USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 10
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Daniel Huston was perhaps the first tenant in this room with his tailoring establishment and here conducted business for some time. He was succeeded by R. M. Modesitt with a dry goods store which he advertised as the Baltimore store, and offered to redeem National road and Good Intent stage company scrip in goods at his store. Mr. Modesitt had Andrew Byers and L. M. Kline, respectively, connected with him in business. Mr. Modesitt was in turn followed by David Baker & Co. with a hardware store, at the sign of the "Big Window " and the " Big Padlock." Edmund Beeson was the partner in this firm. David Baker was the son of Mrs. Hannah Baker and came here from near Perryopolis. Dr. R. M. Walker's first wife was a sister of Mr. Baker. He was a man of splendid character, but ill health compelled him to retire from business, February 21, 1853, and he died on March 2nd following, at the age of 25 years,.
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and the business was continued by Mr. Beeson for a short time. W. H. Fry followed the hardware store with a grocery and variety store and bakery and oyster saloon. He also sold his " magic soap " and " pain extractor " for the cure of rheuma- tism. John Holly and James Winterbottom followed, respec- tively, with confectioneries and oyster saloons.
Henry Farwell owned and occupied this property for a while as a dwelling and shoe-shop. He sold to Daniel P. Gibson; and Leopold Kuth was a tenant under Gibson with a bakery and confectionery. J. Harry Johnston purchased this property from Mr. Gibson in 1892, and extended the room back to Peter street and otherwise improved the building and for some years carried on an extensive furniture and undertaking business, but later confined himself to the undertaking business with his son, Guy, as a partner.
Robert Boyle and Levi D. Stephens were perhaps the first tenants of No. 2 Commercial Row, where they carried on mer- chandising from at least 1842 to 1847, when Stephens moved to the new building erected by Benj. Hellen on Morgantown street. He was in business in several places in town, but his course of life and his " friends " soon caused him to meet with financial reverses, and he returned to Washington township and the scenes of his childhood.
Thomas Foster carried on the boot and shoe business here for a while. He was succeeded by John K. Fisher here who car- ried on merchandising under the name of the Philadelphia cash store until 1849, when he removed to the James Gibson room on West Main street. Jacob B. Gallagher & Co. succeeded Fisher here and they were succeeded by Joseph L. Phillips & Co., and they in turn by Henry White & Co. The company in all these firms was Isaac Beeson, the prince of merchants of the town. W. W. Stumph bought out the store of Henry White & Co. and continued the business.
Ferd Laughead with ready-made clothing and Amos M. Jolliffe with the furniture business and L. O. Reynolds with a flour and feed store were later tenants. .
Dr. L. C. Beal moved to Uniontown in 1889, and purchased this property and remodeled it in 1901 to three stories, and oc- cupied it as a drug store and dwelling until his death, October 29, 1902. The property has still been occupied as such.
Commercial Row No. 3-Has been occupied by various
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
tenants, among whom were M. C. Baker with a hardware store; R. C. Baily, with a tailoring establishment; James P. Hedges, with a furniture store and over him was a daguerrean gallery conducted by a Mr. Musser. The Genius of Liberty printing office occupied this property in 1856. Levi D. Stevens kept his store here a short time. James H. Springer, as agent for the Fayette County Fire Insurance company occupied this property as a residence and insurance office.
Samuel Shipley purchased this property and occupied it until his death, which occurred June 7, 1894. It next came into the possession of Adolphus Shipley who sold it to John S. Doug- lass, who has since occupied it as a real estate office.
This property was sold to the West Penn Railways com- pany which tore away the buildings, together with other prop- erty, in 1912, preparatory to the erection of a terminal and sta- tion for the different lines of the road.
Commercial Row No. 4-William D. Barclay, a prominent merchant of the town, appears to have been the first tenant in this room with a dry goods store before he built his store room and dwelling on the opposite side of the street. Isaac Beeson and Company occupied this room with a stock of hardware, at the sign of the " Big Padlock " with David Baker in charge, from 1845 to 1850. They then moved to No. 1 and did business as David Baker & Co., with the sign of the "Big Padlock."
