Early 1900s
Samuel McCoun: 1900-1918
The United States Census for 1900 lists Samuel McCoun (Mccoun) as residing in Center Township and having a birthdate of March 1884. His relationship to the Head of Household was son. John W. (age 79) and Elizabeth (61) lived with Samuel, age 16, and three servants. The servants were John Robbins (age 60, from Kentucky), and Oscar Robbins (age 22 - perhaps Johns' son) and Clara Wagner (age 22, f).
Samuel married Mabel on November 15, 1905. Mabel's father was Edward Mccoun and mother was Alice Steward.
Alice was born on April 22, 1907 in Danville. Samuel and Mabel's lovely daughter was proposed to by Harry S. Eubanks and they married on November 19, 1932. The marriage was registered in Rush, Indiana. She and her husband who was born in Ohio, moved to Cincinnati Ohio. MS and Alice Boundrant were the parents of Harry.
I'm not sure I follow the 1940 census record, but Sam (not Samuel) who is married to Mable (not Mabel) had another daughter, Mary Margaret, who in 1940 was 19 years old. So, perhaps Samuel and Mabel had two daughters, Alice who lived in the home, and later, Mary Margaret, who did not live in the home.
I find this hard to believe, but I guess the US was desperate for soldiers of all ages in the 1940s. Samuel Carrington Mccoun received a draft registration for World War II, 4th Registration, for the State of Indiana. His serial number was 1515 and I love the address -- R.R. 2, Danville. The days of rural routes have disappeared with county and state roads offering faster transit. At age 58, he still lists himself as self-employed and they did not have a home telephone.
During this same period, we get a glimpse of life for the McCoun's once they moved out of the homestead in 1918. Alice and Mabel McCoun now lived in S31, T16, 1W on E2 NE4 with 79 acres. Perhaps they divided the original lots. I'm curious as to why Samuel is not listed with them when we know he signed a draft notice for WWII in 1940. The Daughertys, remember them -- his father's first wife's daughter married into the Daughertys, lived nearby in the same are with NWFr4, PtSE4, W2, NE4, and SWFr4 or over 370 acres.
Samuel married Mabel on November 15, 1905. Mabel's father was Edward Mccoun and mother was Alice Steward.
Alice was born on April 22, 1907 in Danville. Samuel and Mabel's lovely daughter was proposed to by Harry S. Eubanks and they married on November 19, 1932. The marriage was registered in Rush, Indiana. She and her husband who was born in Ohio, moved to Cincinnati Ohio. MS and Alice Boundrant were the parents of Harry.
I'm not sure I follow the 1940 census record, but Sam (not Samuel) who is married to Mable (not Mabel) had another daughter, Mary Margaret, who in 1940 was 19 years old. So, perhaps Samuel and Mabel had two daughters, Alice who lived in the home, and later, Mary Margaret, who did not live in the home.
I find this hard to believe, but I guess the US was desperate for soldiers of all ages in the 1940s. Samuel Carrington Mccoun received a draft registration for World War II, 4th Registration, for the State of Indiana. His serial number was 1515 and I love the address -- R.R. 2, Danville. The days of rural routes have disappeared with county and state roads offering faster transit. At age 58, he still lists himself as self-employed and they did not have a home telephone.
During this same period, we get a glimpse of life for the McCoun's once they moved out of the homestead in 1918. Alice and Mabel McCoun now lived in S31, T16, 1W on E2 NE4 with 79 acres. Perhaps they divided the original lots. I'm curious as to why Samuel is not listed with them when we know he signed a draft notice for WWII in 1940. The Daughertys, remember them -- his father's first wife's daughter married into the Daughertys, lived nearby in the same are with NWFr4, PtSE4, W2, NE4, and SWFr4 or over 370 acres.
Cornelius Disney: 1919-1950s
It seems that after Samuel died, there was an unsettled situation with the property. This is purely my conjecture, but he and his wife did not have a male heir, so perhaps there wasn't anyone to pass the farm to which led to series of land sales.
On June 12, 1918, perhaps when Samuel died, the deed for the house was listed as being sold to William Osborne.
On March 14, 1919, the property deed transferred to August Schuckmann from Mr. Osborn.
On December 31, 1919, August Shuckmann sold the property to Cornelius Disney, however, his name is shown on the deed in 1922.
In 1928, CA Disney is shown as the land owner of section 4 of NE4 - or the 160 acre tract where the homestead house is located. The property crossed the road (236) and went up the hill. This property was valued at $13,000.
