History of the house
Stewards Through the Years
Before the House ( - 1857)
Although the Kennon House is one of the oldest buildings in St. Louis today, its age is insignificant compared to the thousands of years of history in the fertile river area in which it resides. For millennia, the area that contains what is now known as St. Louis' Carondelet Neighborhood has been populated by indigenous persons. The earliest records show that the Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Souix [2] existed in the region before 800 AD, before they moved north near present day Minnesota State [4]. Later, the Osage Nation would lay claim to the area - since at least 1200 AD [3].
In 1700 AD, Jesuit missionaries traveled to the area to preach to the local nations, settling at a small island at the mouth of the river Des Peres - about a mile south of the future site of the Kennon house. This mission was short lived and disbanded in 1703, although there is evidence that a few settlers may have remained in the area as late as 1723 [5].
In 1767, Clement DeLore de Terget, a French-born man who had been given administrative rights by the Spanish Crown over lands in the area, traveled north from St. Genevieve, Missouri and settled just a few hundred yards west of where the Kennon House stands, at the base of modern-day Elwood street. The settlement he founded would later be joined by French settlers from Cahokia and Kaskaskia.
The parcel that The Kennon House occupies resides within block 88 of the original 92 parcel blocks, each 320 feet square, created by Delore in the 18th century.
The Kennons build the house (1857 - 1887)
In the middle of the 1800s, St. Louis experienced more than its fair share of crisis, with fires and disease ravaging the city from 1830 - 1890. When cyclical outbreaks of Cholera, Typhoid fever, and Spanish Flu continued wiping out large swaths of the population in the 1850s, many well-off St. Louis City residents chose to migrate south to the less-densely populated city of Carondelet.
Frederick A. Kennon (age 34), an Auctioneer and Commission merchant was among those who made the move. On August 1st in 1857, Frederick's wife, Harriet Leonard Taylor Kennon, purchased a vacant 7500sqft section of the 88th block of the city of Carondelet, at the intersection of 3rd Street (Today, Minnesota Ave) and "D" Street (Today, Dover Street). The lot was purchased from James McKown of St. Louis City and County for $650 (about $25,000 today). The next year, the Kennon's built a house on the site. The couple relocated to the house (which was put in Harriet's name) from a residence between 10th & 11th Street in St. Louis city. Frederick continued working as an auctioneer and merchant until his death at age 50 on November 18th, 1873. [1]
After Fredericks death, Harriet borrowed $1500 (a little over $41k today) on a term of 5 years from Elias Loomis (of New Haven, Connecticut), using her house as collateral. The property was later sold at auction by the Courthouse in St. Louis on Feb 11th, 1880 to Elias Loomis, who bid $1648 (about $48.5K today). [1]
The Stackls move-in (1887 - 1907)
Seven years later, in 1887, ELIAS LOOMIS sold the property to GEORGE STACKL for $1,600 (about $51,000 today). George was a builder and carpenter who was born in St. Louis County, and he lived there with his wife (MARIA E. STACKL) for 2 decades, raising 3 daughters and a son. [1]
His daughters (Lorena, Della, and Nellie) were employed as schoolteachers and his son (George J.) was employed as a cashier for F.W. Brockman commission co. [1]
The Uthoffs manage the property (1907 - 1961)
On October 18 in 1907, the STACKLs (now in their late 60s) sold the property to JOHN H. and ROSA UTHOFF for $3,400 (about $115k today). John, a prominent St. Louis real estate broker, sold the property just 10 days later (on October 28th) to EMMA HUSSING. She owned the property only 65 days before she died. The house remained in the possession of her estate for 6 years, after which a trustee of her estate transferred the property back to the JOHN H. UTHOFF REAL ESTATE CO (on January 27, 1914), which rented the property to tenants. During this time, Christian Forstel and his wife Ethel Mae lived there, and their son Chris Arlie was born there on December 4th, 1920. [1]
9 years later, in 1923, the firm transferred ownership of the property back to JOHN UTHOFF who lived at a much newer mason framed house at 513 Dover Place (built just two years earlier in 1912). As a result, he converted the Kennon house into 2 units (one on each floor) and rented them out to various tennants:
In 1923 Eli B Greenway lived on the first floor and Charles G Huber lived on the second. [1]
On May 5 1933, JOHN H. UTHOFF transferred the residence to his daughter and son-in-law: CLIFFTON T. and ELFRIEDE MILLER, who resided in a NJ suburb. In 1944 John H. Uthoff moved into the residence with his wife, Augusta, and two children, Robert and Ruth. [1]
On JAN 18 1960, the family split the parcel presently at 312 Dover Street and transferred it to Robert G. Uthoff and Robt. M. (joint tenants). The Millers transferred the main house to H. P. B. REALTY Company (Howard Bennett). [1]
The Simons (1961 - 2003)
In May of 1961, the property was acquired by Lawrence J. and Mary N. Simon. Mary died in July 8th, 1987.
