sunnycrestfarm.org/slides

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?