Rippon-Kinsella House

John Rippon, Jr. was a highly successful local businessman and is probably the one who had the house on Third Street built, north of downtown Springfield. A native of England, Rippon was the founder of the Excelsior Foundry and Machine Works in Springfield in 1854. Rippon resided at 700 S. Fourth Street in 1868 according to the city directory, and worked for the firm Berriman and Rippon. Rippon was listed as a machinist on the 1870 census; the 41-year-old resided with his wife, Susan (age 35), and six children ages one to fourteen. Rippon owned a great deal of real estate by 1870, valued at $18,000; his personal property was worth around $10,000. John Rippon Jr. was listed in the 1873 Springfield city directory as living on Third Street between Grand and Eastman avenus, so that places him within this house. The household of John Rippon was listed on Fourth Street in Springfield on the 1880 census, but perhaps the census taker was mistaken since the household was added at the end of the census-taker's list. John and Susan resided with four of their children aged none to twenty-six in 1880.

Rippon sold the house on Third Street in 1891 to Gustavus A.H. Wendlant. Wendlant was a local physician who had moved into the house on Third Street by 1887 and was still living there in 1898. Dr. Wendlant's medical office was located elsewhere in town. John Mockler bought the house next and then sold it to Richard "Dick" Kinsella in 1899.

Richard F. Kinsella was born in 1865 in Illinois to Irish-born parents. He lived in the Third Street house in 1900 with his wife, Cathryn (30) and their four children ages one to seven. Also in the home lived Kinsella's widowed father, James (75), a servant, Lizzie Ganon (24), and a boarder, Earl McNortey (18). In 1911, Dick Kinsella was the owner of the Three I League baseball team from Springfield. Kinsella also was the chief scout for Johnny McGraw of the New York Nationals in 1911. In late 1911, Kinsella signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as their chief scout but resigned in November 1912. Kinsella had offered the owner of the Cardinals, Mrs. Helen Hathaway Britton, $100,000 in exchange for "renting" the team for a year, claiming he could turn a profit; it seems she said no, and Kinsella quit soon afterwards. Kinsella became a scout for the New York Giants baseball club in early 1913. In 1930, the 64-year-old shared the house on Third St. with his wife, Mary C. (60) and one son, Robert F. (29). Kinsella worked as a contractor doing painting and decorating by 1930; his son, Robert was in partnership with him. The house was valued at $18,000 in 1930. Dick Kinsella died in 1939.

The owners at the time the Rippon-Kinsella House was documented for listing on the National Register in the early 1990s were completing additional renovations. The house remains today as a private residence.

Anonymous. "Spurns $250,000 Cash for St. Louis Browns." Evening star (Washington, DC) November 15th 1911. Sports sec, 14-14.

Anonymous. "Kinsella Will Scout." Washington Times (Washington, DC) December 23rd 1911. Last ed, Sports sec, 11-11.

Anonymous. "Wants to Rent Cardinals. Dick Kinsella Would Pay $100,000 for Use of Team." Topeka State Journal (Topeka, KS) October 26th 1912. Last ed, Sports sec, 3-3.

Anonymous. "Kinsella Resigns." Washington Times (Washington, DC) November 2nd 1912. Final ed, Sports sec, 14-14.

Anonymous. Untitled. Evening star (Washington, DC) February 21st 1913. Sports sec, 16-16.

Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association. History and Development of the Enos Park Area, EPNIA. January 1st 2020. Accessed October 22nd 2020. https://www.epnia.com/history-and-development-of-the-enos-park-area/.

Fitzpatrick, J. E.. Springfield City Directory and Sangamon County Gazetteer. Springfield, IL. J. E. Fitzpatrick, 1887.

Gould & Co.. Gould's Springfield Directory for 1873-4. Springfield, IL. David B. Gould & Co., 1873.

Holland Co.. Holland's Springfield City Directory for 1868. Springfield, IL. Holland Co., 1868.

Polk & Co.. R. L. Polk & Co.'s Springfield City Directory. Volume I. Springfield, IL. R. L. Polk & Co., 1898.

Russo, Edward J.. NRHP Nomination of Rippon-Kinsella House. National Register. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 1991.

U.S. Census. Household of John Rippon in Springfield, Illinois, Dwelling 1844, Family 1936. Washington, DC. U.S. Government, 1870.

U.S. Census. Household of John Rippon in Springfield, Illinois, Enumeration District 230, Dwelling 156, Family 179. Washington, DC. U.S. Government, 1880.

U.S. Census. Household of Richard F. Kinsella at 1307 N. Third St., Springfield, IL Ward 3, Dwelling 51, Family 56. Washington, DC. U.S. Government, 1900.

U.S. Census. Household of Richard F. Kinsella at 1307 N. Third St., Springfield, IL Enumeration District 9, Dwelling 294, Family 335. Washington, DC. U.S. Government, 1930.