Larry was re-married (to Jacqueline Simon), then died on November 12th,1998, passing the property to Jacqueline.
In 2000, Jacqueline performed some renovation work on the property, including electrical work and adding a back porch to the property.
The Kootmans (1907 - 1961)
In 2003, Jaqueline sold the property, as well as various adjoining properties, to to Steven P. Kootman for $140,000. Kootman tore down the houses located at 5805 and 5811 Minnesota and consolidated the parcels into a compound, building retaining walls and fences in 2004.
The Goodleafs (2022 - Present)
In 2022, Kootman signed a contract to sell the compound to Matthew Goodleaf, a businessman working for Anheuser-Busch, and his partner Nora Goodleaf for $175,000. The couple moved-in, performed repairs on the parcel at 312 Dover so that they could occupy the residence while repairing the larger historic property. Renovations continue on the compound, with an expected completion date in 2025.
Sources
[1] https://mohistory.org/collections/item/N03366?fullscreen=1
[2] https://native-land.ca/maps/territories/oceti-sakowin-sioux/
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osage_Nation
[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sioux
[5] https://missouriencyclopedia.org/places/river-des-peres-jesuit-mission-1700-1703
Owner Profiles
The Kennon Family
Frederick Allen Kennon
Born: 05 AUG 1823 [Plattsburgh, Clinton, New York, USA] [Source]
Died: 18 NOV 1873 [Carondelet, Missouri, USA] [Source]
Married: 26 OCT 1846 [Harriet Leonard Taylor] [Source]
Profession: Auctioneer, Soldier (Civil War)
had 9 children: Frederick William, Annie Sophia, Alice McKee, Florence, Julia Taylor, Georgia Walker, Harry Bauregard, Robert Taylor, & Catherine "Katie" Munsell.
In St. Louis, Frederick worked as an auctioneer and commission merchant at 79 N. 4th st (old numbers). In 1871, he moved his place of business to 718-20 North 5th street (now called Broadway). [Source]
His family lived on the south-side of Pine Street between 10th & 11th street before building the KENNON HOUSE in 1858.
On July 1, 1863, he registered for the Civil War Draft at age 41.
He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, 2235, Block 161, Lot 6.
Harriet Leonard (Taylor) Kennon
Born: ?? ??? 1828 [???, Kentucky, USA] [Source]
Died: 09 AUG 1899 [Saint Louis, Missouri, USA] [Source]
Married: 26 OCT 1846 [Frederick Allen Kennon]
Profession: ???
Harriet Leonard Taylor married Frederick Allen Kennon in Franklin Co, KY
She had 9 children: Frederick William, Annie Sophia, Alice McKee, Florence, Julia Taylor, Georgia Walker, Harry Bauregard, Robert Taylor, & Catherine "Katie" Munsell.
Harriet buried (or reburied) four children on March 24, 1874: Julia Taylor (d. June 10th, 1860 - Age 2), Florence (d. December 23, 1863 - Age 8 years, 6 months, and 3 days), David, & George Walker (d. January 20th, 1867 - Age 4 years, 7 months). All of the above deaths may have been from Smallpox.
She was buried beside her late husband Frederick on Aug. 11 in Bellefontaine Cemetery.
