Hugh Lewis House

This stately home was built in 1883 for Hugh Lewis, one of the wealthiest men in the area and a key figure in local business and commerce. You may recognize his name from the first stop on this tour. Hugh was born on April 10, 1832, in Rankin County, Mississippi, to Joel and Ruth Norton Lewis, originally from South Carolina. He moved to Gonzales in 1852, where he married Susan Jane Parramore on December 24, 1856. Susan was born in Blakely, Georgia, on August 24, 1838, to William Warren and Susan Rebecca Norwood Parramore. The Parramore family had moved to Gonzales in 1850. Hugh and Susan went on to have seven children, but all of them preceded them in death except for one son.

Hugh initially entered the mercantile business, but his career was interrupted by the Civil War. He served in Company E of the 8th Texas Infantry in the Confederate Army. After the war, in 1866, he partnered with G N Dilworth in various business ventures, including groceries, iron, and banking. Later, Hugh became deeply involved in the livestock and land business with his brother-in-law, Colonel James Harrison Parramore. By the turn of the century, Hugh and Colonel Parramore owned vast tracts of land, including a large ranch in Carlsbad, New Mexico, and the San Simon Land and Cattle Company near Tucson, Arizona. Hugh's business endeavors were prosperous, and he became one of the wealthiest men in the region.

In the early 1880s, Hugh enlisted the services of architect Frederick E Ruffini to design this impressive home, which was completed in 1883. The house originally featured a Victorian design but was remodeled in 1920 to reflect a different architectural style. The interior showcases beautiful craftsmanship, with longleaf pine woodwork, oak and walnut parquet flooring, and intricate wainscoting. The home boasts five original fireplaces, each with its mantel, and a stunning walnut staircase leading to the second-floor bedrooms. Expansive porches on the south and west sides of the house allow for plenty of natural light and a breezy atmosphere.