Cornelius was a prolific land buyer and can be found purchasing many tracts of land during this period. Such an example is the purchase of 20 acres (S2, SW4, NE4) in S19, T16, 1W, a parcel close to the current property and just bordering Marion Township. In the same plat book, he also purchased four parcels in S29, T16, 1W - a total of 118 acres. In the same plat book, Disney Cornelius purchases the McCoun homestead of 160 acres, valued at $8,440. It's incredible to see the view of the property during this period as it is a parcel with roads on three sides! (www.co.hendricks.in.us/webview/archive/00000389/00000389.pdf)
In 1940, the United States Census lists C.A. Disney as a 63 year old male who was born in Kentucky in around 1877. His wife was Osie, age 46, born in Indiana. His three cousins lived on the property, Roy Disney, age 40, Ophelia Disney, age 16 was Roy's daughter, and Charles Thomas Disney, age 15, is listed as a cousin. Roy worked as a laborer for C.A. Disney earning $468 (was this per month or per year). In addition, both worked 52 weeks out of the year. Both are listed as receiving no formal education (I'm assuming this means college level).
The 1940 Plat Book lists Cornelius with 9 tracts of land totaling roughly 320 acres. He was in possession of the property at 32, 16, 1W with a value of $5990. In 1940, the plat books switch to alphabetical listing instead of via section. The new organization is slightly confusing if you don't know the owner!
Cornelius Disney lived in the house into the 1950s, although I haven't found exact records that state when they left the home. When the house was remodeled in the 1990s, the owner removed wallpaper and discovered some wonderful images. These were photographed along the dining room wall off the western-most driveway entry door. One image shows in handwritten script, "D. L. Dawson, Decorator, 4/10/39 with a masonic symbol drawn with the words Figured Blessed." Another image shows C. J. Disney signed the wall on July 1, 1938 and titled himself "Boss." Mr. Disney has a lineage of family still residing in the Danville area. His daughter, Theresa, was the recorder, and his grandson Hershel was a county commissioner and president of a local bank. The county historian shared a story about how the family's desire was to keep the property, but some unfortunate circumstances meant it had to be sold.
Plat records end at 1940 (at least for digital records). I'll have to take a visit downtown to get the rest!
On June 12, 1918, perhaps when Samuel died, the deed for the house was listed as being sold to William Osborne.
On March 14, 1919, the property deed transferred to August Schuckmann from Mr. Osborn.
On December 31, 1919, August Shuckmann sold the property to Cornelius Disney, however, his name is shown on the deed in 1922.
In 1928, CA Disney is shown as the land owner of section 4 of NE4 - or the 160 acre tract where the homestead house is located. The property crossed the road (236) and went up the hill. This property was valued at $13,000.
Cornelius was a prolific land buyer and can be found purchasing many tracts of land during this period. Such an example is the purchase of 20 acres (S2, SW4, NE4) in S19, T16, 1W, a parcel close to the current property and just bordering Marion Township. In the same plat book, he also purchased four parcels in S29, T16, 1W - a total of 118 acres. In the same plat book, Disney Cornelius purchases the McCoun homestead of 160 acres, valued at $8,440. It's incredible to see the view of the property during this period as it is a parcel with roads on three sides! (www.co.hendricks.in.us/webview/archive/00000389/00000389.pdf)
In 1940, the United States Census lists C.A. Disney as a 63 year old male who was born in Kentucky in around 1877. His wife was Osie, age 46, born in Indiana. His three cousins lived on the property, Roy Disney, age 40, Ophelia Disney, age 16 was Roy's daughter, and Charles Thomas Disney, age 15, is listed as a cousin. Roy worked as a laborer for C.A. Disney earning $468 (was this per month or per year). In addition, both worked 52 weeks out of the year. Both are listed as receiving no formal education (I'm assuming this means college level).
The 1940 Plat Book lists Cornelius with 9 tracts of land totaling roughly 320 acres. He was in possession of the property at 32, 16, 1W with a value of $5990. In 1940, the plat books switch to alphabetical listing instead of via section. The new organization is slightly confusing if you don't know the owner!
Cornelius Disney lived in the house into the 1950s, although I haven't found exact records that state when they left the home. When the house was remodeled in the 1990s, the owner removed wallpaper and discovered some wonderful images. These were photographed along the dining room wall off the western-most driveway entry door. One image shows in handwritten script, "D. L. Dawson, Decorator, 4/10/39 with a masonic symbol drawn with the words Figured Blessed." Another image shows C. J. Disney signed the wall on July 1, 1938 and titled himself "Boss." Mr. Disney has a lineage of family still residing in the Danville area. His daughter, Theresa, was the recorder, and his grandson Hershel was a county commissioner and president of a local bank. The county historian shared a story about how the family's desire was to keep the property, but some unfortunate circumstances meant it had to be sold.
