Rutherford, Dr. Hiram, House and Office
Why it's listed
Dr. Hiram Rutherford built this two-story, L-shaped I-house in 1846 one block south of Oakland's town square. Its Greek Revival touches include corner pilasters and triangular pediments in the gable ends. It was the first two-story frame building in Oakland. A one-room office, about 10 by 10 feet, was built across Pike Street in 1855. Rutherford came from Pennsylvania in 1840 and became the first graduate physician to practice in Oakland. He is best known for sheltering the Bryant family, whom Robert Matson claimed as slaves, which led to the 1847 Matson trial, in which Abraham Lincoln represented Matson. The court ruled for the Bryants. Rutherford also served as township supervisor, county board member and bank director. After his family line passed the property down, a granddaughter donated it in 1969 to Oakland Landmarks, Incorporated, which restored it. A summer kitchen, a drying house and an iron fence added in 1873 remain. Original woodwork and furnishings are displayed in the museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the property is significant mainly for its link to Dr. Hiram Rutherford, one of Oakland's first permanent settlers and its first graduate physician, who was an abolitionist involved in the 1847 Matson slave trial. It is secondarily significant as a fine, relatively unaltered example of an I-house with Greek Revival styling typical of the 1840s.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002523, listed June 3, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 14 S. Pike St., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Coles County |
| Listed | June 3, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002523 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown; Rutherford's letters suggest he assisted in construction |
| Architectural style | Vernacular I-house with Greek Revival elements |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition and relatively unaltered; operated as a museum since 1969, with the office also operated as a museum. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 39.64868, -88.03624 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002523.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16899545
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.