Some of the following information concerning W. D. Lewis's early ancestry and education is from "Ohio's Progressive Sons, A History of the State, Sketches of those who have helped to build up the Commonwealth," pub. 1905 by Queen City Publishing of Cincinnati, Ohio, found at Internet Archive.

BACKGROUND

Wilmer D. Lewis was born in Philadelphia around 1846-1848.  His parents lived for many years in his native city and occupied a recognized position in the Quaker City society.  His father, Lewis Lewis, was a  native of Scotland and member of the well-known firm of Wilmer, Cannell & Co., and it is from the surname of the senior partner of that firm that Wilmer's given name was derived.  

The Lewis family was particularly well known in church circles, with Lewis Lewis occupying the position of vestryman of St. Mark's Episcopal Church for a period of twenty years.  He was a descendant of Sir William Blackstone's brother, and lawyers and jurists in his family have been numerous.   Wilmer's mother, Mary E. Dick, was a native of the city of Chester, Penn., and a daughter of Archibald T. Dick, Esq.  Mary's great-grandfather, Dr. Elisha Dick, was George Washington's physician, and attended that illustrious patriot during his last and fatal illness.

1860 Census,, 8th Ward, Philadelphia, Penn.

The Lewis family 1860 Census in Philadelphia,  indicates Wilmer was born c.1846-47, Lewis Lewis (b. ca. 1809-10, England) and Mary (b. ca. 1809-10, Penn.)  Lewis Lewis was a rather wealthy silk merchant.  Wilmer had two younger sisters:  Anne (b. ca. 1852-53) and Florence (b. ca. 1855-56).

Wilmer D. Lewis was a gentleman of culture and natural refinement, and received a very careful training and education.  He was under the tutorship of Rev. Dr. Faires, of Philadelphia, and also attended the Pennsylvania University in Philadelphia.  Later, his musical education was obtained under the guidance of  Enrico Campobello, the great baritone,  and the celebrated Max Ballmann of St. Louis, Mo.

WILMER IN THE CONCERT NEWS - ST. LOUIS It is here in St. Louis where Wilmer began his performance career.
On May 7, 1875, Wilmer appeared as a soloist with five others in a two-day series of Grand Oratorio concerts featuring works from Handel's Messiah and from Samson at the Methodist Church in St. Louis	On the week of Nov. 22, 1875, as part of a grand two-week fundraiser for the Women's Christian Home, the Thackeray Dept. of the Pilgrim Congregational Church gave a dramatic entertainment of instrumental and vocal music.  Wilmer was among the four soloists, as well as a member of the cast of characters in a two-act drama entitled "Mr. John Smith."  Wilmer was the Ghost in "Hamlet."
Below: This announcement on Dec. 19, 1875 was for a complimentary concert program to be held on the 23rd at the Mercantile Library Hall in honor of Mrs. Kate J. Brainard.  Wilmer performed in a duet as well as two quartets and at the finale, in a chorus featuring all the voices.
	In a Christmas Eve article about the performance of the previous night, Wilmer was one of those described as "our best local talent."   Unfortunately, attendance was small due to the weather.  But the hearty reception given to all who performed compensated for the smaller audience.

 

Bronson is located halfway between Cedar Key and Gainesville.

Marriage of W. D. Lewis to Miss A. I. McIlvaine as recorded in Levy Co. records, Oct. 22, 1879.

The writing on the certificate was very faint.  Click the image to see it larger.

Wilmer would spend the next 10 years in Lafayette County and Sumter County at Lake Panasoffkee as a successful  citrus merchant and orange grove owner. (Later articles will reveal this.) 

1880 Census, Lafayette Co., Fla.  Wilmer Lewis and wife Annie

Sloppy writing makes "Lewis" look like "Louis" and "D." look like "V".  Here Wilmer was a merchant, it shows he was born in PA, fb. England, Mb. PA, in agreement with his 1860 Census.  Annie b. Tenn, fb. Del. mb. Tenn is also accurate for her.  It appears that there is a "J. A. McIlvaine" and wife Josephine in their  home.  He was born in Alabama.  There doesn't seem to be any siblings of Annie who were born in Alabama, nor any with initials J. A.

On July 5, 1880, a crowd gathered at Miller's Wharf in Crystal River to watch the great steamer "Eva" captained by John Wilson dock at half tide.  Wilmer and "lady" (Annie) from Cedar Key were on board, as well as a wealthy passenger from Jacksonville.

WILMER D. LEWIS LAND PATENTS

The map at right shows Florida's counties as they appeared around 1883.  The locations where Wilmer was known to be are marked: His marriage in Bronson, Levy Co. in 1879, his 1880 census in Lafayette Co, and 1885 census in Sumter Co.

The red square marks the location of his land patents which were originally in Hernando Co., but in 1887, Hernando Co. gave up it's northern lands to form Citrus Co, and its southern lands to form Pasco Co., thus putting Wilmer's lands in the new county of Citrus.

(Sumter Co. also gave up its east half to form Lake Co.)

PLACE YOUR CURSOR ON THE MAP TO SEE HOW THE COUNTY LINES HAVE CHANGED.

See this map website which shows how Florida's county lines have changed from 1821 to 1961.

