W. Jewett died of tubercular meningitis. He is buried in African Cemetery #2 in Lexington.
For more see Biographical Sketches of Prominent Negro Men and Women of Kentucky, by W. D. Johnson; the photograph of Cadentown Colored School in ExploreUK; "Colored funeral notices," Lexington Leader, 6/11/1905, p. 2; Kentucky Death Certificate #8630(?) (Ancestry); "Colored Circles," Lexington Leader, 9/10/1902, p. 7; "Colored Circles: Prof. John W. Jewett ...," Lexington Leader, 1/31/1904, p. 2; and "Prof. Jewett's son dead," Lexington Leader, 6/19/1904, p. 12.