Later Robert Jennette purchased the land and gave it to his daughter who married Dr. Sparrow. Today the house stands in the midst of the Lake Landing National Historic Distirct. No one now really knows.
Local tradition says that it was built to replace a home destroyed by a storm.
With an octogon shape, there are no corners for the wind to howl around. He married his second cousin, Elizabeth Jennette, and had a son Robert and daughters Ida and Mary. Mrs. Sparrow died in 1860. Dr. Sparrow served in the Confederate Army until discharged in 1862 because of poor health. He returned to the Octagon House and died in 1862.