Unraveling the Past:

History and Ancestry

of

Joel Roberts Ninde:

Fort Wayne’s First Female Architect

By Corinne Toth

Revised February 2008

Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Joel, and all women who have succeeded in the architectural field.

Without the previous research of historians interested in Joel Roberts Ninde, this paper would not have been written. This research paper consists of two parts: 1998 and 2005. I combined both papers for this blog.

Thanks to Professor Ralph Violette, retired who put my first research paper on his history web page at IPFW, which led to the second part of my research in Mobile, Alabama in 2005.

Thanks to Dr. Michael Kaufmann, Liberal Studies who suggested a blog, so a complete history of Joel’s descendents in Mobile and her life in Fort Wayne would be available to the public.

Thanks to Sara Norwood, graphic designer who patiently guided me in creating this blog.

Thanks to my editors Joline Bowers, Roy and Ray Isbell, Mobile, Alabama, and Christine Erickson, History professor IPFW.

Thanks to the descendents of Joel Roberts Ninde whom I interviewed at the reunion of August 2005 in Mobile.

Thanks to Roy, Ray and Debbie Isbell for organizing the Roberts Reunion and transcribing the interviews.

Thanks to Harold Lopshire, ARCH, Angie Quinn, ARCH, Creagor Smith, and Carolyn Devoe, whom I interviewed in 1998 in Fort Wayne.

Thanks to Angie Quinn, who provided the internship with ARCH and the set of questions I took to Mobile in 2005.

Joel Roberts Ninde, Indiana's First Female Architect

I. Introduction

Joel Roberts Ninde, Fort Wayne, Indiana’s first female architect, left an amazing legacy of comfortable, artistic and affordable houses. Soon after her October 1900 marriage in Indianapolis, the couple moved to the Fort Wayne community to make their home. Unable to find a suitable dwelling and unwilling to move into her in-laws house, Joel decided to design her dream house and thus launched a successful architectural career in the Fort Wayne area. Joel believed that her “house of convenience designs” needed to be a blend of economical building materials, construction durability and eye appeal for the homemaker. The cost of the house, with landscaping, should be appropriately priced for both the average and upper income homeowner. Joel had a vision, and she had the drive necessary to succeed in a field dominated by men. Individualism in house design was a requirement; no two houses should look alike. Because of her unique ability to design houses, Joel was able to fill a needed niche in the housing market.[i]

ENDNOTES
[i] Nancy Vendrely, “Ninde Homes a Vision of Turn-of-Century,” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, People Section, Southwest, October 21, 1997, n.p.

Questions about Joel's childhood and early adulthood?

Joel’s childhood and early adulthood before age twenty-six have mystified historians. In June of 1900 she was listed in the Mobile, Alabama census and by October 21 of that same year her marriage license was recorded in Indianapolis, Indiana. How and when did she meet her husband and what prompted the transition from Mobile, Alabama to Fort Wayne, Indiana? Who were the people in Joel Ninde’s family and what background influenced a young girl to choose a career in the traditionally male dominated architectural field at a time when women were usually relegated to hearth and home?

Trip to Mobile, Alabama - Search for Answers

Those questions and many more prompted a trip to Alabama for a Roberts’s family reunion, August 2005, at the invitation of Roy and Debbie Isbell.[i] The Isbells’ interest in historical architecture led them in 1994 to purchase and restore the endangered Roberts-Taylor House, a Greek Revival townhouse in Mobile, Alabama. For ten years Roy and his brother Ray have researched the Roberts family tree and uncovered a wealth of material, organizing much of it on a web site which provides a complete genealogy of Joel Roberts Ninde’s relatives. During the family reunion, oral interviews conducted with Joel’s familial descendants Elizabeth ”Beth” Condo Miller, Palmer Clarkston Hamilton, Mary Pillans Van Antwerp, and Mordecai “Mawk” Arnold were recorded and transcribed by Roy Isbell. [ii] [iii] [iv] [v] A question that has puzzled Fort Wayne researchers is the pronunciation of Joel's first name. Beth Condo Miller cleared up this question: Jo-el (long o and short (e) is the pronuncation for females and Joel (one syllable) for males. Most of the information included in this document can be found in files at the Roberts-Taylor-Isbell House, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama, and at the Allen County Library Genealogy Department in Fort Wayne, Indiana. [vi]
[i] Questions were formulated by Angie Quinn, Executive Director ARCH, Architectural Preservation Organization, and Fort Wayne, Indiana.
[ii] Descent order - Dr. Willis Roberts, Joel A. Roberts, Virginia “Jennie” (Roberts) Eberlein, Marietta (Eberlein) Paul, Elizabeth Zane (Paul) Condo and Elizabeth “Beth” (Condo) Miller. “The Descendants of Dr. Willis Roberts & Asenath Alexander.” http://fire.prohosting.com/robsgen/index.htm.
[iii] Descent order - Dr. Willis Roberts, Laura M. (Roberts) Pillans, Harry Pillans, Palmer Pillans, Martha Torrey (Pillans) Hamilton, and Palmer Clarkson Hamilton. Ibid.
[iv] Descent order - Dr. Willis Roberts, Laura M. (Roberts) Pillans, Harry Pillans, Harry “Hal” Torrey Pillans Mary (Pillans) Van Antwerp. Ibid. .
[v] Descent order - Dr. Willis Roberts, Seth Willis Roberts, Mordecai Roberts, Miss Mordecai Roberts, Mordecai “Mawk” Arnold. Ibid.
[vi] Editing by Joline Bowers, Leo, IN. Professor Christine Erickson, IPFW, Fort Wayne, IN, Bob Bulmer, East Lyme, Connecticut and Roy and Ray Isbell, Mobile, Alabama.

Joel Roberts' Life in Mobile????

The myriad of questions surrounding Joel Ninde’s life revolve around her early life and times. As an adult woman, Joel Ninde designed and built over three hundred houses in Fort Wayne dating from 1901 until her death in April 7th, 1916, but information regarding her education and how she first became motivated to become an architect are obscure. Very little information is recorded about any of the schools Joel attended or about any family background in the field of architecture. Did Joel receive a formal education or training in architecture or did she learn her trade from apprenticing with family members? In an age when women traditionally stayed home to take care of their family, what was the impetus that drove Joel to pursue a non-traditional role and what type of education and careers did other women in Joel’s family aspire towards?

Why Joel wouldn't live with Judge Lindsey Ninde?

Architectural Styles of Joel Roberts Ninde’s Houses in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Judge Lindsey Ninde

In Fort Wayne during the 1900’s, when Joel first arrived, there were two basic styles of houses being constructed: houses were either built in a box-style, resembling barns, or they were elaborate monstrosities festooned with gingerbread decoration and exuberant bric-a-brac. Judge Lindley Ninde’s twenty-one room-dark and drafty Italian villa was just such a house, and no doubt appeared garish by the modern sensibility at the turn of the century. Not only was the house big and mausoleum-like, but the surrounding estate did not have the amenities of city water, sewers, electricity, or street car lines. Because Joel was so adamantly opposed to living, even for a short while, in Judge Ninde’s massive house, Joel and Lee chose to live in a hotel in downtown Fort Wayne. Joel showed stubborn independence and must have been an extremely strong-willed woman who chose to design and build a state-of-the-art house in Fort Wayne. [i] Genetics and architectural successes in the Roberts family appeared to have played a factor in Joel’s adult life.
i] Harold Lopshire, ARCH, Fort Wayne, Indiana, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.

Northeast corner of Wildwood Estate- Dutch Colonial

Architecture of Joel and Lee’s first home –Dutch Colonial

What Joel wanted was a “house of convenience” in the midst of pleasant surroundings. Joel convinced her husband that she could design and build a suitable dwelling for the two of them. Joel and Lee built their first home in 1901 on the northeast corner of the Wildwood estate on a small plot of land donated by the Judge.[i] This Dutch Colonial Revival house had a main hallway which connected the rest of the first floor. To the left of the hallway was the dining room and to the right the living room. Located at the rear of the house was a kitchen with plenty of cupboards built for efficiency. Upstairs was a centrally located bathroom with four adjoining bedrooms?
Upstairs on the outside of the house were three encased dormer windows. On the lower level were two roof-covered porches, one in front and one in back of the house. The rear porch steps led to a backyard meadow filled with a wide variety of wildflowers The Nindes built this house “in a way that small houses were not often built [so that] living would be enjoyable, and also economical ... [for] work and expense.” [ii]
[i] Ibid Twenty-five houses were built on Judge and Beulah’s property which later became the 600 block of Wildwood Avenue.
[ii] Fort Wayne Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).

Correction -3031 So. Wayne Ave - The Story of Wildwood

About this time Mr. and Mrs. Lee Ninde began what was really a "street to street canvass" for a house that should be the same time small, convient, comfortable, attractive and inexpensive. Of course, there were "To Rent" signs on the architectural flotsam and jetsam of the city, but since to live in these would be a daily acknowledgement of artistic stupidity, they decided thaqt to "find" anything livab le meant to built it. So at the corner of Wildwood and South Wayne Avenues, ina neighborhood that had neither city water nor sewer, no electricity nor car line, they built a small house.

In this first house they took intelligent advantage of what was possible, combining with the convenience of furnace and bath, a minimum amount of housekeeping and expense.
The Story of Wildwood "A story of Success" Singmaster Printing Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Complete set of "The Wildwood Magazines" can be found at the History Museum - Ft. Wayne, Indiana

Design Plans

Joel incorporated many of her design ideas with house plans found in magazines such as House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, and Ladies Home Journal. The Craftsman, an architectural magazine, was also a copious source of ideas. In a 1903 edition of the Craftsman were several articles featuring the Craftsman house style used by Joel. Possibly, Joel researched these magazines at the Allen County Library or gleaned ideas from companies such as Sears Roebuck and Aladdin.[i] Drawing on a variety of sources and her vision, artistic talent, and motivation, Joel changed the housing in the Fort Wayne area by introducing a blend of durable and attractive houses.

Joel could customize any architectural style to meet the customer’s needs; however, her specialty was Craftsman houses. Houses built in the Craftsman style featured broad low-pitched gabled roofs with open eaves. Other unique features such as exposed rafters, roof beams, verge boards, and knee braces added to the durability and attractive appearance of the house. Joel recommended stucco; however, the customer could always choose from stone, wood siding or shingles for the exterior of the house. Items such as window boxes, trellises, latticework, and patterned windows were also available on an individual basis. [ii]

Besides Craftsman, customers could choose other house styles, such as Colonial Revival, American Foursquare, Dutch Colonial Revival or any combination thereof. Gothic-looking steep gable roofs were an option. Once the customer’s design needs were agreed on, Grace Crosby drafted the house plans. A page was added to the Wildwood Homes, a book of house plans, whenever a new house was designed.[iii]

[i] Nancy Vendrely, “Ninde Homes a Vision of Turn-of-Century Women.” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette People Section, Southwest, October 21, 1997, n.p.
[ii] Connie Haas Zuber, “Ninde’s Homes Inspired Love at First Sight,” Fort Wayne News Sentinel, June 27, 1987.
[iii] Wildwood Homes, n.d.n.p. The house plan, a Dutch Colonial-for the Ninde’s first house at 3030 W. Wayne Street-and nineteen additional architectural layouts are included in this book (Allen County Public Library Indiana Collection).

One of House Plans from Wildwood Homes

Descriptions of Houses Joel built

Craftsman

Common features of the Craftsman style are broad, low-pitched, roof (usually gabled) with wide, open eaves exposed structural elements such as rafters, roof beams, verge boards, and knee braces and square or battered porch piers. Brick, stone, stucco, wood siding, and shingles are all common exterior materials. Houses feature open interiors with prominent hearth built-in furniture and natural woodwork. Craftsman commercial buildings are usually brick, with accents of stone, terra cotta, or decorative brick patterns.

Colonial Revival

Common features of the Colonial Revival style symmetrically balanced façade with a central door and entry porch: classically inspired features such as pilasters, columns, pediments, fanlights, and sidelights: double-hung windows with multiple panes of glass, and prominent cornices decorated with dentils or modillions.

Dutch Colonial Revival

Common features of the Dutch Colonial Revival are front-facing gambrel roofs or cross-gambrels, side gambrels roofs, and often with full shed dormers. The unique gambrel roofs of Dutch Colonial architecture allowed for more headroom in the second story. Shorter lumber could be used for roofing rafters. Decorative details are similar to the Colonial revival style.

American Four-square

Practically, simplicity, and value best described the American Four-square architecture. Interior plans were open and efficient, utilizing all available space. Exteriors are box-like in shape, with two full stories, a hipped roof with a front-facing former and comfortable porch. The simple form of this architecture could be dressed in a variety of popular period styles, Colonial Revival, Colonial Revival and Prairie-influences homes were some of the styles

Descriptions were obtained from the Fort Wayne Interim Report Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory, p. 18, 19 and 20.

