(R-30) Farm residence of J.L. Davis  (8824 St. Peter Rd)

It is now gone, but it was later owned by James Harvey Gray, and then was the O'Dell farm.

 

 

(R-31a) Barn of J.L. Davis and 2 year filly - weight 1350.  This was located on St. Peter Rd.

This became the O'Dell farm.

 

 

(R-34a) Residence of Mrs. Harriet Haworth located at 400-500 block of E. Sycamore St.) 

Mrs. Haworth was the daughter of Isaac and Althenia Eagan.  Mr. Eagan was the developer of several of the additions to the town of Kinmundy.

From the Nov. 8, 1883 edition of the Kinmundy newspaper, we find that Harriet's husband, James C. Haworth (1840-1896) was

the owner and manufacturer of saddles, harnesses, horse collars and carriages.

This residence was north of  "The Curve", and was later the J.O. & Frankie Cox home.  It has since been torn down.

 

 

(R-35b) Residence of John Motch  located at 500 block of W. Third St. (north side). 

 

 

(R-38) Residence of Dr. F.S. Songer. This is located at 205 N. Lincoln St., and is now owned by Bryan Douglas.

 

 

(R-39) The residence Dr. & A.W. Songer was located at 205 N. Lincoln St. looking north. 

Other owners were Tom & Emma Ballance, Bill Allen, Carl, Ellen & Mike Jackson.

(The Erma Ingram home is on the right (310 W. Sycamore St.))

 

"The Kinmundy Express" - Aug. 27, 1998 - Bryan and Susan Douglas home.

 

 

(R-41) Residence of Ellis Enoe "Peck" Brown & Mildred (Green) Brown home at 101 S. West St.  This is the southeast corner of 1st and West Streets.

This picture was taken 1908.

 

(R-15) Ellis Enoe "Peck" Brown & Mildred (Green) Brown residence at 101 S. West St. looking northwest.  Pictured are Mildred & "Peck" Brown.

 

 

(R-161) SNELLING PLACE: The Residence of David P. Snelling (corner of 4th St. & Freemont) was built 1869.  (It is no longer there.)  It was later owned by the

    Suggett family.  From the Centennial Book:  “Suggett Residence: This house built by Judge David P. Snelling nearly a century ago, is now the residence of

    Helen and Ray Suggett, formerly of Chicago.  Judge Snelling was born in Maine and worked in the ship building business in New Hampshire as a youth,

    which may account for the cupola with windows on all sides which in the old days adorned the roof.  After joining the gold rush,

    going to California by ship and across the Isthmus of Panama on foot and horseback, he returned home the same way and decided to settle in the middle west. 

    He chose Kinmundy, and built this fine old home, which is one of the community’s show places, since the Suggetts bought and remodeled it.”

 

 

(R-42b) SNELLING PLACE: The David P. Snelling house on the corner of 4th St. and Freemont.  This home was later owned by the Suggett family.

(See writeup in the above photos.)

 

 

(R-123) David P. Snelling Residence (see articles above and below this photo for more information.)

 

David P. Snelling Residence

 

(R-123d) David P. Snelling Residence (see articles above and below this photo for more information.)

 (Submitted by Maria Shafer)

 

Snelling Homestead

 

Boy on horse on street on southwest corner of 4th & Fremont streets.  To the left of the boy would have been the house of C.S. Watson that Virgil & Hazel (Garrett) Livesay later purchased in 1954, and then Tim & Charlotte Gammon.  The David P. Snelling home is in the background of the photo too.

 

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    "My Old Kinmundy Home" - "Centralia Sentinel" - May 17, 1970

     Silver Spoons with private home engraved upon them are by no means common, but rarer yet is one of the 101-year-old

original still standing.  The Judge David P. Snelling homestead in Kinmundy, built in 1869 by an Eastern shipbuilder originally

reflected his New England background.  Snelling was born in 1820 at Livermore, Maine, and he spent his youth in New Hampshire

as a shipwright; marrying his wife, Hannah, at Windham.  In the '49 gold rush, he shipped out to the Isthmus of Panama, walked

and rode across it, and continue on to California.  He returned the same way, but decided to become a farmer in the midwest. 

