Peoria House History
This house was built in the early 1880's, along with a two story frame barn in the rear yard. At the time it was constructed, the house was only a few blocks from the Peoria City limits. The original owners to occupy the home were William S. Brackett and Amanda Ballance Brackett, who were married on December 19, 1878 in Cook County. William was a partner with James M. Rice in the law firm of Rice & Brackett, with offices located at 121 N. Jefferson.
Amanda Ballance Brackett, an 1873 graduate of the Monticello seminary, was born in Illinois and was the youngest of ten children of Charles and Julia Ballance. In the 1870 Census, Charles Ballance describes himself as a "lawyer, historian, capitalist and speculator." At the time Amanda and William were married, Charles Ballance was the owner of Ballance & Co., which operated a stoneyard at 906 S. Washington, and the Ballances lived at 615 N. Madison.
William and Amanda had one son, William Brackett, born December 18, 1880. Unfortunately, Amanda was involved in a boating accident that left her in poor health while William was still an infant. Despite their efforts to cure her lung problems, Amanda passed away at the age of twenty-eight on June 29, 1883.
William subsequently married Julia S. McGowan in Cook County on January 17, 1888. William and Julia had one daughter, Julia McGowan Brackett, on June 14, 1890. By 1899, William and Julia were having severe marital problems, and William forced Julia to move out of the house in June of 1900. William subsequently sued Julia for divorce, alleging that within three years of marriage Julia was guilty of mental cruelty against him. William and Julia were divorced on June 30, 1900, and shared custody of their daughter, who was sent to St. Mary's School for Girls in Knoxville, Illinois.
Julia lost any interest in this house as a result of the divorce and moved to Winnetka. William also moved, and was joined by his son, who was by then an officer in the Marines, at Brackett Ranch in Park County, Montana. In 1901, the Bracketts sold the house to Sophronia A. (Benton) Black. Sophronia was the wife of John I. Black, who was the secretary and treasurer of Herschel Mfg. Co., a manufacturer of agricultural implements and supplies.
The Blacks resided here until Sophronia's death on September 13, 1921. The Blacks had no children, and John sold the house within a year of his wife's death. Over the next 60 years, the house passed through a series of owners, and the main floor, second floor in-laws' quarters and third floor maids' quarters were used as apartments.
In 1981, Glenn Benckendorf purchased the residence and began renovation when his son, David Benckendorf, was admitted to the bar. The two upper floors remained private residences while the first floor was converted into office space for the newly created law firm of Benckendorf & Benckendorf, P.C. Parts of the first floor had been decorated in black and purple, and 13 layers of paint were stripped from the mantel in the front room. Unfortunately, the oak hardwood floors had been badly damaged over the years, so carpeting had to be installed.
Once the first floor was completed, the second floor was started, and central air conditioning was added. Much of the ductwork was run through the dumbwaiter that accessed the kitchens on all three floors of the residence. The three kitchens also feature a garbage chute that empties into the basement.
The third floor remains a private residence, while the first and second floors house the law offices of Benckendorf & Benckendorf, P.C. There are now five attorneys practicing law in the home built by attorney William S. Brackett.