Plat records end at 1940 (at least for digital records). I'll have to take a visit downtown to get the rest!
AJ Stevensen: 1959-1986
A Jewel Stevenson is listed as the homeowner in the 1940 United States Census, age 46 or a resident in Center Township. The deed from CJ Disney to AJ Stevensen is not present but he is listed on the plat records for 1959, 1965 and 1986. His wife was Josephine, age 45 and they had two children, Joseph A, age 13 (born in 1927), and Marilin, age 11. At this time, it shows AJ Stevenson as a judge of the appellate court earning $10,000 per year with an average 33 per hour week. The house was valued at $9,000 and he had a farm filing with the number 8. It could be that he lived on the farmstead as early as 1940 based on the 1940 census report. AJ's son, Joseph, grew and soon he was a man well versed in farming, and also well-schooled as an attorney. By 1957, Joseph, the third generation horseman and farmer, and Danville attorney, partnered with Ray B. Stump from Plainfield in the Double S Ranch. They bought Doublene in November 1957. She was bred with an imported stallion, Grey Dawn II, and gave birth to Navajo, a dark gray colt in April 1970. Navajo spent much of his time roaming the beautiful pastures of Windswept Farm and became the first Double S Ranch-bred thoroughbred. Navajo won many races including the Sugar Bowl Handicap in 1972, Louisiana Derby Trial in 1973, Lettelier Memorial Handicap, Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park, Ben Ali Handicap at Kneeland, the Churchill Downs Handicap, and the William DePont Handicap at Delaware Park in 1975. Navajo raced 13 times, winning eight races and placing second twice. His most famous run was May 5, 1973 where his time would have won all previous Kentucky Derbys but in this particular year, Secretariat won.
Homestead is split into pieces!
This image from 1994 shows the extended barn, an old house to the top of the image (now demolished), and the house in sections with outbuildings. It looks like there is a firepit in the rear (it's still there today). The rear portion of the property is part of a streambed. Notice the difference in the 2000s!
In the 1990's, owners did significant remodeling. Wallpaper was removed and electricity was updated to modern standards. In addition, central heating and air conditioning was added (I interviewed him!). Each room was painted lovely earth tones that you might find in an Italianate home. Many of the ceilings were dropped, closets converted or created to house a furnace and pipes, and false flooring / ceiling added in the second story to accommodate plumbing, wiring and ducts. (The original steam piping is still in the crawlspace.) The structure was stabilized and continues to be supported with the original limestone footing and steel supports. Ducting runs along the entire crawlspace. Each crawlspace area is completely separate! There are four separate entrances into the crawlspace under the house excluding the narrow passage found in the root cellar.
The root cellar is the home of a huge furnace system and a bundle of wires and cables and water pump reservoir. If you look carefully, you can see the outline of perhaps a set of stairs or another opening that led into the cellar. Pieces of wood are sawed along the northern rock wall. It's interesting to imagine how this area may have been used in the 1800s -- for food, storm protection, and storage. How did they access it? Was there an outdoor kitchen above prior to the kitchen addition in 1880?
In the 1990's, owners did significant remodeling. Wallpaper was removed and electricity was updated to modern standards. In addition, central heating and air conditioning was added (I interviewed him!). Each room was painted lovely earth tones that you might find in an Italianate home. Many of the ceilings were dropped, closets converted or created to house a furnace and pipes, and false flooring / ceiling added in the second story to accommodate plumbing, wiring and ducts. (The original steam piping is still in the crawlspace.) The structure was stabilized and continues to be supported with the original limestone footing and steel supports. Ducting runs along the entire crawlspace. Each crawlspace area is completely separate! There are four separate entrances into the crawlspace under the house excluding the narrow passage found in the root cellar.
The root cellar is the home of a huge furnace system and a bundle of wires and cables and water pump reservoir. If you look carefully, you can see the outline of perhaps a set of stairs or another opening that led into the cellar. Pieces of wood are sawed along the northern rock wall. It's interesting to imagine how this area may have been used in the 1800s -- for food, storm protection, and storage. How did they access it? Was there an outdoor kitchen above prior to the kitchen addition in 1880?