Scan of stationery
About Sunny Crest
- Built in 1916 by Josiah and Stella (Shonkwiler) Portteus
- On site of an earlier homestead dating to 1860s
- Designed by Kentland/Chicago architect Fred Friedline
- Six new structures in 1916
- Two original structures dating to ca. 1860s
- Just north of Raub; just south of Benton/Newton county line
Ownership Timeline
- 1863 Old house built by George Oglesby (inferred)
- 1872 William B. and Margaret (Portteus) Maddock
- 1882 George Portteus
- 1913 Josiah L. (1866-1953) and Stella (1871-1960) Portteus
- 1916 New buildings erected
- 1953 Josiah Portteus passes
- 1960 Stella Portteus passes
- Farm and estate remain in Portteus family
- 2018 Brian Capouch purchases from Steve Portteus
Northwest corner Benton Co IN (York Twp) ca 1909
Some features
- Extensive use of reinforced concrete
- First house in Indiana with a central vacuum system
- Two integrated water supply systems
- Well or "hard" water
- Rain or "soft" water
- Murals done by Diedams, redone in 1946
- Intended as self-sufficient "estate"
- Had an extensive orchard
- Portteus was also a beekeeper
Outside Views
Inside Views
The Portteus Family
Quick Family History
- Patriarch George Portteus (1754-1839)
- Immigrated from Dublin 1817
- Settled in Whitewater, Franklin Co. 1819
- George's son David's children were first in this area
- John and Elizabeth Bonham 1863
- George and Mary Portteus 1866 (1868)
- William and Margaret Maddock, 1872
- John Portteus (Round Grove Twp, White 1866) -
- Anson Portteus (Had clothing store in Fowler ca 1876)
Prominent Family Members
- William Maddock family--journalists
- Maddock founded the Benton Review, 1876
- He, his sons, grandsons:
- Franklin Democrat, Rushville Republican
- Lafayette Journal, Bloomfield News, Keystone Press etc.
- Theodore Portteus (Josiah's 1st cousin)
- Sheriff of Marion County
- Effected Irvington's joining Indianapolis
- A family connection for me, too!
- Anson LeRoy (Theodore's brother)
- Indianapolis Life Insurance Co. w/ Edward B. Raub
Josiah and Stella Portteus
- Josiah was a banker and grain trader
- Partnered with Warren McCray
- Cashier of the Raub State Bank
- Every depositor was paid back in full
- Receiver for elevator bankruptcy after Kelley scandal
- Stella Shonkwiler was from an early settler family
Fred Friedline, architect (1875-1942)
Quick Bio
- Born in Somerset Co. Pennsylvania, 1875
- Living in Kentland, died in Chicago hospital 1942
- Buried in Lyons, Kansas
- Architect, builder, mechanic, inventor
- Lived in Kentland 1911-1922, 1937-1942
- Specialized in reinforced concrete and grain systems
- Sunny Crest has extensive concrete
- Kentland Garage and Machine Shop
- Invented motorized corn picker
- His son Fred Jr. lived his whole life in Kentland
Biography published 1902
A few issues
- Upstairs partition wall
- Joists removed for staircase
- Insufficient foundation for fireplace
- Huge bathtub + Water + Human
Future Plans
- Fix structural issues
- Lower story caulk and paint
- Partial rewire
- Commercial kitchen
- Plaster repairs
- Interns?
Sunny Crest
By capouch
Sunny Crest
A short history of the Sunny Crest estate