1910 Colonial Revival-Joel's last designed house

While designing homes for buyers, Joel was also concentrating on a new house for Lee and herself. This new home would be bigger and more elaborate than her previous houses. In 1910, a Colonial Revival designed house of approximate 3400 to 3600 square feet was built at 902 W. Wildwood. Since Joel no longer had time for domestic work, the new house included a maid’s quarters.[i]

An interview with the previous owner in 1998, who was living in Joel and Lee’s last Colonial Revival home, states that the kitchen design is one of the house’s best features. Joel used speaking tubes to connect the kitchen to other rooms allowing communication between family members and the maid. A pantry connected to the kitchen allows for storage and efficient use of space. The novel feature of this house is a unique china closet hidden in a short passageway between the kitchen and the dining room. Within this cupboard’s recesses is Joel’s personal signature. This passageway is basically a walk-through china closet which allowed the maid to pick up the china and silverware on the way to the dining room [ii]

Steps from the kitchen lead directly to the maid’s upstairs bedroom. At this time the former owner used this room for her office. Also, located upstairs is a den with a connecting enclosed porch. In the master bedroom is a cozy fireplace. The focal point in the bathroom is an oversized bathtub. The original blue tiles still cover the bathroom walls. Although the house is very well designed, the previous owner observed certain construction anomalies. The banister leading upstairs is not one contiguous piece of wood... Also, the front door extends all the way to the ceiling, inhibiting the use of crown molding. [iii]

[i] Connie Haas Zuber, “Ninde’s Homes Inspired Love at First Sight,” Fort Wayne News Sentinel, June 27, 1987, n.p. Connie Zuber interviewed David DeVoe, when he was a widower living with his children at the current residence.
[ii] Carolyn DeVoe, interview by Corinne Toth, March 15, 1998.
[iii] Ibid.

History of Mobile, Alabama

History of Mobile, Alabama

Founded in 1702, Mobile was the capital of French Louisiana until 1720, when the capital was moved to Biloxi and still later to the new city of New Orleans. From an historical aspect, Mobile in the early 1700’s experienced many of the same kinds of settlement patterns as New Orleans. Like New Orleans, the government of Mobile alternated between various foreign powers until finally being annexed by the United States, New Orleans in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase, Mobile in 1813. As a consequence, the early architecture of both reflects the diversity found in port cities.

Around the 1830’s, Mobile became second only to New Orleans in exporting cotton, and new construction began in earnest.[i] Brick and stucco buildings became the norm. A lumber boom of the 1850’s saw a return to the erection of frame houses with many large mansions being built of wood. Elizabeth Barrett Gould, in her book From Builders to Architects, outlines the rise and decline of Mobile in contrast with other southern urban areas.[ii] In 1860, before the Civil War, Mobile was the fourth largest city in the South. By 1880, Mobile had dropped to eighth place. These statistics belie the fact that the city was experiencing rapid urban growth during the post-war years. The changes taking place around her hometown during Joel Ninde’s seminal years probably helped shape the desire within her to seek a career in architecture.

[i] Anne E. Grimmer. The Southern Stucco Tradition, CRM Volume 14: No. 71991, page 10.
[ii] Gould, Elizabeth. From Builders to Architects The Hobart-Hutchison on Six Black Belt Press, Montgomery, Alabama.

What schools did Joel attend in Mobile?

Map of Mobile 1919

Educational Background

Although there is no definitive evidence regarding Joel’s educational background, several possible schools she might have attended were identified. Of the various primary schools found in the Mobile area at that time, the most likely prospects Joel might have attended were Barton Academy, Mrs. Stephens Croom’s School, the Knott School, Madame Paul Robert’s School for Girls and Miss Annie Hunter’s School. Most of these schools were located within a four-block radius of the homes Joel shared with her parents, Willis and Moffitt Roberts, and her half-sisters Kate and Lillie Taylor.

Bartrom Academy

The most probable candidate for Joel Ninde’s primary education is the Barton Academy, originally built as a public school but not used for that purpose until after the 1850’s. Barton Academy offered grades one through eleven and was divided into a boys’ department or school and a girls’ department. There are a number of clues leading to the belief that Barton might have been attended by Joel. [i] First, Joel’s great grandfather, Dr. Willis Roberts, was on the Barton Academy building committee in 1835. Second, according to the 1860 Mobile, Alabama City Census, Ann Quigley, the head mistress of Barton Academy, lived in the household of her sister and brother-in-law Martina Quigley Roberts and Reuben H. Roberts, great aunt and uncle of Joel Ninde. Third, other family members also attended Barton. In her memoirs, Elizabeth Henshaw “Daisy” Torrey Pillans wrote, “I was sent to Miss Quigley’s famous school”. [ii] Daisy was married to Harry Pillans, cousin of Joel Ninde’s father, Willis. [iii] Harry and Daisy lived at 908 Government Street, next door to the Roberts homestead. Fourth, Joel Ninde’s second cousin, Mary Roberts, graduated from Barton Academy in 1895 and Laura Pillans, also a second cousin, graduated in 1903.
[i] List of students graduating between 1890 & 1892 includes the following: Lula Roberts-1881, Della Roberts-1882 or 1883, Mary Roberts-1895, and Laura Pillans, second cousin of Joel Ninde who resided at 906 Government Street, graduated in 1903. This book seems to have a fairly complete list of graduates of Barton Academy but didn’t list students who attended but didn’t graduate. History of Barton Academy- no index- Mobile Public Library, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] Daisy Torrey Pillans’ father Judge Rufus Campbell Torrey went to Harvard. Daisy’s youngest son Hal Torrey Pillans graduated from West Point. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] “Elizabeth Henshaw “Daisy” Torrey Pillans’ Memoirs” p. 13. February 11, 1936 Original in possession of Mary Van Antwerp, Mobile, Alabama. Transcript copies at University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.

Helen Croom's School

Helen Croom’s School

Another possibility for Joel’s education was the Croom’s School , an elementary school for young children. This quaint little schoolhouse, just off Washington Square, was located in the backyard of Major Stephens Croom and wife Mary at 1001 Augusta Street.[i] The Crooms purchased the home in the fall of 1877. Stephens’ sister, novelist Elizabeth Whitfield Croom Bellamy, moved into the home after the death of her husband, Captain Edward Bellamy. Following Stephens’ death in 1884, Elizabeth and her sister-in-law, Mary Marshall Croom, started the school to help make ends meet. [ii]

Traditionally, upperclass southern woman from the nineteenth century received very little formal education and were usually sent to a finishing school where they were taught French, music, art, needlework and proper etiquette expected of refined ladies. William and Julia Croom, however, encouraged their daughter Elizabeth Whitfield Croom to acquire a university education. In fact, William and Julia moved their family from Florida to Columbus, Georgia in 1850 so that both Elizabeth and her brother Stephens could receive an advanced education. In Columbus, Elizabeth attended the Reverend Thomas Bog Slade’s school for girls. Receiving one of the best educations available to women living in that era, she finished her education in New York City at the Springler Institute where she graduated in 1856. Three of the children of Harry and Elizabeth Daisy Pillans attended Croom’s School. These children, Harry, Mary Isbell, and Laura Edith Pillans, were second cousins of Joel Ninde. [iii] [iv]

[i]The names of the students attending the Elizabeth Bellamy and Mary Marshall Croom School were Mary Isbell Pillans, Laura Edith Pillans and Harry “Hal” Torrey Pillans, second cousins of Joel Ninde. Other students include Venetia and Mary Danner, Richard V. Taylor, Jr. (Dr. R. V. Taylor), Clara Walkley, Wilhelmina Walkley (Mrs. Steele Partridge) and their brothers, Cecil and Early Walkley, Eunice Semmes, who later moved to Montgomery and married Judge J. Winter Thorington, and the Upham girls. History of Barton Academy -no index -Mobile Public Library, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] George Tatum, Press Register “Little School Taught by Mrs. Croom Remains.” Sunday, July 8, 1963.
[iii] Laura Pillans never married. Laura is aunt of Mary Van Antwerp and great aunt of Palmer Hamilton, lawyer/architect in Mobile. [iii] Great Aunt Laura was Laura Edith Pillans, unmarried (b. June 7 1885 d. Nov.30 1973). She taught school. Her siblings were Palmer Pillans, Mary Isbell Pillans, and Harry Torrey Pillans Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iv] The Velma and Stephens G. Croom Collection South Alabama Archives. “Recollections from Miss Laura Pillans” July 5, 1962. http://www.southalabama.edu/archives/html/manuscript/croom.htm.

Madam Roberts' School

The other schools in Mobile that Joel could have gone to were the Knott School, which Mary Isbell and Edith Pillans attended, or Miss Annie Hunter’s, founded in 1881 and advertised that it attracted “pupils from the best families in the city”.[i] Finally, because of the proximity to Joel’s home, another promising prospect was Madame Robert’s (pronounced Ro-bair’s) school for girls at 57 Hamilton Street. Madame Paul Robert (nee Mary Catherine Ayers) owned the home and started the school in 1872. The school, commonly known as Madame Robert’s, was referred to as “The School for the Private Education of the Children of Southern Gentlewomen.”
[i] Elizabeth Henshaw “Daisy” Torrey Pillans’ Memoirs, p. 13. Original in possession of Mary Van Antwerp, Mobile, Alabama, February 11, 1936. Transcript copies at University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.

Higher Education - Roberts Family

It appears that Joel came from a progressive family background that endorsed education for women. Higher education for women was a bit unusual but not unheard of during this period but there’s no telling where girls seeking education might have gone or been sent. The South was in financial ruin in the 1870’s, so if girls were even sent to college, oftentimes those schools were in New England or the Midwest. After the Civil War, Daisy Pillans went to Massachusetts to a co-educational school. Daisy boarded with Mrs. William Ward and Mrs. Hammond Whitney, both widows living together with their children. According to Daisy, “My cousin, Anna Whitney, was head of the girls’ department.”[i]

Palmer Clarkson Hamilton, commenting on the status of higher education for woman, stated, “My great aunt Laura Edith Pillans went to Salem in North Carolina briefly but didn’t like it.” Daisy Pillans’ memoirs corroborate Laura’s attendance in Salem circa the 1890’s and allude to the aspirations of her daughter. “Laura did not care for society and wanted to teach.” As Daisy Pillans noted, “Schooling was too hard for Laura and she soon gave up on academics and took a job at McGowin-Lyons Hardware Company.” The possibility exists that Laura also studied stenography at Salem although no one can corroborate this information for sure. [ii] Laura was a second cousin to Joel Ninde.
[i] Ibid. “p.14.
[ii] Ibid

Did Joel attend a University?

Joel Roberts’ Higher Education

Palmer Hamilton was unaware of the specifics of Joel Ninde’s education and career choice but projected an interesting theory. Hutchinson Architects, a Mobile based business for one hundred fifty years, could hold one of the clues to Joel Ninde’s interest and eventual career in architecture. Speculating on Joel Ninde’s education, Palmer suggested that information might be found in the Hutchinson archives regarding a recommendation for internship or by reviewing the Hutchinson architects’ education.

Extensive research by the author into the archives of Radcliffe, Boston University, Wellesley College, Western Massachusetts, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Wheaton, Simmons and Pembroke/Brown, eastern colleges who admitted woman during the late 1800s, revealed no attendance of Joel Roberts.

Artistry in Joel's Family Tree

As an architect and builder, Joel Ninde obviously had an artistic flair, but from whence did this aptitude arise and how did the family influence her decisions? Architecture is an exacting vocation as well as an art form, abeit a more formal one. Another pertinent question is whether other family members had any artistic skills, either formal or informal. Although not much evidence is available with reference to Joel Ninde’s immediate family’s artistic abilities, there were a number of relatives who engaged in artistic activities.

Photography and Painting - Interview with Mary Pillans VanAntwerp

Photography & Painting

example of landscape painting example of ruined abbey

Some of the descendents of Willis and Asenath Alexander Roberts who were artistically inclined included Mary Pillans Van Antwerp daughter of Joel Ninde’s second cousin. [i] A photographer by avocation, Mary stated, “Well,I dabbled in everything. I became a pretty well known photographer. I’m in four books and a museum in Russia.” Another family member, Elizabeth Sargent Henshaw Torrey, painted. Daisy Pillans referred to her mother’s beautiful paintings in her memoirs, “I have two of my mother’s paintings. One is a large landscape painted at the age of fourteen. The other is a ruined abbey with
stained window.” [ii] Elizabeth Torrey married Harry Pillans, the son of Joel Ninde’s great aunt. The three Roberts and Pillans homes on Government Street in the last quarter of the nineteenth century were remembered as being filled with many lovely paintings
[i] In Mary Van Antwerp’s living room is a large oil painting of Laura Malvina (Roberts) Pillans c. 1850. Mary Van Antwerp, Interview by Corinne Toth, August 8, 2005.
[ii] “Elizabeth Henshaw “Daisy” Torrey Pillans Memoirs” February 11, 1936 Original in possession of Mary Van Antwerp, Mobile, Alabama. Transcript copies at University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama.