The Snellings acquired a half-section of land south of Kinmundy, and although they were a wealthy family, it is not known if the

source of his prosperity was the gold fields.  The house originally (top) had a large front porch which went around to the back wing;

an octagonal, shuttered cupola (removed before the spoon was engraved); and a large attached barn on the rear which shows on both

the spoon and the old photograph.  Remodeled by the Suggetts some years ago, the house retains part of the front porch, with an

upstairs door, and a coal-burning fireplace int he front parlor.  Of the Snelling's children, two died: Lettie in the same year the home

was built, when she was three; and antoher young son, Albert, died about five years later.  Nellie, owner of the spoon, was born in 1859,

 married a local railroad engineer, Sumner Dillon, and moved to Chicago - no doubt the happy origin of the silver momento. 

George became a mail messenger between the C & EI, the I.C. and the Post Office, and later had one of the area's first Chevrolet

agencies, with a sub-agency in Salem.  Frank stayed on as a farmer; Mary Abbie (Babcok) was widowed and returned to Kinmundy

as a schoolteacher; and Elroy was the town's leading musician (First Cornet) and restaurateur.  The homestead today (below) is owned

by the Harper family, and in place of the back parlor has an ultramodern study with a contemporary fireplace.

(R-161e) David P. Snelling Residence

 

(R-161d) David P. Snelling Residence located on 4th & Freemont Streets (see above for more information.)

 

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Helen and Ray Sugget home in 1957.  Former home of Judge D.P. Snelling and family.

(1957 photo during Centennial.)

 

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'

(R-76c) George Snelling residence at 619 W. 4th St.

 

                                                       

(R-76a) Residence of Geo. Snelling – West 4^th Street.  This was the last house before Rt. 37.  Oct. 16, 1907

 

 

(R-72a) Residence of Martin P. Gramley & Margaret (Humphrey) Gramley at the 400 block of S. Madison St.  - 1908

He owned a general store next to the Opera House.

According to the Kinmundy Express on Aug. 18, 1960, Mrs. Gramley's daughter (Mrs. O.E. Garrett) sold the property to Mr. and Mrs. Jack Helton of St. Louis.

(This house was just north of Cliff Olden’s in Sept. 1982.)

 

 

(R-43a) Residence of Martin P. Gramley & Margaret (Humphrey) Gramley at the 400 block of S. Madison St. on the west side.

 

 

Margaret (Humphrey) Gramley's house in 1928-1929

Her granddaughter, Helen (Garrett) Leckrone, is sitting on the porch.

 

 

Margaret (Humphrey) Gramley's house in 1928-1929

 

 

(RS-16b)Looking north from Gramleys.  I.C. Depot & water tower in photo.

 

(RS-16d)Looking north from Gramleys.  I.C. Depot & water tower in photo.

 

 

(R-40a) Residence of Edward.G. Mendenhall & Alice (Bogart) Mendenhall in the 500 block of S. Washington St. on east side.

Edward was born in Bath, England in 1846 and came to this country with his parents when he was 7 years old, and fought in the Civil War.  He died in 1917.

 

 

(R-40c) The Mendenhall's Bungalow located on the east side of the 500 block of S. Washington St, was occupied by Edward G. Mendenhall & Alice (Bogart) Mendenhall.

Edward owned and operated a fruit farm and park nursery on South Washington Street.  He was born Oct. 18, 1846 in Bath, England and died March 12, 1917.  He came to

this country with his parents when he was 7 years old and enlisted in the Civil War at the age of 15.  E.G. was elected two terms as mayor of Kinmundy. 

Pictured here from left to right are E.G.'s wife, Alice, his son, Chester B., and his granddaughter, Alecia (Mendenhall) White.

 

 

(R-40b) 4^th of July 1911 at E.G. Mendenhall home in the 500 block of S. Washington St. (on east side of street).  Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Edward G. Mendenhall's enlistment.

Sept. 7, 1861 to 1911.

