Ste. Genevieve Journal: Delassus Home 1793

Duncan Photo 2018

The 18^th century house I spied that first visit to Ste. Genevieve County was located on North Highway 61, just a few miles from the town of Ste. Genevieve. Little did I know that it played an important part in early colonial history, when the Spanish owned the huge territory of Louisiana but for the most part, it was the French who still lived in the area and were appointed by the Spanish government to run their affairs.

The Delassus family was of particular interest to me because they would enter into my own ancestral history when Pierre’s son Charles became commandant of New Madrid in 1794.

I became more interested in the history of the house each time we drove by it on our way to St. Mary and our favorite antique mall. After much research on the net, I stumbled upon this document in the Library of Congress website, along with the photos and drawings in this post. It answered one of my main questions: How is an I-house style plan French architecture? It looked more Colonial America than Colonial France. I now know the answer. . .but you will have to read on. . .

Note: I have copied much of the report but rearranged the order of some descriptions for easier reading.

Library of Congress Photo

From the Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS No. MO-1283. . .

The builder, Pierre Delassus de Luziere was Grand Chevalier of the Cross of the Royal Order of St. Michel. He, his wife Domitille Joseph Dumont de Bequfort, and their children left France in 1790 because of the Revolution. After they acquired land in the Ste. Genevieve district in 1793 and their house was completed, the family was warmly welcomed by the community. They became prominent residents of the territory. Pierre was made Commandant of New Bourbon, then a rival settlement near Ste. Genevieve, and their son Charles became Lieutenant Governor of upper Louisiana in St. Louis. The original plan of their house, the largest in the region, is fully preserved.

Library of CongressPhoto

Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus De Luziere had begun negotiations for a land concession in the Ste. Genevieve district. Probably shortly after and definitely before August 24 of that year, he had arrived in the community convalescing from some illness. His new house was finished about the end of October, just about the time his family joined him. Tree-ring analysis confirms the date, and confirms that the present house is the one discussed in documents of 1793.

Library of Congress Photo--Side View

November 25, 1798, by land concession of Zenon Trudeau, lieutenant governor, conceded claim of 810 arpents (including 310 on which is the house)to Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus Deluziere; June 28, 1806, by testimony of Israel Dodge that in 1798 claimant built a cabin on the tract {310 arpents) which was constantly inhabited by a free black woman. American State Papers, Volume 5, page 4 67 is the source for both references.Volume 3, page 300 confirms the claim and concession.

b. February 4, 1819, deed of partition from PierreCharles Dehault Delassus Deluziere deceased via executrix Marie Philipe Leduc to Charles DehaultDelassus for $408.00 (310 arpents at $1.60arpent). Deed Book C, page 166-168.

c. February 5, 1819, from Charles Dehault Delassus to Odile Delassus et al.

This house is built of vertical log construction on a stone foundation (poteaux sur sole) and is larger than any of the known French colonial houses in the region of Ste. Genevieve, a National Historic Landmark Historic District….The original plans and construction was a one story, six room plan. About 1898-1900 a second floor was added above the three front rooms and the house lost its original French roof. Chimneys, closets, and a bathroom were added; the staircase was moved.

Library of Congress Photo--Rear View

The six room plan is one of the best preserved plans of the largest house type used in French colonial Ste. Genevieve, with a large central room of mixed use flanked by two smaller rooms to either side across the front, and a similar combination of three rooms, but not as deep across the rear. It is a plan type known in Louisiana and northwestern France.

A view of the house c. 1894-95 before the second story was added is in the possession of the(1985)owners, August and Shirley Kern.

This project was undertaken by the Historic American Buildings Survey(HABS) team of the Rocky Mountain Regional Office, National Park Service, under the direction of Historical Architect Thomas G. Keohan. Documentation was carried out during the summer of 1985 at the HABS field office in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, by project supervisor Osmund Overby (University of Missouri-Columbia), project architects James Q. Marsh (Hemet, California), William D. Cesaletti (Keaau, Hawaii), and Terance A. Gruenhagen (North Dakota State University), and project historian Claudia A. Barbero (University of Missouri-Columbia. Prepared by: Osmund Overby, Professor of Art History and Toni M. Prawl, Research Assistant, University of Missouri-Columbia

January 17, 1987

The Architecture:

Over-all dimensions: Two stories on elevated cellar, 62'-6" across the front by 44f-8n deep.

Library of Congress Photo--Basement with Winepress

Foundations: Random cut stone.

Walls: Vertical, hewn, white oak logs, mortised into a sill, infilled with bouzillage, plastered or sheathed with horizontal clapboards.

Library of Congress Photo

Library of Congress Photo

Structural system, framing: Vertical log

structure on a sill carrying a plate, hewn logs closely spaced, floor beams mortised into the sill and the plate.

Porches: Some evidence of a French colonial style

gallery survives at the front of the house. Two sides of the house (the front and southeast)feature a covered porch.

Chimneys: Four stove chimneys with limestone pier

foundation are later additions. No fireplaces survived, however the foundation reveals there were two original chimneys, each carrying a fireplace at either end (northwest and southeast) of the house.

Openings: Principal entrances at the center of

both long sides open into the largest room at the

center of the house. Separate entrances under the

porch on the southeast side and front of the house also lead into the cellar. A. Doorways and doors: probably date from the remodeling of c. 1898-1900. B. Windows and shutters: Double hung, with later two light sash.

