The Maryland Gazette (Annapolis, Maryland), 12 March 1807 (Thursday)

Alexandria, March 2.— Meriwether Lewis, esq. has been nominated to the senate, as governor of Upper Louisiana, in the place of general James Wilkinson.

Dallas Morning News (Dallas, Texas), 13 April 1906.

Death of Meriwether Lewis.

To The News,
In the Dallas Morning News, Sunday edition, “Questions and Answers” department, I notice the question asked, “Was Meriwether Lewis murdered, or did he commit suicide?.” Your answer was “He killed himself in a spell of depression of a sort to which he had been subject since his youth.”

This answer is not according to family history of which I am in possession of both oral and written, both of which declare Mrs. Lucy Meriwether Lewis, mother of Meriwether Lewis, outlived her son by about 30 years.

She made a thorough investigation of the cause of his death, and found that he was murdered and robbed by a negro servant.

A book in my possession, “The Meriwethers,” says he was murdered. It is compiled by prominent members of the family.

I have often heard the matter discussed by older members of the family, now deceased.

Meriwether Lewis was a first cousin of my husband’s (the late Charles Meriwether Gilmer) grandfather. Contrary to his being subject to spells of depression, he, like all the Meriwethers of that time, and many even this far removed, was kind, happy, loving and loveable, of an optimistic disposition.

One of the leading magazine articles given just before the Portland Exposition told of his murder.

Thinking you might be glad of this information, I submit it to you in all kindness.

Mrs. C. M. Gilmer
268 St. Louis St.
Dallas, Tex.

Lexington Herald (KY), 23 January 1905

Silver Watch Found
The silver watch worn by Captain Meriwether Lewis on the expedition 100 years ago through Oregon to the Pacific, and which was believed to have been stolen from him when he was murdered in Tennessee has been found. An old lady in Weston, W. Va., claims to own the identical time piece and will exhibit it at the Lewis and Clark Centennial.

The Greenwood Commonwealth (Greenwood, Mississippi), 2 September 1924, Tuesday

Tennessee To Save Monument To Lewis
NASHVILLE, Tenn., September 1.—(AP)—To perpetuate the memory of Meriwether Lewis, the great explorer of the northwest and secretary to President Thomas Jefferson, Tennesseeans have started a movement to ask Congress to take over a monument to the memory of Lewis located in a wooded section near Hohenwald, Tenn., and now in a dilapidated condition, and make of the section a national park.

Spokane, Washington), 18 May 1926, Tuesday

CANYON NAMED FOR MERIWETHER
———
Helena, Mont., Commercial Club Honors Leader of Famous Expedition.
———
HELENA, Mont., May 15.—The canyon at the mouth of Gate of the Mountains, 18 miles north of here, heretofore known colloquially as Picnic canyon, has been officially changed to Meriwether canyon, in honor of Captain Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis-Clark expedition.

The designation is given by the Helena Commercial club. after a statewide contest on suggestion of names. In all, 153 names were suggested and the winning name was handed in by three persona, Olga Marchioro of Walkerville, J. L O’Brien of Malta, and Mrs. Q. H. Hale of Melon. The diary of the expedition mentions the explorers as camping on this spot, which is clearly described.

David B. Hilger, custodian of the state historical library, and Fred B. Sheriff and A. H. Abbott composed the Commercial club committee deciding the contest.

The U. S. Geographic survey will have to approve the new name before it is adopted on maps, but there is no doubt approval is assured, as the board always permits any local agencies of repute to give these designations.

Richmond Enquirer (Richmond, Virginia), 14 November 1809

Staunton, [Virginia]—November 3, 1809
A report has reached this town, predicated we believe upon good authority, that his excellency Merriwether Lewis, Governor of Upper Louisiana, put an end to his life a few days since, on this side of the Tennessee river, on his way to this country. The circumstances, as we have heard them related, are as follow: Mr. Lewis had drawn on the Government for money to discharge come debt of public nature; but what was the amount of the sum required, or to what it was to be applied, we have not been able to learn – but his bills were protested – he was seized with a delirium, and in the fit, discharged a pistol at his forehead – the ball glanced; he discharged a second pistol at his breast; this also failing to take effect, he took a knife and cut his wrist in such a manner, that, before any relief could be offered him, he bled to death. How these particulars could be ascertained so minutely and Mr. Lewis not be prevented from committing such a horrid act, we cannot say; but, that he has terminated his existence in a way somewhat like this, is believed here; the information was brought by a passenger in the stage of last Monday, who, he said, passed Mr. Lewis in five minutes after the act was committed, or five minutes before, we cannot recollect which. We expect a confirmation by next mail.
R. Farmer

Connecticut Courant (Hartford, Connecticut), 29 November 1809

Meriwether Lewis
In Nashville Tennessee, Meriwether Lewis, Esq., Governor of Upper Louisiana.

