COL. JOHN KEISER HOUSE

#344 S. Upper ST., Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built bef. 1818

Col. John Keiser, proprietor of the Lexington Hotel, purchased this house in January, 1832, and the deed stated it was "the same house built by Michael Clarke."

Investigation of the origin of the lot and its improvements developed that Michael Clarke, brother of a colored contractor of early Lexington, had built a log house here in 1805 or 1806. The brick must have been built in the early 1820's.

Col. Keiser met with financial stringency in 1837 and Deputy Sheriff James R. Sloan levied on "the household and tavern furniture also a house and lot bought of Michael Clark's heirs" and his slaves--"Aaron, Kitt, Rootes, Hampton, Philip, Malinda, Dinah, Luckey, Elizabeth and Ellen." The house and slaves were purchased July 10, 1837, by James E. Davis, Lexington's second mayor.

In June, 1839, Davis conveyed the house to John B. Johnson. 1838 Directory: "Mrs. Johnson, l.s. S Upper bet. High and Maxwell.")

Johnson and wife, Elizabeth M., sold the property in 1864 to James and Edward Shannon. (1838 Directory--John B. Johnson, saddle and harness maker, 29 E. Main St., res. 113 E. Main St. He was an officer in the local militia and member of the school board.)

The latter deed called for "certain houses and lots on Upper St. nearly opposite the late residence of Col. Durham," stating that "the lot contains a brick and a frame house" (where the newer house on the north now stands).

Edward Shannon and wife, Ellen, traded the property in 1877 to S.M. Hibler and wife, C.A., together with a house on Mill St., for a 283 acre farm on Hickman Creek.

Mack D. Richardson and Mrs. Lizzie Richardson next purchased the house, and sold it to John B. Randall in 1883. The latter conveyed it to Julia E. Ambrose in 1885, saying it was the same conveyed to Lizzie F. Gill by J.F. Ambrose. Elizabeth F. Gill's heirs sold it to Mrs. Emily Matheny in 1904.

(Col. John Keiser in 1859-60 was conducting an inn at south-east corner Market and Church, "James March House," and had a high-class and large group of distinguished patrons residing there).

Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.

Transcribed by pb, July 2006