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19701 COWLES HISTORICAL CONTEXT This Cross -Gabled, Vernacular Style farmhouse was built in 1875 by Frederick Rufus Cowles. Mr. Cowles settled near Sodus, Michigan with his brother and started a sawmill. He married Elizabeth Kinkaid Leake and moved to St. Joseph County, Indiana, with their two young children in 1873. Mr. Cowles purchased the land in Clay Township and tore down an existing house to build a new house for his family. He had the wood for the house sawn at his brother's sawmill and shipped to Clay Township. The house was finished in 1875 and was occupied by Mr. Cowles until his death in 1878 at age 52. Mrs. Cowles continued to live in the family house until her death in 1914 at which time the property was maintained by her daughter, Ruby and her son-in-law Lyndon E_Keifer_ Ruby Keifer was born at 19701 Cowles in Clay Township in 1877 and married Lyndon E. Keifer in 1895. Mr. Keifer died in 1932. Mr. & Mrs. Keifer had two daughters, Blanche and Margaret. Mrs. Keifer resided in the house until her death in 1965 at which time the house is believed to have been inherited by her daughter, Margaret Plank. At some point between 1965 and 1970 the property was transferred to Wayne and Dean Plank, the sons of Margaret Plank. In 1969 Dean Plank transferred his interest in the property over to his brother, Wayne. Do to a lack of available documentation there may be flaws in the above history. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION The property at 19701 Cowles is located on the northeast corner of Cowles and US 31 North in St. Joseph County, Indiana. It is described as lots 63, 64, and 65 Keifer's Wooddale Proposal in St. Joseph County, Indiana. This is a two story Cross -Gabled, Vernacular Style farmhouse with slate roof over primary structure and asphalt shingles over addition. The house has vinyl siding, stone foundation and a one story rear addition with gable roof. The house has a variety of window types such as, 1/1 double hung, 2/2 double hung with wood storms and 6/6 double hung locate in the second floor gables. The second story front fagade window has Gothic point to the hood decoration while the remainder of the windows contains simple hood detail. The house has three doors, the front is wood with multi -paned glass and wood storm door, the other two doors are located in the rear addition, and both are wood with nine glass panes and modern aluminum storm doors. The house also boasts two porches, one located toward the front in the original portion of the house and one located in the rear addition, both are on the same side of the house. The front porch has a concrete base, flat roof and is supported by a single square post. The owner has attached lattice to the street sides of the porch for privacy. The rear porch runs the length of the addition, has a shed roof, brick foundation and is supported by three square posts designed similar to the front post.