 

 

(R-40d) Park Nursery, E.G.Mendenhall.  (This may have been on South Washington St., but we do not know for sure.)

 

 

(R-46a) Dr. J.L. Laswell residence located at 511 E. 3rd St.

 

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“Republican Express” – Defiance County, Ohio - July 2, 1891;

“Southern Illinois - Editorial Jottings taken on the Wing - A Country that Once enjoyed a Boom – Fruit Raising and Coal Mining”

“Egypt Defined.  Some fine farms.  A Glorious Country Peopled by a Hospitable Class.”

Kinmundy, Ill. – June 28^th, 1891

(excerpt from article about C.H. West home and farm)

 "Just east of town (Kinmundy) adjoining the corporation is what is called Hereford Park farm, owned by C.H. WEST, a first class man and good straight Republican.  The farm consists of 240 acres, 50 acres of which are devoted to peach and apple orchards, and the balance to grasses, grains, and cattle.  Mr. WEST is a breeder of the celebrated Hereford cattle and has on hands now about 50 head of the descendants from the best breeds of England and America.  The house on this farm is a large two-story brick.  It was built in 1858 by a gentleman from Kentucky who settled here.  It is built strictly as a genuine Southern gentleman would be likely to plan.  It contains 15 large rooms and is surrounded on north and east sides by long galleries or porches.  The farm has all the improvements known to the arts of modern farming, and all the comforts and conveniences that tend to beautify and systematize. Our family was quite hospitably entertained by Mr. and Mrs. WEST."

___________________________________________________________________

 

"The Kinmundy Express" - Jan. 11, 1951

___________________________________________________________________

 

Photo and article from 1957 Centennial:

Leach Residence -  "This 100 year old house which stands east of Kinmundy, was built by Michael Wolfe of Louisville, Ky, about 1857.  Its outside walls are 18" thick and made of brick.  Most of the material was brought from Kentucky.  Some think it might have been planned for a hotel, since all the rooms had outside entrances and were large enough for several beds.  The custom in those days was for a family to stay in a hotel until their home was built on the newly claimed land.

    It was first occupied by Wolfe and his sister's family, the Absalom Tuckers.  She was the grandmother of Byron Rotan and the great-grandmother of numerous Boyds and rotans and Wades.  Wolfe died a bachelor, leaving no will, so the property was sold to settle the estate, and in 1868, George West, who came from Indiana by way of Galena, Ill., bought and remodeled it for his family home.

    In 1885 he sold it to his son, Charles, who added many acres, named it Hereford Park and raised fine cattle there until 1903.  It went through many hands, Henry Greening, William H. Meeks, Ayers Conant, John Merchant, and finally in 1920, tony Young, who had extensive orchards in the neighborhood bought it.  After his death, it was sold by his widow to O.I. Leach, the present owner.

    The first purchaser of the land of Isaac Eagan who bought it from the government in 1852, sold it to W.J. Sprouse in 1856, and one moth later it was bought by Michael Wolfe.  Eleven owners since it was government land."

___________________________________________________________________

 

(R-100a) Leach home at 821 Kinlou road.  Later owned by Shawn and Sharon Folsom.

From the Kinmundy Centennial book: " This hundred year old house, which stands east of Kinmundy, was built by Michael Wolfe of Louisville, Ky.

about 1857. It's outside walls are 18" thick and made of brick. Most of the material was brought from Kentucky. Some think it might have been planned

for a hotel, since all the rooms had outside entrances and were large enough for several beds.  The custom in those days was for a family to stay

in a hotel until their home was built on the newly claimed land. It was first occupied by Wolfe and his sister’s family, the Absalom Tuckers.

She was the grandmother of Byron Rotan and the great-grandmother of numerous Boyds and Rotans and Wades. Wolfe died a bachelor,

leaving no will, so the property was sold to settle the estate, and in 1868, George West, who came from Indiana by way of Galena, III.,

bought and remodeled it for his family home. In 1885 he sold it to his son, Charles, who added many acres, named it Hereford Park and raised

fine cattle there until 1903. It went through many hands, Henry Greening, Wm. H. Meeks, Ayers Conant, John Merchant, and finally in 1920,

Tony Young, who had extensive orchards in the neighborhood bought it. After his death it was sold by his widow to O.I. Leach, the present owner.

