Lost Irvington: The Kingsbury Home on Lowell Avenue

      The home belonging to James and Mary Kingsbury has been missing since 1917. In fact, it has been gone longer than it ever stood on what is today the northeast corner of Lowell and Bolton Avenues. James G. Kingsbury, the editor and publisher of the Indiana Farmer, a publication for Hoosiers involved in the agricultural and horticultural business, moved his large family into 5860 Lowell Avenue in 1886 or 1887. We do not know if they were the first owners of the grand Italianate home, but they lived in the residence until 1903. The family also owned a 28-acre farm behind the house on what is today North Bolton and Campbell Avenues. 

     Long before he moved to Irvington, James G. Kingsbury had likely known about the community as he was very involved in the Prohibition Party along with one of the founders of Irvington, Sylvester Johnson. Many of his children also attended Butler University. One of his sons, James L. Kingsbury moved to the area one year before his father and settled along Layman Avenue. Irvington's "dry" laws likely appealed to Mr. Kingsbury as well. 

     In total, James G. Kingsbury had four wives. His first wife, Mary Layman Kingsbury died before he moved to Irvington. Not long after relocating, Mary Taylor Kingsbury, his second wife, died at the young age of 43 on August 5, 1888. A year later, James G. Kingsbury married Kate Gunckel of Cincinnati on September 4, 1889. She lived long enough to move with him from his lovely home on Lowell Avenue to another residence on Layman Avenue. Only his fourth and final wife, Anna Graham Risk Kingsbury, outlived him. 

      When a census taker arrived at 5860 Lowell Avenue in 1900, he found a very full house. Besides 68-year-old James G. Kingsbury and 61-year-old Kate Gunckel Kingsbury, the enumerator also noted 25-year-old Charles Kingsbury, a son, who worked with the telephone company; 21-year-old Howard Kingsbury, who worked as a railroad clerk; 20-year-old John Fletcher Kingsbury, who served as a mechanic; and 13-year-old Theodore Kingsbury, who was still in school. Mr. Kingsbury also welcomed his former mother-in-law, 84-year-old Jane B. Taylor and his 22-year-old step daughter, Edna Gunckel into the home. Miss Gunckel worked as a proofreader. A 20-year-old servant named Lena Funke and her 2-year-old son, Edgar Funke also boarded in the house. 

     In an interview with a reporter for the Indianapolis News in 1903, Mr. Kingsbury noted that he had created a model farm and had hoped that one of his seven sons would take over the business; however, none of them were interested so he sold the house and the land to Willis Wright of Terre Haute, Indiana. The Kingsburys held one final reunion in the residence on July 3, 1903. After their departure, many people moved in and out of the house until W.H. Cooper applied for a permit to demolish the structures in 1917. Fascinatingly, Josephine Hyde Woodbury, pioneering female developer, purchased the farm and created a new subdivision called "Edgehill." A beautiful brick American Foursquare home was built for the Lewis family on the site of the former Kingsbury home in 1920. 

The Kingsbury home at 5860 Lowell Avenue c1895 (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

Kingsbury home at 5860 Lowell Avenue c1895 (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

5860 Lowell Avenue c1900 (courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

The Kingsbury home at 5860 Lowell Avenue can be seen on this 1889 map of Irvington. The residence and barn are located just next to "89" on this map. You will note that Bolton Avenue north of Lowell Avenue did not exist yet. Pleasant street, denoted in a dotted line, was never built. . (Irvington Historical Society)

James G. Kingsbury created a model farm behind his house at 5860 Lowell Avenue. He can be seen here c1895. The farm stretched up to Pleasant Run stream and over to Arlington Avenue. (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

"Kendall," a farm hand, (far left) stood near Nathan Howard (Punk) Kingsbury, Theodore Kingsbury, and John Fletcher (Butch) Kingsbury. Charles Kingsbury stood next to Billy the horse c1892. (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury Family)

James G. Kingsbury, the Secretary of the Indiana Farmer, kept an office for the publication on the grounds of the Indiana State Fair. (photo courtesy of the Kingsbury family)

Site of former Kingsbury home on June 23, 2025

 Up Next:  The Intersection of Lowell and Layman Avenues in the Early 20th Century

     I wish to thank Kathy and Dick Meyer for the stories and use of the photographs from the Kingsbury family. Kathy is a descendant of James G. and Mary Taylor Kingsbury. 