Talented family members - embroidery,writing and painting

In addition, listed in the 1899 city directory in Mobile, Alabama are Miss Corinne and Miss Claudine Roberts who ran a business at 209 Conception Street utilizing their artistic talents in embroidery and fancy paintings. [i] [ii] Claudine and Corinne were aunt and niece, and first cousin and first cousin once removed respectfully of Joel Ninde’s father. Also, Claudia M. Roberts, sister of Corinne Roberts, wrote an unpublished novel set during the Civil War. A semi-biographical story, the main characters included her father and older sister. Claudia married Arthur Bombey and worked as a film editor and screenwriter in Hollywood. [iii]
[i] Mordecai Roberts (b. 1850, d. 1894) married Mary Evelyn Johnson, Occupation at age 20: miller Four children (f) Mary Claudine “Claude” (m) Seth, (f) Mordecai born circa 1896, (f) Grace. Mordecai Sr. and Mary Evelyn “Mamie” Johnson (f) Roberts died when their children were small. The children were divided up among aunts and uncles.
[ii] Joel Ninde’s great uncle Seth Willis Roberts was a pharmacist. Seth’s daughter Corinne, lived with her niece Claudine or “Claude” Roberts, Joel Ninde’s second cousin. Claudine, niece of Claudia and Corinne Roberts would have been fifteen years old, living with her thirty-six year-old aunt Corinne during 1899. It is not known if all three ladies lived together. Claudia was listed in the 1900 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania census living with widowed cousin Alice Shalleross. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] Claudia M. Roberts (b. July 1872 in Mississippi), married in 1902 to Arthur Bombey and had one son, Thomas D. Bombey (b. 1905); and by 1910 was living in Mobile, Alabama and sharing the home with his older sister Sally Roberts Watkins and nephew and nieces Sydney G. (16), Sarah (16) and Mordicai (14). Ibid.

Chinese Porcelain & Italian Medieval/Renaissance Musicology Collection

examples of chinese porcelain

Joel Roberts Hunter Sr.’s daughter Elizabeth Hunter Morrill, b. 1913 in Georgia, was a gifted soprano. While attending Radcliffe, she met her future husband, F. Gordon Morrill, a student at Harvard. Together they amassed a Chinese porcelain collection which recently sold at auction for record-breaking $12 million dollars. Mrs. Morrill and her husband Gordon established the Gordon and Elizabeth Morrill Music Library at Villa I Tatti which is considered the finest collection of Italian Medieval and Renaissance musicology in Italy. [i] Elizabeth was a first cousin once removed of Joel Ninde.
[i] “Doyle New York Sells Chinese Porcelain Flask for Over $5.8 Million New York” “Auction House Sets World Record for Chinese Porcelain” http:www.doylenewyork.com/pr/asian/default.htm

Women and Business-Eberlein & Ninde

Jennis Eberlain's house




Joel Ninde's house

Ahead of their time, many ofthe women in Joel Ninde’s family seemed to buck the traditional roles of women by starting and succeeding at their own businesses. One such business owner was Jennie Roberts Eberlein, aunt of Joel Ninde. According to the 1890 city directory, Jennie Eberlein owned a lumberyard and coal handling facility in Mobile called “J. Eberlein’s”. Jennie owned her own business separately from her husband George, who was a wholesale grocer.

Continuing in a seeming family tradition, Joel Ninde was establishing her manybusinesses in Fort Wayne, Indiana from 1900 to 1916: Wildwood Builders, Wildwood Lumber Company, Wildwood Magazine and Wildwood Design. Joel was the driving force of Wildwood Builders while her draftsperson, Grace Crosby, did the drafting and design work.

Wildwood Builders

In 1910 the Fort Wayne economic market was flourishing. Lee had invested a considerable amount of time obtaining his Harvard law degree, and his career was very remunerative. The Nindes were well established financially and lived a life of affluence. However, Joel had an intrinsic need to design and build functional economical houses. The rewards of homebuilding extended beyond the financial gains. Lee saw the prestige and satisfaction to be gained in promoting Joel’s housing designs. [i]Whether for love of Joel, love of money or both, Lee decided to give up law and devote his time to Joel’s talents. All interested parties decided to organize a “real” company and incorporated as Wildwood Builders.
[i] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).

Startup of Wildwood Builders

2908 Shawnee Dr. Shawnee Place

The Nindes made a substantial profit with the sale of each house; however, their expenses were low because they didn’t have to purchase the land. Since the death of Judge Ninde, Joel and Lee were now free to sell lots from the Wildwood estate. Property was abundantly available.[i] Nationally the building trade was gaining momentum and the country was in an economic boom. [ii]Because of all these factors, the Ninde’s business skyrocketed Grace Crosby, architect was hired to collaborate and assist Joel in the design of houses.
Lee Ninde utilized his time promoting and selling Joel and Grace’s house designs. Lee’s brother Dan’s role in the company involved negotiating and buying property. One of these land purchases was eventually developed into a neighborhood called Shawnee Place. These lots sold quickly at approximately $400 each because of Wildwood Builder’s established reputation for excellence. Within three years of the first sale, these same lots were selling for around $1,000 due to Wildwood Builder’s prestigious reputation. Upon completion of houses these properties sold for between $4,000 and $5,000 [iii]. Compared nationally, similar houses sold for twice that amount.
[i] Harold Lopshire, ARCH, interview by Corinne Toth, Friday, April 7, 1998. Judge Ninde died in 1902 leaving his estate to his three children, Daniel, Harry and Lee.
[ii] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).
[iii] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1913, 14..

Growth of Fort Wayne

As Joel and Lee’s business began to coalesce and take form. Lee, his brother Daniel, and a few professional friends bought land in the area of South Wayne and Broadway Streets. [i] By this time, dirt streets had been converted to gravel. Improvements such as sewer, extended electrical lines, and street cars lines had been added, making land development more lucrative. Neighborhoods were upgraded as residents strove to improve the unkempt appearance of their property. Lots continued to appreciate in value As more houses were built and sold the business became more lucrative. By the end of 1902, twelve houses had been constructed and sold. With the profit from these houses, the Nindes and their business associates were well on their way to a profitable business.

[i] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.
[ii] The Story of Wildwood, n.d., 1-24 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).

Growth of Wildwood Builders

Growth of Wildwood Builders – Board Members, Stockholders & Employees

Joel’s “little hobby” had become a profitable business with board members, stockholders, and employees. Joel and Grace worked together in Joel’s home office and made an indispensable duo. [i] On the executive board of Wildwood Builders, Lee served as president and Lee’s brother Dan as Vice-president. Other board members included F. K. Safford as Secretary and Fred B. Shoaff as Treasurer.[ii] Wildwood Builders headquarters were located in the Shoaff Building at the corner of East Berry and South Calhoun[iii].

Stock offered to the public provided the money needed for expansion. The Nindes had a wide circle of wealthy and prestigious friends and acquaintances from which to choose their stockholders. Twenty percent of the stock investors were women. Grace Crosby, Joel’s friend, business partner and stockholder, became a driving force in the success of Wildwood Builders [iv]
[i] Harold Lopshire, Interview by Corinne Toth., April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.
[ii] The Story of Wildwood , n.p. , 1-24, (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).
[iii] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.
[iv] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n. p. (ARCH Files).

Stockholders - List

1. Abe Ackerman
2. Christian H. Albersmeyer
3. Dr. Chas. E. Barnett
4. Henry Beadell
5. Max J. Blitz
6. Mrs. Alice Crane Bond
7. Andrew G. Burry
8. Philip E. Bursley
9. Joseph A. Bursley
10. Jacob A. Calhoun
11. Miss Virginia C. Carnahan
12. Ernest W. Cook
13. Edward L. Craw
14. Grace E. Crosby
15. Dr. Eric. A. Crull
16. Philip F. Dixon
17. Mrs. Addie A. Duemling
18. David S. Eckert
19. John W. Eggeman
20. Dr. William Enslen
21. Mrs. Clark Fairbanks
22. Miss Augusta C. Fischer
23. Fort Wayne Iron Store Company
24. Samuel M. Foster

Stockholders (continued)

25. Mrs. T. R. Gilbert
26. S. A Grable
27. Mrs. James E. Graham
28. Jesse A. Greene
29. Mrs. Martin C. Gross
30.O. N. Gulldlin
31. E. A. K. Hackett
32. Geo. M. Haffner
33. James B. Harper
34. Herman H. Hartwig
35. Judge Owen N. Heaton
36. Benjamin F. Heaton
37. John C. Heller
38. John C. Hinton
39. Edward G. Hoffman
40. Elwin M. Huise
41. Walton H. Ingham
42. Alfred L. Johns, Jr.
43. Fremont L. Jones
44. William Kaough
45. Kell & Kell
46. Mrs. Amelia Ketchum
47. William Lawson
48. Wm. M. Leedy
49. Miss Mary B. Lincoln
50 Edgar J. Little

Stockholders (Continued)

51. Thomas J. Logan
52. C. J. Lose
53. Mrs. Adalia L. Lumbard
54. James M. McKay
55. Chas. McKeon
56. Robert Millard
57. Dr. Elmer E. Morgan
58. A. G. Muldary
59. News Publishing Co.
60. Charles M. Miezer
61. Mrs. Lee J. Ninde
62. Lee J. Ninde
63. Daniel B. Ninde
64. Miss Emily Parisoe

Stockholders (Continued)

Joel's houses-location, year built, style

Houses of Convenience - Fort Wayne, Indiana

444 Arcadia - Built 1915- Colonial Revival

1012 W. Berry Street - Built 1914 - Craftsman

2707 Fairfield Avenue - Built 1913 - Craftsman
2545 Maple Place - Built 1913 - Craftsman Bungalow

2551 Maple Place - Built 1914 - Craftsman

1250 W. Rudisill Blvd. - Built 1914- Colonial Revival

1302 W. Rudisill Blvd. - Built 1914 - Colonial Revival

2903 W. Shawnee Drive - Built 1915 - American Foursquare

2904 W. Shawnee Drive - Built 1914 - Craftsman

2907 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2908 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1914-Craftsman

2911 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2912 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

2915 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2916 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/American Foursquare

2919 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2922 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

2923 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Colonial Revival

3004 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman Revival

3007 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Foursquare

3011 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Colonial Revival

3012 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3015 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3018 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3019 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman/Foursquare

3020 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3023 E. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Craftsman

3027 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-American/Foursquare

3028 W. Shawnee Drive-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

314-316 W. Suttenfield Street-duplex-Built 1907-Colonial Revival

702 Union Street-Built 1912-Craftsman

1404 Washington Blvd./Swinney Court-Built 1914-Dutch Colonial Revival

3011 W. Washington Boulevard-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

1408 North Washington Road-Built 1915-Craftsman

3031 South Wayne Avenue-demolished - Built 1901-first house built-later 610 W. Wildwood

3131 South Wayne Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Bungalow

2330 Webster Street-Built 1910-Craftsman,American Foursquare, Colonial Revival

314 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Colonial

323 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

348 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

701 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

702 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1913-Craftsman/American Foursquare

705 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

706 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-American Foursquare

710 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman Tudor Revival

721 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Colonial Revival

722 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Dutch Colonial Revival

725 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

726 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Dutch Colonial Revival

729 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

730 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

805 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

809 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

810 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

814 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

815 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-American Foursquare

818 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1914-Craftsman

902 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1910 (last home built) Colonial Revival

912 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1912-Craftsman Homes

922 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman/American Foursquare

926 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1002 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1018 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

1025 W. Wildwood Avenue-Built 1915-Craftsman

list compiled in 1998

Additional list

3401 North Washington Road - Daniel Ninde House

3424 North Washington Road - Fremont Jones House

3518 North Washington Road Neil McKey House

Ninde and Crosby houses can be found in other Fort Wayne Historic Districts,

Old West End Historic Distric (listed 11/15/84)

Williams Woodland Park Histori District (listed 1991)

South Wayne Historic District (1992)

Oakdale Historic District 2000

Illsley Place-West Rudisill Historic District (2006)

Fort Park Boulevard Historic District (March 2007)

734 E.State - Daniel Ninde house ,one of the founders of Lincoln National Insurance-

& Philo Farnsworth house (inventor of television)

Joel Ninde's Houses

Specialization in Wildwood Builders

Specialization was also necessary. Wildwood Builders divided the business into three separate departments: Sales, Construction, and Architectural Design. Joel and Grace Crosby were in charge of the Architectural Design Department and worked in conjunction with the Construction Department. While Joel presented the ideas, Grace incorporated the designs into a working house plan and turned the blueprints over to the Construction Department.[i]
Customer needs came first at Wildwood Builders. From inception to completion expert advice was given on everything: selecting the building site, landscaping the property, and decorating the interior. Wildwood Builders orchestrated the entire gamut of home construction hiring subcontractors from all specialized fields. The total impact created was a picture-perfect neighborhood. [ii]
[i] The Story of Wildwood, n.d. 1-24, (Allen County –Fort Wayne Historical Museum).
[ii] Ibid

Wildwood Park

In 1914 Wildwood Builders purchased the Huffman Farm for $38,000. The farm was located south of present West Jefferson Boulevard between Rockhill Park and Ardmore Avenue This farm was to be used for more upscale clienteles. To plan this new community, Lee hired Arthur A. Shurleff nationally recognized a landscape architect from Boston This architect brought history with him as he planned Fort Wayne’s first designed community.[i]

The dream to built Wildwood Park, an exclusive community built for the affluent, failed. Houses built in this area were to sell for at least $6,500. Rules and regulations proposed to prevent undesirable establishments such as saloons, livestock, farms, or graveyards did not deter potential buyers’ fears. Because of the widespread problem of rural boot-legging and being too far out in the country, homeowners were reluctant to buy land. Because of these reasons Wildwood Park did not succeed during Wildwood Builder’s “glory days” By 1920, with the extension of streetcar lines and a paved highway (Jefferson Boulevard West), building conditions had improved.[ii]

Although several houses in this exclusive community were completed, the sole documented example of a Joel Ninde designed house stands at 3408 Washington Road in Wildwood Park .This Craftsman house located on some tree-lined winding road stands as a tribute to Joel’s vision. After 1920, Wildwood community began to grow through the effort of other builders. Currently, Wildwood Park is a thriving community. Daniel B. Ninde, brother-in-law of Joel Roberts Ninde resided in Wildwood Park at 3401 N. Washington Road in a Colonial Revival c/1928 house and Lee J. and Helen Ninde (second wife) resided at 1702 Hawthorn Road in a Colonial style house in Wildwood Park. This Craftsman house stands as a tribute to Joel’s vision. [iii]
[i] Harold Lopshire, Interview with Corinne Toth. 17, April 1998.
[ii] Michael Hawfield, “Suburban Living was New Concept”, Fort Wayne News Sentinel, October, 1994, n.p. Historian Michael Hawfield (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum) wrote the Cityscapes column for the News-Sentinel Summit magazine starting in May 1984. The columns are being republished in conjunction with the city’s 200th birthday October 22, 1994.
[iii] Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April 17, 1998 and May 1, 1998.