In Oct. 1883 Wilmer and John R. Biggs bought 40 acres in section 18 of Township 18 south, Range 20 east in Citrus County** from the U.S. Government.  On March 20, 1885 Wilmer bought approx. 66 acres in section 6 of the same township. **At the time he bought these lands, they were in Hernando County.
	It's not known what Wilmer intended to do with these lands, he may have farmed them as orange groves, or intended to make one of these his homestead, or even just for use as an investment. He and Annie were living in Sumter County at the time, which is off the map in the extreme upper right corner on the east side of the Withlacoochee River. Place your cursor on the map to see a satellite view.
The larger orange square is Township 18S, Range 20E.  Read about Cadastral surveying at the Bureau of Land Management website where the above info and images were obtained.	"Hernando" is the name of the town, not a reference to the county which is located much further south.)

1885 Florida Census, Sumter County, FL - W. D. Lewis and wife Annie

Here Wilmer was a farmer and Annie's sister Florence (Vestina) McIlvaine is living with them.  She was single but would later marry Harry S. Ray.  Wilmer will appear as W.D. Lewis from this point on in Florida, even in newspaper articles.

W. D. LEWIS VISITS TAMPA AND GETS IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION FOR HIS SINGING VOICE

In early May 1890, Wilmer came to Tampa for about a week to meet up with his wife (Annie) who had been visiting here a few weeks with her brother, V. B. McIlvaine and sister, Mrs.  H. S. (Florence) Ray. 

It was immediately noticed that Mr. Lewis had a fine singing voice when he sang at the Episcopal and Baptist churches there. While in Tampa, Wilmer dropped in on the local Philharmonic Society meeting, probably at the suggestion of everyone who heard him Sunday morning.

WILMER LEWIS AND THE COLLINS HOUSE

They returned home the following week, but they would return to Tampa later the same year when Wilmer became proprietor of the Collins House, previously owned and operated by B. B. Cole and family.

W. D. AND ANNIE LEWIS MOVE TO TAMPA

By early October, 1890, the Lewis family had come to reside in Tampa.   Wilmer maintained ownership of his groves at Panasoffkee for about five more years, but it was not his choice to give them up.  (More on this shortly.)

At the packed Branch Opera House on Oct. 9, the audience was treated to between-acts performances of a children's play, "Mother Goose."  The second intermission performance caught the audience by surprise and delight when Wilmer Lewis took the stage with a sweet rendition of "Good Night Farewell."

Click here if you wish to see the whole article.

Below, H. L. Branch's Opera House (leftmost 3-story bldg.)  on the 400 block of Franklin St., looking west.  The photo was taken from the roof of the courthouse around 1892-93, so it appears pretty much as it looked on the night W. D. sang there.  The building in the distance with the steeple was the Knight & Wall Hardware Co. at Tampa St. and Lafayette.  Today, the Bank of America building occupies that corner.  In the distance can be seen the newly completed Tampa Bay Hotel across the Hillsborough River. 

The main performance was a children's play "Mother Goose's Kingdom."  The Weekly Tribune wrote, "Rarely has the Opera House held such an audience as the one that gathered last night to see Mother Goose."   Click here to read the entire article describing the play. then click the article to see it full size.

              1885 Ad in Tampa Board of Trade brochure.                              This is a Burgert Bros. photo from the Tampa -Hillsborough Co. Public Lib. Co-op

WILMER D. LEWIS ON U.S. TREASURY PAYROLL
 

Under President Harrison's administration, W. D. was appointed Inspector of Customs and Deputy Collector at Tampa, which position he filled from 1891 to 1894.  

W. D. IS NEPHEW OF W. P. HAISLEY

On this August visit of 1894, it was mentioned that W.P. Haisley was an uncle of W. D. Lewis. 

Was V.B.  related to William's wife, Julia, and her mother Mary (McIlvaine) Simmons?

LEWIS & DUNN PARTNERSHIP

In October of 1894, W. D. was joined in partnership by Charles A. Dunn of Ocala.   There were frequent articles in the local papers about various events and festivities held there, each getting great reviews for their handling of the events and facilities.

More accolades for Wilmer's management of the DeSoto Hotel; summer was usually a slow season as the heat kept visitors in the cooler north, yet the DeSoto was booked at full capacity at this time

On Sep. 12, 1894, the DeSoto Hotel hosted a grand banquet for fifty members of the Key West Guards.  Florida Governor Henry L. Mitchell was among the guests at the affair.

Key West troops at Fort Brooke, circa 1880-1882.  Photo courtesy of University of S. Florida Digital Library Burgert Bros. collection.

TAMPA TROPICAL TROUBADOURS FORMED

In Jan. 1895, a musical group consisting of about a dozen men was formed to perform along with a new vocalion obtained by the St. Andrews church. (This was a reed-organ which can play sounds similar to the human voice, gradually perfected from experiments begun in England about 1870.)  The group was under the patronage and guidance of the "Guild of the Strangers" of St. Andrews.  W.D. Lewis was chosen as the interlocutor.*  In addition to a director, assistant, and secretary being appointed, Sumter Lowry was appointed as treasurer.  In the early 1900s, Lowry would become a city commissioner and work to obtain a Carnegie grant to build Tampa's first real library.  He would also go on to be the major mover to convert land north of Tampa from its intended use as a cemetery to a public park instead.  In the mid 1920s, the park was created and named in his honor.

