WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY (Washington County, Utah)
WILLIAM STIRLING / CHRIS OLSEN HOME
Leeds, Utah
LOCATION
Across the street from the Brigham Young McMullin Home.Leeds, UT 84746
DESCRIPTION
TBDHISTORY
William Stirling built this home in 1968 and lived there until he brought his parents, Thomas & Elizabeth Stirling, from Salt Lake City.Thomas & Elizabeth lived in the house during the Silver Reef boom time. They kept boarders who slept in the barn Thomas died in 1876 and Elizabeth went back to Salt Lake City to live with her daughter.
After two years of farming in Nevada, Chris & Mary Jane Olsen came back to Leeds and purchased this little two room lumber house from the Stirlings. They added three lovely rock rooms and a front porch.
In 1904, Mary became postmistress and Chris added a small lumber room on the south side of the lumber portion of the house. That little lumber room served as the Leeds post office for 28 years until Mary died.
Over the years, this house has been remodeled so many times it no longer resembles what it used to be. The home is currently owned by Brad & Kim Lewis.
BIOGRAPHY
William Stirling: See the biography on the Stirling Home web page.Chris & Mary Jane Olsen: Chris was involved in a farming venture with his father-in-law, Henry Schlappi, and his brother-in-law, John Schmutz. They went to the Mesquite area, which was virgin territory at the time. They spent two years planting grape vines, fruit trees, and wheat. After two years, they were wiped out by a flood and returned to Dixie. Chris & Mary settled in Leeds and Chris went to work at the Stormont Mill. They purchased this little home from the Stirlings. Mary was the postmistress in Leeds from 1904 until she died September 1, 1932 in Cedar City. Later Chris became crippled from working in the quick silver at at the Barbee Mill. He was a blackmith and had a blacksmith shop. Chris & Mary's children included:
Mayme
Glen
PHOTOS
|
William Stirling / Chris Olsen Home |
 William Stirling / Chris Olsen Home in 1995 |