Uncovering the historic James North House: a timeless treasure in Labadie, Missouri

James North House, Franklin County, Missouri.Photo byyosam post via waymarking.com

The James North House, located at 2733 Highway T in Labadie, Missouri, earned its listing on the National Register of Historic Places on April 5, 1984. It’s also on the market. Visit here to see the remarkable interior images on Zillow.

Also known as The House, it’s a white two-story home built on the central passage plan where there’s a hall upon entering the house and rooms are on either side of the hall.

The James North House is located west of Labadie, Missouri in the hills. Labadie is a small unincorporated village in the northeast corner of Franklin County. This house sits on four acres in a chiefly rural farming area. A gravel drive leads up to the house. 

Not far from the house is a cabin. When the house was nominated for the National Register, it was being used for storage. Residents of this home would have privacy since it sits away from the highway. The outside of the house has been preserved and is in sound condition. 

The front portion of the house appears to be the oldest part of the structure. Each of the front rooms measures about 15 feet square. The walls are white painted plaster. In the mid-1980s, there was still original hardware in the house. There is an attractive stairway. 

The North family

The James North family were early pioneers who settled in Franklin County, Missouri. The James North House is the oldest known house in its area. The North family had a good-sized farm. In the second generation, Flavius North was one of the county’s wealthiest farmers. He was also a successful tobacco producer. 

The precise date the house was constructed isn’t known, but it’s believed that the oldest section of the house which was considered James North’s house was built around 1819. With added portions, the house as it is now in structure was probably completed by 1860. 

James North wore a few hats. He had a tannery, constructed the first water mill in Franklin County, and practiced medicine. When he and his family came to Franklin County around 1817, they became well-established. James and his son, Flavius North, had state and county roles. In different capacities, the North family contributed to the county. 

From 1816 to 1819, many immigrants were coming to Missouri chiefly from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Franklin County was one of eight counties along the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. James North arrived in 1817 or 1818 and is believed to have built the first frame house in the county. 

There were seven family members in the North family. By 1828, North built the county’s first water mill on Labadie Creek. Early on, North held positions in the community. He was a member of the first constitutional convention during the process of obtaining Statehood and was one of the first representatives in the legislature after the constitution was adopted.

In 1822, North was one of two representatives from Franklin County in the Second General Assembly held in St. Charles. From 1826 to 1835, North was a postmaster of Franklin County’s second post office. 

Supposedly James North drowned in the creek by his mill. He died on September 25, 1836, at age 56. Also in that year, he lost a son named Jabez. According to the Find-a-Grave website, his wife, Catherine Clark North died on November 9, 1836, at age 49–50. 

The Norths had five children who were named in his Will which was written in 1821 — Flavius, James, Frances, Jabez, and Martha North Adams. His property was to be divided equally. Their son, Flavius O. North, seemed to follow in his father’s footsteps as far as wanting to be involved in politics. He had a position in a county office and established a mercantile business. He also invested in real estate and helped to improve the family farm.

It wasn't easy to know for certain which addition of the house came next. It’s believed in the mid-1800s, the house was enlarged with a second floor. The long one-story ell was added and contained a dining room and behind that, a kitchen. The summer kitchen was joined to the ell with a later shed-roofed passage. 

Flavius North

In the late 1830s, Flavius North gained possession of the North House. In 1834, he and Frances Goode were married and by 1840, they were a family of five. He also owned 13 slaves. According to the Find-a-Grave website, barring no error, there were nine children. 

In 1850, Flavius continued with the tanning business that his father had. The years before the Civil War were good ones for the family. During the 1850s, Flavius and his family were one of the county’s wealthiest. From 1852 to 1854, Flavius was a county representative to the state legislature. The value of his land was probably enhanced with the arrival of the Pacific railroad line.

Flavius established a general store in the Labadie area. His sons, James and Frank, continued working in this business from 1878 to 1898. Flavius was elected to the state legislature serving from 1873 to 1875. 

On August 4, 1883, Flavius was thrown from his buggy and died on August 8 from a head injury. He was 72. He had nine heirs to his estate. His widow, Frances Carter Goode North, died on April 8, 1887, at age 69. In 1889, their daughters, Mary Agnes North (b. Jan. 8, 1844, d. 1921) and Wilma Josephus North (b. May 25, 1849, d. 1918) donated a lot for the purpose of building a new Methodist church. Another lot was donated for a boy’s school, the Labadie Academy.

Mary bequeathed the property to her sister, Maria Louisa “Ludie” North Wood (b. Mar. 12, 1847, d. 1935), who was the widow of Leslie E. Wood (b. 1846, d. 1893). Maria and her husband had two sons, Eugene North Wood, and James Leslie Wood. 

In 1935, Eugene North Wood, Sr. inherited the property. As an engineer, he established a firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He didn’t live in the house and it was rented out until it was sold. He died on July 17, 1969, at age 81. 

Eugene left the property to his son in the early 1970s. Eugene North Wood, Jr., sold the house and most of the farm. This closed the door to well over a century of family ownership. 

In or about 1976, the house and land were purchased by the Tim Corneli family, who didn’t live in the house, and sold it with four acres of property to Larry and Vanita Zehnle who worked to preserve and restore the home. 

With all the North children, it seems there would be several descendants. While they may not be in Franklin County, I hope wherever they are, they are learning about the family history associated with this house. 

Thanks much for reading.