History
James Buchanan (1791–1868) was the 15th President of the United States, serving from 1857 to 1861. A lifelong bachelor and career politician, he held various key positions including U.S. Congressman, Senator, Secretary of State, and Ambassador to both Russia and the United Kingdom. His presidency is most remembered for its failure to prevent the nation’s slide into civil war. Though experienced, Buchanan’s indecisiveness and pro-Southern stance alienated many, and he left office as the country fractured. He retired to his Wheatland estate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he lived until his death. This estate, called "Ingleside" was his summer retreat from his home in Lancaster. Both residences easily accessible from what is now Route 30.
Biography
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Past Owners and Associates of Buchanan House ("Ingleside")
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North Bailey Road, Thorndale – Chester County, Pennsylvania
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Ingleside, best known as the residence of President James Buchanan from 1862 to 1865, has a long and layered ownership history. Originally part of a 500-acre tract purchased by Gayen Miller in 1723, the land passed through generations of prominent Caln families including the Millers, Stalkers, and Downings. Patrick Miller sold a portion to Thomas Stalker in 1749, who later built a stone house by 1765, as noted in local tax records. The 1798 federal tax lists the estate with several substantial buildings.
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The property eventually passed to Grace Stalker Downing, whose lineage is noted in Francis Brown’s Old Caln Meeting House, Its Story. After several transactions in the early 1800s—including sales to Lewis Hoopes, and later James McClellan—it was acquired in 1862 by Buchanan and his longtime friend Joseph Baker. Buchanan joined in the purchase to assist Baker, who bought out Buchanan’s share in 1865 and farmed the land for the next 20 years.
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Subsequent owners included Charles Bailey of Thorndale Iron Works and his son William. In 1911, H. Graham Rambo, backed by New York investors, converted the property into a large poultry operation, renaming it "Ingleside." The farm hosted events like the International Egg Laying Contest but suffered financial instability, leading to a sheriff’s sale in the 1930s.
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Ownership later passed to John W. B. Bausman in 1937, and in 1955 to Christian and Margaret Zinn, who transformed Ingleside into a hub of local activity by adding a diner, bowling center, and golf course. The original house became the Ingleside Manor Country Club. After a series of sales—including to Thorndale Associates, Chester County Industrial Development Authority, and others—the house eventually fell under the ownership of COBA following another sheriff’s sale in 2009.
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Over nearly three centuries, Ingleside evolved from a rural homestead to a presidential residence, and later a commercial and recreational landmark—its transformation reflecting the dynamic history of Chester County.