Comanche, Comanche County
Attorney and politician Newton R. Lindsey (1847 – 1908) constructed this home between 1881 and 1888. Born in Alabama, Lindsey served in the Confederate army during the Civil War and attended college and law school before settling in Comanche County in 1874. He was elected county attorney in 1876, and among others prosecuted noted outlaw John Wesley Hardin, who was found guilty of Charles Webb’s murder. In 1878, he married Virginia Josephine Hart (1852 – 1938), whom he had met while attending school in Mississippi. The couple resided in this home with additional family, including Virginia’s sister Ida hart, a musician and teacher. N.R. Lindsey was a lifelong public servant. After his stint as county attorney, N.R lindsey served as a delegate to the 1880 democratic convention, texas state representative, school trustee and multiple-term mayor of Comanche. As right-of-way agent for the Fort Worth and Rio Grande Railroad, he was active in efforts to bring the railroad through Comanche. From 1898 until 1903, Lindsey served as judge for district 42, and then for district 53 until his death. In 1941, this property was sold to Melvin E. “Shorty” Gore (1901 – 1959). Gore, an entrepreneur and rancher, lived here with his wife Ava (1905 – 1997) and sons Jimmy E. and Walter Jack, who both served in the military. The property stayed in the Gore family until 1998. This two-story house is of limestone construction, from stone quarried near Comanche. Walls are up to 18 inches thick and feature rough-cut stones, dressed stone quoins and half timbering. The cross gabled plan features a square tower, projecting bay and full arch hooded windows and entry door with keystones.