J. Vance Lewis

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J. Vance Lewis (December 25, 1853? – April 24, 1925) was an American who was born into slavery in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, and later became a lawyer admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court. He wrote an autobiography, Out of the Ditch, to tell his life story and inspire others.

Early life
Lewis was born on the Cage plantation near Houma, Louisiana, to Doc and Rosa Lewis. He grew up as a slave and learned about the law early when his father served as a judge in a dispute over a pig handled by the plantation overseer. After the Emancipation Proclamation, he and many others on the plantation faced a new life as free people. He attended a plantation school and proved to be an excellent student, developing a strong interest in law.

Education and career
To pay for his education, Lewis saved his earnings and started at Leland University, where he befriended a student named Warner Wright. He earned a teaching certificate in Orange, Texas, and worked as a teacher and principal in East Texas while continuing his studies. He attended Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) for two terms and then studied at a school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, graduating in 1894. He gained admission to the Michigan Supreme Court and, after further study at Chicago College of Law, he was admitted to all Illinois courts.

On October 11, 1897, Lewis was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States—the only African American admitted that year. He practiced law in Chicago until 1900, then moved to New Orleans and finally Houston, Texas, where he built a successful practice.

Birth date and personal life
There is uncertainty about Lewis’s exact birth year; some records place it in 1863 or 1869, while others list 1853. He married four times and had several children.

Death
J. Vance Lewis died in Houston in 1925 and was buried at Olivewood Cemetery. His autobiography, Out of the Ditch, presents his life from slavery to a professional career and argues that his struggles could help others pursue their dreams and address the challenges faced by African Americans.