North Wildwood Company

North Wildwood Company was formulated under the umbrella of Wildwood Builders to plot the lots in a tract of land bordered by Forest Park on the east, Lakeside Park on the south, Spy Run District on the West around 1914. Map of Fort Wayne





[i] Dan Ninde had purchased this land for Wildwood Builders. These plots, later called BrookView, consist of Dalgrin, Dunnwood, and Field Streets. Wildwood Builders, started building in 1923, based on Joel’s designs in BrookView. Harold Lopshire, interview by Corinne Toth, April, 17, 1998 and Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914 (ARCH files).

Grace Crosby- Architectural Architect

Grace Crosby is significant in Fort Wayne history as the city’s first and most prolific female architect. The 1894-1895 Fort Wayne city directory lists her first employment as tracer of architectural plans. Grace’s specific employer was not listed. The city directory listing of women in this period are inconsistent. In 1898 the directory listed her again as a “clerk .
In the 1900 city directory she was listed as draughtswoman for Alfred Grindle. Again, in 1905, Crosby was listed as “draughtswoman at Alfred Grindle. It is likely that Grace Crosby worked for Alfred Grindle from c 1894 to 1909.
The 1910 Fort Wayne directory lists Grace E. Crosby for the first time as “Architect’ at Wildwood builders.” She continued with this title, with one listing as “clerk” in 1913 through 1915.
In 1917 she briefly had her own architectural company. Due to local architects either enlisted in the U. S Army or relocated in Washington D. C. assisting with World War I effort, Grace probably had the opportunity to form her own company which was located at 409 E. Berry Street.
In the 1918 directory Crosby was listed as “designer, at Steele-Myers Department Store, 113-117 W. Berry. Since she had owned a design company with Joel Roerts Ninde, Grace had the experience to work as a display designer and perhaps a interior designer.
By 1919 Crosby was employed as a “draftsman” for the Bowser Pump Company. Bowser had active design and printing departments that designed and illustrated gas pumps, filling stations, and elaborate catalogs and corporate publications.
Although city directories do not list Crosby’s employment after 1927, she likely completed her career working for architect Leroy Bradley. Together Bradley and Crosby worked at Griffith and Goodrich. Bradley formed his own company of Bradley and Babcock. According to her obituary Crosby retired in 1930 after 35 years in the architectural field. She died in 1962 at the age of 88.

Creagor Smith -Information obtained from Staff Review of Local Historic District Petition- Petitioner Steven N. Nagy-July 23, 2007

Grace Crosby's Home

Gothic Revival with limited alterations in Craftsman style - 1867

The Grace E. Crosby House is located at 413 West DeWald Street, immediately northwest of the Williams Woodland Park Historic District. The Crosby House was built c.1867 on the south side of West DeWald Street, in mid-block between Fairfield Avenue and Hoagland Avenue. It has a modest setback from DeWald, matching the setbacks of other houses on this portion of the street. The lot is slightly higher in elevation than the park strip and the public sidewalk in front of the house; this elevation change requires one step up in the sidewalk that leads toward the house from the public sidewalk. Concrete sidewalks lead to the front door of the house, as well as to a porch on the east side of the house. The landscaping that surrounds the house is well-established; with some of the foundation plantings identifiable in a 1962 photo of the house.

The Grace E. Crosby House is a one-and-a-half story, wood-frame house. It was built in the rare Gothic Revival style c.1867, with limited alterations in the Craftsman style c.1915 designed by Grace E. Crosby. This gable-front house is composed of a rectangular primary block with a steep gable facing the street. The house rests on a brick foundation. There is a long shed dormer on the west side of the primary roof in the Craftsman style. The east side of the house has an oversized side porch in the Craftsman style. The rear of the house is extended by a slightly-setback wing; other sections are one-story with flat roofs. There is a large two-car garage on the rear of the lot that can be reached by an alley that runs parallel to West DeWald Street. The rear yard is fenced by a combination of wood picket fencing and chain-link fencing.

The Crosby House has a steep-pitched, asphalt shingle-covered, front gable roof with enclosed eaves. The eaves are supported by pairs of thin scroll-cut brackets that are placed at the center of the gable, the front corners of the house, and midway between. The eaves are outlined by a flat friezeboard with dentils and a molding. The west side of the roof contains a shed-roof dormer that also has enclosed eaves, but only a simple molding. The south end of the gable at the rear of the house has a simple brick chimney. Flat roof sections at the rear of the house appear to have built-in gutters.

The Crosby House has wood clapboard walls on all sections of the structure. Thin cornerboards are used that terminate in a wood watertable that provides a visual break, just above the brick foundation. The windows of the Crosby House are varied; some are original to the Gothic Revival structure and others date to the Craftsman additions. The façade of the house has two, two-over-two windows on the first floor and a grouped set of three windows on the second floor. The set of three windows has a large one-over-one window in the center, flanked by two narrow one-over-one windows. The front door is offset to the right (or to the west) on the façade. It is a single door with glazing at the top, with a transom above the door. The transom contains leaded glass. All openings on the primary façade are capped by pedimented hoods with decorative moldings. Other windows in the house include two-over-two, one-over-one, and casement windows. The dormer contains a ribbon of six-over-one windows. The windows of the façade originally had operable wood-louvered shutters, as shown in a c.1962 photo. Although the shutters have been removed, the mounting hardware remains and the shutters are stored in the basement of the house.

The porch on the east side of the house was built c.1915 in the Craftsman style. It has a flat roof with boxed eaves. The roof is supported by slightly oversized square columns with classical details. A clapboard wall balustrade stretches along the east side of the porch. The porch can be accessed from the front by a set of wide wood steps, or from the rear yard as well. It can also be accessed from the interior of the house. The single front door on the façade has a set of concrete steps with iron railings. There was originally a small wood stoop and wood steps with iron railings at this door.

The garage at the rear of the lot has a low gable roof with a ridge that is parallel to the alley. It has enclosed eaves and wood clapboard siding without cornerboards. A large, single garage door faces west, with an asphalt and concrete apron in front of the door. The current garage likely dates to the late 1960s. It replaced an earlier garage or small barn that was lost to fire c.1965.

Ownership History of Grace Crosby's Home at 413 W. Dewald

The Crosby house was built by Grace E. Crosby’s parents c.1867. It remained in the family until her death. George and Naomi Crosby purchased the lot in Tyler’s Addition from Mary Rockhill Tyler in the 1860s. They were parents of three children; William, Mabel, and Grace, born in 1874. George Crosby worked as a machinist for the Wabash Railroad. Grace Crosby’s sister Mable had a career as a school teacher. Neither Mable nor Grace ever married, living in the home with their mother until her death in 1929. The sisters inherited the home and both remained in the home until their deaths.

The house was purchased from Grace Crosby’s estate by Maria and Joseph Blasko. The Blaskos were immigrants from Hungary. They came to Fort Wayne in 1959 in a refugee resettlement program, after spending several years in a refugee camp in Austria. They had fled Hungary during the 1956 Revolution. In 1962, Maria’s son, Steve Tibor Nagy, was engaged to Siegrid Tagtmeyer, a distant cousin of Grace Crosby. Through this family connection, the Blaskos knew that the home was to be sold with all its contents. (Siegrid and Steve T. Nagy were married in the back yard of 413 West DeWald in 1963.) Maria Blasko left the Grace E. Crosby House to her grandson, Steven Joseph Nagy, the current owner.

Wildwood Lumber Company

Other builders were also taking advantage of the thriving real estate market in Fort Wayne. Wildwood Builders’ closest competitor was Suburban Building Company. However, most companies at this time were still operating within the stereotypical mentality which involved buying only enough lumber and supplies for one house at a time. Wildwood Builders innovation involved buying their products in mass quantities. The purchasing agents for Wildwood Builders purchased enough lumber to build forty houses at a cost of fifty thousand dollars.[i]

Because of this purchasing method, storage space for materials was needed. Necessity dictated that Wildwood Builders purchase their own lumber company. This new company, located on the present, Kinsmoor Avenue (formerly 420 Organ) hired Mr. Sandkueler as manager. Supplies for the foundational, plumbing, and electrical materials were kept in stock at the lumber company. In the morning construction trucks could pull into the lumber company, load everything needed, and continue on to the building site. Efficiency and low construction costs were needed to beat the competition.[ii]
[i] Ibid.
[ii] Ibid.

Articles on landscaping, building tips, city planning

Wildwood Magazine

Lee, Joel, Grace, and the executive board members, deciding to expand their repertoire, agreed that a magazine was the perfect vehicle for publicizing their planned residential communities. From 1913 to 1917, Wildwood Magazine was published in order to promote housing styles, building tips, and landscaping techniques. Articles on city planning and landscaping were contributed by Arthur Shurtleff of Boston. In addition to informative articles, several contests for backyard beautification featured in the magazines, enticed homeowners to improve their landscape for neighborhood recognition.[i]
[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Spring1916, p. 2. The Wildwood Magazine sold for fifty cents for one year and seventy-five cents for two years.

Joel Roberts Ninde and Grace Crosby - Authors

G. Crosby's House
413 W. Dewald

Joel and Grace wrote many articles for Wildwood Magazine. One article in the Christmas 1914 issue featured a house plan inspired by an elm tree. The solarium and upper porch were strategically built so that the tree branches would provide shade. Windows were arranged to provide cross ventilation throughout the upstairs rooms.Another of Joel’s articles, “The Choice of Wallpapers,” published posthumously in the 1916 autumn issue of the magazine went into great detail about the virtues of wallpapering. By using a good quality wallpaper, house value could be greatly increased. Joel believed that the extra expense of imported wallpaper was not necessary because locally produced wallpaper quality was just as good. Joel also recommended buying two extra rolls of wallpaper to be used if cracks appeared in the walls.

Wildwood Magazine

Shawnee Place

Advertising

Advertising improved customer relations and contributed to Wildwood Magazine’s financial gain [i]. Because of the profitability of advertising Wildwood Builders also regularly, advertised in Sunday’s real estate section of the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette.[ii] The Wildwood Magazine editorial staff also contributed lengthy articles to the newspaper. Many of these articles promoted the virtues of the innovative concept of a city residential planning as well as Joel and Grace’s world-class designs. The Wildwood Magazine attained national recognition for many articles on urban restoration techniques. [iii]

A description of the floorplan for a house located at 3028 Shawnee Drive was featured in the Wildwood Magazine, August 1913. “ This house of Old Colonial design is very appropriate for a corner lot or can be built on a wide lot with the broad effect of the house to the front or can be turned around so the porch faces the street and the entrance on the side. The formal entrance shown leads into a small hall with the coat closet. The living room has a fireplace, formal entrance shown leads into a small hall with the coat closet. The living room has a fireplace, built-in book cases and two sets of French doors opening onto an exclusive living porch. The dining room and kitchen are on the opposite side of the house. A door in the dining room opens on a common stair landing and gives the effect of a front and rear stairway. The entire downstairs if finished in white with mahogany doors which aids in carrying out the Colonial effect. The upper floor has three nice sized sleeping rooms, abundance of closet space, bathroom with medicine cabinet and stairway leading to a large attic.” [iv]
[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn, 1916, n.p.
[ii] Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914 n.p., (ARCH files).
[iii] Nancy Vendrely, “Ninde Homes a Vision of turn-of-Century Woman” Fort Wayne Journal Gazette People Section Southwest October 21, 1997, n.p.
[iv] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1913, 14.

