McCurley Prairie

HISTORY OF LEWISVILLE

(Second Version)

Lewisville is about 23 miles from Dallas, and 13 miles from Denton on U. S. Highway 77, and on the M. K. & T. Railroad. It is on the J.W. and A.C. King head right, who settled in this section in about 1844. Steve Hyatt was the next property owner here who sold his property, to Tho. Kealy, brother of J. N. Kealy who was local postmaster a number of years. In 1862 Rawlins, Kealy and Herod organized and built a grist mil1 on South Mill Street and east of the Farmer's and Merchant‟s Gin.

In 1865 E. K. Rawlins brought in a 1ittle stock of dry goods and kept them at his residence, which was a double-roomed log house just back of the T.

M. Claytor residence that is owned by Conrad Duwe now. Mr. Claytor and A. G. K1ng were among the oldest settlers of Lewisv1l1e. In 1861 Uncle Joe Minor owned a small house on the corner, where the Crawford Grocery now stands, in which he opened a small saloon. About the same year Woodrum and Davis built a little house on the lot occupied by the J. M. Hatcher brick bui1ding, which they used for a general merchandise store.

In 1866 D. J. Rawlins built a frame storeroom on the lot owned and occupied by R. E. Bradley, which was used as a general store.

About this time the Indians were committing depredations such as stealing and trying to kill the settlers. The people of Lewisville and surround1ng country received a severe scare. It was reported that the Indians were coming, burning and killing as they came. Every family on this and McCurley Prairie left their homes and sought protection in the Rawlins, Kealy and Herod gristmill. The report, however, proved false, the alarm was sounded by some school children between Big Elm and Little Elm. They mistook some cowmen who were wearing red blankets for the Indians.

In 1867 the first cotton gin erected in this county was built in Lewisville on the lot where Joe C. Cobb now lives, better known as the Uncle Billy Cowan place. It was built by T. M. C1aytor and George Craft. When building this gin they Paid $ .50 per pound for the nails used. This gin did the work for Denton, Wise, and Tarrant Counties. They put up 17 bales the first season. They ginned probably a hundred bales but it was carried away by the women for quilting, all except the 17 bales. The gin had in connection a carding machine, which was afterwards moved by Kea1y and Rawlins to the site where the Farmer‟s and Merchant's Gin was located. It burned shortly afterward, this being Lewisville‟s first fire. Slowly the town grew. School was conducted 1n the “Old Hall”, a building which was located where the Old Hall Cemetery is. The building was also used as a church. All denominations had services there.

There are several traditions as how Lewisville secured its name. One is that it was given this name by the Indians. Little Santa Anna and Big Tree, two Indian Chiefs, were captured by the Americans in the upper end of Wise and Montague County and were carried and put in jail at Huntsville. They were redeemed by trading or bought and the Americans were carrying them back and camped on the high hill on the Riley farm 7 miles east of here. The next morning, the Indians looked toward Lewisville and said, “Yonder is Lewisville.” Another and probably more reliable tradition is that it derived it‟s name from Old Man Lewis, who owned the head right known as the W. A. Purnell, Sr. place. 

The history of Lewisville was slow in changing until the M. K. & T. R. R. reached here in 1881. When both town and community began to grow and develop rapidly, until today, it is one of the most densely, settled sections of the state and Lewisville is one of the most popular towns in north Texas as is verified by its splendid markets and hustling farmers that come to it and the amount of produce shipped in and out of town.

In the past four years, four sub-divisions have been added to the city limits, McCurley, Prairie Heights, Degan and Culpepper Additions. Modern new homes have been erected in each addition. Lewisville has two water wells to serve its 2,500 population. The city owns its water and sewage system.

Lewisville has a well-equipped fire department for a town of its size, even though the membership is entirely on a volunteer basis. Two banks, the Lewisville State and the First National, serve Lewisville and it's trade territory. Since the city was incorporated in 1925, Lewisville has had six mayors, M.D. Fagg, deceased; Jack Lewis, deceased, A. Hayes, deceased;  H. H. Milliken, deceased; Conrad Duwe and F. C. Connor. It now has a property valuation of $1,380,231 and a traffic light at the most important intersections. It is the only town in Texas to have two former residents become speakers of the House of Representatives at Austin. They are A. G. Thomas, deceased and Fred Minor, Denton attorney. 