The first purchaser of the land was Isaac Eagan who bought it from the government in 1852 sold it to W.J. Sprouse, in 1856, and one month later

it was bought by Michael Wolfe. Eleven owners since it was government land.

 

(R-99a) Leach home at 821 Kinlou road.  Later owned by Shawn and Sharon Folsom.

 

 

Leach Home article - ca 1990

 

Leach Residence in Kinmundy by Dean Love

(Marion County, Illinois Calendar - 1976)

 

 

 The following article was printed in the Salem Times-Commoner, issue of June 28, 1973.  The Leach Home was one of the photographs used in “Land Between the Rivers: The Southern Illinois Country” (Southern Illinois University Press, 1973) and can be found on page 49

             “A legendary Civil War mansion is located in Kinmundy and has been the private home of Mr. and Mrs. Orous Leach the past 22 years.  It was built in 1857 and is constructed of brick and mortar and has 18-inch thick walls.  The two-storied structure has 12-foot high ceilings and has dimensions of 45' by 65'.  It has eight main rooms and two picturesque staircases.

            Brick for the walls were thought to have been manufactured at a company in Kinmundy which operated some 120 years ago.  The interior woodwork is of fine white pine.

            One of the legends pertaining to the house relates that it was once used as a hotel but that the plans were abandoned when the Illinois Central Railroad was laid too far west of the site. 

            Robert Lincoln, son of the Great Emancipator, was one of the United States government committeemen who’s signature appeared on the deed ceding the land to the Illinois Central Railroad.  The land was later sold to private interests when railroad officials found that the farm was of no use to them.

            The farm’s former owners were Mr. and Mrs. Tony Young who purchased it and planted a large orchard.

            The property is located on the Kinmundy-Louisville blacktop road, across the highway from the city grade school.  A huge barn, believed built about the same time as the mansion, has been converted into a museum with displays featuring Mexican, Indian, and Spanish articles and has been named ‘La Casa Grande.

            Leach and his wife, Fernandine, and their two children, Connie 4 and Larry 13, moved into the mansion in 1951, and marked the 100^th anniversary of the place during Kinmundy’s centennial in 1957.  Connie is now Mrs. Quenton Robnett of Champaign and Larry is an employee of Proctor-Gamble Co. in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

            Leach, now 81, purchased the property as a ‘retirement place’ but has been anything but retired.  Several years ago, with 37 years of teaching in his background, he retired to supplement his teacher’s pension, went to work selling Raleigh products.  He later went to work as secretary-treasurer of the Kinmundy Building and Loan office, where he is still a member of the board.  He keeps up with the yard maintenance on the four-acres mansion plot and also manages a Shakles products business as a sideline.

            The Leaches are always happy to welcome visitors and show them around the estate.  Any income from the sale of items from this museum goes toward maintenance of the buildings and grounds such as the barn’s recent 47-gallon new coat of red paint.”

            We believe we read a few years ago that Mr. Leach had passed away.  We not know whether any of the Leach family still lives in this antebellum mansion."

 “Footprints in Marion County” - Vol. X; No. 1; Summer 1985

Marion County Genealogical and Historical Society

 

 

"The Kinmundy Express" - Sept. 5, 1996 - "Heiber Residence.  This old home which stands on East Kinlou Rd., Kinmundy across from the South Central Elementary School was built by Michael Wolfe of Louisville, Ky in 1857.  Most exterior walls are 18 inches and 12 inches thick.  Several interior walls are brick also.  Most of the material was brought from Kentucky.  Some think the home was planned as a hotel since all the rooms (8) had access from the outside, and were large enough for several beds.  The custom in those days was for a family to stay in a hotel until their home their home was built on newly claimed land.  Wolfe and his sister's family, the Absalom Tuckers were the first occupants.