Community Outreach - Wildwood Magazine

example of a lake in northern indiana

Anther article in the 1916 Autumn, magazine describes community outreach. “The civic-minded/community oriented staff at WildwoodMagazine awarded four Fort Wayne lads (boys) ten days at one of the Northern lakes in the summer of 1916 for selling magazine subscriptions sub subscriptions.” [i]


[i] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn, 1916, n.p.

Interior Home Design Tips.

Wildwood Design

Another aspect of total customer service involved providing interior decorating tips. Joel and Grace decided to offer this service to the customer. In Joel’s home at 902 W. Wildwood home, these women provided the finishing touches to complete the home. A new company, Wildwood Design. incorporated in 1914, concentrated exclusively on interior home design. [i]
example of Colonial Revival decorating
[i] The Story of Wildwood, n.d., 1-24 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum).

Fort Wayne's City Planning

XI. Fort Wayne’s City Planning

example of city in need of cleanup

In addition to house design Joel and Lee’s vision expanded city wide; they devised a city plan that allowed streets and roads to follow the natural contour of the land.(42) The board members of Wildwood Builders began to launch a promotion for more naturally designed Fort Wayne neighborhoods. Most residential streets were designed with houses radiating out from central square and flat leveled lots. Alleys of the time tended to be filled with garbage and discarded junk. Joel believed in the elimination of unsightly city areas, and her vision was to clean up these areas.[i] Wildwood Builders wanted to do more than just build houses, so they launched a citywide beautification program. This program included amenities such as parks, playgrounds, and landscaping. Under these new guidelines, lots could be contoured. Houses no longer had to be built at street level. Trees were left standing and provided a panoramic backdrop for neighborhood streets. [ii][iii]

Using the vehicle of the Wildwood Magazine contests were ran to promote beautification and landscaping of individual properties “ In order to stimulate (interest in landscaping) the Wildwood Builders Company, the promoters of the (Shawnee) addition, put up three prizes each year of $10.00, $5.00 and $2.50 respectfully for the best kept property.” [iv] :
[i] Michael Hawfield, “Suburban Living was a New Concept” Fort Wayne News-Sentinel October 22, 1994, n.p. Historian Michael Hawfield (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum) wrote the Cityscapes column for the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Summit Magazine starting in May 1984. The columns are being republished in conjunction with the city’s 200th birthday October 22, 1994.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Greater Builders of Fort Wayne, 1926,425 (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum). “Lee J. Ninde (1874-1953), a Fort Wayne native was prominent in business here and achieved national renown in real-estate and city planning. He was one of the organizers of the Fort Wayne Board of Realtors as well as the Indiana Real Estate Association. He became widely known as the “dean of city planning” in Indiana, and was the first chairman of the Fort Wayne City Planning Commission established in 1916.”
[iv] The Wildwood Magazine, Autumn 1916, n.p. The residence of Mrs. A. F. Redderson, Shawnee Place (2923 Shawnee Drive was the winner of first prize in the garden contest.

Dr. Willis Roberts- Joel Ninde's great-grandfather.

portrait circa 1840 by unknown artist

XII. Family History of Building and Architecture in Mobile

Willis Roberts (1779-1853) came to the Alabama territory in 1819 as part of a three-man panel to select a place for the new capital. From the wilderness was carved a new city named Cahawba, at the confluence of two rivers. Willis Roberts owned a mercantile store and stable as well as being the governor’s private secretary. M. B. Lamar, a member of the Roberts household, wrote in his journal: “There was not another community more representative of the South’s best culture than this new capitol. No people in all America sat down to more bounteous dinners, served by better servants on richer mahogany. No people rode better groomed horses, or spoke their vernacular with gentler accents.” Cahawba was, unfortunately, susceptible to flooding, prompting the Roberts family to move on to Mobile.

[i] The Knickerbocker Magazine. New York, Vol XXV No. 5 May 1845, page 379.
[ii] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] Mobile Register, Sunday, March 11, 1925. “City Hospital Dates Inception back 200 years.”

Dr. Willis Roberts' Contribution to Mobile's growth

example of surveyor

Mobile Hospital

During Mobile’s growing phase of the 1830’s, Dr. Roberts, a skilled surveyor and cartographer, took advantage of the local booming economy. He was responsible for some of the early maps of the Mobile area, and also served on several building committees. In his day, Willis Roberts was nationally known as one who demanded the finest and the best. [i] Roberts’ influence prompted the hiring of the James brothers, preeminent architects of the period, to build four colossal Greek revival buildings in Mobile: the Mobile Hotel, the Presbyterian Church, the Mobile City Hospital and Barton Academy. These four world-class buildings are the foundation of Mobile’s reputation for historical architecture. Although the first building was destroyed by fire, the latter three are still standing. ii.

As first superintendent of the newly built hospital, he tried to introduce women attendants into the City Hospital on May 3rd, 1831 with a belief that women were an important part of the workforce. Dr. Roberts wrote innumerable pleas to the city aldermen and mayor for women attendants to nurse the women patients and look after certain details of hospital routine. The pleas were unsuccessful at the time. [iii]

[i] The Knickerbocker Magazine. New York, Vol XXV No. 5 May 1845, page 379.
[ii] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] Mobile Register, Sunday, March 11, 1925. “City Hospital Dates Inception back 200 years.”

Dr. Willis Roberts Education

Cahaba Female Academy


Dr. Willis Roberts Education

Dr. Willis Roberts was a veritable renaissance man of many accomplishments but the rudimentary details of his education have not been preserved. It is unknown where Dr. Roberts went to medical school. Ray Isbell suggests, “Perhaps a study of the avenues taken by his physician acquaintances, Dr. Abbot and Dr. Bibb, Willis' own path might be learned.” Willis’s fourth son, Joel Abbott Roberts, was named after Dr. Joel Abbot (t), a prominent Georgia doctor and member of Congress. Perhaps Willis learned medicine from Abbot. Willis Roberts worked for the Alabama governor, William Wyatt Bibb, who was also a physician. During this period, Willis could have been tutored by the governor. Also, an 1817 letter written by the Governor of Georgia, referral is made to “Doc. Willis Roberts.” Willis Roberts' youngest child was born in Pennsylvania, where the Roberts appeared to have had relatives. Also, Willis Roberts went on several buying trips to New York to stock his mercantile store in Cahawba. Roberts could have received some medical training in New York. Dr. Willis wasn’t known as a doctor in Cahawba when he arrived in 1819 because he was busy running his mercantile store and fulfilling his duties to Bibb. Willis only started advertising his medical services in the Alabama newspaper in 1823. [i]

[i] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Dr. Willis Roberts Moves to Texas - 1838

Mirabeau Lamar

In 1838, Dr. Willis Roberts and most of his family moved to Texas at the invitation of longtime friend Mirabeau Lamar, second President of the Republic of Texas, who had lived with the family twenty years earlier. Lamar appointed several members of the Roberts family to positions in the new country’s government. Dr. Roberts transported a large house frame by ship to Galveston, Texas, where he was the Collector of Customs. He relocated the frame several times before deciding where to finally build. After a couple of years, Dr. Roberts gave up on the Texas adventure in the wilderness and returned to the more civilized world of Mobile, where he died in 1853. Several of Willis’ children, Olivea, Sophia and Samuel, however, remained in Texas, where in 1841 Samuel was appointed Secretary of State of the Republic. While there, Samuel married and built a showplace house in Bonham, Texas circa 1853. Educated at West Point, Samuel had been a classmate of Jefferson Davis, President of Confederate States. [i]
[i] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Dr. Willis Roberts' Legacy

actual picture of Dr. Willis's physician office in Mobile

Dr. Willis Roberts’ wife, Asenath, lived to see completion of the City Hospital, but died in 1833. He wned numerous properties in the city and built quite a few cottages near the hospital at the corner of Saint Anthony and Broad Streets. The office that he used for private practice still stands on the northeast corner of Government Street and St. Emanuel. Aside from his architectural contributions to Mobile, Dr. Willis Roberts built the family home for his large family at 910 Government Street in 1837. Also, Dr. Willis built homes for each of his children. A large 1826 townhouse that was a century-old landmark when it was destroyed circa 1940, has been identified by the Pillans family as being built by Roberts as a wedding present for his eldest daughter, Olivea. [i]

Children of Dr. Willis and Asenath Alexander Roberts
1. Olivea Alexander
2. Mary Herndon
3. Samuel Alexander
4. Joel Abbott
5. Sophia Lowry
6. Emily Rogers
7. Reuben Herndon
8. Laura Malvina
9. Willis, Jr.
10. Seth Willis [ii]
[i] In Mary Van Antwerp’s collection of archives is a drawing of an old house downtown on Conception Street which Dr. Willis owned around 1826 and possibility built. The builder is unknown. In 1939 it was presumed to have been built by Balthasar Tardy. “This curious old frame dwelling has been a landmark in Mobile for close to a century.” Tardy-Thorp House, 112 South Conception Street, Mobile, Mobile County, Alabama. But Daisy Pillans wrote on the drawing that it was Grandfather Roberts’ house. City directories for this period are available on microfilm but have not been studied. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] 1. Olivea Alexander Roberts June 23 1804-1 Sep 1882) m. four times (Taylor-Mather-McKinstry Withers) and lived in Mobile, Al., Galveston, TX, New Orleans, LA 2. Mary Herndon Roberts (Oct 2, 1806)-Aug 2 1822), died age 15 in Cahawba, AL. 3. Samuel Alexander Roberts (Feb. 13 1809- Aug 18 1872) married Apr. 8 1842 to Mrs. Lucinda Mary (Gary) Reed, lived in Bonham, TX. 4. Joel Abbott Roberts (January 6 1811-Aug. 7 1863) lived in Mobile, Al. 5. Sophia Lowry Roberts (January 9 1813-2 Apr 1878) married John A. Settle, lived in San Antonio, TX and New Orleans, LA. 6. Emily Rogers Roberts (January 14 1816- Jul 2 1833), died age 17 in Mobile, ALA. 7. Reuben Herndon Roberts (Sep 30 1817-30 May 1884) married Martina T. Quigley, lived in TX, Mobile, AL, Birmingham, AL. 8. Laura Malvina Roberts (Sep 25 1819- Aug 20 1883) married Palmer Job Pillans, lived in Mobile, AL. 9. Willis Roberts, Jr. (19, Mar 1822) died young. 10. Seth Willis Roberts (Dec. 22, 1823-1878) married Claudine LaCoste and lived in Mobile, Al. “The Descendants of Dr Willis Roberts & Asenath Alexander.” http://fire.prohosting.com/robsgen/index.htm.

Joel Abbot Roberts - Joel Ninde's grandfather

Dr. Willis Roberts’ second son, Joel Abbott Roberts, a banker and bookkeeper with the firm of Lewis and Porteous at 36 Dauphin Street in Mobile, was considered a gentleman builder. After a brief stint in Texas as postmaster for the town of White Rock in Dallas County, Roberts returned to Mobile, Alabama to complete his country house on the Shell Road in Summerville, now 1614 Old Shell Road in the suburb called Spring Hill. The one-and-a half story French Creole cottage, built in 1851-52, had a central hall with two large rooms on both sides. Broad sliding doors that could be closed in the winter and opened in the summer created long rooms on either side of the hallway. Floor length windows allowed passage directly onto the front gallery. Originally, such windows also opened onto a rear gallery but at some point these rear gallery windows were enclosed. The French, deported by the British from Acadia in 1755, brought rectangular style houses with steeply pitched roofs to the coast. Around the same time, compatriots from the French Caribbean islands brought a more open cottage style house surrounded by galleries that served as hallways, work areas, and social centers. Joel’s country house was a composite of both styles. [i]
[i] The Magazine Antiques. Straight Enterprises, Inc., vol. CXII, no. 3), New York. Sept 1977, p. 466

Family Home - 910 Goverment Street & Children

In 1854, after his father’s death, Joel Abbott Roberts began renovating the family home at 910 Government Street for his wife and nine children.[i] The original house that sat on two double lots, built by Dr. Willis in 1837, had been badly damaged by fire. The side hall plan of Joel's Greek Revival townhouse is fairly common in Mobile architecture. The structure usually has two perpendicular wings projecting from either side, additions built at different times as families needed the room or as finances allowed. Owing to the long narrow lots, as in New Orleans, the houses invariably had long narrow service wings or dining wings projecting from the rear, often in the Creole style, as was Willis Roberts' original structure. From looking at Joel Robert’s expense ledger, it appears that he had a more hands-on approach than his father. Some of the features of the rebuilt home included an enclosed back porch off the main house downstairs; the center portion of the upstairs porch left open, flanked by a small room on the east end and a closet on the west end, with doors connecting these to the upstairs porch and the north wing bedrooms behind the main house. Mobile did have a sewer system after the 1840’s, but the rear porch closet most likely was an “earthen closet” (toilet), as it is unlikely that the house originally had indoor plumbing. [ii] At the north end of the north wing galleries, both upstairs and down, were two more closets later enlarged into regular bathrooms in 1940. [iii] .

