When John M Lewis was born on 28 April 1808, in Worcester, Maryland, United States, his father, Jesse Lewis, was 23 and his mother, Ann Little, was 21. He married Sarah Ann Hill on 20 December 1827, in Pickaway, Ohio, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 6 daughters. He lived in Pleasant Township, Madison, Ohio, United States in 1850. He died on 7 February 1865, in Washington Township, Washington, Iowa, United States, at the age of 56, and was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery, Washington, Iowa, United States.