Sources:  Polk's Indianapolis City Directories, 1886-1918; US Federal Census Records, 1880, 1900, 1910; Interview with Kathy and Dick Meyer, June 9, 2025; Kingsbury family in the 1880s: "Personal Mention," Indianapolis Journal, May 27, 1884, p. 3; "Death of Mrs. Kingsbury," Indianapolis Journal, August 7, 1888; "Personal and Society," Indianapolis Journal, September 5, 1889, p. 7;  Prohibition Work: "Articles of Association," Indianapolis Journal, January 17, 1885, p. 7; "The City in Brief," Indianapolis Journal, November 10, 1885, p. 8; "Prohibitionist Satisfied," Indianapolis Journal, December 21, 1889, p. 1; Agricultural work:  Indiana Farmer and agricultural work: "The Agricultural Board," Indianapolis Journal, January 8, 1885, ; "In Brief," Indianapolis Journal, June 10, 1887, p. 8; Buying and selling house:  "Personal," Indianapolis News, June 11, 1887, p. 2; "Movement in Real Estate," Indianapolis Journal, May 27, 1888, p. 5; "Real Estate Transfers," Indianapolis Journal, October 31, 1889, p. 7; "Model Fruit Farm Sold," Indianapolis News, July 4, 1903, p. 24; "Twenty-Seven Transfers Made Matter of Record Yesterday," Indianapolis Journal, August 4, 1903, p. 8; Demolition--"Building Permits," Indianapolis Star, November 7, 1917; Edgehill--"Edghill in Irvington," Indianapolis News, June 21, 1919, p. 3.

Orlando Little Designed Irvington Home

Wilbur and Julia Cooper Doran had been living in Irvington since their marriage in 1934. They resided along both Burgess and Campbell Avenues. As their family grew, the couple knew that they wanted a bigger house. In the 1940s, the Dorans lived in a small two-bedroom house at 737 North Campbell Avenue with three small children. Mr. Doran earned a comfortable salary as a chemist for the Eli Lilly Company so they had options. After World War II ended, veterans flooded home and houses were hard to find. Many folks began to build ranch houses in new subdivisions in the far parts of the county, but the Dorans were not interested in leaving Irvington. By the late 1940s, there were few available lots in Irvington, but around the corner from their home they noticed an old apple orchard on a single lot in the 5700 block of Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive and purchased it.

5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive in 2019 (photo courtesy of Alicia Schwering) 

Sometime in 1949, the Dorans commissioned an architect named Orlando B. Little to design their new home. Miriam Doran Lash, the daughter of Wilbur and Julia Doran, remembers sitting in Mr. Little's office and playing with the model of the house that he had prepared for the family. While more research is needed on this interesting architect, it is known that some of his religious and state-owned structures are still around today. In the 1920s, he designed the barracks for the Indiana Boys School in Plainfield. In 1931, he received the commission to draw up the plans for structures at the Indiana School for the Feeble Minded in Butlerville, Indiana. It is also known that he designed the West Michigan Methodist Episcopal Church at 2132 West Michigan Street in 1924 and the Ray Street Nazarene Church at 1242 West Ray Street in 1952 in Indianapolis.

Orlando B. Little, an architect, designed 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. (photo Indianapolis News, January 21, 1958, 9)

Orlando B. Little designed the West Michigan Street Methodist Episcopal Church in 1924. It still stands at 2132 West Michigan Street in Indianapolis in 2019. 

Orlando B. Little also designed the Ray Street Nazarene Church in 1952. It still stands at 1242 West Ray Street in Indianapolis in 2019. 

