Cockerill House
Also known as: Judge Stephenson House
Why it's listed
Built in 1850 at 115 East Main Street in West Union, this two-story brick house began as an L-shaped Federal style home with common bond brick, a stone foundation and a five-bay front. Later changes include a rear frame addition from the early 1900s, a one-story frame addition and small window changes in 1965, and a new front porch in 1973. Inside, the original woodwork, floors and doors survive. Joseph Randolph Cockerill, who built the house, served in the Ohio House of Representatives and as colonel of the 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. His son John A. Cockerill grew up here and went on to edit major newspapers, including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World, and is known as the "Father of the New Journalism." Judge Will P. Stephenson, later appointed to the Ohio Supreme Court, also lived in the house. These associations are the basis for its listing.
Significance in brief: The house was built by Joseph Randolph Cockerill, an Ohio legislator and Civil War colonel. His son John A. Cockerill, later a nationally known newspaper editor called the "Father of the New Journalism," lived there from 1850 to 1868. It was later occupied by Judge Will P. Stephenson, who served on the Ohio Supreme Court.
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 78001998, listed November 21, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 115 E. Main St., West Union |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | November 21, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001998 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph R. Cockerill |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Military, Law, Politics/Government, Communications |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as an occupied private residence; the original brick section has had little alteration, though porch, window and rear additions were made in 1965, 1973 and the early 1900s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.79456, -83.54499 (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 78001998.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137593213
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.