    Wolfe died a bachelor without a will so the property was sold in 1858 to settle the estate.  It was bought by George West and remodeled for his family.  In 1885, West sold the house to his son, Charles, who added acreage and raised cattle until 1903.  Subsequently the home went through the hands of Henry Greening, William Meeks, Airs Conant, John Merchant, and in 1920 the owner became Tony Young, who owned large orchards in the area.  After his death, his widow sold the house and 60 acres of apple orchard to the Orous Leach family in 1951.  Fernandine Hammer, the widow of Orous Leach, sold the house to Earl L. Hieber in December 1990.  Mr. Hieber, a former teacher and farmer from Illinois, is the 9th owner. 

    Mr. Hieber, though living in Phoenix, Arizona, had been looking in Illinois for an older home to restore in his retirement years.  His sister also interested in historic restoration called his attention to an ad listing the house for sale in the "Historic Preservation News", a publication of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which resulted in Mr. Hieber purchasing the house.

    This house is the fourth, largest, and probably the last restoration project he intends to undertake.  He has been carrying out major exterior repairs over the past two and a half years in order to stablilize the deterioration of the building as a whole.  The entire roof system has been repaired and new shingles added.  The built-in gutters behind the crown molding was uncovered and restored.  Window sashes, shutters, and rebuilding two chimneys are projects of concentration at present.  The last major exterior project will be cleaning brick and tuckpointing all mortar joints of the house.  Some tuckpointing has already been accomplished as required by other work being done.  A new heating and cooling system will be installed this fall.  Storm windwos are in the plans, and the attic electrical wiring is updated.  Very little interior work has been done pending exterior priority work being completed. 

   Winter months the past two years has provided time for tuckpointing most basement brick foundation walls, and for floor structural repairs and strengthening.  This winter Mr. Hieber intends to complete repairing the under structure and some renovation of the living areas.  The living areas are pretty much the same today as they were when Mr. Hieber moved into the house.  He feels the interior work will probably require a year of work in itself to complete the refurbishing."

 

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"Salem Times-Commoner" - Apr. 3, 2000

"

 

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(R-47b) "Miss Mamie" (Songer) Brown home.  Later this was the Erma Ingram home at 310 W. Sycamore St..

From the Centennial Book, the following was written about the Ingram Residence.

    "This house, now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Elwin Ingram (in 1957; this was the son's house in 2006) was built by Abram Songer

     for his bride, Margaret Nelms, when they came to Kinmundy from Xenia soon after their marriage in 1868. 

    Mr. Songer was a prisoner in Libby Prison during the Civil war, and was one of a group who tunneled out, and made their way home. 

    Mrs. Songer was a school teacher in Marion and Clay county during the war and received her education from the Southern Illinois Female College in Salem. 

    With his brother, Giles, Mr. Songer built the Songer mill which is nearby, from brick which they made themselves.  This house originally was a

    small one-story affair but in 1893 the two story part was added in front and the whole house remodeled.  After Mrs. Songer’s death, her daughter

    “Miss Mame” (Mrs James Brown) lived there with her husband, father and aunt, Miss Mollie Songer, who was one of Kinmundy’s early storekeepers. 

    After they were all gone it belonged to Bert Garrett who sold to the Ingrams.  It has been remodeled and modernized by still has the look of the old place. 

    Mrs. Ingram is a collector of antiques and has filled her home with them.”

 

 

(R-241a) "Maple Hill" - 1907 postcard from Mr. and Mrs. James Brown

 

 

(R-47e) "Miss Mamie" (Songer) Brown home.  Later this was the Erma Ingram home at 310 W. Sycamore St..

 

 

 

Ingram Residence - photo and article from 1957 during the Centennial:

    "This house, now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Elwin Ingram, was built by Abram Songer for his bride, Margaret Nelms, when they came to Kinmundy from Xenia soon after their marriage in 1868.

    Mr. Songer was a prisoner in Libby Prison during the Civil War, and was one of a group who tunneled out, and made their way home.  Mrs. Songer was a school teacher in Marion and Clay county during the war and received her education from the Southern Illinois Femail college in Salem.

    With his brother, Giles, Mr. Songer built the Songer mill which is nearby, from brick which they made themselves.

