History

The site for the county-seat town of Lewis was selected in 1853. The following year the town was platted and lots were sold. From the beginning, Lewis was a thriving community: several four horse coaches arrived daily traveling the State road between Des Moines and Council Bluffs. A road from Oskaloosa joined the State road at Lewis. Another route went to Glenwood, IA. In the spring of 1868 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was built through Cass County - signaling an end to the trails era. With the trains came a large influx population in the northern part of the county, and the county seat, by popular vote, was moved to Atlantic in 1869. A branch of the Rock Island Railroad was built to Lewis in 1879, and the line operated until the 1940's.

Lewis is one of the oldest towns in the area, has always been a progressive farming community. Over the years, purebred cattle, hogs and horses were proven by many livestock breeders to be the way for progress. Resident Oliver Mills also assisted in the establishment of Iowa State University where various crops were developed for maximum yields. In other areas, William "Bill" Brown was a major engineer in the development of microwaves. Edwin Perkins, born in Lewis, later developed Kool-Aid.

Hitchcock House , and the Nishnabotna Ferry House are historical attractions of national importance to the area. Both are on the National Register of Historic sites and the Network to Freedom. The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail crossed the East Nishnabotna River about a mile downstream from Lewis, and in later years passed directly through Lewis as did the 1856-57 handcart trail.