The substantial brick residence features pressed tin window lintels and sandstone lugsills, a French Second Empire tower with slate roof and circular windows, circular gable end windows and an outstanding pressed metal doorway.

 

The lot was purchased by Clara Funkey in 1879. John affored the home after making his inital wealth in the mercantile business. In partnership with John F. Missildine in 1873, he purchased the store stock from John M. Hadden.

 

Missildine and Funkey opened their store, the "Cincinnati Cash Store" in Cadwallader Hall September 23, 1874. In 1881, the two mutually dissolved the partnership and Funkey moved his share of the business up Main Street to the brick building, that in 1990 is Waynesville Antique Mall. Funkey renamed the business "The Trade Palace" and by 1906 had the largest warehouse in Warren County.

 

The brick for the residence was manufactured by the Darbyshire Brickyards in Clinton County. Billy Casperson, a former village balcksmith and town character, was one of the construction crew. Casperson was quite a drinker and local tradition has it that he sealed the bottle of whisky somewhere in the walls of the house during the construction.

 

Actual construction was begun with great ceremony on May 24, 1880, when judge John Keys sealed the half gallon canning  jar full of Warren County papers and Waynesville mementos in the house's cornerstone.

 

Waynesville's newspaper, The Miami Gazette, followed the house's construction progress. The June 20, 1880 edition of the Gazette reported that:

 

"Mr J.A. Funkey's new home on Main Street is fast progressing. It will be a beautiful and spacious Mansion, with bay windows, tower and all modern conveniences. The walls will be of brick, and the front door frame is of cast iron richly ornamented.  Mr. Funkey exercises excellent taste in architecture."

 

Few changes were made in the house until the 1930's.  A brick porch was added across the front in 1939 by the owner, Frank Elbon.  Elbon leased the north first floor rooms to Dr J.T. Ellis, M.D. for offices in the 1920's and early 1930's. The Stubbs Funeral Home, owned and operated by Albert and Opal Stubbs, moved in to the south side in 1932. The business was the predecessor of the Stubbs-Conner Funeral Home.

 

John and Clara Funkey sold the house to Joel Evans in 1984.  Joel Evans was the son of David and Rachel Burnet Evans, early Waynesville Quaker settlers. He was also the brother of John Evans, noted American physiciam and philanthropist and first Territorial Governor of Colorado.

 

Evans was a surveyor by profession.  He began his career in 1844. From 1851 to 1861, after the stint in Indiana, he also worked as a Waynesville carpenter and builder.  He was elected Surveyor of Warren County in 1866 and he held that office for six years. In 1867, he was elected Secretary of the newly organized Miami Cemetery Association and also served as the cemetery's first Superintendent until 1870. From the Fall of 1871 to the Fall of 1874, he served as Warren County Commissioner.  During his Commissionship, he drew the plans and specifications for the Warren County Orphan Asylum and Children's Home (in 1990 Mary Haven Home for Boys) and was appointed Superintendent of Construction for the home.  After the completion of the Home, Evans was appointed a Trustee for six years by the Warren County Common Pleas Court.  He was also appointed to a second term.

 

Evans also held local political office. In 1873, he was appointed to the Waynesville Board of Education and elected Clerk.  He was Cashier of the Waynesville National Bank (In 1990 Society Bank), upon its opening February 1, 1875.  He was also Director of the new bank.

 

It was Evans' stylish third wife, Cynthia, who opened the manison to the social classes of the community.  Cynthia Evans became well known for her lavish dinner parties at the Main Street mansion by the turn of the century.  She often served elaborate meals of 13 courses or more in the residence's dining room.

 

Cynthia Evans was Waynesville's foremost fashion plate of her era.  She held that position in the village until well into the 1920's. She was quite a dignified lady and often walked from her home downtown dressed entirely in white satin.

 

Joel and Cynthia Evans were the last of the truly elegant Victorians to live in the Funkey mansion.  Cynthia lived alone in the house after Joel died September 17, 1907.  In 1920, she built the stucco cottage (in 1990 Spencer's Antique Shop) on the south side of the residence when the mansion became too large for her to manage.

 

Frank Elbon converted the home into apartments during his tenure in the 1930's. The house, which was originally eight rooms, was revamped into four apartments.