CHEWTON. This town was laid out by Benjamin Chew, Jr., about 1830-31, and includes all the territory comprised in what are now commonly known as “Upper” and “Lower” Chewton—in all about one hundred acres, but a comparatively small portion of which is built up. The first house in Lower Chewton was built either by Hon. J. T. Cunningham or Jacob Allen.

Fulton Reed opened the first store in the place, about 1835-36. John Wallace established the second, some ten years later. John Egner opened the third, about 1848-1849, and afterwards sold it to William Both (or Rhodes). It stood about a quarter of a mile below where the iron bridge now spans the Beaver. Both sold out to Friday & Jackson, who moved the store to the upper part of Lower Chewton. Henry Potter afterwards purchased Friday’s interests, and the firm name became Potter & Jackson.

In Upper Chewton, soon after the town was laid out, Jacob Lightner, Nancy Lightner, Milo Connor and John Lightner all built houses of the log pattern, which stood for many years. There was but one log house built in Lower Chewton, that by one of the Roth (Rhodes) family.

A school was opened in the town in 1834 or 1835, immediately after the school law was passed, and a schoolhouse was built. A brick schoolhouse, standing in Upper Chewton, was built about 1859-60. Chewton was set off as an independent school district in 1872 or 1873. It has three schools and three instructors, who, in 1908, received $1,010. The enrollment is 159 pupils.