Lewis was founded when silver deposits were discovered at the head of Lewis Canyon in 1874. A ten stamp was erected to process ore from the eagle, Starr Grove, and other smaller mines in the area. In 1880, a new forty stamp mill was built. By 1881, Lewis had a population of 700 with saloons, several stores, hotels, a dance hall, boarding house, lumberyard, jail, post office, newspaper, and a school. A fire swept the business district in 1881, and labor troubles ensued the next year causing the start of the demise of Lewis. By 1883, most businesses had closed.