Purchase Price $42,900
3 bed · 1 bath · 970 sqft
3 bedroom, 1 bath with off street parking in back. Newer electrical panel. Sold As-Is.
Contact: Stroud & Associates Team for Keller Williams
Call: (816) 232-4111
House History & Gallery
Built in about 1888, by John B. and Lucy Conklin, the lovely brick home at 1007 South 12th Street makes a charming picture sitting on its little hill behind the historic stone retaining wall. Over its more than 130 year history it has been home to many interesting people.
John B. Conklin was born in Ohio and owned his own lumber firm; initially J.B. Conklin & Co. and after 1880 Conklin & McDonald. The lumberyard was located on the corner of 8th and Felix. In 1886 he ran for city council and he was described in the Gazette Herald as “a broad gauge man” who would represent the whole city. Before coming to St. Joseph he worked in the mines in the Rocky Mountains during the Civil War and was connected with the forces at the Western terminus of the Pony Express. He left St. Joseph in 1919 to live with one of his daughters in Oklahoma where he died in 1922 of a broken hip. He is buried in Mt. Mora Cemetery.
It is likely that his desire to move was associated with the death of his wife Lucy in 1919. Before her death, the couple remained in their little home with their two daughters until 1913. One of those daughters, Blanche, would return to her childhood home for a time between about 1926 and 1933.
The Conklins sold their home to Charles B. McFall and his wife Amanda C. Leeper McFall. He was employed in the supply department of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. Charles and Amanda had two daughters Nell and Vera.
1007 was just a short term stop for the McFalls, by 1917 Hosea Jeams Dixon lived here until he was drafted to serve in the First World War. The huckster Israel Einbender lived in the little house in 1918 before making way by 1921 for Harvey L Hinckly and his wife Ada Stephens Hinckley. Before settling down to a respectable life as an agent of the St. Joseph Insurance Company, Harvey had made the news in 1906 with a bit of high spirited high jinx. Apparently on July 4 he and his friend Sandy Buis appropriated the porch of J.E. Berryman at 2628 Lafayette and set off a large number of fireworks until about 11 p.m. They boys were arrested and released on $200 bond.
Between 1926 and 1933 Blanche Conklin Gibson returned home for a time. She was seemingly divorced from her husband Edward A. Gibson, a public paving contractor. In 1930 she is listed as the owner of the house which the census stated was worth $4,800. She was able to support herself on her salary as an executive secretary in a bank.
During the first half of the 1940s, the Shell family lived here. The head of household is listed as Roberta L. Shell, who worked as a dewarper for Western Tablet Company. Living with her was her brother Benjamin and his wife Katherine. Benjamin also worked at Western Tablet as a sizer.
In the early to mid 1950s Leo G. and Sarah Wright made 1007 their home. Leo had been born in Villisca, Iowa [for those of you who are interested in famous crime, the tiny town of Villisca was the site of the horrific ax murder in 1912.] but lived most of his life in St Joseph. He was a solid member of the community having worked as an engineer for the Burlington Northern line for 30 years; he and Sarah were parishioners at St. Patrick’s Church.
This charming little house is an important part of its historic streetscape and is priced to sell.