He went to bed at a tavern in Nashville on the 10th Oct. after eating supper, and drinking some spirits; and was on a journey from his government to Washington. About midnight he fired two pistols, the ball of one of which grazed his head, that of the other passed through his intestines; he then cut his neck, arm and hand with a razor. As he lay on the floor, he said, “He had now done for himself, and would die.” He desired to have water, and died at 7 the next morning. He had been deranged in his mind for some weeks previous, the cause of which was conjectured to be the protest of a draft he had drawn on the Secretary of War, and which he considered as tantamount to having lost the confidence of the government. He was the Capt. Meriwether Lewis, who with the Captain Clarke was employed to make the famous excursion through the western wilderness to the South Sea; which he performed so much to the satisfaction of the government, that he was recompensed by the! office of Governor of Louisiana.

Weekly Visitor ( New York, New York), 25 November 1809

Nashville, Oct. 20
Death of Governor Lewis

To record the untimely end of a brave and prudent officer, a learned scholar and scientific gentleman, this column of the Clarion is ushered to the world in black. On the night of the 10th inst. Meriwether Lewis, Esqr. Gov. Gen. Of Upper Louisiana, on his way to Washington City, came to the house of Mr. Grinder near the Indian line in this state--called for his supper and some spirits of which he partock and gave some to his servants --Mr. Grinder not being at home --Mrs. Grinder retired to the kitchen with her children, and the servants (after the governor went to bed, which he did in good order) went to the stable about three hundred yards distant to sleep --no one in the house with the governor --and sometime before midnight Mrs. Grinder was alarmed by the firing of two pistols in the house -- (he called the servants without effect --and at the appearance of daylight the servants came to the house when the governor said he had now done himself --they asked what and he said he had shot himself and now he would die, and requested them to bring him some water, he then laying on the floor where he expired at 7 o’clock in the morning of the 11th --he had shot a ball that grazed the top of his head and another hi intestines, and cut his neck, arm and ham with a razer. When in his best senses he spoke about a trunk of papers that he said would be of great value to our government. He had been under the influence of a deranging malady for about six weeks--the cause of which is unknown, unless it was from a protest to a draft which he drew on the secretary of war, which he considered tantamount to a disgrace by government.

In the death of Gov. Lewis the public behold the wreck of one of the noblest of men--he was a pupil of the immortal Jefferson--by him he was reared--by him he was instructed in the tour of the sciences--by him he was introduced to public life, when his enterprising soul, great botanical knowledge, acute penetration, and personal courage soon pointed him out as the most proper person to command a projected exploring party to the N. West coast of the American continent; he accepted the arduous command on condition that he might take Mr. Clarke with him--they started; the best wishes of the American people attended them. After an absence of two years, to us of anxious fortitude, we were cheered with the joyful return of our countrymen. A new world had been exploded--additional knowledge in all the sciences obtained, at a trifling expense of blood and treasure. --The voice of fame echoed the glad tidings thro’ the civilized world--the name of Lewis was the theme of universal praise. --The national legislature voted a complimentary donation to the brave little band.

Scarcely had the governor time to pay his respects to a widowed mother, before he was again called into public service. The Upper Louisiana had been torn to pieces by party feuds, no person could be more proper to calm them--he appeared and all was quiet.

The limits assigned this notice do not admit of a particular detail of his executive acts--suffice it to say that the parties created by local circumstances and Wilkinson were soon united--the Indians were treated with large presents and purchases of valuable land made of them--the laws were amended and judicious ones adopted--to the securing the citizens of the territory form a renewal of the scenes of 1806.

During the few leisure moments he had from his official duties he was employed in writing the particulars of his celebrated tour up the Missouri--to complete which appears to have been the wish nearest his heart, and it gives us much pleasure in the present melancholy instance, to state that we have it from a source we can depend upon, that he had accomplished the work of three very large volumes, with an immense number of paintings, and all was ready for the press. We hope these volumes may be the means of transmitting to posterity the worth of a man whose last act cast a gloom over the fair pages of his early life.

Will of Meriwether Lewis

I bequeath all my estate, real and personal, to my mother, Lucy Marks, of the county of Albermarle, and State of Virginia, after my private debts are paid, of which a statement will be found in a small minute book deposited with Pernia my servant.

Merriwether Lewis

In the presence of F. J. Fronchard, Gean Peachy.
11 Sep 1802