*One who takes part in dialogue or conversation.  A man in the middle of the line in a minstrel show who questions the end men and acts as leader.

SNOW IN TAMPA           During this time, Wilmer also had an orange grove which upon maturity was estimated to be worth $45,000.  But unfortunately for him, the entire grove was ruined by the phenomenal freeze of 1894-95, when the temperature went down to 14 degrees F on Dec. 29th, 1894.      The Burgert Bros. photo below, from the Tampa Hillsborough County Public Library Burgert collection, shows a view taken from the highest point  of the new county courthouse looking NNE.   JUNE     THE STREETS ON THIS MAP HAVE BEEN NARROWED TO ABOUT HALF THEIR ACTUAL WIDTH. TAMPA'S STREETS WERE 80 ft. WIDE. 1). St. Louis Catholic church building (partial view.) In 1905 this became the site of the magnificent Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 2). The original YMCA club house. In 1910 a new $100k brick structure was built at the northwest corner of Florida Ave. & Zack St. It occupied one-fourth the total area of the square block, with the gym comprising half of the building's  area. 3). St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, built here in 1883.  A new concrete-cement block structure was built in 1907 on the vacant lot seen here just south of it at Marion & Madison streets.       By 1903 this church had been moved to the north side of Zack at Marion.                                                           This house was moved and in 1903  construc-  tion began on this  entire block for the new Federal Courthouse / Post Office.     4). A key structure in this photo, the Convent of the Holy Names, a three-story brick with wood frame balconies and stairs structure completed in 1892 and occupying the whole block between Zack & Twiggs, and Morgan & Pierce St. It's completion date determines the earliest this photo could have been taken. 5). Tampa Livery Sale & Transfer - stables.   This June 1895 map shows the newly expanded facility.  This facility is also a key component of the photo because it is the only rooftop in the photo covered in white like the streets.  Evidence that this is snow and not just sand in the streets.  Why only this roof?  Being a large stable, it probably did not have heating inside.  Place your cursor on this block to see it in 1892, before the expansion. Compare the two maps to what is seen in the photo. 6). The other key structure is NOT seen in the photo, but is obviously there--it is the new brick Hillsborough County Courthouse, from where the photo was taken. The highest point would have been in the minaret at the top of the dome which was over four stories high.

THE DEATH OF DR. JOHN P. WALL
(The article below has been edited to show only the beginning and the end as it pertained to Wilmer Lewis.)

During the Civil War, John P. Wall volunteered as a surgeon and was assigned to Chimborazo Hospital in Richmond. His life was soon to evolve into a curious milieu of medicine, law, journalism and politics. John P. Wall became a successful physician, writer and politician. He was associate editor of the Sunland Tribune, which later became the Tampa Tribune; served as mayor of Tampa from 1878–1880, concentrating particularly on increasing the maritime trade of the city, .mapping out many of the routes through the Florida wilderness that are used by the Florida highway system today; and assisting Vicente Martinez Ybor in establishing Ybor City.  

The deaths of his first wife and daughter from Yellow Fever prompted Wall to search out new paths beyond simply guiding patients through the fever’s various stages. He now devoted his life to researching and studying how it could be prevented and destroyed more effectively.  He was among the first to assert that yellow fever was carried by the mosquito. For his conclusions on the mosquito, Wall received nothing but ridicule from the medical profession and especially from the lay press.  His second wife was the beautiful young daughter of James McKay, but to receive McKay's permission, he had to successfully defeat his greatest enemy--alcoholism.   Wall also served as Tampa's health officer and successfully lobbied for the construction of a hospital to care for the people stricken with yellow fever. 

Dr. Wall collapsed and died while giving a speech to his colleagues at the annual meeting of the Florida Medical Association in Gainesville on April 18, 1895. He had gone up there with his life-long friend and colleague Dr. Sheldon Stringer.

Read the article published in the Tampa Morning Tribune on April 19, 1895 about his life and his death.
(When the image opens, click it again to see it full size.  It is large.)

Read about the amazing life of Dr. John P. Wall here at TampaPix.  Also see    "They Exalt Humbug at the Expense of Science and Truth": Dr. John P. Wall and the Fight Against Yellow Fever in Late-Nineteenth Century Florida by Larry Omar Rivers, at USF Scholar Commons. (Source for the above oval portrait.)

Although the United States had not yet entered into war with Spain, Cuba had been fighting for its independence for several years.  There was a small contingent of Spaniards in Tampa who quietly favored control of the island by their homeland, but not the imprisonment and mistreatment the Cubans were being subjected to.  Most in Tampa sympathized with the plight of the Cubans and the horrible conditions they were subjected to by the Spanish rulers and military leaders.  Read more about this at Clara Barton in Tampa, here at TampaPix.

Here in late May, a "Grand Concert" was held at the Cuban opera house (in Ybor City) for the benefit of wounded Cuban soldiers, assisted by "some of the musical talent of Tampa."  "The DeSoto Duo" of W. D. Lewis and James H. Thomas teamed up for a duet, as well as each performing a solo with their instruments of expertise.
 

