Skillern’s was once a familiar name of a chain of local and regional drug stores that served several generations of Texans. The chain got its start in Lewisville in nearby Denton County, Texas when its first store was opened by James Arthur Skillern. James was born May 29, 1856 in Pikesville, Tennessee to William Franklin “Frank” and Sarah Ann Henninger Skillern. James’ father died when he was three years old and his mother married William M. Skillern, a first cousin of her late husband.
By the time he was in his twenties, James had made his way to Denton County, Texas, and was working as a clerk. When the 1880 census was recorded, it showed that he was a single man living in a boarding house. He and Cora McCants were married in 1882, but Cora died that same year at the age of 20. Two or three years after her death, he married Mary James Edwards. Mary and James had nine children: William Arthur Skillern, Frank Lloyd Skillern, Edna Cora Skillern Cofer, Lida Skillern Cone, Rae Edwards Skillern, twins Zula Skillern Folsom and Zola Skillern Ferguson, Mary Evelyn Skillern Napier and Jeanne Skillern Hancock. Over the years, many family members worked in the business.
An article in the Grand Prairie Daily News-Texan in its issue of February 28. 1960 noted that James opened his first store at Lewisville in 1885 and that it operated out of a wood frame building. The company expanded into the City of Dallas in 1895 by opening a downtown location, near the courthouse. Its second downtown store was located at 1812 Commerce Street, not far from the Interurban Building. Many more Dallas and Fort Worth locations followed including two of their most beautiful and complete stores, in Lakewood and Highland Park.
Business combinations – According to newspaper reports, Zale Corporation acquired Skillerns in July, 1965 when the drug company had 45 stores. In 1980, Zale Corporation sold the drug company to Revco. After operating it for about seventeen years, Revco was acquired by CVS in 1997. Over time, all of the stores were rebranded by the new owners.
The founder of the company, James Arthur Skillern, died on December 29, 1914 at the age of 58. His wife, Mary survived him another twenty years until her passing on July 15, 1935. Both are buried in Oak Cliff Cemetery in Dallas County.
