N. Mill St., Lexington, Fayette
County, Kentucky
Built 1807
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
"Beginning at the west corner of a brick house belonging to James Dunn, fronting on Mill Street," was the way the trustees of the Lexington Presbyterian Congregation described this house in a deed to Matthew Elder September 2, 1807. (James Dunn was assessed in 1807 for his "house on Mill St.")
Matthew Elder had just paid $8,000 for the entire block from the alley here to Short Street and through to Cheapside--"to the south-west corner of the brick house belonging to John W. Hunt, on the Public Square."
James Dunn and his wife Betsey sold a valuable lot on Main St. (the present Union Station) in1813 and then he must have decided to retire. On August 13, 1813, he made "a competent settlement on his children Margarett Davidson Dunn, John Filpott Curren Dunn, James Haynes Dunn, William Anderson Dunn and Gawn Dunn for and in consideration of the paternal love and affection he bears for them" and moved to Woodford County.
He had Wm. Whittington and James C. Long, both of Woodford County, appointed trustees for his children and conveyed to them the following property: "One lot of ground purchased of Robert S. Todd lying on High St. adjoining the lots of Mr. Samuel Ayres and Mr. Smith (a gun Smith by Trade) 80 feet in front from Water to High St.; also a house and lot lying on Main St. between the house of old Mrs. January and the house now occupied by James Kelly and wife, which were the property of Mr. Canon, dec'd., whose widdow the said James Kelly married, containing 60 feet (that is the lot) in front and running back to Robert Barr's lot; also, two lots of ground lying on the corner of Short St. and Mill St. on the opposite side of the street from Asa Blanchard's shop, each fronting 22 feet on Mill St., and running back on Short St. 50 feet." (All of this was valuable property). In 1817, now living in Woodford County, he sold E.L. Briggs, of Lexington, a 72-foot lot on High St. to Water St. (back of Union Station) and seems to have spent his remaining days in the "Asparagus Bed of the Garden Spot."
Matthew Elder on May 31, 1808, sold the lot on Mill St. "on which James Dunn has erected a Brick Building" to Mrs. Kezia Barton, of Lexington. The next deed was Nov. 11, 1833, when Dr. Robert C. Holland bought it of Mrs. Kezia Barton, of Washington County, Ind." Across the alley was a building facing Main St., owned by Samuel and George Trotter and "lately occupied by Barry and Grant." (Later Cassius M. Clay's "True American" office). Dr. Holland was one of the most prominent physicians in Lexington at this time (Ranck).
Dr. Holland sold the house on May 12, 1837, to Joseph F. Miller and wife, Matilda, who conveyed it in May, 1838, to Dr. Lloyd Warfield. Dr. Holland, after severe work during the cholera plague in June, 18332 was attacked (while living here) but recovered.
Dr. Lloyd Warfield "late of Paris, Ky.," announced May 16, 1833, that he had removed to Lexington and "very respectfully offers his services in the practice of medicine, surgery &c." He said "his shop" was "the same once occupied by Dr. Wm. H. Richardson" (on Main St. before Dr. Richardson removed next door to here) "where he may be found, or in his house on Limestone, nearly opposite Mr. John Brand's residence. Mr. Warfield bought the Dunn house a few years later from Dr. Holland and removed his office here.
Dr. Robert Holland, in the 1838 Directory, announced that he had removed his residence to the building known as Mrs. Coyle's Corner--"entrance Jordan's Row, next door to G. Christy's Auction Store." His shop, he stated, still was on Main St., "next door to G.W. Norton's Drug Store."
Dr. Lloyd Warfield had purchased his "residence" and was listed as "Lloyd Warfield, regular physician, office east side Mill Street, bet. Main and Short," house n.e. cor. Fifth and Mulberry ("Thorn Hill").
The property remained in Dr. Warfield's possession until his death. His executrix, Elmira B. Warfield, sold the house "on the corner of the old alley" and extending back to "John S. Wilson's" to O.P. Beard.
It passed to John R. Allen in 1884, when it was "occupied by George Lee, colored, commonly known as 'Tobe,' as a saloon."
The alley here was mentioned in a 99-year lease to the Main St. corner property in November, 1805. The lease was from the Lexington Presbyterian Congregation to Hart & Bartlett, Merchants (Thos. Hart, Jr., and John C. Bartlett) for "the piece of ground lately occupied by John A. Seitz and at present by Hart & Bartlett, known as No. 1, it being the west corner of the ground formerly laid off for the Public Square." (There were four such leased lots on Main St. from Mill to Cheapside). Hart & Bartlett's property extended back 78 feet and they were to have free use "of an alley 10 feet wide between the aforementioned piece of ground and the ground reserved for the Presbyterian Meeting House."
Next door, across the alley, was the upstairs office of Cassius M. Clay's abolition newspaper, the "True American," which was stormed by Lexington citizens and the presses removed in 1845.
The "True American" was "three doors from the corner" according to the announcement of Wm. L. Neale, publisher, and Cassius M. Clay, editor, in the first issue. General Clay had bought the building from Luther Stephens and Hallet M. Winslow May 16, 1845, and had installed a cannon to defend his abolition press. He lay ill with typhoid fever, at his home at Fifth and Limestone Sts., when an indignation meeting was held at the Court House and resolutions passed requesting him to suppress the newspaper. He issued a defiant refusal, and a committee proceeded to his offices, dismantled his press and shipped the printing outfit to Cincinnati.
General Clay, then residing in Madison County, in 1856 sold the building to Dr. Elisha Warfield, it then being occupied by "Garner and Winchester as a silversmith's shop." Thos, J. Harrison, who owned and operated a drug store on the corner, bought the Clay building in 1860. Both houses were razed years later. A drug store (T.L. Smith) had occupied the corner as far back as 1832, when the remainder of the building was occupied by "Nathl. M. Simpson as a House of Entertainment."
Transcribed by pb October 2004