National Register Listing

Kiels-McNab House

W. Washington St., Eufaula, AL

The Kiels-McNab House served as the residence of two Eufaulians who played significant roles in the early history of this city?* Elias M. Kiels, a prominent leader in the radical reconstruction movement and John McNab, an early banker.

Kiels, a native Alabamian known to have been living in Eufaula as early as 1837, constructed this cottage as his home in 1840. Later, after the Civil War, he constructed a more elaborate brick structure using this house as a model. Unfortunately, this later structure did not survive.

Prior to and during the Civil War, he served as Tax Assessor of Harbour County. In 1870 he ran for the office of the Judge of the City Court of Eufaula on the Republican ticket. During his period he became a leader of the radical reconstruction element and became involved in the bloody election riots of November, 1874, when his young son was killed. Subsequent to the congressional investigations which followed the riot, he left Barbour County and never returned.

In 1880 the property was purchased by John McNab, an early settler who came to Eufaula in its earliest days and became one of the richest and most influential citizens. A banker, churchman and Intendant of the town, he played a very conspicuous role in the financial history of the town. His bank, The Eastern Bank of Alabama, was chartered in the 1850's.

The cottage remained in the McNab family until 1973, when it was purchased from his grandson, Eugene Britt Doughtie, by the City Water Works and Sewer Board of Eufaula for restoration as offices.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1982.