Wilbur and Julia Cooper Doran purchased this lot at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive in 1949. They hired Orlando B. Little to design a home for them on the site. (historic photo courtesy of Miriam Lash, Jennifer Lash, and Alicia Schwering) 

In the autumn of 1950, the Dorans moved into their brand new house at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. The two-story brick home was ample for their family. With a long living room with a fireplace in the middle of it, the Dorans would have plenty of room to host gatherings in their residence. Mrs. Doran was very active in various clubs and associations and held several meetings in her home. For instance, on February 4, 1952, she invited the local chapter of the American Association of University Women to gather in her home. The purpose of the meeting was to examine the local school system. Several women spoke at the event including Olma Bruck, a former Indianapolis School Board Member.

While Mrs. Doran stayed home to raise their three children, Mr. Doran was a very busy person at Eli Lilly.  He was an important research chemist who not only authored articles on barbiturates for the American Chemical Society, but his research on hypnotics led to a patent for Seconal. A publication put out by Eli Lilly revealed that Mr. Doran actually obtained several patents on hypnotics. He was considered one of the leading authorities in the world on barbituric-acid chemistry.

For the Doran children, the new home was a perfect place in which to find areas to play. Across the street, the boys used a small field next to Pleasant Run for all kinds of ball games. The stream itself was also an inviting place for the children to explore nature.

David Lash, the son-in-law of Wilbur and Julia Doran, attempted to dig out the family driveway at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive c 1965.  (photo courtesy of Miriam Lash and Alicia Schwering)

Family dinner, January 1954:  Wilbur, Miriam, Julia, and James Doran gathered for a meal in their dining room at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive.  Philip Doran likely took the photo. 

The Doran family dog reclined next the fireplace at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive in 1967. (photo courtesy of Miriam Lash and Alicia Schwering) 

Julia Cooper Doran, who had deep roots in Irvington, posed next to her Christmas tree c1966 (photo courtesy of Miriam Lash and Alicia Schwering)

Happy Day: Miriam Doran married David Lash of 47 North Layman Avenue at the Irvington Methodist Church on August 6, 1965. After the wedding, the Dorans hosted a reception. In this photo, the newlyweds departed out a back door of her childhood home at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive. Judy and Barbara Doran can also be seen in the image. (photo courtesy of Miriam Lash and Alicia Schwering)

House for sale c1982: The Dorans had lived in their home for over 30 years when they put it on the market. Harold Papiska was the next resident of the house. (photo courtesy of Miriam Lash and Alicia Schwering)

Today, the home at 5770 East Pleasant Run Parkway North Drive looks much the same as it did in 1950. The pin oak planted by Mr. Doran in the front yard now towers over the house. The Dorans sold the dwelling in the early 1980s. Later residents altered a few things on the back of the house, but the residence is largely as Mr. Little designed it.

Sources:  About Orlando Little:  "Orlando Little, Architect, Dies," Indianapolis News, January 21, 1958, 9; "Notice to Bidders," Indianapolis Star, October 21, 1925; "West Michigan M.E. Church Work Started," Indianapolis Star, September 8, 1924, 17; "Sealed Proposals," Indianapolis Star, May 21, 1931, 8; "New Ray Street Nazarene Church to be Dedicated," Indianapolis Star, April 21, 1954, 8; The Doran family:  "AAUW Study Groups Schedule 6 Meetings," Indianapolis Star, February 3, 1952, 65; "Lash-Doran," Indianapolis Star, January 6, 1965, 98; "Irvington Mother's Club," Indianapolis Star, January 12, 1964, 73. Clipping from Eli Lilly Company Promotional, "Wilbur Doran Scores Scientific 1st in Synthesizing New Anesthetic," Undated. (collection of Miriam Lash)

I am indebted to Miriam Doran Lash for her stories and information about the photos. I would also like to thank Alicia Schwering who introduced me to the Doran/Lash family. Jennifer Lash, the daughter of Miriam and David Lash has also assisted with the post. Thank you to all three of these ladies!