Markey Mansion: 5486 Lexington Salem Road

Jonathan and Andrea Batteas

The Grave Hunters Society

Paranormal Historical Research

24 October 2020

5486 Lexington Salem Road, West Alexandria Ohio

This residential background study provides an accurate representation of the history of the land and prior residents of the home. This research does nothing to prove the paranormal but merely gives a window into the past.

The Village of West Alexandria:

The land of West Alexandria was laid out in 1818 and is named after one of the founders, William Alexander. There were log cabins there in 1818, but the village of West Alexandria was not incorporated until 1836. These cabins were built at the top of a slope that descended to Twin Creek on the east. It is from this creek that the area gets its name, Twin Valley.

William Kesling owned the land on the north side of Cumberland Road, and in 1818, William Alexander purchased the ground on the south side. Kesling was more interested in farming while Alexander wanted to start a settlement. Each man set off twenty lots on their side of the road. The first lot was sold in 1820.

The first burial was in the town cemetery in 1818. This cemetery is located just west of the Lutheran Church. Jacob Parker added land behind the church, and Jacob Hell added land south of the old cemetery. The cemetery is no longer in use, and part of it is now Peace Park.

Property Logistics:

According to the Preble County Records Department, parcel number: K36632700000005000

The house sits on 139.853 acres. Built in 1850, the house is three stories, with a lookout tower and a finished basement with servants quarters. It has 17 rooms, two baths, and a ballroom/entertaining room. To the back of the house is a guest house. There is a bricked up tunnel in the basement, lending credence to the theory that at one time, this tunnel led to the guest house. There was a “Tramp Room” in the house for passers-by who were in need. The first bathroom, located under the main stairs of the house, was added in the 1950s. In the 1930s, the original barns were burnt down. Olive Branch H.S. added The Markey Mansion to the list of “Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites” in 2014.

(Photo credit, Once Occupied 2020)

History of Home Residents:

1850: The house was built by John H and Anna Markey. They resided there with their children, Agnes M. Hockman, Jesse Royer Markey, Mary Isadora Frantz, Samuel Irvin Markey, Susannah Jane Fall, Anna Louisa Studebaker. They were “Dunkers,” which is similar to the Amish beliefs. They believed in simplicity and tradition. They also felt peace and nonviolence were traits worthy of praise. None of the Oxtoby’s fought in the Civil War, though they were abolitionists, and it is rumored that they helped escaped slaves in the underground railroad by hiding them under the attic floorboards. The family ran a successful sheep and cattle farm. Many of the Oxtoby family were born in this home. Etched into one of the lookout tower’s windowsill is, “Isadora Markey Frantz was born here March 16, 1960”, along with many other names.

1902: Though the house was always intended to stay in the family, it was sold to John and Ella Oliver.

1905: The house was sold to Casper and Therse Habekost

1914: Casper sold the house to his brother John Habekost and his wife Ida.

1941: John and Ida sold the home to his son, Carl Habekost and his wife Nina.

1958: On March 2, Casper Habekost died in the home at the age of 86.

1964: The house was sold to Nina Habekost’s brother-in-law Stanely Habekost.

1964-1987: Unfortunately, the tracing of the house during this time becomes murky.

1987: The home was purchased by Fredrick A. Voge. However, there may be a family relation as the sister of Casper and John, Sophie Habekost, married Charles Voge.

2011: The property was sold to S & S Farms

2016: Jill E. Hittle appears on the deed

2018: Frederick A. Voge takes ownership of the home and land.

Conclusion: It appears that at one time, this home was cared for by two prominent names in the West Alexandria Village. This house has had many occupants, visitors, friends, and family. There are also tales of buried treasure being hidden somewhere on the vast tract of land. That, along with its ties to the underground railroad, make this property a real gem waiting to be polished.

Modern-Day Parcel

1912 Parcel

1871 Parcel

1858 Parcel

Works Cited:

Lowry, R. E. (1970, January 01). History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions : R. E. Lowry : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming. Retrieved October 24, 2020, from https://archive.org/details/oh-preble-1915-lowry

Miller, T. (n.d.). Historic "Showplace Of Preble County" Is Offered At Public Auction Sale 5 Mar 1964, Page 8 - Palladium-Item at Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 24, 2020, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/248049275/?terms=Casper+Habekost

Miller, T. (n.d.). Slave Traffic Memories Historic Home Changes Hands 8 Mar 1964, 3 - Dayton Daily News at Newspapers.com. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/404376070/?terms=Casper+Habekost

"United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWL4-GMY : 29 July 2019), Casper Habekost, Twin Township, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 68-23, sheet 5B, line 55, family 107, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 3132.

"United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4CQ-3KT : accessed 24 October 2020), Casper Habekost, Twin, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 22, sheet 2A, line 20, family 33, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1863; FHL microfilm 2,341,597.

"United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDRX-FP6 : accessed 24 October 2020), Casper H Habekost in household of Margaret D Habekost, Twin, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing ED 260, sheet 3A, line 18, family 49, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1428; FHL microfilm 1,821,428.

"United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:ML6F-C3C : accessed 24 October 2020), Casper Habehost in household of Detrick H Habehost, Twin, Preble, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 164, sheet 2A, family 24, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1225; FHL microfilm 1,375,238.

"Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VKT1-X8V : 12 November 2019), Casper H Habekost, 1958.

"Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QGTN-RBLR : 13 February 2020), Casper Habekost, 1892.

Farmers & Citizens Bank, West Alexandria, Ohio. Preble County. (1920). In State of Ohio Thirteenth Annual Report of the Department of Banks (p. 442). Springfield, OH: The Kelly Springfield Printing Company. doi:https://www.google.com/books/edition/Report/smnPAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=casper+h+habekost+west+alexandria+ohio&pg=PA442&printsec=frontcover

Atlas of Preble County 1887 [PDF]. (2020). Columbus, OH: Ohio History Connection.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/Atlas/Atlas_of_Preble_County_1887.pdf

Atlas of Preble County 1897 [PDF]. (2020). Columbus, OH: Ohio History Connection.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/Atlas/Atlas_of_Preble_County_1897.pdf

Lake's Atlas of Preble County 1871 [PDF]. (2020). Columbus, OH: Ohio History Connection.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/Atlas/Lake-s_Atlas_of_Preble_County_1871.pdf

Platbook of Preble County 1912 [PDF]. (2020). Columbus, OH: Ohio History Connection.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/Atlas/Platbook_of_Preble_County_1912.pdf

Skinner's Map of Preble County 1858 [PDF]. (2020). Columbus, OH: Ohio History Connection.

https://www.ohiohistory.org/OHC/media/OHC-Media/Documents/SHPO/Atlas/Skinner-s_Map_of_Preble_County_1858.pdf

Casper Habekost 3 Mar 1958, 12 - Dayton Daily News at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/402714917/?article=f03e36da-8dca-4925-9bf5-329704e7b271

Mrs. Charles Voge 31 Jan 1952, Page 12 - Palladium-Item at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 24, 2020, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/249465314/?article=4ac78c67-7328-422c-ad02-3bde78066fd4

Olive Branch H.S. Added To List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites [PDF]. (2014). New Carlisle, OH: Olive Branch School Preservation Society.

https://www.olivebranchschool.org/News/2014-7-23.pdf