Family Moved Into an East Washington Street Cottage in the 1920s

      In the summer of 1905, John Woodward purchased a lot in Irvington and erected a pretty cottage at 5858 East Washington Street. William W. Fellows was the first resident of the house. He operated a feed store at 201 South Audubon Road. A variety of other people leased the home throughout the 1910s. At some point during that decade James L. Kingsbury purchased the house. While the details are not yet known, we know that he sold the house to his youngest brother Theodore Kingsbury in 1919. 

     Theodore and Cornelia Kingsbury and their daughter, Cornelia, had been living in Washington D.C. due to Mr. Kingsbury's job with the Department of Agriculture. They had only been there about two years when they decided to return to Irvington. Part of that decision might have been the fact that Mrs. Kingsbury's father, Hezekiah Goe, died that year. Perhaps she wanted to be nearer to her mother and siblings. In fact, the family did not move into their Washington Street home right away, likely to give the tenants a chance to find another residence. A census enumerator visited the Goe family home at 128 South Ritter on January 8, 1920, and noted that 33-year-old Theodore Kingsbury and 28-year-old Cornelia Goe Kingsbury along with four-year-old daughter, Cornelia Kingsbury, lived with 71-year-old Cornelia Farnsworth Goe, the matriarch of the Goe family. Also living in that large home included Cornelia Kingsbury's sisters, 47-year-old Clara Goe, a teacher, and 38-year-old Grace Goe, a stenographer. 

     By the end of 1920, Theodore and Cornelia Kingbsury moved into their home on East Washington Street. The following year, the state of Indiana hired Mr. Kingsbury as a gas inspector and supervisor. He traveled the state of Indiana ensuring that gas and oil wells were properly plugged. Later, he became the State Geologist. Their return from Washington D.C. seemed to be working out and then tragedy struck. 

     1923 started out as a normal and joyful year for the young Kingsbury family. Mr. Kingsbury kept busy with his job and on the golf course. Mrs. Kingsbury remained active with the Irvington Coterie Club where she presented papers and helped to host. Joy entered the house when the couple welcomed their second child, Richard Kingsbury, on May 4, 1923. Neighbors might have noticed that Dr. John K. Kingsbury, a cousin to Theodore, had been visiting the house cottage often as Mrs. Kingsbury had been afflicted by tuberculosis for most of her life. She seemed to really struggle after the birth of her son and died five months later on October 23, 1923 at the age of 33. 

     Theodore Kingsbury was now faced with the task of raising two small children on his own. He briefly married, but that union ended in divorce. The 1930 Federal Census indicated that young Cornelia and Richard moved back in with the Goe family at 128 South Ritter Avenue for several years while Theodore traveled the state and the Midwest as a geologist.

     The Kingsbury era of the home ended in 1931 with the arrival of the Ihrig family. 

Little Richard Kingsbury rode his tricycle in front of his house at 5858 East Washington Street c1925. Behind him you can see the neighboring houses at 5864 and 5868 East Washington Street. A man can be seen with a ladder at the home of Mrs. Hattie Mills, a widow, who lived at 5864 East Washington Street. (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

Richard "Dick" Kingsbury posed in front of his house at 5858 East Washington Street c1928 (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

Richard Kingsbury (front) posed with sister, Cornelia Kingsbury and three unidentified boys at 5858 East Washington Street c1928 (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

5858 East Washington Street in 2025 (photo courtesy of Molly Zentz)

     I wish to thank Kathy and Dick Meyer. They have been so generous with their time and stories about the Kingsbury family. I also wish to thank Steve Barnett and Molly Zentz for their help with this post. 

Sources: Construction of House: "Realty Transfers," Indianapolis Star, June 3, 1905, p. 9; "Building Permits," Indianapolis Star, August 8, 1905, p. 12; "Realty Transfers," Indianapolis Star, September 12, 1905, p. 12; Jones Family--Polk's Indianapolis City Directory, 1907-1910; Theodore Kingsbury purchase of home--"Realty Transfers," Indianapolis News, October 20, 1919, p. 5; Life in the house--"Ex-Editor Named State Gas Supervisor," Indiana Daily Times, August 5, 1921, p. 1; "Club Calendar," January 21, 1923, p. 41; Death of Cornelia Kingsbury--"Mrs. Kingsbury Dead," Indianapolis News, October 24, 1923, p. 3. Mrs. Kingsbury's death record was signed by Dr. John K. Kingsbury. He also noted that she had been living with tuberculosis for 28 years. 

Editor's Note: 5858 East Washington Street was known as 5832 East Washington Street from 1905 until 1910.