BACKGROUND OF CHARLES A. DUNN

Described here as one of the best, best-looking and best-known hotel men in Florida.  Formerly the owner of the Carleton and St. Simon's in Tampa, he previously owned the Ocala House in Ocala.  He received his training at the hotels in New York City and was an "up-to-date" man in every respect.

Every room at the DeSoto was newly furnished (the hotel was about one year old) and lit by electricity.

In early 1896, about six months after his rave review in the Tribune, Charles Dunn retired, leaving W. D. to claim all the future profits (and bills.) 

Read the entire obit of J. H. Thomas
When it opens, click it again to see fulll size.

DEATH OF JAMES H. THOMAS, OWNER OF THE DESOTO HOTEL BUILDING

LEWIS LEAVES THE DESOTO IN 1897

In late December that 1897, Wilmer Lewis sold the DeSoto to the Williams brothers, experienced caterers from Waldo, Fla., and ended his connection with the Hotel DeSoto after a supper there on Jan. 3, 1897.  "Mr. Lewis has made a jolly good host and retires with the good wishes of the traveling public."  The Williams brothers planned a lavish feast with a number of imported dishes to celebrate.

In May, Williams & Co. became H. A. Williams Co. when R. M. Williams retired.

H. A WILLIAMS RETIRES, MRS. B. S. HANKINS TAKES CHARGE OF THE DESOTO

Mrs. Hankins was formerly the owner of the Gold Hotel in Bartow, and the Commercial boarding house in Tampa.  Nothing more is said about her in the Tampa newspapers other than her name, which was always "Mrs" and her husband's initials, and Hankins. This article goes on to describe the DeSoto and the plan Mrs. Hankins had to improve the hotel, such as offering special rates to Tampa people.  Special attention would be given to the cuisine, "and the table will at all times be supplied with the best the market affords."

The Desoto opened on Apr. 5, 1898 with Mrs. Hankins as the new manager, formerly owner of the Commercial house in Tampa.  She is credited with having "a considerable amount of management of hotels in Florida."

MRS. B. S. HANKINS and THE HANKINS BROTHERS OF BARTOW IN TAMPA   Mrs. B. S. Hankins was the wife of Bethel Stevens Hankins, a.k.a. Gilpin or just "Gilp" Hankins, his nickname.  One of his brothers, whom he partnered with in his Tampa saloon business was Sylvanius Masters Hankins, who was known as "Marter."  Their father, William Wesley Hankins, was one of eight children of pioneer farmer Dennis DuPont Hankins who owned a large plantation in Madison County.  Dennis was a Methodist preacher and is credited with starting a Methodist Church in Madison County.   He was married to Sarah Connor and served as a Justice of Peace for Madison Co. at Cherry Lake.   Gilp's and Marter's father, William Wesley "Billy" Hankins, was a gunsmith and dry goods store owner in Bartow.  In town, and in most of the state, he was known as "Uncle Billy Hankins."  He was a skillful hunter and is credited with firing the last shot of 2nd Seminole War at age 16.  During the Civil war, he was a Confederate sharpshooter in the 5th FL Infantry, Company D, and was captured Apr. 6, 1865 at Highbridge.  Later he was released on oath from Point Lookout Prison MD.  William was a member of state House of Representatives from Madison and Lafayette counties in 1873, and a member of state senate in 1883 and 1885 from Taylor and Lafayette counties.   In all, W. W. Hankins and wife Almira Church had at least twelve children, but three died in childhood.   Mouse over the photo to see names. Photo identification is from WikiTree William Wesley Hankins (standing, 2nd from right) and his children, ca. 1890-1897.   Photo courtesy of Florida Memory, State Library & Archives of Florida. The Hankins family lived in Bartow, Fla.   William W. Hankin's wife is not in the photo, she died in 1890. This photo was taken sometime after the death of Almira Jane (Church) Hankins in Mar. 1890, to the time of Gilp Hankin's death in Aug. 1897.  Edward S. Hankins died in Key West in Sept. 1899.   BLOODY BRAWL BETWEEN TWO PAIRS OF BROTHERS ON STREETS OF TAMPA - HANKINS vs. McNEILL   In a letter to the Gulf Coast Breeze (Crawfordville, Fla.) newspaper from an unnamed writer, published Aug 19, 1897 about the Aug. 4th street fight between the Hankins brothers and the McNeil brothers, this was said of the Hankins and McNeil families:   The Hankins brothers were originally from Middle Florida.  Their father, Hon. William Hankins, was a noble true and good man.  He represented at different times, the counties of Madison, Lafayette, and Suwannee in the Legislature and while under his control, Marter and Gilp Hankins were extra good boys.  Their older brother, Hon. W. D. Hankins, of Lafayette County, followed in the footsteps of their honored father, but Marter and Gilp engaged in the liquor saloon business, and followed the course of the average man in that business.  For the past ten years or more, they have enjoyed the reputation of being violent and dangerous men.   The McNeil brothers are originally from Sumter County, Geo.  James C. McNeil is an architect, and is sole proprietor of the Tampa Planing Mills and Novelty Works.  For several years he identified with the city government of Tampa as President of the City Council and Mayor pro tem.  Lee McNeil assisted his brother at his mills, until disabled by the loss of a hand in the machinery.  Since then he has been in the employ of the city as manager of the city cemetery (Oaklawn.) Tampa City Council Members James C. McNeil from group photo of Hills. Lodge #25 members, Apr. 14, 1928 at the THCPLC Burgert Bros. Collection   Tampa City Council Members March 4, 1892 – March 10, 1893 James C. McNeil, President George T. Chamberlain, President pro tempore Louis G. Cone Isaac S. Craft Henry L. Crane Jose Gomez William H. Kendrick Peter O. Knight James W. Roberts March 10, 1893 – March 9, 1894 James C. McNeil, President George S. Petty, President pro tempore George T. Chamberlain Henry L. Crane Robert W. Easley William H. Kendrick Peter O. Knight John S. McFall Emilio Pons Ramon Rubiera de Armas John Savarese
THE MURDER OF GILPIN HANKINS   Bethel S. "Gilp" Hankins     About eight months before she leased the DeSoto Hotel, Mrs. Hankins was widowed in early Aug. 1897 when her husband and his brother, Sylvanius Masters "Marter" Hankins, were involved in a street fight with the McNeil brothers James C. and Lee.  Gilp Hankins was co-owner of "The Missing Link Saloon" and at the time of his death, he was co-owner of the "Hankins Brothers Saloon" with his brother Marter.    On Aug. 4, 1897, around 10 p.m., Marter and Gilp Hankins encountered the McNeil brothers on the streets at Franklin and Harrison where the Hankins Bros. saloon was located.  An argument over an old gambling debt J. C. McNeil was said to have owed to Gilp ensued, which turned into a violent fight.	Sylvanus Masters "Marter" Hankins       Brother of Bethel S. "Gilp" Hankins Photo provided by Judy Llamas at Find-a-Grave
READ ABOUT THE CONFRONTATION ON THE STREETS OF TAMPA AND THE RESULTING TRIAL OF THE MCNEIL BROTHERS