Children of Joel Abbott Roberts and Mary Taylor Bolles [vi]

1. Laura D.
2. Willis
3. Eber Bolles [vii]
4. Walsingham M.
5. Mary C. “Mollie” (twin)
6. Lamar (twin)
7. Virginia H. “Jennie”
8. Alexander
9. Bessie
[i] Joel Abbott Roberts was related to Ellen Lewis Herndon Arthur, wife of President Chester A. Arthur. Mrs. Arthur and her brother were fourth cousins to Joel Abbott Roberts. Thomas Hord Herndon owned a mansion at 907 Government Street, was a third cousin of Joel A. Roberts, and a lawyer under whom Harry Pillans studied law. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] The house immediately to the west of 910 Government Street burned to the ground and a new one was built c. 1891. There is much evidence of fire damage to the first floor of 910, but no damage is seen on the second floor. The west wing and old dining room behind it have wooden walls, but chunks of burned plaster are found inside the walls. Also the dining room has two layers of door trim showing evidence of fire underneath. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] Timothy Brent Selby, Archeological Study. Atlanta, Georgia. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iv] The Roberts and Pillans families were surrounded by related families such as the Herndons, Gaineses, and Toulmins. These families intermarried or these relationships were cemented by further intermarriage over several generations. General Edmund Pendleton Gaines was a great-great-great uncle of Captain J. L. Abbott who married Helen Buck Taylor and lived at 910 Government Street. Helen was the daughter of R. V. and Helen Buck Taylor, the second family to own the Roberts house. A portrait of R. V. Taylor hangs at 910 Government Street. General Gaines’ brother Col. George Strother Gaines lived at Gaineswood in Demopolis. Mr. Gaines’s grandson George Stark Gaines married Mary Isbell Pillans of 908 Government Street, granddaughter of Laura Roberts Pillans. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[v] Harry Pillans, lawyer, member constitution convention 1901, mayor of Mobile was born June 27, 1847 at Bonham, Tex, son of J. Palmer and Laura Roberts Pillans and was educated in the public schools of Mobile. He was prepared under P. A. Towne to enter the junior class at college, when he enlisted in the C. S. Army in 1864. Palmer practiced actively in the courts of Mobile, Alabama in the Mississippi Supreme Court., Coast Court and Mississippi Supreme Court and occasionally the Federal Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of the Fifth Circuit. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[vi] 1. Laura D. Roberts (b. 1841 - not listed in Magnolia Cemetery married Joseph T. Hunter 6/ 13/1866. 2. Willis Roberts (b. 1843) not listed in Magnolia Cemetery married Moffitt E. Taylor 2/9/1870. 3. Eber Bolles Roberts (b. 1846, died 6/17/1860. age
14. 4. Walsingham M. Roberts (11/18/1847, died 12/31/1916). Divorced Evelyn Gaines Russell Roberts 5. Mary C. “Mollie” Roberts (11/22/1849-11/15/1933) twin married Walter P. Taylor 26/3/1873. 6 .Lamar Roberts (b.1/7/1849 twin d. 3/15/1851, not on 1860 census). 7. Virginia H . “Jennie” Roberts (1/7/1852-4/1/1928) married George Eberlein.
“The Descendants of Dr. Willis Roberts & Asenath Alexander.” http://fire.prohosting.com/robsgen/index.htm.
[vii] Eber Bolles Roberts was named for his maternal grandfather, Eber Moore Bolles, father of Mary Taylor (Bolles) Roberts (Mrs. Joel Abbott Roberts). Eber Bolles died young, as did his brothers Lamar and Alexander. The paternal grandfather Beer was born in Ct. and graduated from Brown University 1813, moved south and became a lawyer after passing the bar in Dallas County, AL. in 1820. Beer married in Franklin Co., Ga. May 23, 1816, Elizabeth B. Taylor (born in Pendleton Co., SC.) and died in Cahaba or Selma, Dallas Co., Al. His widow and three children moved to Mobile, where she later alternated living with her daughters Mary Taylor Bolles Roberts (Joel Ninde’s grandmother) and Elizabeth Bolles Douglass. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

History of Joel Abbott Roberts' Government Street Houses

In addition to rebuilding the family home at 910 Government Street, Joel Abbott Roberts finished two more neighboring houses that Dr. Willis had provided should be left for his descendants. In 1857 and 1859 respectively, the houses at 908 and 906 Government Street were finished. The two homes remained in Laura Roberts Pillans’ family until 1979, when they were demolished. The house at 908 Government Street provided rental income for Joel Roberts’ widow, Mary Taylor Bolles Roberts, after his death in 1863 until 1875, when it was sold to Dr. Edmund Pendleton Gaines and his wife Mary Toulmin Gaines. [i] After Dr. Gaines’ death, his widow sold the house to Harry Pillans, son of Laura Roberts Pillans. [ii] Laura
Roberts Pillans was Joel’s sister, the youngest daughter of Dr.
Willis Roberts. Harry, one-time mayor of Mobile, would have
been first cousin to Joel Ninde’s father, Willis.

[i] The Roberts and Pillans families were surrounded by related families such as the Herndons, Gaineses, and Toulmins. These families intermarried or these relationships were cemented by further intermarriage over several generations. General Edmund Pendleton Gaines was a great-great-great uncle of Captain J. L. Abbott who married Helen Buck Taylor and lived at 910 Government Street. Helen was the daughter of R. V. and Helen Buck Taylor, the second family to own the Roberts house. A portrait of R. V. Taylor hangs at 910 Government Street. General Gaines’ brother Col. George Strother Gaines lived at Gaineswood in Demopolis. Mr. Gaines’s grandson George Stark Gaines married Mary Isbell Pillans of 908 Government Street, granddaughter of Laura Roberts Pillans. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] Harry Pillans, lawyer, member constitution convention 1901, mayor of Mobile was born June 27, 1847 at Bonham, Tex, son of J. Palmer and Laura Roberts Pillans and was educated in the public schools of Mobile. He was prepared under P. A. Towne to enter the junior class at college, when he enlisted in the C. S. Army in 1864. Palmer practiced actively in the courts of Mobile, Alabama in the Mississippi Supreme Court., Coast Court and Mississippi Supreme Court and occasionally the Federal Supreme Court and Court of Appeals of the Fifth Circuit. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Building by Family Members

While Joel Ninde grew up surrounded by the exuberant architecture built by her forebears in better times, the economic downturn of the south did not prevent other relatives from building. Joel Ninde’s aunt Jennie Roberts and her husband George Eberlein built a large Victorian mansion in 1880 on Springhill Avenue. When the house burned soon thereafter, Jennie and George replaced it with an elegant cottage on the lot. Another family member with a talent for building houses was Jennie’s brother, Walsingham Roberts, who built two houses in the 1890’s located at 905 and 907 Dexter Avenue. Walsingham was Joel Ninde’s uncle. Another family member, Elizabeth Bolles Douglass, great aunt to Joel Ninde, and her husband Sidney had built the Douglass-Taylor-Inge-Kearney House, a Greek Revival mansion at 1004 Government Street in 1856. Then in 1872, the Douglasses built an Italianate house at 950 Government Street. [i] Greek revival and Italianate were two of the more popular styles of architecture in Mobile during the late 1800’s.[ii]

[i] Ibid.
[ii] Other styles of the time (late 1800’s) were Renaissance Revival, Romanesque, Classical Revival, Queen Ann, and Federal. National Register of Historical Homes in Mobile. http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/AL/Mobile/state.html
[iii] The Roberts House at 910 Government Street is one of the Oakleigh District‘s oldest structures dating from 1854. Historic Mobile Preservation Society. http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.html.
[iv] Gould, Elizabeth. From Builders to Architects (Black Belt Press: Mongomery, Alabama, 1997).

Architectural Styles in Mobile 1873-1900

Among the many architectural styles popular in Mobile during Joel Ninde’s formative years (1873-1900), two in particular were the late Victorian and Greek Revival. A prime example of Greek Revival is the Oakleigh mansion, in the Oakleigh Garden Historic District neighborhood, which was primarily developed following the Civil War. (Figure 15) [i] The few antebellum Greek Revival homes, like the ones at 910 and 1004 Government Street, survived because of the resurgence in popularity around 1900. Elizabeth Barrett Gould, in her book From Builders to Architects, stated that when Greek Revival came into vogue again in the early 1900’s, virtually all of the high Victorian mansions of Mobile were replaced by houses with neoclassical elements.[ii]
[i] The Roberts House at 910 Government Street is one of the Oakleigh District‘s oldest structures dating from 1854. Historic Mobile Preservation Society. http://www.historicmobile.org/oakleigh.html.
[ii] Gould, Elizabeth. From Builders to Architects (Black Belt Press: Mongomery, Alabama, 1997).

Maternal Family History

XIII.Maternal Family History

Joel Ninde’s mother, Moffitt Eliza Peacock,[i] was born February 1839 into a prestigious family in Montgomery, Alabama. Moffitt and siblings Jesse, Camella, Michael Baker, Sally and Fanny lived a fairly comfortable life at the Moses Garrison/Michael Peacock plantation. Michael Peacock, the children’s father died around 1853, when Moffitt was about 14. In 1860 his widow, Mary Eliza Peacock, had a net worth of $150,000. So Moffitt apparently grew up quite well-to-do. [ii] Moffitt’s first marriage was on February 15, 1855 to William. S. Taylor, as recorded in Montgomery County, Alabama. William died soon after the marriage, although the exact date is unknown. According to St. John’s Episcopal Church records in Mobile, she appears to have married a second time by 1857 to Henry Bright Taylor, in all probability her late husband’s brother. Henry is listed in the church records as the father of Moffitt’s daughters, Kate and Lillie, born 1857 and 1861 respectively. Both girls were baptized in the church on October 24, 1864. The records show Moffitt and Henry were later confirmed on June 18, 1865. Moffitt’s second husband was probably deceased by the time Willis Roberts was confirmed in October 17, 1869. Moffitt Eliza Taylor and her third husband, Willis Roberts, were married on February 9, 1870 at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Daughter Joel was born on December 21, 1873, although no baptismal record has been found.

[i] Many different spellings for Moffitt. St. John’s Episcopal Church spelled her name Moffitt three times and once with only one T. One genealogy book said that Willis married “Widow Moffitt”. Genealogy of the Bolles Family in America (Boston: Henry W. Dutton Son, 1865.) Mobile Co. Probate Court marriage records spelled her name Moffit E. Taylor (book 24, page 255). The U. S. Census records her name differently each decade. 1840 census, children not identified; 1850 census, Mophet; 1860 census not located; 1870 census, Moffat; 1880 census, Moffett; 1890 census burned; 1900 census, Moffitte; 1920 census, Mrs. W. C. Roberts; and deceased by the 1930 census (U.S. Census, Mobile, Alabama). The obituary didn’t even put her given, or maiden, name, simply “Mrs. Willis Roberts”.
[ii] “The Descendents of Dr. Willis Roberts & Asenath Alexander” http://fire.prohosting.com/robsgen/index.htm page 21.

Paternal Family History

graphic by Leslie Thompson Jr.

XIV. Paternal Family History

Joel Ninde’s father, Willis Roberts (b. 1843), was also born into a well-to-do family and grew up quite comfortable in the family home at 910 Government Street. Joel Ninde’s great grandmother Mary Taylor Bolles Roberts was quite a matriarch and held her family together for twenty years from the time her husband died during the Civil War until her own death in 1883. The 20-room home was quite spacious with six bedrooms and seven bathrooms located upstairs. Almost all of the other family members and their spouses lived at the home at 910 Government Street periodically over the years. Laura Roberts was married at the time of Willis’s marriage in 1870 and lived with her husband Joseph T. Hunter and baby in the household. Willis had probably shared a room with his bookkeeper brother Walsingham. Lamar and Alexander appear to have died as infants. Mollie, Jennie, and Bessie probably had one or two bedrooms between them. It is unclear where the live-in Irish nurse slept. There were two rooms for servants over the garage complex and another over the kitchen. In 1860 when Willis was seventeen, his fourteen year-old brother died. In 1863, when Willis was twenty years old, his father Joel Abbott Roberts died of heart spasms and was buried in Augusta, Georgia [i]

[i] Isbell records – Information provided by Taylor Abbott

Willis Roberts' Career

XV. Willis Roberts’ Career

Following the Civil War, at a time when the majority of southern families lost everything, Mary Taylor Bolles Roberts still owned property, including three houses on prestigious Government Street. But in-law, Palmer Pillans, purchased one of these houses with Confederate money, which quickly became worthless, creating a serious rift in the family. Mary Roberts lost that property as well as the rental income it had provided. Therefore, it appears that Willis did not have access to family money or else wanted to establish himself independent of the family. It took seven years following his father’s death to establish himself in business. [i]

Willis worked as a bookkeeper and accountant for Dr. George Ketchum throughout most of his working years (1873-1905), with a smattering of different employers before and after Dr. Ketchum. According to local directories, Willis worked in 1870 as a probate court clerk. Following his employment with Dr. Ketchum, Willis worked as a bookkeeper for Home Telephone Company in 1906 and was a bookkeeper for Spiro & Pinchus at 108 S. Joachim from 1907-08. From 1911-1916, he was a bookkeeper at the St. Andrew Hotel, where he also resided until his death in 1917. Dr. Ketchum, however, was the most influential employer in Willis’ career. [ii]

[i] Ibid.
[ii] Ibid.