Henry W. S. Rigden was a leading jeweler of the town in 1847, and occupied a room in Commercial Row. It was with Mr. Rigden that William Hunt, the well-known jeweler of our town today, served an apprenticeship. Samuel Harris, a manu- facturer of caps, occupied this room in 1850, and here did a thriving business in his line. Daniel Smith, subsequently known as Esquire Smith, sold nails, iron and castings for Oliphant and Duncan in this room in the early 'forties. Dr. William R. Semans occupied this property as a residence and office, and died here, May 3, 1869. Amos Pickard owned and carried on a saloon and beer and pretzel room here. John T. Darby conducted a ' grocery store here for several years.
George A. McCormick purchased this property and im- proved it, since which it has been occupied much of the time as a restaurant.
This property was also purchased by the West Penn Rail-
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ways company and torn away preparatory to the erection of a station and terminal for the different lines of the road. This station was completed and put in occupancy August 20, 1913.
William Swearingen, son of Captain William Swearingen of North Union township, built a two-story brick building, with two business rooms on the eastern part of lot No. 41, fronting 38 feet on East Main street.
This was long known as the Rankin building, and there Mr. Swearingen lived and carried on merchandising. He failed in 1841, and this property was sold at sheriff's sale and pur- chased by Thomas Rankin, also of North Union township. Upon Rankin's purchase of the property Robert Boyle moved into it and continued the store under the name of Boyle and Rankin, and their store became quite popular. In 1850 or 1851, Mr. Boyle moved out and Mr. Rankin moved in, and died here the same year. Charles P. Austin succeeded Boyle and Rankin in this room, in 1851, with a grocery store. Matthew Allen, ex- sheriff of Fayette county succeeded Mr. Austin with a grocery store, and he, in turn, was succeeded by Johnze Dicus with a grocery and provision store which he conducted here for some years. Peter Kremer, who had been in business in the Col. Roberts building at the west end of town for many years, car- ried on the grocery business here in the early seventies.
Andrew Prentice, a veteran groceryman of the town, con- ducted a grocery here for seven years, and after having been in the grocery business in the town for 29 or 30 years, he re- tired from business, and sold out to his nephew, N. Pierce Cooper, in 1899. Mr. Prentice was a bachelor, and was affec- tionately known as Uncle Andy. He was a man of strict in- tegrity, and of his ample means he was liberal in relieving the wants of the needy. In 1906, N. P. Cooper tore away his part of the Rankin building and erected on its site a modern three- story building in which he conducted his grocery store until he sold the property to the West Penn Railways company in 1912, who converted it into waiting rooms and offices of the company.
In the western room of the Rankin building Daniel Huston carried on the tailoring business from April 1, 1840, for some time.
The Democratic Sentinel was established by J. Nelson H. Patrick, Vol. I, No. 1, bearing date May 23, 1850, and in 1854 the firm became Patrick and Reilly. The office of publication
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3 -...
EAST MAIN STREET, 1840.
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History of Uniontoron, Pennsylvania.
was in the western room of the Rankin building. Mr. Patrick was of a well known family here, was a member of the bar and was elected to the office of district attorney October 11, 1853. While publishing the Sentinel there was much rivalry between the editor of the Sentinel and the editor of the Genius of Liberty. On December 17, 1853, the editor of the Sentinel and his brother were passing down Main street, and meeting the editor of the Genius an altercation took place which culmi- nated in a fisticuff encounter. The editor of the Genius, proving more than a match for the editor of the Sentinel, the brother took a hand in the affray, but he soon landed in the middle of the street with a dislocated shoulder.
In 1854, Mr. Patrick, through his paper, urged a cele- bration to be held on the 4th of July at Fort Necessity. As a result of Mr. Patrick's efforts, Lodge No. 228, A. Y. M. of Uniontown and a large concourse of citizens visited the place, and after suitable ceremonies, a corner-stone was placed near the center of the site of the old stockade. The history of this celebration was vividly recalled in 1904, when another celebra- tion was held at the same place.
