Christmas Candle-Light Tour of Historic Homes - People Engaged in ...

The Albert A. Stoll House
Home of Scott & Tonya Thompson
123 Kingsbury Avenue -- Built in 1925
Decorated by: Tonya & Scott
This charming bungalow was built in 1925, and its first owner/occupants were
Albert A. and Ollie E. Stoll. Born in 1881, Albert Stoll worked as a letter carrier for the post
office during the earlier years he lived in the house. His wife (maiden name “Merchant”)
was born in 1883, lived in La Porte her entire life, and the two married in October 1907.
Albert Stoll’s father, born in Germany in 1855, was also an “Albert,” but he went
by the name of “Fred.” In his final years, he lived with his son and daughter-in-law at 123
Kingsbury.
Albert’s grandmother on his mother’s side, Sarah M. Burford, was married to
Aaron Burford (a La Porte pioneer, who came here in 1835 from Lancaster County, PA).
Sarah also possessed lineage of national significance. Her maiden name was “Allen,” and
her 1906 obituary states that she was a descendant of Ethan Allen on her father’s side.
Additionally, it states that on her mother’s side, she was a descendant of Clara Barton.
(This means, of course, that Albert Stoll was also descended from these two celebrated
American figures.)
The house remained in the Stoll family for over 55 years, with Albert and Ollie
rearing one child, Alice, in the home. Ollie died on June 17, 1961, at home, and Albert died
less than a year later, on March 30, 1962.
Possession of the home then passed to daughter Alice Bounds, who moved in with
her husband Ronald. The Boundses occupied the house for nearly 20 years, from 1962-
1981. (Ronald worked as an inspector at Modine Manufacturing.)
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Christmas dinner, and in 35 years there was but one omission which was in 1889, caused
by sickness.” He reportedly was a philanthropist “of the first type.” Some of the children
resided in Doniphan County, but others resided in Arizona and Mexico. Prior to his death,
there had not been a death in the family for more than 25 years. He was 84 years old at the
time of his death.
Just fifteen days later, Sarah Ann died—16 February 1905. She was almost 80
years old. Had the couple lived another year, they would have celebrated their sixtieth
wedding anniversary. Her obituary appears in the Atchison Daily Globe, 16 February
1905. Their residence in Atchison was at 928 Mound Street.
Both were returned to La Porte and are buried in Pine Lake Cemetery in Lot 476,
Cherry Hill. The family stone contains information about David and Sarah Ann as well as
the two children, Sarah Elizabeth and William Lincoln, who died in La Porte County while
they resided here. On the back of the monument the following is inscribed: “Thou shalt
come to thy Grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in his season.” Behind
the monument at each of the graves is a small marker: “Father,” “Mother,” “William L.,”
and “Sarah E.”
It is an intriguing
coincidence that the Kansas
home of one of the Wynkoop
sons, Albert Llewellyn, was
also for some time a bed and
breakfast. The Albert Llewellyn
Wynkoop House in Highland,
Doniphan County, was built by
local craftsman, Ely Saunders,
in 1912. It is a “unique and
impressive Prairie style house.
Albert Llewellyn Wynkoop House, Highland, Kansas.
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The large house was likely a
frequent site for entertaining,
due to Wynkoop’s involvement in local politics and as a partner in Chandler & Wynkoop’s
Cash Store. The Prairie style was gaining popularity in Kansas when the house was
erected. The design emphasizes horizontally found in the Prairie style through extremely
wide eaves and rows of tripartite windows, but also incorporates elements of verticality,
especially in the front columns. Saunders was responsible for the construction and likely
the design of many traditional buildings in and around Highland, including the elementary
and high schools and the Highland Christian Church. With the Wynkoop House, Saunders
created a residence that stands out as impressive, substantial, and innovative.”
The house is located at 307 West Pennsylvania, in Highland. It was listed on the
National Register 04 April 2007.
Mark your calendar now!
2009 Christmas
Candle-Light Tour
December 5th and 6th