James Jim Robert Tinsley was born on July 31, 1877, to John Willis and Dora Houston Tinsley. His mother, Dora, was the sister of Robert Andrew, James Dunn, and William Buckner Houston.
J R married Roberta Partain on March 15, 1917, and together they had two sons. In 1918, at the request of his grandmother, Julia Houston Matthews, the couple moved here from Columbus, Texas, where J R took up management of the family ranch.
1918 marked a significant year in town, coinciding with the Texas Centennial celebrations and the unveiling of a memorial monument at the Alamo. In the same year, J R and Roberta received a lot from Julia Matthews and employed Fred Meisenhelder to build this bungalow-style home—a mirror image of the M J Koch house on the southwest corner of the block. The home was constructed using longleaf pine and oak for the floors and woodwork, and the interior doors are made of beautiful oak veneer.
The home's design reflects the local growing prosperity during the post World War I era, a time when local businesses and industries were expanding. In 1998, Jim Robert's grandson, John L Tinsley, initiated a major renovation and restoration project to ensure the home's preservation for future generations, aligning with the local trend of revitalizing local historic properties during a period of growth.
Roberta passed away on July 26, 1950, and J R died on January 31, 1956. Both are buried in the Masonic Cemetery.
J.R. Tinsley Sr House
1918
623 North Hamilton Street
Bungalow style home that mirrors the M.J. Koch house
History & Restoration
Tour Directions
When you're ready:
Continue straight on North Hamilton Street and turn left at the first intersection onto Saint George Street.
Pass by the W B Houston House and the Mike J Koch house again as you make the block.
Turn right onto Saint Peter street, and drive straight, crossing Saint Francis Street.
The first house on the left after you cross Saint Francis Street, will be the J S Douglas house at 705 Saint Peter Street.