The American Citizen was established by William H. Murphy and Jesse B. Ramsey, Vol. I, No. 1, bearing date of September 18, 1855. This paper was issued from the same room as the Democratic Sentinel, and was published in the interests of the " Know-Nothing " or the American party, and had for its motto " America must be Americanized." The slogan of this new party was " America for Americans," and was opposed to the offices of the nation being filled by people of foreign birth. Ex-President Millard Fillmore and A. J. Donelson were chosen as the standard bearers of this new party. The American Citi- zen lasted only about two years, when the proprietors moved the office to Whitewash Corner.
The Fayette County Republican was founded June 6, 1878, and the office of publication was in the western room of the Rankin building. This paper was published in the interests of the Republican party, the old American Standard having swerved over toward the Greenback party. John S. Ritenour and William J. Rush were the editors and proprietors. This paper and the American Standard were consolidated March 21, 1879, under the name of Republication Standard.
The Fayette County gas company occupied this room as an
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
office for some time, and O. P. Markle followed with a real estate office. Charles H. Gorley purchased nineteen feet of this lot, and in 1907, erected thereon a four-story brick hotel. He ran this as a restaurant from April 4, 1908, as Hotel Gorley for a short time, but failing to secure a hotel license, he closed the place.
William Hellen purchased the property January 18, 1909, and opened it as the Dequesne hotel on October 1, 1910.
By a change made in the original plat of the town, there was a strip of land remaining between lots No. 41 and 42. This strip was 18 feet wide and 150 feet in length. One Mary Higenson purchased this strip and a house thereon before 1786; but the title reverted back to Henry Beeson and John Strayer became the owner of it. Mr. Strayer was a saddler by trade, and lived in the small frame house and carried on his business in a small frame shop immediately east. A hall, just the width of the door, separated the two. John Strayer was the father of Peter Mills Strayer and was widely known in his day. Andrew Crain, a tailor, carried on his business in the Strayer shop and became the son-in-law of Mr. Strayer. He and his wife had some trouble which caused a separation, and Crain advertised his wife in the following style:
" My wife, Sarah's gone away, God bless her soul, I hope she'll stay. She's left my bed and board without just cause, She's broken all her marriage vows.
So now I think it naught but just, To warn my friends her not to trust, For I am poor and much in debt, And have great need for all I get.
For silks and lace I cannot buy, And don't you know the reason why?
And if you don't my darling honey, I'll tell you, 'tis for lack of money."
Their differences were, however, amicably settled and they spent the remainder of their days happily together.
Other tenants of this property were John McCleary, who came here in 1824, and carried on silversmithing. Dr. Robert
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
McCall settled here and practiced his profession. He was a native of Shippensburg, and was an army surgeon in the war of 1812-14 and soon after its close, came to Uniontown and opened an office in this building. In 1819, he married the daughter of Samuel King, a leading merchant of the town, and its first postmaster. Dr. McCall died here in 1823, and his widow subsequently became the second wife of Associate-Judge John Huston.
Joseph L. Wylie carried on tinning here, and also did James A. Yerk. These were well known tinners in the early history of the town, and both highly respected. William McNealy carried on the silversmith business here for some time, as did Samuel T. Lewis his tailoring business.
Levi Downer purchased this Strayer lot in 1830, and 33 feet of lot No. 41, and thereon erected a two-story brick build- ing in 1841. This consisted of two business rooms on the east and dwelling on the west.
Lane McClean was the first occupant of the eastern room, where he carried on merchandising in 1842. Barrington and Haswell kept a book store here for a time, and George Flur- shutz carried on a confectionery and bakery here in 1850. Samuel McDonald kept what he called his " Little Book Store " here for some time which he sold out to John W. Skiles in 1855, and it was moved to the Bryan building.
