John Estes - William Purnell House
721 W. Main Street, built 1842
The white brick two-story house next to the brick cottage was erected in 1842 by John Estes, who purchased 84 feet on Main Street, of the Abraham S. Drake estate, from James F. Drake.
In 1855 Estes and wife, Mary, sold 44 feet here to Paul T. Maccoun, stating that “there is a two-story brick dwelling house with an ell between Oots and Shivell lots.”
(John Estes married Mary Howe April 8, 1854.)
William Purnell and wife, Mary T. (Gilmore), purchased the house in 1859 from Maccoun and wife, Catherine N.
The Purnells sold the house in 1861 to Joshua McMichael, from whom it descended to W.C. Smith, “the only heir of Lizzie McMichael, the one heir-at-law of Joshua McMichael—said Lizzie McMichael married Edwin Smith, father of W.C. Smith.”
John R. Allen bought the house in 1899 from W.C. Smith and conveyed it to his uncle, Judge R.A. Buckner. Judge Buckner gave it to Mrs. Ella J. Beard, stating that he had been in poor health for seven or eight years, losing his eye-sight during that time, and she had kindly managed his affairs for him in his enfeebled state.
Source: Dunn, C. Frank. Old Houses of Lexington. Lexington Public Library, 1976.
Transcribed by P. Brinegar, June 2000.
Updated January 7, 2026.