James P. Lewis

James P. Lewis (September 8, 1869 – May 22, 1942) was an American educator, politician, and banker who served as Secretary of State of Kentucky from 1916 to 1920. He also served as County Judge of Letcher County from 1902 to 1906, and Kentucky state banking commissioner from 1920 to 1923. He was a member of the Republican Party.

Biography James P. Lewis was born on September 8, 1869, in Partridge, Letcher County, Kentucky, as the ninth out of eleven children born to Wilson Lewis and Katie Collier. He attended four colleges in four different states, including Curry College in Lee County, Virginia, Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, Holbrook Normal College in Nashville, Tennessee, and Northern Indiana University (now Valparaiso University) in Valparaiso, Indiana. He married Maria Caudill in 1895, they raised a large family of 11 children.

Political career From 1902 to 1906, Lewis held the role of County Judge of Letcher County, Kentucky. In the following years, he gave most of his attention to business affairs. Lewis won by a majority of 115 votes. He was the only republican elected to a statewide office in that election. After leaving office, he was appointed Kentucky State Banking Commissioner by Edwin P. Morrow, a role which he held from 1920 to 1923.