Achievements Of Jv Lewis

Born on Christmas Day in the 1800’s as a slave, Joseph Vance Lewis would receive his greatest gift just ten years later: his freedom. Surpassing what he was told was unattainable for him because of the color of his skin; JV Lewis became an educator and lawyer. He was later admitted to the Supreme Court where he was soon recognized as the first African-American lawyer to win a case before a Harris County jury in favor of a black client accused of murder. This case and many other accomplishments made by JV Lewis are highlighted in his career to reflect a better insight of his legacy and show how his achievements helped shape the history of Fourth Ward, where Lewis devoted himself to make a difference. He was a community activist in Houston where
He first moved to New Orleans and then down to Houston where he settled in Fourth Ward, also known as Freedman’s Town. Fourth Ward plays a very important role in Houston’s African American history and this is where JV Lewis devoted himself to make a change. It is not certain, but Lewis may have been married four times and fathered five children. However, in 1905 Lewis married the love of his life, Pauline Gray. She was a teacher who worked for the Colored Branch of the Houston Public Library. Lewis describes her as the dearest woman on earth. As quoted in his book, he states that Pauline “had cheered [him] when despondent, and who was around [him] when [he] was cast down; who visited [him] while in jail; who stood by [him] when everything was dark and gloomy; who believed in [him] when they were trying to put convict stripes upon [him]; who suffered all and gave up all for [him], giving up friends, sacrificed position, both social and pecuniary; all of this to become [his] wife. [He] found in her all of the qualities that go to make a queen. She is dignified, cultured and refined.” Their relationship was beautiful; he had finally found his backbone. What his mother was to his father. Lewis and his wife started their life together in Fourth Ward and he continued with his career. He was just a handful of black lawyers here in Texas and one of the most recognized in the
He named it Van Court, which was on 1218 Wilson at Andrews and still holds historic value today. Soon after all of his success, many started to accuse his practice of irregularity, meaning having defects in some of his legal proceedings. As a result, Lewis was banned from practicing law for six months and after receiving another charge, he was banned from criminal law cases for seven years. Nevertheless, he remained strong in his passion and began handling civil cases. Lewis opened his law office in downtown Houston and by 1915, he was working with nine other African American lawyers with the goal of making a difference in our community. He was a strong believer in supporting black-owned businesses, so that’s what he did. Lewis gave back to the community as he “supported economic enterprises and contributed funds for the organization of African American Bank and also joining the Colored Commercial Club.” Although only meeting little success, in 1919 J. Vance Lewis was the cofounder of Twentieth Century State Bank and Trust Company of Houston. A year later, he moved his law office into his home devoting all of his time to his clients and their cases. In 1920, Lewis ran for criminal district judge and encouraged the black community to support the Black and Tan Republican