Some of the early day business and professional men were J.W. Boatner, physician, Wm. R. Carlisle, physician; E. G. Bradley, physician, Dr. John W. Kennedy, physician, J. M. Gilbert, physician; M. L. Bradley and Co., Kerr and White, J. A. Skillern and Son, Young and Hardy, G. W. Cassady and Co., J. W. Lyles, J. E. Chambers, druggists; R. E. Bradley, G. W. Elbert and Co., E. F. Stover, general merchandise; J.C. Brannon and Co., J. M. Hayes, M. Jacobson, hardware; John Cobb, H. Hill, W. D. Milliken, Portman Bros., C. I. Thomas, J. A. Hatcher, dry goods; D. S. Donald, stockman; G. E. Griffin, contractor, J. D. Gulledge, W. W. Smith, R. E. Bradley, groceries; W. T. Hyder, A. D. Miller, T. N. Degan, livery; T. H. Jenkins, depot agent; J.M. Hendrix, furniture and undertaking; J. N. Kealy, gin and mill; Kealy and Kealy, flour mill; Kealy and Hayes, gin; Kealy and Buster, gin; R. H. Powell, F. Stover, barbers; Cowan Reynolds and Co., implements; W. C. Smith and son, printers and publishers; A. G. Terry, Justice of Peace; E. D. Wells, saloon; Mrs. Mattie Howard, M1ss Lizzie Lokey, millinery; J. A. Pickens, Hood Cunningham, Y. S. Read, J. W. Degan, cotton buyer; J.R. Bourland, lumber

Several disasters mar Lewisville's history. A flood in 1908 marooned people in trees until boats could reach them.

Several disastrous fires looked as though the entire town would be wiped out. One half of the north side of town has burned twice. The Hatchers losing a new building they had been in only four days. The Hendrix and Savage furniture store being destroyed by fire three times. Another time the school burned, children were taught in the churches until a new school could be built.

Lewisville is well supplied with schools and churches. The Lewisville Public School is second to none in Denton County as an educational institute. The buildings also reflect credit on the little city in which they are located. The present 16-teacher high school and 18-teacher elementary school are great improvements over the three teacher school held in the lower floor of the Masonic Hall.

The first schoolhouse was built in the west part of town about a block from the present school site. In 1891 another building was constructed on the present school site. When this brick and frame structure burned in 1909 school was taught in the churches until the new buildings were finished. In 1921 the red three-story structure now in use for the elementary grades was built. A modern high school now in use for Lewisville was built in 1949. A junior high wing was completed in 1954. Total enrollment is current1y more than 700 students.

The first graduates of the Lewisville Public School were in 1903. They were Mable Addington, Ethel Haues, Louise Milliken, Clo Crawford and Spurgeon Stover. P. D. Kennamer was superintendent and ruled with an iron hand. Other superintendents of the school were J. E. Templeton, J. E. Coffee, W. H. Smith, D. B. Allen, H. C. Lyon, W. W. Shields, Alex Core, W. M. Mitchell, J. L. German, Emmett Whitehead, B. F. Tunnell, H. G. Vick and J. K. DeLay.

Seven churches contribute to Lewisville‟s spiritual life: First Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Central Baptist, and Stewart‟s Creek Baptist.

In 1881 thirty-seven members of the Halford Prairie Baptist Church met and organized the Lewisville Baptist Church. The present brick church building was erected in 1905. A large three story educational building was completed in 1951.

In 1868-69 the Methodist built the first church in Lewisville. This frame building was used until 1911 when the present brick was built. Sunday School rooms and the Milliken Chapel were added to the church in 1952. Only one charter member of the church still lives in Lewisville. She is Mrs. Amelia Jacobsen.

The First Presbyterian Church was organized Nov. 1, 1879 with the Rev. H. F. Bone as the first pastor. Originally it was the Cumberland Presbyterian Church but later became First Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. The present building was erected in 1917. 

The Church of Christ was organized with 8 charter members in the home of the late J. M. and Carrie Jasper Hendrix in 1886, under the leadership of Elder Terrill Jasper, a pioneer minister of the Church of Christ in Denton Co. In 1894 a large frame church building was erected in the N.E. part of town. In June 1917 a brick church was built on west Main St. In 1948 the auditorium was enlarged and redecorated, five classrooms, two rest rooms and a dressing room added. Two classrooms were added in 1953.

The Stewart Creek's Baptist Church is one of the oldest churches in the county, which was located in the Garza Little Elm Reservoir district was moved to Lewisvil1e two years ago. The building has been made large and redecorated.

The Central Baptist Church organized about two years ago is located in the Dick Addition. 

The Assembly of God Church organized about 12 years ago, was located in the N.E. part of town until 1952 when a modern church was built in the Dick Addition to Lewisville.

Lewisville has a Chamber of Commerce and Lion's Club. Organizations which are needed to bring the people closer together. 

The Lewisville Study Club celebrated its 40th anniversary on April 7. The Club was organized in the home of Mrs. F. L. Jacobson on April l4, 1914 with 11 charter members. A Business and Professional Women‟s Club was organized in 1953. Other clubs include the Modern Housewives and “42” Club.

The Enterprise, Lewisville‟s weekly newspaper, has been reporting church activities, weddings and funerals for 62 years. W. C. Thurman is the ownerpublisher. Others who have published the Enterprise are F. N. Oliver, who established the newspaper here in 1872, W. S. Ray, Hardin Sm1th, J. L. Harper, O. L. Hamilton, Lee Vaugh and Jack Lewis.

Two current gigantic construction projects, both of which may be completed by late fall, will vitally affect the future of Lewisville. Work is progressing rapidly on both jobs. The Garza-Little Elm Dam and Reservoir Project and the Highway 77 project.