The property on which this house sites was first platted in 1836. It was sold to Robert McClelland in about 1841, then mayor of Monroe. The house was built in 1841 for McClelland. McClelland was a very well known local and state politician and eventually rose to national politics. He left Monroe to serve in the
United States House of Representatives, representing
Michigan's 1st congressional district from 1843 to 1849. McClelland maintained ownership of the house even after he was elected
Governor of Michigan in 1852. It was from this position that he was selected by President
Franklin Pierce to be his
Secretary of the Interior in 1853. At that point, McClelland sold his house to local merchant Benjamin Dansard. The entire western portion of the house, which contains a library, bedroom, kitchen, and dining room, was not part of the original house and was later added by Dansard. Dansard died in 1888, but the house remained in the family until 1917, when it was sold to Kirke G. Bumpus. Today, the house is privately owned. ==Description==