George P. Lewis, teacher and professor during the late 1800s, taught in several states before coming to Sherman, Grayson County, Texas in 1883.  

According to census records and news reports he was born in Alabama but raised and partially educated in Columbus, Muscogee County in western Georgia.  In 1870 George was enumerated as a student living in the household of Ann Marion in the 4th ward of Columbus, along with two older sisters and two toddlers by the surname of Lowsby.  Just two years later he enrolled in Atlanta University on September 29, 1872.  It is unclear at this time if he graduated from the University.  He left the school "for vacation" and became a Principal at Talbotton colored school after receiving his Teacher's Certification.

On December 3, 1874 George married Fannie J. Howard at Columbus; they were the parents of one son and one daughter.

The 1880 shows 27 year old George plus his wife, Fannie, and 5-year-old son, George, residing in Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia; his birthplace was noted as Alabama and his race as mulatto.  Fannie died two weeks after their 8th anniversary.
In Memoriam
"Mrs. Fannie J. Lewis, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex. Howard, and wife of Prof. G.P. Lewis, departed this life Sunday evening, December 17, 1882.  Fannie was born in Columbus, Georgia, May 12, 1853.   She was married December 3, 1874...." (Columbus Daily Enquirer, December 31, 1882, pg. 1)
In the 1870s and early 1880s Mr. Lewis resided in Columbus, Muscogee Co., Georgia and was active in civic and political affairs.  He was a member of Chosen Friends Lodge No. 1554, G.U.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) and spoke at their 6th anniversary celebration in on August 11, 1879, giving the history of the order from its organization in 1846 in New York (Daily Enquirer-Sun, Tuesday morning, August, 12, 1879, pg.4)   He was also a member and officer of the Hamack Lodge No. 28, K.W.M. (Daily Enquirer-Sun, The November 1880 list of registered voters in the city of Columbus listed George P. Lewis and gave his residence in Ward 1, his age of 27 and his occupation as that of teacher. (Daily Enquirer-Sun,Wednesday morning, November 24, 1880, pg.4)


Mr. Lewis was the first Principal of Claflin School, the colored school in Columbus, Georgia, serving for six years, 1876-1881 before being dismissed.  His salary was $60 per month.  (Daily Enquirer-Sun, Friday Morning, June 29, 1879 & Saturday morning, June 12, 1880, pg.4)  In September 1880, he had a total of 9 boys and 27 girls in his classroom on opening day of the 1880-1881 school year. (Daily Enquirer-Sun, Tuesday morning, September 14, 1880, pg.4).  At the close of the 1880-1881 school year, Principal Lewis oversaw the annual exhibition of the colored public schools given at Springer's Opera House each spring with the proceeds from the entertainment to be used for the purchase of furniture and other items for the school. The class of 1879 was the first class to graduate from the colored school.  (Daily Enquirer-Sun, Friday Morning, June 29, 1879 & Sunday morning, May 22, 1881, pg. 4)

In 1882 Prof. Lewis opened his own school, Lewis Normal School, operating it for a year.  "The closing exercise of George P. Lewis' colored normal school will take place at Springer Opera House Wednesday evening...(Columbus Daily Enquirer, June 10, 1883)  He then moved to Howard Academy (colored) in 1883 at Ocala, Marion County in northern Florida, where he stayed for approximately three months before heading for Texas in December of that year.  

New York Globe
Saturday, December 1, 1883

Prof. Lewis, who was in charge of the Howard Academy, has resigned his position as principal, having accepted a like position in Sherman, Texas.  Prof. H.W. Chandler now presides.- - - - Ocala Banner

Howard Academy was established in 1866 as a Freedman School after the Civil War and was the first Black school in Marion County.  The first building was a small 2-room frame building, which burned around 1887.  (Woodbury, Pinkney, ed.  The Struggle for Survival: a partial history of the Negroes of Marion County, 1865-1976. Ocala, Florida: Edited & prepared by Central Florida Community College. Black Historical Organization of Marion County, c1977).  Years later the campus consisted of a beautiful six-room structure.


In Sherman, Texas
"A note from Prof. Geo. P. Lewis, colored, formerly principal of the colored public school of this city, brings the information that he now has charge of the city public schools of Sherman, Texas." (Columbus Daily Enquirer, December 23, 1883, pg. 3)