This is not the first time that Bradley has owned the properties they paid an estimated $5-$6 million for last year.
Before my parents sold our house in 1996, I made a copy of the abstract of title, a then 59-page document. The original date on the abstract is March 23, 1870. Our house at 841 N. Maplewood sat on lucky lot 13, on block 10 in the Bradley subdivision, owned by none other than Lydia Moss Bradley.
According to the maps in the abstract, Maplewood was not the original name of the street. Instead of Maplewood Avenue, the street is listed as Tobias Street, presumably in memory of Mrs. Bradley’s son or husband, who started the fortune that made Bradley University possible.
Lydia and Tobias Bradley came to Peoria from Vevay, Indiana in 1847. Soon after their arrival in Peoria, the Bradley’s became prosperous and influential citizens. They amassed a fortune through various business interests, including a distillery and saw mill, banking, and real estate.
Lydia and Tobias had six children—Rebecca, Clarissa, Tobias, Laura, Mary, and William—none of whom lived to adulthood. Bradley University was founded as a memorial to them. Rebecca, Laura, and Clara (now Glenwood) streets were likely named for the Bradley children.
People in the 19th century seemed to be made of stronger stuff than we are. Mrs. Bradley not only endured unimaginable tragedy, but went on to become a successful businesswoman in her own right and had the philanthropic cast of mind to found Bradley.
Besides tracing the ownership of my childhood home, the abstract is a fascinating historical document. It contains copies of Lydia’s 1873 divorce decree from her second marriage to Edward Clark (Tobias was killed in a carriage accident in 1867), the pre-nuptial decree that Lydia astutely negotiated before this second marriage, and the 1896 Certification of Incorporation of Bradley Polytechnic Institute, which was Bradley’s original name.
In 1899, Mrs. Bradley deeded the property between Institute Pl. and Western Ave. to the east and west and between Main St. and Bradley Ave to the north and south to Bradley Polytechnic. The institution owned the property at 841 N. Maplewood for 12 years. In 1911, three years after Mrs. Bradley died, and “sanctioned by the vote of not less than four trustees,” Bradley sold the property to Antoine and Clara Scholl for $1,555.
Over the next 95 years, three families lived at 841 N. Maplewood for 75 of these years. Dr. John and Isabelle Vonachen lived at the property from 1918 to 1945. I have been told that Dr. Vonachen was the first pediatrician in Peoria. In the 1980’s, I remember Robert Jamieson, one of the pillars of 20th century Peoria saying to me, “You live in the Vonachen house.”
Before my parents sold our house in 1996, I made a copy of the abstract of title, a then 59-page document. The original date on the abstract is March 23, 1870. Our house at 841 N. Maplewood sat on lucky lot 13, on block 10 in the Bradley subdivision, owned by none other than Lydia Moss Bradley.
According to the maps in the abstract, Maplewood was not the original name of the street. Instead of Maplewood Avenue, the street is listed as Tobias Street, presumably in memory of Mrs. Bradley’s son or husband, who started the fortune that made Bradley University possible.
Lydia and Tobias Bradley came to Peoria from Vevay, Indiana in 1847. Soon after their arrival in Peoria, the Bradley’s became prosperous and influential citizens. They amassed a fortune through various business interests, including a distillery and saw mill, banking, and real estate.
Lydia and Tobias had six children—Rebecca, Clarissa, Tobias, Laura, Mary, and William—none of whom lived to adulthood. Bradley University was founded as a memorial to them. Rebecca, Laura, and Clara (now Glenwood) streets were likely named for the Bradley children.
People in the 19th century seemed to be made of stronger stuff than we are. Mrs. Bradley not only endured unimaginable tragedy, but went on to become a successful businesswoman in her own right and had the philanthropic cast of mind to found Bradley.
Besides tracing the ownership of my childhood home, the abstract is a fascinating historical document. It contains copies of Lydia’s 1873 divorce decree from her second marriage to Edward Clark (Tobias was killed in a carriage accident in 1867), the pre-nuptial decree that Lydia astutely negotiated before this second marriage, and the 1896 Certification of Incorporation of Bradley Polytechnic Institute, which was Bradley’s original name.
In 1899, Mrs. Bradley deeded the property between Institute Pl. and Western Ave. to the east and west and between Main St. and Bradley Ave to the north and south to Bradley Polytechnic. The institution owned the property at 841 N. Maplewood for 12 years. In 1911, three years after Mrs. Bradley died, and “sanctioned by the vote of not less than four trustees,” Bradley sold the property to Antoine and Clara Scholl for $1,555.
Over the next 95 years, three families lived at 841 N. Maplewood for 75 of these years. Dr. John and Isabelle Vonachen lived at the property from 1918 to 1945. I have been told that Dr. Vonachen was the first pediatrician in Peoria. In the 1980’s, I remember Robert Jamieson, one of the pillars of 20th century Peoria saying to me, “You live in the Vonachen house.”
Bill and Matilda Motsett and their seven children lived in the house from 1945 to 1961.
And my family, the King family, lived in the house from 1964 to 1996. But, as we will see, my family’s connection to this home predated the 1960’s.
1 comment:
Maria,
What is your maiden name? I am 47 years old, grew up on Moss, went to St Mark's and AOL/SI, and know many of the people you speak of in your blog. I have enjoyed the trip down memory lane and certainly feel your pain over losing your childhood home.
Theresa M
Post a Comment