William M. Brand Residence
(Benj. Stout House)
N.E. Corner, Walnut
& Fourth Sts., Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
Source: Old Houses of Lexington, C. Frank Dunn, typescript, n.d., copy located in the Kentucky Room, Lexington (Kentucky) Public Library.
Fourth Street was the head of Walnut Street when Benjamin Stout built his home here, and for a long time afterward.
Stout bought Out-lots Nos. 54, 55, 56 and 57, the latter adjoining 58, which with 59 extended to Limestone St. from Fourth to Fifth Sts.
He purchased Out-lot No. 57 in December, 1813, from Thomas Wallace and seems to have engaged Matthew Kennedy, architect of the principal building of old Transylvania University (burned) and of the old Masonic Temple where Genl. Lafayette was entertained at the Grand Ball, to build his residence here.
The 1818 Directory lists "Benjamin Stout, office Mill St., residence Fourth St." He died a few years later, and the residential tract comprising nine acres, was deeded to his widow as her dower by Commissioners M. Kennedy, R.O. Scott and S. Chipley, December 23, 1824.
The latter was described as "beginning at the West corner of the four lots held by Benjamin Stout, dec'd, extending south-east with street 20 feet beyond the two-story brick house formerly called the Wash House, thence north-east 20 feet beyond the smoke house, thence north-west so far that a line north-east will leave the stable 30 feet to the right hand, thence north-east 60 feet beyond the stable, thence north east to Fifth St. in such form as to enclose said nine acres." A map was appended, with drawings of the Dwelling, Smoke House and Stable (the latter excluded).
The same description was included in a deed November 4, 1829 to Wm. M. Brand from David Harris and Eleanor Harris, his wife, late Eleanor Stout "who was the widow of Benj. Stout," Woodford County. Brand doubtless remodeled the house, as others have since. At his death late in 1845, he willed "my house and lots where I reside" to his widow, Harriett W. Brand. She lived here until about the first of 1855, when she moved the Barr St. mansion purchased for her by Wm. M. Brand's executors from Benjamin Warfield and his wife, Nancy.
In 1856 the former Brand residence here was sold for $15,000 to George B. Kinkead, trustee of C.A. Warfield and her husband (wife of Elisha Warfield, Jr.). The deed stated that it was "all that tract between Fourth and Fifth Sts., beginning at corner with Wm. Wiseman on Fourth St., thence north-east...to corner with Mrs. Hunt on Fifth St." thence eastward some forth poles.
Those signing the deed were Harriett W. Brand (the widow), Wm. H. Brand and wife, Frances (now of Cooke County, Ill.), Austin Dall and Mary A., wife (of Baltimore, Md.), Horace Brand, W.E. Burr and Harriet H., wife.
So, according to this deed, the Dalls intermarried not only with the Roosevelts of present day but with the Brands of Kentucky many years ago.
Transcribed by pb February 2003
Updated December 13, 2025.