Stephen Jones House
Founded in 1796, Washington, Missouri is steeped in history. Originally called St. John Meyer's Settlement, Washington didn't gain its name until 1814 when a ferry began regularly transporting people and goods across the Missouri River. And of course, that's only the beginning. Stephen Jones House was built in 1833 by two-time mayor Stephen M. Jones.
Washington Missouri & Stephen Jones
Long before Washington became the city we know it as today, it was originally called the St. John Meyer’s Settlement. Founded in 1796 under the rule of the Spanish Empire, which it remained under until 1803, the settlement was the site of a Spanish log fort named San Juan del Misuri.
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Daniel Boone and many of his family and followers settled across the river from Washington beginning in 1799. But it wasn’t until post-revolutionary Americans took control of the area that it was renamed Washington Landing, its namesake, of course, being president George Washington himself. It was aptly named Washington Landing since in 1814, a ferry boat had received licensing to begin ferrying goods and passengers across the Missouri River.
William G. Owens and his wife Lucinda would settle the area in 1818, purchasing much of the land that now makes up downtown Washington. They began drawing plans to create a town and laying out the lots they would later sell at auction in 1829.
The surrounding land plots were sold to settlers who could recoup the cost of the land if they built a substantial home and established residency within two years of purchase.
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Washington’s early settlers were made up of twelve German Catholic families who moved to the area in 1833. Their community church still stands today and is a part of Washington’s self-guided historical tour (click to download a guide booklet for the tour).
In 1834, William G. Owens was tragically murdered tying up the logistics and legalities of the town’s inauguration. It wasn’t until May 29, 1839, that Owen’s widow, Lucinda was able to file a plat of the town at the county courthouse. The city of Washington was officially established.
Stephen M. Jones
Stephen Jones, a Mexican War Veteran and twice mayor of Washington, was the original builder, owner, and namesake of Stephen Jones House Inn.
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Though the Inn wouldn’t be built until 1883, the land it would come to reside upon was purchased in 1850. It’s purchaser, Stephen Jones, fresh from his service in the Mexican War, was listed simply as a humble farmer. Jones was quick to put down roots, however, and throughout the next few decades stepped into such Washington leadership roles as treasurer, constable, collector, trustee, and sheriff.
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During these years, he would also begin building his fortune. He started a mercantile business followed by a match-manufacturing business. His son James I. Jones had also reported that his father had done contract work on the railroad during its expansion through the area in the 1850s. Later in 1866, Stephen Jones would become a founder of the Washington Savings Bank serving as its president for a time. Upon the closure of the bank, he went into business with his eldest son Eugene, acting as a real estate, financial, and loan agent.
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On May 31, 1883, an announcement was made in the local Washington newspaper Die Washingtoner Post, reads, “S. M. Jones completed his house on Jefferson Street. It is a pretty two story building with modern conveniences.”
In 1889, just six years after the completion of his home, Stephen Jones passed away. He had been an influential figure in Washington’s history. A public official for much of his life, he had served in such roles as treasurer, constable and collector, trustee, deputy, and sheriff. He had even served twice as Mayor of Washington, once from 1878 to 1879 and again a few years later in 1885 until 1887.
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Stephen’s two sons, James and Eugene, inherited ownership of the home upon his passing. Eugene died a decade later in 1899 making James and his wife Lucy the sole owners of the property. They lived off and on in the house while also residing in St. Louis between the years of 1895 to 1920. James, like his father, was a businessman and held such public offices as postmaster and mayor. James and his wife retained ownership of the Jones Building until his passing in 1924.
Architectural History
The Stephen M. Jones Building is located at 108-110 Jefferson Street in what is the downtown historic district of Washington, Missouri.
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Built in 1883, the two-and-a-half-story building has many architectural features common to Missouri-German buildings. Such features include its double entrance, red brick walls, detailed cornice, segmental arched windows, recessed front entry, iron balcony, paired gable-end chimneys and side-facing gable roofs. The inn is one of the largest and best preserved double entrance Missouri-German buildings within Washington.
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In 1927, the house was sold to a Hilda Steuterman who maintained ownership of the property until the 1950s. It is believed Steuterman may have been responsible for dividing the building into four apartments as the 1931 Missouri City Directory lists four residents for 108-110 Jefferson Street.
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Despite this division of the building, many of its historic features have remained intact. Its early doors and windows are all still in place as well as the original staircases, transoms, woodwork, and tall ceilings.
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Timeline
1850
Census: Stephen M. Jones, Farmer, property value $1,500​
1854
Jones becomes treasurer​​
1856
Jones becomes Washington Constable and Collector
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1859-1861
Jones becomes Washington Trustee
1860
Census: Stephen M. Jones, property value $19,000
1868 – 1872
Stephen M. Jones becomes Sheriff
1870
Census: Stephen M. Jones, Sheriff of Franklin County, property value $36,000
1875-1878
James I. Jones, General Store — Washington ca.
1875
Stephen M. Jones, President — Washington Savings Bank
1876-1877
Eugene B. Jones, Assessor
1876
Tax Assessment: Stephen M. Jones owns S1/2 Lots 85 and 86 $600 valuation
1878-1885
Stephen Miller Jones — real estate and financial agent
1878-1879
Stephen Miller Jones, Washington Mayor
1879-1882
James Isaac Jones, Washington Collector
1883
Stephen M. Jones has the building at 108-110 Jefferson constructed. The local newspaper reports on May 31, 1883 that the building is complete.
1885
Tax Assessment: Stephen M. Jones S1/2 Lots 85, 86 Block 14 $1800 valuation
1885-1887
Stephen M. Jones, Washington Mayor
1888-1893
James Isaac Jones, Washington Alderman
1889-1890
Gazetteer: James I. Jones and James T. Lewright — Jones and Lewright — livery ca.
1889
Stephen M. Jones passes away
1890
The Jones building becomes the property of his two sons E. B. and J. I. Jones
1892-1893
James Isaac Jones, Washington Mayor
1894-1895
James Isaac Jones, Washington Postmaster
1895
James and Lucy Jones move to St. Louis
1899
Eugene B. Jones dies in Colorado and James I. and Lucy Jones become the property owners
1920
James and Lucy Jones move back to Washington and take up residence in the Jones Building on Jefferson
1922
James I Jones 112 Jefferson
1924
James I. Jones dies in Washington
1925
Tax Assessment: Jas. I. and Lucy Jones $4270 ca.
1927
The property is purchased by Hilda Steuterman, who owned the property into the 1950s
1931
Directory: J. H. Sargent, Hilda Steuterman (listed as property owners)
1940
Directory: J. C. Burns, Hilda Steuterman
1951
Directory: C. E. Conner, Hilda Steuterman
1999
Stephen Jones building purchased by Eunice Elbert
2007
Stephen Jones building purchased by Ralph and Kathleen Gildehaus
2019
Stephen Jones building purchased by T&C Hospitality