 

 

MRS. HANKINS LEAVES THE DESOTO No other mentions of Lamar. Brown & Corning immediately undertook to renovate the hotel by flooring the lobby with tile installed by Tampa Tile & Paving Co., tearing away the old kitchen and adjoining outhouse and building a new and "more commodious one."  The entire culinary department was to be completely overhauled, including repainting the dining room. All seventy-one guest rooms were to be thoroughly overhauled and renovated, including new screens and beds.  Four new porcelain bath tubs and entirely new closets* were also being added.  Also, the sample rooms were to be newly wallpapered and carpeted.   It appears that a Mrs. Capt. Rogers owned the building, with the new leasers being described as "proprietors" (owners of the business.)	LAMAR GIVES UP TO BROWN & CORNING, START REPAIRS W. L. Lamar is described as "a young man of wide experience in the hotel business, and understands it thoroughly."  Mrs. Hankins planned to open a "fashionable boarding house opposite the entrance of the Tampa Bay Hotel on Plant Avenue" in a  house occupied by the well-known Tampa doctor Oppenheimer.  Mr. Lamar's career at the DeSoto was short-lived.  In Sept. 1898, the DeSoto was leased for a number of years by Amos A. Brown and W. E. Corning, men with long experience in the hotel business.
*The DeSoto, as well as many other hotels of this period, didn't have a bathroom in the guest rooms.  Bathrooms were usually one large room with multiple tubs.  "Closets" was probably  "water closets"--  toilets in a small private space in a room to be shared by all guests.  If they were outside they were called "outhouses."

 

DESOTO SOLD TO ROBERT F. WEBB & SON-IN-LAW WALTER L. PARKER

Webb & Parker were currently the owner and manager of the Palmetto Hotel.  As soon as Webb closed the sale of the Palmetto to Hazen, he bought the DeSoto from Brown & Corning.  It is R. F. Webb and W. L. Parker who would turn the old wood frame DeSoto into a brick and block palace that would rival most hotels in the south.

	The 1903 re-photo at left is from the Burgert Bros. collection at the Tampa Hillsborough Co. Public Library. It shows construction of the basement of the new U.S. Customs House-Post Office-Federal Courthouse in the foreground.   In the background is a rare view of the original wood frame DeSoto Hotel, which in fact may be the only quality photo in existence.  Later photos and post cards show the rebuilt brick and block hotel that replaced this one in 1910.  Also seen here is the wood frame First Presbyterian church which was relocated from the original site where you see the construction in progress. Photo courtesy of the Tampa-Hillsborough Co. Public Library Cooperative, Burgert Bros. collection
	The four blocks shown here have been moved toward the center of the intersection to use less area for this graphic.  The streets are actually about 80 ft. wide, or about twice the width you see here. This 1903 Sanborn map from the UF Digital Map collection shows the area at the time the above photo was taken.  The new Federal District Courthouse can be seen under construction at lower left foreground.  The Presbyterian church building was moved from where the courthouse was being built to the north side of Zack across from the DeSoto. THE FIRST DESOTO ANNEX Notice along Polk Street where there were misc. shops are now hotel rooms.  The first four on the left were two-story, with the second room being a sample room.  Then in green a tin shop, then five one-story rooms, then one two-story room on the corner of Polk and Morgan.  This whole strip of rooms was known as the annex to the DeSoto. In this period hotels maintained a vacant "sample room" so prospective guests could see the various options available for occupancy.  There was usually more than one sample room, with one each representing the layout and size options. Often, when a hotel was completely booked, the sample rooms would then be available for rent

The DeSoto Hotel in 1898
Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.

