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| St. Rose Church From the Collection of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County |
Recently I've tried to solve the mystery of exactly where Elizabeth Kinley Jones (widow of Alexander) and her family lived on the banks of the Ohio. Family stories as well as the 1880 Census and numerous Cincinnati City Directories showed the family living on Lumber St. off of Eastern Ave. Lumber St. is right next to St. Rose Church which was built in 1867. It was originally known as St. Rosa and was built to serve the German population of the area.
A few years back I went to the Hamilton Co. Recorder's Office and did a property search. I discovered that the property occupied by St. Rose Church was originally part of the George Torrence Estates. He divided his property among his children, and his daughter Nancy inherited Lots 10 and 11. The Church is on Lot 11.
The deed states that Nancy Torrence sold Lot 11 for $10,000 to Bishop John Purcell. She then donated $1000 back to help fund the construction of the Church. This was in 1867. No mention was made of any part of the property being used for a home.
This had frustrated me for years because Elizabeth Jones, widow of Alexander, is listed in the 1868 City Directory as living in a house, east of Lumber St. The 1880 Census lists Elizabeth and her children as the only
residents on Lumber St. besides the three priests serving St. Rose and their housekeeper.
Last Thursday, my husband Bill and I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Graver, volunteer for the Cincinnati Historical Society. He showed us a map with the house located 250' from the southeast corner of the Church on the river bank. The house was a two-story frame house with an iron chimney. It was located on Lot 10 of the Torrence Estate on property that is currently occupied by the Cincinnati Water Works Pumping Station and owned by the City of Cincinnati.
Note: Map should read Cincinnati Water Works, not Cincinnati Gas Works.
Last Thursday evening my brother Tim, sister-in-law Dusty and I went with tape measure in hand to find the exact location of the "Jones Homestead." The river level in 2009 is much higher than the level in 1880 but you can get a distinct feel for their closeness and love for the Ohio.
A few years back I went to the Hamilton Co. Recorder's Office and did a property search. I discovered that the property occupied by St. Rose Church was originally part of the George Torrence Estates. He divided his property among his children, and his daughter Nancy inherited Lots 10 and 11. The Church is on Lot 11.
The deed states that Nancy Torrence sold Lot 11 for $10,000 to Bishop John Purcell. She then donated $1000 back to help fund the construction of the Church. This was in 1867. No mention was made of any part of the property being used for a home.
This had frustrated me for years because Elizabeth Jones, widow of Alexander, is listed in the 1868 City Directory as living in a house, east of Lumber St. The 1880 Census lists Elizabeth and her children as the only
residents on Lumber St. besides the three priests serving St. Rose and their housekeeper.Last Thursday, my husband Bill and I had the pleasure of meeting Bill Graver, volunteer for the Cincinnati Historical Society. He showed us a map with the house located 250' from the southeast corner of the Church on the river bank. The house was a two-story frame house with an iron chimney. It was located on Lot 10 of the Torrence Estate on property that is currently occupied by the Cincinnati Water Works Pumping Station and owned by the City of Cincinnati.
Last Thursday evening my brother Tim, sister-in-law Dusty and I went with tape measure in hand to find the exact location of the "Jones Homestead." The river level in 2009 is much higher than the level in 1880 but you can get a distinct feel for their closeness and love for the Ohio.
Tim marking the spot where the house was located.
View from St. Rose Parking Lot.
Kath, Congrats on the Blog...once I learn how to use it better, I hope to be a Blog follower.
ReplyDeleteNice job, I realley appreciate the information you have been able to accumulate about our family.
See you 'rond the bend!
Don