He was born in
LaGrange, Indiana. Lewis married Helen Marion Nutter December 21, 1922, in
Newton, Massachusetts. She was born November 2, 1894. Lewis entered the traveling ministry of the
Cincinnati Annual Conference of the
M.E. Church in 1903. Prior to his election to the
episcopacy in 1944, he served as a
pastor, secretary for Sunday schools, and an editor. He was editor of ''
Zion's Herald'' for twenty-four years. He was for a time the chairman of the General Conference Commission on Central Conferences. He was president of the Methodist Federation for Social Service. He also participated in ecumenical Methodist conferences. As bishop he was assigned the
Boston episcopal area, 1944–1948. Hartman died June 30, 1955, at a
hospital in Boston. ==Selected writings==