    This house originally was a small one-story affair but in 1893 the two story part was added in front and the whole house remodeled.  After Mrs. Songer's death, her daughter, "Miss Mame" (Mrs. James Brown), lived there with her husband, father and aunt, Miss Mollie Songer, who was one of Kinmundy's early storekeepers.

    After they were all gone it belonged to Bert Garrett who sold to the Ingrams.  It has been remodeled and modernized but still has the look of the old place.  Mrs. Ingram is a collector of antiques and has filled her home with them."

 

 

(R-47f)  Erma Ingram home at 310 W. Sycamore St..

 

 

(R-64c) Residence of Mitch Allen.  (Possibly on West 4th St.)

 

 

R-64d) Adam Mitchell "Mitch" Allen & Sarah Elizabeth (Howell) Allen residence on Madison Street.

Later the home of Dwight Alexander & Ruth (Smith) Alexander; and then Charlotta "Lottie" (Neil) Harlan Sharpe Heinrich.

 

 

(R-66) Residence of John W. Allen & Mattie (Williams) Allen. Later this was the Anna Kolb home, across from Linton Funeral Home

 

 

(R-68a) W.H. Allen home. (This was later the Dwight Day Jr. home.)

 

 

(R-69b) Front room of W.H. Allen home. (Later Dwight Day lived here.)

 

 

(R-193) Late 1800's dining room

 

(R-50b) Residence of Mrs. C.W. West located at 500 block of S. Washington St. on the east side of the street.

 

 

(R-51b) John M. Brenner & Dora (Wetter) Brenner homestead located at 110 N. Madison.  

This was also owned by John Merchant & Emma (Robling) Merchant.  It was torn down to build the new brick building for the Catholic Church which was dedicated in 1951.

 

 

(R-324) Home of Jonathan G. Brenner & Mary (Geis) Brenner in Kinmundy.

 

 

 

(R-182) Residence of S. Coehern, located on the south east corner of 1st & Adams St.

Other owners were Kate and Florence Scothern, Lester and Floine Wilkinson, and the Schneider family.

 

 

(R-184) Residence of G. Fenster  at 317 S. Monroe St. 

Other owners were the McCully's, and Toby and Kelly Gullion

 

 

(R-77) Residence of P.A. Shriver (possibly area of Porter and 4th streets)

 

 

(R-24b) Residence of W.H. Shriver at 703 E. 1st Street.  Other owners, J. Norris Vallow, and Susan Jamison.

(Possibly torn down and built the Keen residence?)

 

 

West 4th Street in Kinmundy

 

 

(R-49d) Noah Sanford Sutton & Esta (Lefler) Sutton home (500 block of West 4th St.) looking east.

Second house from the left owned by Marie Mulvaney (504 W. 4th Street)

 

 

 

(R-49a) Residence of Noah Sanford Sutton & Esta (Lefler) Sutton home (500 block of West 4th St.)

 

 

R-81a) O.N. Tyner Residence was located at 210 E. 3rd St..  The owner was a photographer in the Kinmundy area.

This home was later owned by Beryl & Dorothy Keen.

 

(RS-6) South Monroe St. looking north from 3rd St.

 

 

(RS-4D) South Washington St. looking north from 4th St.

 

 

(RS-4) South Washington St. looking south (probably from third street)

 

 

(RS-4c) South Washington St. looking south (on postcard sent in 1911)  (probably from third street)

 

 

(R-201) Looking south from the Methodist Episcopal Church in Kinmundy

 

 

Looking south from the M.E. Church at the corner of 3rd Street in Kinmundy

 

 

Looking north on Washington Street at the corner of Third Street. 

This is the sidewalk in front of the Rohrbough house (and the gate there), which was across from the Methodist Church.

 

 

 

Looking west from C.H. West 

 

 

(RS-1) West Fourth St. looking west from Monroe

 

 

(R-52) Residence of James H. Jackson & Martha Ann (Matthews) Jackson.  (Martha died in 1913, and J.H. married Victoria McGee in 1926.)

(Their grandson was Dwight Alexander).  This home was situated across from the tower.