Dr. George Ketchum's Antebellum Villa/Career

Dr. George Ketchum, one of the wealthiest citizens of Mobile at that time, owned a grand antebellum villa at 1007 Government Street across from Willis' Aunt Elizabeth Bolles Douglass, where the Inner City Church of Chris is now located. George Augustus Ketchum started his medical practice in Mobile in 1846 after graduating from the Uiversity of Pennsylvania. Dr. Ketchum's stellar career being one of the first physicians to administer quinime in the early stages of yellow fever in addition to finding ways to improve unsanitary conditions and provide clean city water. Dr. Ketchum also assisted in the founding of the Medical Association of Alabama in 1847 and organized the Medical College of Alabama which is still standing.

Tom McGee, "The Magnificent Ketchumsw "Magnolia Messanger September 2003.

Accounting/Bookkeeper Vocations in Roberts' Family

XXIII. Accounting/Bookkeeper Vocations in Roberts Family

Besides architecture, accounting and bookkeeping were pursued by several members of the Roberts family. Starting with Joel Abbott Roberts, Willis Roberts and his brother Walsingham, several success stories have recently surfaced through Isbell’s historical research. Joel Ninde’s first cousin, Joel Roberts Hunter, Sr. was born and lived at 910 Government, Mobile, Alabama, until circa age thirty. He was an accountant, moved to Atlanta and held the first CPA license in Georgia and one of the first CPA’s in the United States, president of the CPA Association, and in 1905 wrote an important book on accounting “Thinking in Figures.” [i]

Joel Roberts Hunter Jr. followed in his father’s footsteps. A certified public accountant, Mr. Hunter headed his own accounting practice in Atlanta, Ga. before joining Haskins and Sells in 1942 as a partner in New York. He was a 1927 graduate of Emory University School of Business Administration, member of the University School of Business Administration and a member of the Georgia Bar Association. Joel became president of Crucible Steel in 1957 and chairman in 1968. [ii] [iii] Michael Hunter, son of Joel Roberts Hunter Jr. owns Hunter Publishing Company. Joel Ninde’s close relatives were of a disciplined mind and their successes were not accidental.

[i] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] New York Times http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9COCEOD8123BF934A35752COA9669C8B63 Obituary Joel Hunter Sr.
[iii] Descent Laura Roberts Hunter, Joel Hunter Sr., Joel Hunter Jr. Michael Hunter Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Willis Roberts Residences

XVI. Willis Roberts Residences

In the post Civil War city of her birth, Joel Roberts Ninde had known the large, stately old homes as multi-family buildings, crowded and difficult to maintain. Joel’s father had chosen not to do as his sisters had done, by moving their spouses into the Roberts family home on Government Street and raising their children in a cramped family compound. Willis and Moffitt lived independently from them, moving every year or two to another rented home or apartment.

Willis appears to have had steady employment but the family moved around a great deal. Willis and Moffitt moved 20 times during their marriage of 47 years.[i] One explanation for their continual moves could have been the population shifts during the 1890’s as large building projects decimated entire neighborhoods. In the downtown area, construction of taller buildings on gridlocked streets necessitated the destruction of entire blocks. At least two of their moves were evidently due to this building frenzy. Another theory to explain the almost yearly move is that Willis and Moffit were house sitters for the affluent. The addresses were in the most exclusive area of Mobile and these houses were considered mansions. Many wealthy families also owned homes in other parts of the country and lived there seasonally, even spending time abroad. It is possible that Willis and Moffitt rented furnished mansions while the owners were away. The Robertses would have been considered the best class of house sitters available as they came from a similar social class.

[i] Places of residence of the Willis Roberts family: In 1870-north side Government Street between Hallett and Broad, still standing; 1873-south side Congress 1 block east Jackson , (Detoni Square area in current Mobile); 1875- South side corner Monroe and Conception (Fort Conde area in current Mobile); 1876-11 N. Jackson -1 block North of Dauphin Street in current Mobile); 1877-Northwest corner Jackson and St. Louis, demolished; 1878 –North side St. Louis 2 blocks west Royal, 1879-South side St. Anthony, 2 blocks west Conception; 1880- 1884- 61 St. Louis; 1888- Southside St. Louis 2 blocks west St. Joseph; 1889 to 1895- Southside St. Louis, 4 blocks east Conception Street; 1896-50 S. Jackson;, 1897- 1900; 51 S. Jackson ; 1901- N. Jackson north of present Dauphin Street; 1902- 200 N. Conception; 1903-no listing; 1904 to 1906- 411 St. Francis; 1907 to 1908-108 Joachin Street, 1909-unknown, 1910-1917-St. Andrew Hotel, east side of Royal Street north of Dauphin, middle of the block between Dauphin and St. Francis. The St. Andrew Hotel was located between the Battle House Hotel and what is now the law firm of Lyons, Pipes at 2 N. Dauphin. Information derived and compiled from Mobile City Directories and Historic American Buildings Survey of 1939 by Roy Isbell for August 2005 driving tour for Corinne Toth, author.

Borders of Willis & Moffett

Borders of Willis & Moffett

In all probably, Joel Ninde’s parents took in boarders for extra income. Mobile had been a very wealthy city, but with so many people poverty-stricken after the Civil War, the city itself had filed for bankruptcy in 1878. The 1880 census transcription lists Willis and Moffitt’s family, Kate, Lillie and Joel, residing at 61 Lewis Street in a six-bedroom house. Listed in the household were five boarders, one of which was Willis’s unmarried sister-in-law Fannie Peacock. Also listed on the census are Kate’s husband Henry Woodhull and a domestic servant. The census information also shows that Joel Roberts’ name was handwritten on the census correctly but was somehow transcribed incorrectly as Luella on the published census document. During the latter part of their lives together, Mr. and Mrs. Willis Roberts lived in the luxurious St. Andrew Hotel where Willis also worked from 1911 to 1916. Perhaps the couple chose hotel life for convenience as hotel staff provided the role of servants in the post slavery era.

Joel Ninde's Career Influences

Madam Octavia Walton LaVert

Harvard University Lee Ninde

XVII. Joel Ninde’s Career Influences

Joel’s grandparents and great-grandparents were wealthy and influential early citizens and had well established connections to the socialite families of the day. Madame Octavia Walton LeVert, one of the South’s most notable women, was included in Dr. Willis Roberts’ circle of friends.[i] [ii] Like her ancestors, Joel Roberts’ marriage to Lee Ninde afforded her a life of affluence. Lee, son of Judge Ninde, who graduated from Harvard College in 1895, was a practicing lawyer from a prominent and wealthy family who had returned to Fort Wayne to join his brothers Harry and Daniel in the family law practice. Not content to be a socialite, Joel had an Lintrinsic need to design and build houses. The rewards of homebuilding extended beyond the financial gains.

[i] Mirabeau Lamar, second president of the Republic of Texas, always stayed at the Willis Roberts or Joel Roberts house when he was in Mobile, according to his biographies and his own papers. All the bios say that he “fell in with a coterie of literary personalities who met at the salon of Madame LeVert”. So in other words, he stayed at the Roberts homes but spent many evenings at Madame’s, then returned to sleep at the Roberts house. So of course the Robertses knew the LeVerts, too, if she was such a good friend of Lamar. There is at least one letter from Dr. Henry LeVert, Madame’s husband, in the Mirabeau Lamar papers in Texas. Dr. LeVert also witnessed the will of Joel Ninde’s maternal grandfather, William Peacock. Madame LeVert was closer in age to Olivea Roberts (b. 1804), daughter of Dr. Willis and Asenath (b. 1804) and Joel Roberts (b. 1811) than to Laura (b. 1819). Also Lamar and Olivia Roberts were close. Descendents of Olivia Roberts are said to have over 200 family letters. Laura Roberts Pillans’ daughter Edith married Dr. Howard Rutherford Walker, a second cousin of Octavia Walton LeVert. Madame LeVert’s mother (married to the mayor of Mobile and governor of West Florida) was a first cousin of Edith Pillans’ father-in-law, John Valentine Freeman Walker. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] Madame LeVert, or the Countess of Mobile, as she came to be called, was a magnet for the political, social and intellectual elite who visited the city. Her summers were spent in the cooler climate of Saratoga and Newport. Over the years she numbered among her friends such individuals as William Wadsworth Longfellow, actor Edwin Booth (brother of John Wilkes Booth), Edward Everett, Millard Fillmore, Alexander Stephens and Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley, daughter of the Duke of Rutland. Her friendship with Lady Emmeline prompted Octavia Walton LeVert to expand her travels to Europe. On her first trip in 1853, Dr. LeVert stayed in Mobile, however, he did accompany her in 1855. While she traveled in Europe Mrs. LeVert was introduced to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Benjamin Disraeli, Pope Pius IX, Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, and Alphonse de Lamartine, the French statesman and historian who encouraged her to publish her travel journal. Following his recommendation, the two-volume “Souvenirs of Travel was printed in 1857. http://www.walkerfamilycemetery.org/HISTORY/history.htm

Houses of Convenience-Wildwood Magazine

Joel’s Aspirations - Houses of Convenience

Perhaps because Joel had grown up during a time when the popular architecture was formal, ornate, and pompous, in combination with the possibility of living in the dark Italian villa of her father-in-law, she felt a need to build for comfort instead of to impress the neighbors.[i] Joel’s aspiration was to develop a new style of architecture that was more user-friendly to the inhabitants or “houses of convenience.” [ii] Joel found the selection of houses in most neighborhoods undesirable for the homemaker. Dreary, seldom painted box-style houses with shabby lawns and the useless plate-glass doors of garish colored Victorian houses for only the rich were not acceptable housing. Joel focused her artistic creativity in designing comfortable houses for the modern women. Joel’s eye for detail and her design prowess made these houses very popular with the public. [iii]

Perhaps the wide range of social contacts and constant moves as a child stimulated Joel Ninde’s drive and determination to build houses. Like her parents who moved constantly, in 1902 Joel and Lee Ninde built, lived in, and sold five houses in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Lee saw the prestige and satisfaction to be gained in promoting Joel’s economical housing designs and gave up his law career to devote his time promoting Joel’s career. [iv]
[i] Joel and Lee built their first home in 1901 on the northeast corner of the Wildwood estate on a small plot of land donated by Judge Ninde, Lee’s father. Joel’s first architectural design was a Dutch Colonial Revival house that had a main hallway which connected the rest of the first floor. To the left of the hallway was the dining room and to the right the living room. Located at the rear of the house was a kitchen with plenty of cupboards built for efficiency. Upstairs was a centrally located bathroom with four adjoining bedrooms. Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, February 8, 1914, n.p. (ARCH files).
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] “Houses of Convenience,” The Wildwood Magazine, Christmas 1914, p 23, (Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Museum ) An article written by Joel R. Ninde and Grace E. Crosby describes a prototype, the house of convenience house plan, which provides the homemaker with an efficient comfortable house. Joel and Grace house designs contained most or all of these features.)
[iv] Harold Lopshire, ARCH, interview by Corinne Toth Friday, April 7, 1998.

Joel Roberts Ninde's Personal Skills - Independence-Individuality

XVIII. Joel Roberts Ninde’s Personal Skills

Joel contributed many outstanding qualities to her marriage. An energetic woman, Joel was not content to be confined to the home like most women of her era. This woman used her creative energies to establish an unorthodox role model. She utilized her creativity to combine domestic life with a career. Two of the strongest traits that Joel brought to her marriage were independence and individuality. Joel Roberts Ninde appears to have inherited a creative drive from a long line of builders beginning with her great grandfather, inspired in her career choice by a love of architecture and also by the economic zeitgeist of the times

Did Joel have brothers & sisters?

XIX Joel Ninde’s Immediate Family

There is no definitive information regarding Joel’s and her sisters’ childhood or social life. Since Joel had cousins and older sisters, it is unlikely she lacked for playmates, friends, and caretakers. Siblings Kate and Lillie were 16 and 12 years older than Joel so her parents had built-in baby sitters. One piece of evidence corroborating Joel’s social status was a photo found at the South Alabama Archives when she was between the ages of 16-21. Mobile had several photography studios by 1891, when that photo was taken but a family had to have money to have a studio photograph taken. One of Joel Ninde’s relatives had a studio, the Frame Shop, at the S. W. corner of St. Francis and Conception.

Marriages, Divorces and Deaths.

