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JOHN ANDERSON I HOUSE
183 N. Limestone St.,
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Built 1807
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
John Anderson I (thus designated in this story to distinguish him from his son, known as John Anderson, Sr.) built the house here in 1807 that evolved into a hotel today. He bought the lot--No. 14, McDermid's Square--in 1807 "together with the premises…..and appurtenances," showing he already had built the house, but paid only the "lot price" of $200 for it. He conveyed part of it to his partner, James Wilson, in 1811, mentioning his house here. Following a boundary dispute with Wilson, Anderson had a new deed to the property filed by McDermid's heirs, which is recited in connection with the next house--No. 179.
(Postmaster John W. Hunt, in July, 1799, advertised "uncalled for letters" in the Kentucky Gazette, and the list was headed by "John Anderson, joiner," showing that John Anderson I came to Lexington early.
Soon after the "dispute" was settled, John Anderson I died. (died Oct. 6, 1822). Appraisers filed report Jan. 14, 1823, of his personal estate--there was no will recorded. It showed a Wilson-partnership account due from Capt. John Postlethwait, and several accounts of carpenters--Maddox and John Fisher, etc., as well as one of Stephen Chipley. He was shown as residing on Market St. in 1818 (Directory), and therefore must have rented out his house here.
His son, "John Anderson, Sr.," died by 1832, as a partition of property was made in April of that year, reading: "We, William, Nancy, Mary, James and Jane Anderson, heirs of John Anderson, Sr., acknowledge to have received of our brother, John Anderson, Jr., the administrator of our father, John Anderson, Sr., the full and entire amount of our respective portions of our father's estate."
The hotel property here emerged in 1883 as "a dwelling house and premises" fronting 40 feet and between the properties of Thos. Bradley and G.D. Wilgus. It was at that time sold by R.T. and J.E. Anderson to Mrs. Susan Caden, wife of Owen Caden. Succeeding conveyances were Caden to Simon Weil, to J. Laval, to Geo. A. Bain, to Mark Stevens, to Annie E. Shields.
Transcribed by P. Brinegar, March 2000