This rare photo below shows the original wood frame DeSoto Hotel in 1903, about six years before it was completely replaced by a new brick & block four-story structure. It is the upper right portion of the previously displayed photo showing the Federal Courthouse construction.  At the far left of the photo can be seen the original two-story annex to the DeSoto, which ran along Polk St. between Marion & Morgan.   The water tank at upper left is at Tampa's first waterworks pumping station located at the corner of Estelle & Jefferson St.

The original wood frame DeSoto Hotel, Feb. 1, 1903.
BURGERT BROS. HIGH-RES SCAN WAS PROVIDED BY THE TAMPA-HILLSBOROUGH CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY COOPERATIVE (THCPLC).

In the fall of 1906, Walter L. Parker sold the DeSoto to a number of Ocala developers who were associates of his.   The new expanded ownership planned to replace the old wood structure with a four story brick and stone building.  The improvements were scheduled to begin after the State Fair in November.  The planned improvement of $150,000 along with other construction projects in Tampa set a one-month record high of $210,432 for November, topping Oct. 1906 by just over $125,000.

The new construction was touted as the largest permit in the history of Tampa, with the possible exception of H.B. Plant's Tampa Bay Hotel, the new Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and the new Federal Building.  The hotel would be known as the "New DeSoto" which would be built fireproof with steel beams, with it's own electric power plant and steam laundry.  It would take up the whole block between Polk, Zack, Morgan, and Marion Streets and have three entrances.  The new building would be 210 feet square, eventually taking up the whole block, with a space for a courtyard of around 50 x 100 feet.

The whole project would be done in phases, with the original building remaining until the greater part of the new hotel was completed. It was expected that Elmore Webb would oversee the project.  Architect of the Tampa Bay Hotel, J. A. Wood, was hired to design the the new hotel.

The first to go was the two-story wood structure along Polk St. that was built as an annex with extra rooms for the original wood frame hotel.	By the end of Feb. 1907, a new foundation had been laid along Marion St. and Polk St.  This was for the north wing on the northwest corner of the lot and the main building that fronted Marion Street.	As construction on the main building progressed rapidly, a fancy ink well trimmed in silver with onyx pedestal and silver pole supporting incandescent lamps was received from the American Hotel Supply Co.
Owner of the DeSoto W.L. Parker announced in late July 1907 that the old DeSoto would close on Sat., Aug. 3.  He originally planned to keep it open longer but work was progressing so quickly on the new hotel that they needed to start the next phase of construction:  moving the old building to the rear of the lot to make room for the south wing of the main building.	By Sep. 1907, the old structure had been lifted, rotated 90 deg. counterclockwise, and moved to the rear of the property along Morgan Street.  This second phase, the annex, would be completed as soon as possible so as have space for temporary offices, some rooms could be refurbished on the upper floors and a large dining room created on the ground floor.	By the end of Oct. 1907 the concrete floor, roof and cornices of the new building were being worked on.  A probably opening of January was a highly optimistic guess.  The old three-story building was to reopen next month; this was another optimistic prediction.

In mid-November 1907 the projected completion dates of the main building and the annex were pushed back due to difficulty in obtaining some building materials.  A portion of the main building "will in all probability" be ready for occupancy by Jan. 1 and the annex was expected to open in early December.  J. A. Wood was expected to flip the switch on the lighting at night within a short time.

Construction nearly completed on DeSoto Hotel #2 -- the "New DeSoto."

1921 - Company B of the Hillsborough Co. Home Guards

1936 - Main entrance on Marion St.

1936 - South entrance, Zack Street

1936 - Rooftop sign
Place your cursor on it to switch it on.

1930s - The east side of the DeSoto along Morgan St.  Not as ritzy as the front facade.
Notice the old wood frame annex no longer existed as it was only temporary while the new structure was still under construction.
Also, the "courtyard" described in the early news articles apparently wasn't anything for guests to enjoy.

1950 - Entrance to Indian Room Bar & Grill at 721 Marion Street

Nov. 4, 1946 - Lobby at the DeSoto Hotel

June 3, 1949 - Elevated view of the DeSoto Hotel from Marion & Zack St.

W. D. LEWIS AND ANNIE MOVE TO KENTUCKY
 

In early Feb. 1897, the local Tampa news announced that  W. D. Lewis had formed a partnership with a Mr. Keyes in Louisville as a  merchandise brokerage firm in the name of Lewis & Keyes,** which would start business immediately.

**Nothing of the Lewis & Keyes partnership could be found.  Perhaps the plan fizzled.  Mr. Keyes may have been the president of the Keyes-Gallrein Music Co. in Louisville, who advertised as "We are the Largest Music Supply House in the South.  Manufacturers, Publishers and General Dealers."  This Louisville partnership between John W. Keyes formerly of Nashville and Herman Gallrein of Louisville appears to be short-lived; it advertised only from July to early Sept. of 1897 in a Hartford KY newspaper.  In mid-Dec. 1897, Mr. Keyes sold his interest in the company and on Jan. 1, 1898, took charge of the manufacturing and wholesale business of Wulschner Music House.