Marriages and deaths in the Roberts family were a part of Joel’s childhood and early adulthood. The family appeared to be extremely close, often living together with relatives. Kate, the first family member to get married, wed Harry W. Woodhull on June 3, 1878. [i] A few of years later the young couple moved in with them for about a year when Joel was 6. When Joel was 10 years old, Harry became ill with typhoid and after 26 days he died on January 28, 1884, at age 27 years. Kate lived with her parents, her sister Lillie and sister Joel, until she remarried Thornton Goodloe on December 11, 1894 and moved to Pensacola, Florida thereafter. Thornton and Kate were divorced in 1907. Thornton is not listed in either the city directory or the 1900 census for Mobile. After Kate moved out, both Joel and her other sister, Lillian “Lillie” F. Taylor, lived with their parents until Joel married in October 1900 and moved to Indiana. Soon after Joel’s marriage, Lillie moved to Pensacola to be near Kate where she ran a boarding house.[ii] [iii] Lillie married at the age of 60. Kate is listed in the Florida Death Index as dying in 1936 in Pensacola, Florida. Lillie is thought to have died by 1930. [iv]
[i] Mobile City Directory.
[ii] Kate and Lillie had a paternal grandfather named General William Cannon Taylor and first cousins who lived in Massachusetts and Texas, and aunts and uncles who were grandchildren of the governor of Georgia. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iii] 1900 census, Kate and Lillie Taylor’s aunt Octavia Walton Taylor Longley was a widow living in Newark, New Jersey (Essex Co) on Roseville Avenue in the household of Emma and Fannie Lewis. Octavia Longley was named for Octavia Walton LeVert who was a friend of Dr. Willis Roberts. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[iv] Harry Woodhull was a bachelor, working as a bookkeeper for Williams & Glennon, who resided at the south side of Augusta Street, 2 east of Charles Street, five blocks southwest of 910 Government Street in 1876. In 1877 Harry lived at the north side of St. Louis, 2 west of Jackson Street, living next door to Willis and Moffitt and Kate, Lillie and Joel. In 1880 Harry was a bookkeeper with James Cunningham and Company and moved into his in-law’s house at 21 St. Conception Street when Joel was six years old. In 1882 Harry and Kate moved into their own home at 21 S. Conception Street, six blocks from Willis & Moffitt’s home. The1885-86 City Directory lists Kate Woodhull, widow of Harry, residing at 61 St. Louis St. (Her parents’ address). Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.

Where did Moffitt & Willis live after Joel's move to Indiana?

Unanswered Questions

Historians in Fort Wayne had reported that Joel’s parents moved to Indiana following her wedding, however, there is definitive evidence to the contrary. First, a Mobile newspaper clipping from 1905 mentions Mrs. Willis Roberts as a victim of a Mobile pickpocket. Second, census records and city directories show that Willis maintained an apartment at the St. Andrew Hotel from 1911 to 1916. A third piece of evidence is Moffitt Roberts’ Fort Wayne obituary, “Mrs. Roberts, prior to the death of her daughter Joel, spent summers in Fort Wayne and had a wide circle of friends”. [i] Fourth, Joel Ninde’s father died in 1917, a year after his daughter, and is not listed in the Magnolia Cemetery, Mobile, Alabama nor the Fort Wayne archives. Recently Willis's grave was found in Pensacola. Joel’s mother died at the age of 83 on November 23, 1921 at the home of her daughter, Lillie, at 422 North Palafax Street, Pensacola, Florida. .[ii]

[i] “She (Mrs. Roberts) is survived by two daughters, Miss Lillie Taylor and Mrs. Kate Goodloe. Mrs. Roberts was an exceptionally intelligent and cultured woman and her friends in Fort Wayne will be pained to learn of her demise.” “Obituary of Mrs.Willis Roberts”, Fort Wayne News Sentinel, Thursday November 24, 1921. p. 7 col. 2.
[ii] Angie Quinn, Executive Director, has compiled extensive genealogy of the Nindes, dating back to the Mayflower. Pictures of Judge Lindley Ninde and wife Beulah and Ninde-Trone Chart, a gift to Roy Isbell by descendant Kristen Trone, are now in possession of ARCH, Fort Wayne, Indiana and Isbell records, Mobile, Alabama.

Did other members of the Roberts family die young?

XX. Family Health Issues

In an article of November 7, 1914 of the Indianapolis Star, the author states that during the building of her first home, Joel had a "serious disease that left her practically an invalid" and she had to be carried to the building site of her first building endeavor.
Joel Ninde died in 1916 of a stroke at the age of forty-two. This leads to questions about the genetic background of family health and mortality. Did other family members suffer the same fate? Although the average lifespan in 1916 was circa fifty-five years of age, Palmer Clarkston Hamilton reports that most of the members in his branch of the family lived into their nineties. “My grandfather died six months short of a hundred and Aunt Laura was in her late eighties and Uncle Hal was in his nineties. My great-grandfather was ninety-three. Dr. Willis Roberts died during the yellow fever epidemic at the age of 74.” An obituary recently discovered in the New York Times published January 7th 2002 revealed another Roberts descendent, Joel Hunter Jr. of Delray Beach, Florida (b.1906), died in his sleep at the age of ninety-five after a long illness. Elizabeth Hunter Morrill (b. 1913, sister of Joel Hunter, Jr. lived to be eight-seven years old dying in her sleep also. Mr. Hunter and Elizabeth Hunter Morrill were descendents of Laura D. Roberts, sister of Willis Roberts.[i] From the limited information gathered, longevity seemed to run in the Roberts family. There is little information concerning the health of other branches of the family.
[i] Descendents of Laura Roberts Hunter b. October 1841. First Generation: Laura married Joseph T. Hunter of North Carolina. After Joseph’s death, Laura moved with three children to Atlanta, where her younger sister Bessie had moved about 1895. Laura’s children were *Joel, Frank Ross, Carrie B., John Punch, Bessie. Second Generation *Joel Roberts Hunter (b. September 1867) in Alabama married Lethe B. (b. Dec 1874) in Alabama). In 1900 the Hunters lived in Baltimore, MD: by 1910 in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Hunter held the first CPA certificate in the state of Georgia; wrote a seminal book on accounting, and was considered a pioneer in the field. Mr. Joel Roberts Hunter, Jr. was president and chief executive office of Crucible Steel Company from 1954 until his retirement in 1997 Joel Hunter and Letha B’s children were Lethe, *Joel, William T. and *Elizabeth. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9COCEOD8123Bf934A35752COA9669C8B63.

Note: Joel Roberts Ninde’s daughter and Joel Hunter, Jr. were both born in 1906 In all probability, Joel Roberts Ninde knew of Joel Roberts Hunter and Lethe’s baby,
*Obituary -Elizabeth Hunter Morrill and her husband Gordon established the Gordon and Elizabeth Morrill Music Library at Villa I. Tatti, considered the finest collection on Italian Medieval and Renaissance musicology in Italy. Elizabeth Hunter was the sister of Joel Hunter Jr.
http://72.14.203.104/search?q-cache:xrXxo-grQJ:www.itatti.it/images/ITatti page 8
Note: Joel Roberts Hunter Jr. and Elizabeth Hunter Morrill were first cousins once removed of Joel Roberts Ninde.

Active Feminist in the Roberts Family

XXI First Wave Feminist Movement (1848-1920)

In a time when women were relegated to home and kitchen, the women of Joel Ninde’s ancestry were definitely ahead of their time. According to Mary P. Van Antwerp’s excerpts from the 1860’s diary of Joel Ninde’s great aunt Laura Roberts Pillans, “Today for the hundredth time I have been signally snubbed for presuming—I being only a woman and a household drudge—to express any opinion on any subject.” She went on to say, “This morning I ventured to discuss the merit of a book I was reading and was deeply interested in. I liked it because it helped me to think”. Not only did Laura think and read; she was a woman of action. Laura founded the “Confederate Rest” section of Magnolia Cemetery and gave “pep talks” to Confederate troops, according to her Civil War (1860-1865) diary. Laura would have been considered part of the first wave of feminism which started in 1848 and ended shortly after suffrage movement in 1920.

Were the Roberts Unionists?

XXII. Politics of Relatives

Mobile in 1860 contained a majority of foreign born residents. According to the secession vote of 1860, Mobile was primarily unionist and conservative. Being conservative meant preservation of the status quo and residents viewed secession as dangerous and radical. Palmer Hamilton, referring to the period preceding the 1860 succession vote, states, “If you read Harriett Amos’ book, Cotton City, and study what people like the Roberts were doing: they were generally unionist and conservative.” Dr. Willis and wife Asenath could have been unionist so the assumption can be made that Joel Ninde’s grandfather Joel Roberts (1813-1863) and father Willis Roberts (1843-1917) were initially Unionists, insofar as secession was concerned.

Pro-Slavery - Samuel Alexander Roberts -

Proslavery

Samuel Alexander Roberts gave several proslavery speeches in Texas where he became Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas in 1841. Roy Isbell comments: “I think Samuel was a Whig and that most of the Whigs were Unionists.” Palmer Hamilton added that Whigs: “came at secession from a different vantage point. It wasn’t that they necessarily opposed slavery. They just economically thought that -- and plus Mobile, being a port city, its economic ties were to the northeast… plus the immigration patterns …our population came mostly from the northeast and Europe…they didn’t come from other southern states.”

Dr. Willis Roberts Runs for State Treasure

Dr. Willis Roberts’ Role in government

No matter what the political influences were, it is apparent that the Roberts family played a hand in politics. Joel Ninde’s great-grandfather Dr. Willis Roberts was a personal secretary for the first governor of Alabama, William Wyatt Bibb, in 1818 and also ran in the first election for state treasure, losing by twenty votes.

Statistics of slaves in Moffett's grandparents household

XVIV Slaves in /Baker/Peacock/ Roberts/Pillans Family

Slavery in the South was a known factor and Joel’s ancestors were no exception. Moffitt’s grandparents, William and Catherine Peacock, owned slaves in the early 1800’s. It is interesting to note that in her will probated October 25, 1851, Catherine Peacock Baker directed as “soon as practicable after my death take and use all proper and necessary means inclusively with the will of my late husband William Peacock to emancipate the following negroes to wit: Sandy, Mariah, Albert, Caroline and her two children John and Charles and their increase and it is my wish and desire that the above married negroes remain on my plantation until their emancipation is effected & afterwards if they desire to do so.” The 1840 census for Montgomery County listed ten slaves for Moffitt’s father, Michael Peacock, and in the 1850 census twelve slaves were listed.

Statistics of Slaves in Dr. Willis and Joel Abbott Roberts' Household

Statistics of slaves in Dr. Willis Roberts’ household

Joel’s great grandfather Dr. Willis Roberts had nine slaves in the 1830 census. He is shown to have taken nine slaves to Texas with him and pledged them as collateral for the Republic. It is assumed that he brought them back to Mobile, Alabama when he returned.

Statistics of slaves in Joel A. Roberts’ household

Fourteen slaves were listed for Joel A. Roberts, grandfather of Joel Ninde, in the 1850 census, and fifteen listed for 1860. Until the Civil War, Joel Abbott probably had slaves on his outlying plantations, but in the city household he had an Irish nurse.

Did Willis Roberts Jr. have slaves?

Statistics of slaves in Willis Roberts Jr.’s household

Joel’s son Willis did not own slaves due to the changes taking place following the Civil War. At that time, the city of Mobile had many free persons of color working as domestic servants and listed in the 1880 census. [i] Residing in the home of Willis and Moffitt was a black domestic servant, Nettie Strander, age eleven. Without question Willis and Moffitt were not as affluent as their parents and grandparents had been, but typical of thousands in this new era of southerners learning to live without slaves. (Figures 19-20) [ii]

[i] Mary (Pillans) Van Antwerp, one of the interviewees, provided a photo taken circa 1940 of herself, family and 9 black servants in their beach house in Point Clear, Alabama. Mary VanAntwerp was married to a senator from Alabama. Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama.
[ii] Joel Roberts Ninde’s in-laws were involved in the underground railroad in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Judge Lindley Ninde, represented black citizens of Fort Wayne on several occasions when they were being treated unfairly under harsh laws of the period. It is an established fact that the Aboite Devil’s Hollows (Fort Wayne) was a major URR station. Beulah Ninde, aggressive, talented wife of Judge Ninde could be considered one of Fort Wayne’s leading suffragettes. The Nindes served as “conductors” along with Dr. Mary Frame Meyers-Thomas and Rhonda Ninde Swayne, who lived near present-day Saturn, Whitley County. Researched by Angie Quinn, Executive Director ARCH, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Slavery Questions - Emotions

A story of the human emotions and the ties between slave and master are recorded in the diary of Ann Quigley, headmistress of Barton Academy. A description of the separation of Ann E. Roberts, who died in 1867 before her sixth birthday, and her black playmate, unfolds between the pages of the diary. Little Annie, daughter of Reuben Roberts, was anguished when the emancipated family servant Eliza left and took her daughter Julia out of the house. In the diary there is no further reference to the child Julia, but the servant Eliza returned to the household without her daughter in time for the 1870 census. Ann Quigley was a sister-in-law of Reuben Roberts, great uncle of Joel Ninde. Recent research by Ray Isbell in 2005 has discovered that Biddie Quigley, Reuben’s mother-in-law, owned fifteen slaves as late as 1860, immediately preceding the Civil War. The burning question is why a city woman would have so many slaves. [i]

The census records show no slaves in any Pillans family. Daisy Pillans wrote in her diary that they had several servants when she married. Daisy was married to Harry Pillans, cousin of Joel Ninde’s father Willis. Daisy came to adulthood during and after the Civil War.[ii]

[i] Isbell records, 910 Government Street, Mobile, Alabama
[ii] Ibid.