J. R. HEWLETT, attorney at law, Caldwell County, is a native of Hopkins County, Ky., and was born December 14, 1833. His father, Alanson Hewlett, was a native of Kentucky also, followed farming all his life and died in 1856, at the age of fifty-four years. Subject's mother was Sarah F. (Thompson) Hewlett, a native of Montgomery County, Va., and of Irish descent. Her mother came from Ireland in the first emigrant ship that landed in New York after the Revolutionary war. Alanson Hewlett was married twice; having had two children by his first marriage: William and Pallie, both of whom are living. By his marriage with Sarah Thompson he had three children: J. R. (subject), an infant, deceased, and Margaret. Mrs. Hewlett died in Princeton in 1882, at the age of seventy-eight years. J. R. Hewlett was reared on his father's farm, remaining with his parents until the age of twenty years, when he came to Princeton, and entered Cumberland College, from which he graduated in 1856, being educated by his maternal uncle, H. I. M. Thompson. After graduating he accepted a professorship in the college, and filled the chair of mathematics for two years, studying law in the meantime under the instruction of L. Lindsay, a prominent attorney, now living in Texas. He was admitted to the bar in 1859, and since that time has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession in Caldwell and adjoining counties. In 1866 he was elected to represent Caldwell County in the lower house of the legislature, and served one term, at the expiration of which he was elected commonwealth's attorney, which position he filled for a period of six years. Mr. Hewlett was married December 24, 1874, to Susan, daughter of L. L. and Mary A. (Buckner) Leavill, of Kentucky. Mr. Hewlett is one of the leading lawyers of Caldwell County, and in politics is a Democrat.
Source: J. H. Battle, W. H. Perrin, & G. C. Kniffin. Kentucky. A History of the State. Louisville, KY, Chicago, IL: Battey, 1885. Pages 699-700.