Last mention of Lewis in Tampa papers.

Wilmer and Annie Lewis moved to Louisville, KY, to start a new life.

Below: In August 1897, W. D. Lewis visited in Lexington  for several weeks, where the local papers took note of his presence by writing, "The congregation at the Cathedral very much enjoyed hearing him sing the Offertory at the morning service yesterday.  He is an accomplished musician and member of the choir of St Andrew's Church in Tampa.  Mr. Lewis has a bass voice of unusual range and beautiful quality...

BELOW:  Feb. 1899 - The Alumni Club of the local High School sponsored the first afternoon concert of a series for 1899; this one was held at the girl's high school building.  The program consisted of vocal and instrumental solos, and a "charmingly rendered selection by a quartet which included W. D. Lewis.

Below: Sep. 21, 1897 - W. D. Lewis got fed up with so many people in the area thinking Florida was a Yellow Fever risk because they thought it was close to New Orleans, which was having an outbreak. He set the record straight giving the distance of 1,000 miles and assured them Florida was as free from YF as Kentucky was.  (Back then, YF was attributed directly to filthy conditions, and to falsely believe the fever was in Tampa was to say Tampa was filthy. Tampa did in fact have a history of YF outbreaks.)

BELOW:
In April of 1900, Prof. Lewis visited his former pupil, George W. Llewellyn, in Dayton Ohio.  During that short visit he sang at the Grace Church... "characterized by artistic finish in all respects.  His voice is a powerful sonorous basso profundo, and is under perfect control." 

While in Dayton, he let it be known that he intended to relocate there.

WILMER & ANNIE LEWIS MOVE TO DAYTON, OHIO

By summer of 1900, W. D. Lewis and Annie had moved to Dayton, Ohio, where W. D. Lewis led the Epworth League Choir, performing at the Grace M.E. church.  On September 24, 1900 Prof. Lewis opened the Dayton Conservatory, School of Music, where he was Director and vocal instructor, H.H. Kaeuper taught piano and music theory, Charles Holstein taught violin, and Anna Loy May taught elocution.  The school was located in the Cooper Seminary Annex at First and Perry Streets, which is where W. D. Lewis had his studios and residence. The 1900 Census of W. D. Lewis and Annie Lewis in Dayton reveals that Annie had given birth to a child who had passed away by the time of the census in June.  W. D. Lewis was a vocal teacher and renting their residence.  W. D. Lewis also taught vocal music at Wittenberg College at Springfield, Ohio.

W. D. Lewis and Annie were members of the Episcopal Church, and attended the Christ Church of that faith in Dayton.  W. D. Lewis continued as a concert soloist and teacher for many years in Dayton.  His reputation as a thorough, conscientious teacher of voice culture was well established and recognized, and a great many of his pupils gained the top of the ladder in their profession.

1900 Census, Dayton, Ohio

W. D. Lewis led the Epworth League choir
at the Grace M.E. church.

At Right: Feb. 19, 1901 - W. D. Lewis led a double quartet performance at the Dayton View Assembly and performed a solo "at the Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea" by Petrie.

At Right:  In late Sep. 1900, W. D. Lewis and three others opened "THE DAYTON CONSERVATORY" a new school of music in Dayton at the Cooper Seminary Annex, with W. D. Lewis teaching voice, and the others teaching piano, theory, violin and elocution.

DEATH OF WILMER'S WIFE, ANNIE I. LEWIS
(This section is incomplete.)

On Oct. 3, 1908, Annie I. (McIlvaine) Lewis died at St. Elizabeth hospital in Dayton.  Her funeral was held on Monday afternoon on Oct. 5 from the chapel of Woodland Cemetery where she was buried.   Her funeral announcement stated that she had been ill and suffering from paralysis for six years, but her death record shows her death was caused by heart trouble and dropsy.  She was sixty years old.

By Oct. 1909 W. D. Lewis resumed his vocal classes at his studios at the Dayton Conservatory.  He had at least forty pupils singing in choirs in and around Dayton, and ten "making good" with various traveling companies on the road.  In addition to this, he had five former pupils who were successful vocal teachers, and twenty-five more singing in theaters and holding various positions there.  His ads in the Dayton Herald carried a three-quarter bust photo of him, and stated "Voice Culture, Established 11 years in Dayton.  Specialist in Tone Placing, Enunciation, Voice Building.  I have absolutely made voices "out of whole cloth," and am able and willing to convince you if  you will call on me."

The 1910 Census of Dayton showed W. D. Lewis living alone at 276 1st Street as a music teacher.  It is at this time that W. D. Lewis began to sell insurance, taking a job as a general agent of the American Casualty and Union Casualty companies with offices in the Reibold building.

W. D. LEWIS FROM NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

In mid-April of 1911, W. D. Lewis was engaged to be married to Miss Sarah Reel,  Miss Reel was a teacher at the Franklin School, and a daughter of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Reel. At this time the wedding date had not been set, but it was planned for early that summer.

