| Info on previous owners: (no
date) - United States to Moses Austin
1808 - Moses Austin to John Rice Jones - John R. Jones later rescends
his part - Jones Addition is from Catholic Church to Potosi Ford
1814 - Moses Austin to Benjamin Elliott, Martin Ruggles, Lionel Browne,
commisioners for establishing a county seat - lots are sold - took 3 days - more info in
Ste. Genevieve land records
1845 - Quit Claim Deed - Samuel & Charity Harrison - sold to James
Lucas
1869 - James A. Shields, Commisioner for Washington County to Garrett I.
Van Allen.
Garrett Van Allen Deed - 1869 - pg. 471 - To sell & convey to
Garrett I. Van Allen of the town of Potosi Lot #90 lying on Burton Street in said town of
Potosi......in consideration of........the sum of five dollars paid in hand Lot #90
........boardered southerly by Burton Street....westerly by lot #89 north by Clark Street
& east by Lot #115 - it is said that the County gave Van Allen the house instead
of dollars -
In the 1870 census the Van Allen family consists of: Garrett - 45, wife
Harriett C. - age 43, Seth - age 19 store clerk, Julia - age 17, Sarah - age 12,
Emma - age 10, Minnie - age 7, Lizzie - age 5, & John age 2. All were born in
New York except for John who was born in Missouri.
Harriett Van Allen died in 1871at age 44. Cause of death is
unknown. This death occurred while the Van Allen family was living in the house now
known as Sweet Memories. Harriett is buried just down the street in the Presbyterian
Cemetery.
Garrett Van Allen later married Mary F. Anthony daughter of Nancy
Twitty & Jonas Anthony. The 1880 census lists the Van Allen family members as Garrett
- age 55 - occupation lawyer, wife Mary F. - age 42, daughter Minie - age 18, daughter
Elizabeth - age 16, son John - age 12, & another daughter less than one year of age
who's name was illegible.
Newspaper Article about Garrett Van Allen: Resolution - At a
meeting of the Washington County Bar........The following memorial was adopted:
Whereas for more than thirty years, Mr. Garrett I. Van Alen, who departed this life the
3rd day of Mar. 1899, had been a citizen of Washington County & a member of this bar,
& during that time held positions of honor & trust, & for a number of years
was employed & took prominent part on one side or the other of the most important
cases of this bar. Mr. Van Alen was a graduate of the Albany Law School of New York &
for many years prior to his removal to this county was a member of that bar. He was
a man possessed of many qualities so needful for the sucessful practice of law & he
always gave his client the full measure of his ability; & his energy was
excelled by none & equalled by few. He leaves a family who are among the best
citizens of this community & reflect great credit on their father. Mr. Garrett
I. Van Alen was born in the state of New York on the 19th of September of the year
1824. He removed to Missouri on the 7th day of April 1866, & died at Potosi,
Missouri on the 3rd day of March 1899. Therefore be it resolved, that in the
death of Mr. Van Alen this bar has lost one of its oldest members & his family a
kind & indulgent husband & father. Be it further resolved that one page of
the record of this court be set apart & that the same may be recorded thereon
& that a copy of this memorial be furnished the members of the family & the county
papers. Signed: J.F. Green, E.T. Eversole, Chas. H. Richeson, E.J.
Bean, M.E. Rhodes, E.M. Dearing - Com.
1881 - G.I. & Mary F. Van Allen to Francis & Elizabeth Homan
1884 - Warranty Deed - G.I. & Mary F. Van Allen to Francis
& Elizabeth Homan
1887 - Elizabeth & James B. Homan to County of Washington
Goodspeed's History of Washington County:
James B. Homan was born in Washington County April 11, 1828 & was
reared & educated in Boonville. At the age of 18 he commenced his steamboat
experience, which calling he has continued until the present time, & a more competent
pilot never navigated the water of the Lower Mississippi. For years he has been
connected with the Anchor line of boats, running St. Louis & New Orleans, having made
nearly 1,100 trips between the two points. He has been married twice; first
February 24, 1854 to Miss Mary L. Wallace, a native of Washington County, who died in
1869, leaving one son & five daughters : Jesse W., who died in March, 1886;
Ida, now Mrs. J. L. Smith; Ella, wife of Percy Smith; Lillie, now
Mrs. Reppy, of New Mexico; Alice & Daisey. Mr. Homan's second marriage
occurred April 16, 1877 to Mrs. Elizabeth Arney, nee Huddleson, who was born in Arkansas,
but reared in Washington County. By this union there are five more children:
Carter, Bertie, Edna, Archie & Charlie.
Francis X. Connolly -
The 1900 census lists the household member as: Frank X. Connolly -
occupation merchant - born Jan. 1863, wife Sarah J. - born 1868, son ?Chauett? July 1894,
son Francis J. Sept. 1896, daughter ?Catherine? E. born Jan. 1898, & a servant Sarah
DeClue born Sept. 1874.
Al & Joyce Weiss - lived in the house approximately 50 years.
David & Cindy Merx - bought house in 2002 from John More |