The Loomis Family
ELIAS LOOMIS
Born: 07 AUG 1811 [Willington, Connecticut, USA]
Died: 15 AUG 1889 [New Haven, Connecticut, USA]
Married: 18 MAY 1840 [Julia Elmore]
Profession: Astronomer, Mathematician, and Professor
Loomis was born on August 7, 1811, in Willington, Connecticut, one of six children of Reverend Hubbel Loomis and his wife, Jerusha Burt of Longmeadow, Massachusetts.
Loomis was married, May 18, 1840, to Julia Elmore Upson, of Tallmadge, Ohio, who died in 1854. They had two sons, Francis Engelsby and Henry Bradford Loomis, each of whom established a scientific fellowship at Yale.
Loomis was interested in many topics - geneology, astronomy, mathematics, natural philosophy, Latin, and meteorology.
Loomis taught for many years, first at Shurtleff College, then Western Reserve College, Hudson Ohio, in Paris, Princeton, and finally Yale. He also was well published, both in journals, papers, and textbooks, Including Analytical Geometry and of the Differential and Integral Calculus, published in 1835. Loomis's writings thus played an important role in the transfer of analytical mathematical knowledge to the Far East. [Source]
The Stackl Family
George Stackl
Born: 11 Feb 1839 [St. Louis County]
Died: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Married: ?? ??? ???? [Maria E. Stackl]
Profession: Carpenter and Builder [Source]
George had 3 daughters: Lorena, Della, and Nellie; and had 1 son: George J.
George's mother's was Catherine Girault, from Lorraine, France
George's mother's was John Stackl, from Lorraine, France
Maria E. Stackl [Maiden: ???]
Born: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Died: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Married: ?? ??? ???? [George E. Stackl]
Profession: ???
Maria had 3 daughters: Lorena, Della, and Nellie; and had 1 son: George J.
The Hussing Family
EMMA HUSSING
Born: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Died: January 1, 1908 [St. Louis, Missouri, USA]
Married: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Profession: ???
No other information is known about Emma
The Uthoff Family
JOHN UTHOFF
Born: 31 December 1857 [???, Missouri, USA] [Source]
Died: 19 NOV 1949 [???] [Source]
Married: 19 SEP 1882 [Rosa Mehl]
Profession: Real Estate Broker
When John H. Uthoff was born, his father, Herman Uthoff Sr, was 29 and his mother, Helen Madden, was 22. He married Rosa Mehl on 19 September 1882, in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Carondelet, St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1900 and St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, United States for about 20 years. During that time, he was the president of the JOHN H. UTHOFF REALTY COMPANY, through which he owned many prominent buildings in St. Louis.
JOHN H. UTHOFF REALTY CO
The company was located at 6815 Michigan Ave.
No known information, outside of a mention in a letter from the desk of DR. WM G. SWEKOSKY, May 8 1960.
The Miller Family
Cliffton Trefts Miller
Born: 30 JUL 1892 [St. Louis, Missouri, USA]
Died: 16 JAN 1987 [Sabetha, Nemaha, Kansas, United States]
Married: 14 JUL 1928 [Elfriede Uthoff]
Profession: Electrical Engineer, Soldier (WWI)
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L2NX-C58/clifton-trefts-miller-1892-1987
He was born June 30, 1891 in St.Louis, Missouri, and moved with his family to Webster Groves, a suburb, at the age of seven. He graduated from elementary and Webster High School (1910) where he was active in sports. He received his degree in electrical engineering from Washington University in 1915 and began working for the Utah Power and Light company in Provo Canyon (Olmsted) the same year. He left to join the Navy in 1917 to serve in World War I as an ensign. After 1920, he resigned and lived and worked in New York City, eventually becoming an engineer with New York Telephone Company until his retirement in 1956.
Clif married Elfriede Uthoff July 14, 1928 in St. Louis. They made their home in Haworth, N. J. where Clif's activities included being Cub and Boy Scoutmaster and Commander of the Haworth American Legion Post. He was also a member of the First Congregational Church of Haworth.