In July that year, W. D. Lewis moved his music studio from the Dayton Conservatory to 498 Ludlow Street Arcade. In 1912 his insurance office was in the Reibold Bldg at rm. 707-8 where he sold fire insurance.  He continued teach voice culture at rm 283 in the ARcade, and in his office at the Reibold blidng. In May 1912, W. D. Lewis incorporated as "The Wilmer D. Lewis Co." Dayton, along with F. C. Reel, J. P. Morgan, L.R. Lewis, and S.T. Maloney,  $10,000 investment.  By the end of 1913, Wilmer D. Lewis Insurance was selling Fire, Auto Liability, Personal Health, Property Damage, Elevator Liability, Accident, Auto Collision, Plate Glass, and Auto Fire insurance, at his offices at 707-708 Reibold Building. 

In 1915, Wilmer D. Lewis & Co. moved to 907 in the Schwind Building, selling Aetna Live and Accident, American Casualty Co, Union Casualty Co, and Equitable Secrity Co. policies.  There was a lot of competition in Dayton in the realm of music instruction, and this would be the last year W. D. Lewis taught  vocal instruction, which he was doing at his residence at 125 Lehman St. and his office at 907 in the Schwind bldg.

By Jan. 1916, Wilmer D. Lewis & Co. was back in the Reibold Bldge, and #778.  He advertised "Insure your automobile in the Aetna Accident & Liability Co.  Aetna service is always perfect and prompt.  He added in fine print "I would not drive an automobile on Main St. from the Monument to Sixth St. without LIABILITY."

On Friday, Nov. 9, 1917, Prof. Lewis had an attack of apoplexy around 10:30 a.m. while near the Young Women's League building in Dayton.  He was rushed into the building in serious condition and soon attended to by Drs. K. M. Ellsworth and A. B. Brower.  Wilmer was then taken by ambulance to his home at 125 Lehman St. where at 10 p.m. he lapsed into unconsciousness until his death at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Nov 11.

1917-11-09 DAYTON DAILY NEWS  Wilmer Lewis Seriously Ill

1917-11-09 DAYTON HERALD Insurance man removed to home.

1917-11-10 DAYTON DAILY NEWS - Lewis unconscious due to apoplexy (stroke).

1917-11-11-DAYTON-DAILY-NEWS Prof. Wilmer Lewis Called by Death

1917-11-12-DAYTON-DAILY-NEWS-  Private burial service for W. D. Lewis

"Mr. Lewis was a resident of Dayton during the past 18 years, having come here from Louisville, Ky and during a portion of that time he was a vocal instructor, maintaining a studio in the Cooper seminary Annex.  He also appeared often in public as a well-known singer. He was well-known in insurance circles during the last 10 years, and for the past two years he had ceased vocal instruction while he represented the Aetna Insurance Co. in this city.

His wife and one six month old infant son survive him.

Funeral services for Prof. Wilmer D. Lewis, 67,** former prominent teacher of vocal music in Dayton and at Wittenberg College at Springfield,  will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at the residence , 125 Lehman St.  Rev. Arthur Dumper of Christ Episcopal church will officiate.  Burial will be made in Woodland cemetery and will be private.  Pall-bearers were Messrs. Howard Williamson, Charles Harwood, Frederick Bender, Hale Pardonner, Arnold Atlhoff, and Frank Walker.  Elks lodge of sorrow was held Monday evening at 7:30.

**Prof. Lewis was actually closer to 70 years old, as three of his earliest censuses indicate he was born 1847 to 1849.

In 1920, Sarah (Reel) Lewis lived at 236 St. in Dayton with her 2 yr. 6 mos. old son Lewis Lewis and her 62-yr-old widowed mother Amelia Reel.  Sarah would turn 41 that year, making her about 25 to 29 years younger than Wilmer.  Sarah was still a school teacher at a public school.

On August 25, 1940, 23-year-old Lewis Wilmer Lewis of Dayton, son of Wilmer D. Lewis and Sarah Reel, married 24-year old Marthia McCoy of Springfield, daughter of Hugh S. McCoy and Loa Evans, in Springfield, Clark Co, Ohio.  Both the bride and the groom were teachers.  (This information is public record.)

In 1946, their son Geoffrey Hugh Lewis was born in Springfield, Oh.  Geoffrey entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA when he married in Clark Co., Ohio on Jun. 13, 1967 to Nancy Eileen Landis of Dayton, Ohio.

Lewis Wilmer Lewis died Mar. 19, 1966 in Springfield, Oh. at age 48 and is buried at S. Solon Cemetery in Madison Co., Ohio.

Here we see that Victor's father, Robert H., was one of many brothers of Mary McIlvaine (Simmons), William P. Haisley's mother-in-law.  Several children have been cut out from between Mary and Robert, as well as from both ends of this chart.  There were 11 years between the births of  Mary and Robert, with Joshua being one born in that period.

So, was W. D. Lewis really a nephew of W. P. Haisley?  No.

They were of the same generation so they would have been cousins, and at that, there was no bloodline tie between them.  They were separated by TWO degrees of marriage-they were "cousins-in-law-in-law."  (Their wives were 1st-cousins.)