Roof: a. Shape, covering: A gable roof with metal

covering. b. Cornice, eaves: simple boxed eaves.

First floor: This six room plan is one of

the best preserved plans of the largest house type used in French colonial Ste. Genevieve, with a large central room of mixed use flanked by two

smaller rooms to either side across the front, and a similar combination of three rooms, but not as deep across the rear. It is a plan type known in Louisiana and northwestern France.

Cellar: unfinished cellar under the front half of

the house. The lot slopes down toward the front,

putting the cellar nearly at ground level under

the front porch.

Attic: A second floor with bedrooms was added

over the front portion of the house c. 1898-1900.

Stairways: The present boxed stairway is an addition from the 1898-1900 remodeling.

Flooring: wood.

Wall and ceiling finish: plaster.

Doorways and doors: wood paneled doors probably

date to the c. 1898-1900 remodeling.

Windows: double hung windows in simple wood

frames probably date to the c. 1898-1900

remodeling.

Heating: modern gas room heaters, connected to

existing brick chimneys.

Lighting and plumbing are modern additions.

General setting and orientation: The house faces

northeast towards the common field and the site of the original settlement of Ste. Genevieve. On the bluffs behind it is the settlement of New Bourbon,

Historic landscape design: A mixture of silver

maple, elm, and pecan trees shade the area while a box elder and walnut tree are also on the premises.

Outbuildings: The house has always been the

center piece of a large farming establishment and many outbuildings and features survive around it, mostly built by earlier generations of the Kern family. A well, cistern, wood shed, utility shed, corn crib and two chicken houses exist while the location of a former hog house, barn, chicken houses, privy and smoke house have been determined.

Library of Congress Photo

Library of Congress Photo--Cistern

Original and Subsequent Owners: Legal description:

Survey no. 2082

Chain of title:

a. November 25, 1798, by land concession of Zenon

Trudeau, lientenant governor, conceded claim of

810 arpents (including 310 on which is the house)

to Pierre Charles Dehault Delassus Deluziere; June 28, 1806, by testimony of Israel Dodge that in 1798 claimant built a cabin on the tract {310

arpents) which was constantly inhabited by a free

black woman. American State Papers, Volume 5,

page 4 67 is the source for both references.

Volume 3, page 300 confirms the claim and

concession.

b. February 4, 1819, deed of partition from Pierre

Charles Dehault Delassus Deluziere deceased via

executrix Marie Philipe Leduc to Charles Dehault

Delassus for $408.00 (310 arpents at $1.60

arpent). Deed Book C, page 166-168.

c. February 5, 1819, from Charles Dehault

Delassus to Odile Delassus et al. Deed book C,

page 168-169.

d. April 10, 1834, by deed of partition, between

Odile Delassus, widow of Louis Valle, and heirs

and representatives of Camille Delassus, deceased: Eleanore Delassus, Leon Delassus, and Martin Sweet. Odile drew the lot on which the house stands. Deed book E, pages 71-72.

e. March 8, 1836, by general warranty deed from Peter R. Pratt and Louise and heirs, legal

representatives of Camille Delassus to Martin

Sweet for $200. Deed book E, pages 8-10.

f. July 5, 1837 by general warranty deed from Martin Sweet and wife Caroline to Ichabod Sargent for $1,200.00. Deed book E, page 124.

g. September 18, 1848 (probate date) by will of

Ichabod Sargent written August 29, 1848 to Austes

Sargent, wife. Deed book H, page 118.

h. July 26, 1855 from Ichobod Sargent, deceased by Executor Jules Valle to John D. Kern for $1,000. Deed book I, page 5 86.

i. July 26, 1855 by deed of trust from John D. Kern and Regina to Felix St. James and Jules Valle. Deed book I, page 587.

i. April 30, 1861 by deed of trust from John D. Kern and Regina to Relix Rozier and Francis C. Rozier.

Deed book O, page 42 3.

j. September 28, 1875 from Regina Kern, Herman

Koehler and Mary, Julia M. D. Kern heirs and legal representatives of John D. Kern deceased to

Edward, William, August Kern for $2,000. Deed

book 26, page 469.

k. November 9, 1878 by general warranty deed from

Kern heirs by sheriff to William Kern et al. Deed

book 30, page 458.

1. December 16, 1878 by general warranty deed from William Kern to August Kern for $1,000.00. Deed

book 27, page 394.

m. October 31, 1955 by general warranty deed from

Nettie Kern, Rachel Kern, and Edna Kern to August

W. Kern and Shirley Kern, his wife. All that part

of Survey Number 2082 and part of fractional

Section Two in Township 37 North Range East which

is described as follows to wit: Beginning at the

northeast corner of Survey Number 451 and running

south 18 degrees east 2.92 chains to a corner in

the north line of a 124.25 acre parcel known as

the Rozier tract. Thence, with said line, north

72 degrees 15 minutes, east 4.7 chains to the

place of the beginning containing 6.25 acres.

Above described parcel being a part of same 64.06

acre parcel as is described in book 27, page 394,

Ste. Genevieve land records.

n. August 7, 1961 by quit claim from Nettie, Rachel, and Edna Kern to August W. Kern and Shirley M. Kern. Deed book 156, page 271.

o. November 16, 1961 by will of August Kern written June 1931 to daughters Rachel, Nettie and Edna. Deed book 160, page 361.