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County History
Lewis County History
By Crystal Nash
Lewis County was created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on December 23, 1843, with land portions taken from Maury, Hickman, Lawrence, and Wayne Counties. The county was named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who died and was buried in this location in 1809. The same act that created Lewis County also made provisions for a monument to be constructed over Lewis’s grave, which later became the first national monument in the south.
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County and circuit courts were held at the Blackburn Farm until a county seat was established at Gordon. Local legend holds that the jury met in the Blackburn’s corn crib. In 1848, the county seat moved to Newburg, where it remained until the population declined after the Civil War.
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In 1855, subsequent to a lawsuit by Maury County, county lines were changed. Additional lawsuits followed by other parent counties led to our current county lines. In 1869, the Tennessee General Assembly abolished Lewis County, returning portions of land to parent counties. At the second session of the same legislature, the county was restored.
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In 1897, the County Court voted to move the county seat to Hohenwald, a community of German and Swiss immigrants. Local legend states that the Newburg Court House was disassembled, moved by wagons, and reconstructed at the new county seat.
The Chairman of the Lewis County Court (now the County Commission) once held the powers, jurisdiction, and authority which currently belongs to the position of County Mayor. David C. Mitchell was the first chair of the County Court. Our current County Mayor is Jonah Keltner.
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In the time that has passed from our first county official to our current mayor, Lewis County has experienced significant changes in agriculture, industry, population, and culture. To learn more about Lewis County’s fascinating history and the visionaries who helped shape the county into what it is today, visit the Lewis County Public Library and Archives at www.lewislibrary.com.
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This County History was written and provided by Lewis County Archivist and Librarian, Crystal Nash.
County Information
Lewis County was created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly on December 23, 1843, with land portions taken from Maury, Hickman, Lawrence, and Wayne Counties. The county was named for Captain Meriwether Lewis, leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who died and was buried in this location in 1809. The same act that created Lewis County also made provisions for a monument to be constructed over Lewis’s grave, which later became the first national monument in the south.
​
County and circuit courts were held at the Blackburn Farm until a county seat was established at Gordon. Local legend holds that the jury met in the Blackburn’s corn crib. In 1848, the county seat moved to Newburg, where it remained until the population declined after the Civil War.
​
In 1855, subsequent to a lawsuit by Maury County, county lines were changed. Additional lawsuits followed by other parent counties led to our current county lines. In 1869, the Tennessee General Assembly abolished Lewis County, returning portions of land to parent counties. At the second session of the same legislature, the county was restored.
​
In 1897, the County Court voted to move the county seat to Hohenwald, a community of German and Swiss immigrants. Local legend states that the Newburg Court House was disassembled, moved by wagons, and reconstructed at the new county seat.
The Chairman of the Lewis County Court (now the County Commission) once held the powers, jurisdiction, and authority which currently belongs to the position of County Mayor. David C. Mitchell was the first chair of the County Court. Our current County Mayor is Jonah Keltner.
​
In the time that has passed from our first county official to our current mayor, Lewis County has experienced significant changes in agriculture, industry, population, and culture. To learn more about Lewis County’s fascinating history and the visionaries who helped shape the county into what it is today, visit the Lewis County Public Library and Archives at www.lewislibrary.com.
​
This County History was written and provided by Lewis County Archivist and Librarian, Crystal Nash.