HCGS - William L. Houston Dry Goods Store & Home 1840's

Henry County Genealogical Services New Castle Indiana

William L. Houston Dry Goods Store & Home 1840's

      This old building of Federal style construction located at 101 East Main Street (the Old National Road) in Lewisville, Indiana, has been used for various business enterprises since its construction c.1835. It was first used in the 1840s as a home & dry goods store operated by a Mr. William L. Houston, proprietor, who had come to Henry county on the 12th of November, 1834 from Shelbyville, KY, the son of William & Mary (Poague) Houston. He was a tanner and currier by trade. He was born in Lexington, Rockbridge County, Virginia on May 12, 1813 and was a cousin to Gen. Sam Houston of Texas Alamo fame, a fellow Virginian. He was married to Miss Fannie Lybrook of Union County, Indiana on Oct. 7, 1834. Mr. Houston carried on his dry goods, tanner and currier trade until sometime around 1858 when he sold out and started farming for several years. In 1836 he was appointed Postmaster of Lewisville, IN, a position he served until 1854 and again in 1877. Various other businesses have occupied the building in later years. It sat vacant and deteriorating for several years until in 1995 it was purchased by the town of Lewisville and restored in a grand historical fashion. On Feb.10, 2000 it was dedicated by Indiana's 1st lady, Judy O'Bannon to the town of Lewisville to be used as a community building. A library has been opened in one of the upstairs rooms and a large banquet room is available for community functions. It is a place the citizens of Henry County can be proud of.
     To Tom and Sue Saunders go most of the accolades for a job well done. They have guided the progress of the restoration from its infancy. It is a job to be proud of.
     The following is the information on the first library in Lewisville and one of, if not the first, library in Henry County. You will notice the difference in the spelling of Lewisville, then and now.

Louisville, IN Library Founding 1835

No-518

Louisville Jan. 24th, 1835: Pursuant to a policy of a meeting of the citizens of Louisville and vicinity for the purpose of founding a Library in Louisville. On motion Lewis C Freeman was called to the Chair and Samuel C. Hopper appointed Clerk. On motion the subscription being indented are found to amount to one hundred and two dollars, and twenty-one of the subscribers present, and that number being more than two thirds of the shareholders. The house proceeded to elect Directors for said Library. On motion resolved that this Institution be known by the name of Louisville Library. The house adjourned: Samuel Hopper, Clerk, Henry County, State of Indiana. I hereby certify that the above proceedings were sworn to and subscribed by Samuel Hopper this 5th of February 1835: James Stinir, J.P.