In 1967 Clif and Elfriede moved to Shrewberry, Mo. to be near brothers and sisters in that area. They became members of the Friday Club and First Congregational Church, both in Webster. In May 1963 they moved to Sabetha. He died suddenly at Sabetha Community Hospital after a fall in his apartment.
https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L2NX-C58/clifton-trefts-miller-1892-1987
Elfrieda Augusta Uthoff
Born: 05 OCT 1898 [Missouri, USA]
Died: 02 AUG 1985 [Sabetha, Nemaha, KS, USA]
Married: 14 JUL 1928 [Clifton Miller]
Profession: ???
daughter of John Uthoff
Listed as a Sophomore at the Washington University School of Commerce and Finance (Class of 1920) (LINK)
Listed as a Freshman Hockey Sub at the Washington University School of commerce and Finance (LINK), and a member of the Women’s Athletic Association.
Listed as living at 712 Dover Place her junior year
Listed as an honor student her Sophomore year
Charter Member of Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Zeta Chapter on Jun 8 1920 (LINK)
Joined the Women’s honorary hockey society at washington university in 1920
Was a junior rep for the fraternity society at WASHU her junior year, and a Pi Mu Alpha rep
A benefactor of the MOBOT
H.P.B REALTY COMPANY
No know information, outside of a mention in a letter from the desk of DR. WM G. SWEKOSKY, May 8 1960
The Simon Family
LAWRENCE J SIMON
Born: ?? ??? 1932/1931 [???]
Died: ?? ??? 1998 [???]
Married: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Profession: ???
Lived at 2718 Creekmont Ln, Saint Louis, MO 63125-3522 [Source]
The Kootman Family
STEVEN PRESTON KOOTMAN
Born: ?? JUL 1956 [???]
Died: NA
Married: ?? ??? ???? [???]
Profession: Business Owner, Hairstylist
Steven Kootman is the President of Preston Hair Design INC, aka Preston Salon
Other business Enterprises include: Novak’s, Siam
Per an article in Citylife: “He’s one of St. Louis’ leading hair stylists, but one would never know it by talking to him. Steven Preston Kootman, owner of Preston Salon, is interesting, incredibly talented and as humble as they come. From the girl next door to A-List celebrities, he’s been working his magic for more than 40 years. Steven discussed the industry with Clayton Lifestyle and how he’s stayed successful for so many years.”
The Goodleaf Family
MATTHEW GOODLEAF
Born: 23 APR 1991 [Jacksonville, NC]
Died: NA
Married: NA
Profession: Businessman, Artist
Matthew William Goodleaf II was born as Matthew William Coon II on April 23, 1991 to Matthew William Coon (Sr.) and Amy Lynn Smart in Jacksonville, NC while his father was stationed at the Marine Corps base Camp Lejune. The second eldest of six children, Matthew grew up in many places, relocating as ordered by his father's military career. Matthew spent time in NC, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Okinawa, and Illinois before moving to St. Louis in 2009 to attend St. Louis University to study engineering and run D1 Track and Cross Country. Matthew left college in 2014 due to financing issues, and began working part time for Anheuser-Busch as a Spanish-speaking accounting clerk. He was promoted into various positions over the next 5 years, culminating in an executive position in NYC. He relocated to NYC for 2 years, where he met his partner, Nora Goodleaf. They returned to St. Louis in 2021 when Matthew received a Directorship, based in StL. He continued working for Anheuser-Busch to the present day in various roles. In August 2022, Matthew signed a contract to purchase and restore the Kennon House. He took posession in October 2022.
Nora Goodleaf
Born: 08 JUN 1993 [Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY]
Died: NA
Married: NA
Profession: Artist
Nora was born on June 8th, 1993 to Collette Goodleaf and George Goodleaf in Port Jefferson, Long Island, NY. Nora moved to Milford, DE with her mother when she was 13, where she resided until she moved to NYC to attend college at NYU Polytech. She attended for 2 years, until withdrawing. She worked various jobs in customer service and design work before meeting her future partner Matthew Coon in 2020. She relocated to St. Louis with Matthew in 2021, where she continued her work in Art, Design, and customer service. In 2023, she enrolled in an art program at Lindenwood University and began working full-time as an artist.