James K Lewis was born in Onondaga County, New York, on June 23, 1822.He graduated from the Geneva Medical College of New York in 1846 and married Louise Ferguson in 1847. Two children, Genevieve 0enny) and John, were born before the Lewis family moved to St. Charles in 1852. Dr. Lewis built this Greek Revival house in 1859.

Dr. Lewis not only served as a physician in St. Charles but also held the office of mayor of the city from 1875-77 and again from 1879-81. During his terms as mayor, Lewis banned nude bathing in the Fox River during daylight hours. Kite flying, hoop rolling, and other activities that interfered with pedestrians were also banned. Dr. Lewis' daughter, Jenny Lewis, was the first St. Charles Library librarian.

The Lewis house changed hands many times after 1862 when Dr. Lewis sold it to Catherine Easter. In 1863, Winfield Osgood, a prominent St. Charles business owner, purchased the house, which he then sold in 1885 to John A. Brown, a harness maker who had originally moved to St. Charles in 1854. Brown was responsible for a major renovation of the house, installing French windows on the second-floor porch, improving the utilities, and adding a second-floor bathroom in 1918. The house remained in the Brown family for many years.

In 2001, the house was restored to 1850s authenticity. The house was featured on the Downtown St. Charles Partnership House Tour on September 14, 2002.

Sources

■ Badger, David Alan. St. Charles of Illinois. Havana: David Alan Badger, 1985.

■ Davis, Alice. "Historically Speaking." St. Cmrles Cfroric/e 11 June 1969.

■ "House is Local Landmark." St. Cmrles Crroric/e 22 Sept. 1982. View online (IDA)