Henry W. S. Rigden and G. B. Mitchell were located here for a while, where they advertised their business in the fol- lowing style :
" Then, ladies all, pray give attention, To bargains now so fine and rare,
No article that you can mention, But what we'll sell at prices fair.
Should you but wish a decoration, All graceful from your ears to fall,
We have them, suited to your station, Whenever you may please to call.
But should a ring to clasp your finger, With diamond light attract your eye,
At other shops no longer linger,
But call on us and you will buy from nobody else."
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Jacob Downer & Co. succeeded Rigden and Mitchell with a dry goods store, and continued here for several years.
Peter Heck, who had served in the army, was appointed postmaster July 12, 1865, and kept the office in this eastern room and occupied the rear as a residence, and here he died, March 1, 1878, in the 55th year of his age. Mr. Heck was a well known tailor and carried on his business for many years. His experience as a slave catcher is given elsewhere.
James A. Searight was an occupant of this room for forty- three years, where he conducted the insurance business.
Dr. Smith Fuller, with C. B. Snyder as a partner and William Quail as clerk, started in the drug business in the western room of the Downer building in 1842. This firm lasted only about eighteen months in this room, Dr. Fuller embarking in the drug business on Morgantown street, as related elsewhere.
Armstrong Hadden kept the post office in this room for a short time.
Benjamin Kremer and Robert Sharp, as partners, carried on the silversmith business here for a while.
Dr. Thomas Brownfield came from Uppermiddletown and occupied this room as an office.
John Clark Beeson was located here with a furniture store in 1867.
Charles Humbert opened and conducted a plumbing shop here in 1884, and he was succeeded in the same business by John C. Fisher. Thomas Bulger came from Brownsville and occupied this room as a merchant clothier and gents' furnisher. This room was later occupied as a shoe store by Abe Axlerad and by others.
The residence part, or west end of this Downer building was first occupied by William Pope Wells, a member of the Fayette county bar. Here he went to housekeeping with his young bride, who was a Miss Byerly, a most excellent lady of Philadelphia, and while still an occupant here his wife died. A further mention of Mr. Wells is found elsewhere. Other occupants of this residence were Mrs. Matthew Irwin, mother of Dick and Walker Irwin; Mrs. Paull, widow of William Paull and mother of George and Rose Paull; James T. Redburn, the will remembered bank cashier, whose wife died while he resided here, 1860; ex-County Treasurer John Tiernan and John
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Holmes, who filled the office of justice of the peace for twenty years. He died April 14, 1890.
The residence part of the Downer building was converted into a business room and connected with that of the clothing store of John Lynch & Co. and as such it remained until Maurice Lynch moved into his new building on the corner. Since which time it has been occupied by other merchants.
This property was sold by the executor of the will of Miss Carrie Downer, at a public sale December 28, 1912, to Frank C. Monaghan, Charles H. Gorley, McCloskey Brothers and O. M. Bughner, who removed the old building and erected a mod- ern business block on the site.
Samuel Rich, a carpenter, and John Stitt, a breeches maker, and General Ephraim Douglass each had deeds for No. 42.
A frame building which stood on lot No. 22, where the residence of the late Judge J. K. Ewing now stands, and was formerly the property of Peter Hook, a pioneer hatter of the town, was moved down to this lot and was occupied at one time by John Bouvier, Esq., who located here from Browns- ville, where he had been publishing a newspaper. He was ad- mitted to the bar in 1818, and remained here till 1824, when he removed to Philadelphia. A more extended sketch of him will be found elsewhere. Rev. John H. Fielding, who was presi- dent of Madison college from 1829 to 1831, was an occupant of this house. Hon. Andrew Stewart, known as "Tariff Andy " was at one time an occupant here, as was also Judge John Kennedy.
Judge Nathaniel Ewing sold this eastern part of lot No. 42 to Samuel T. Lewis in 1838 who carried on tailoring here for some time, but Lewis never got his deed, and soon transferred the property to William McDonald who occupied it as a resi- dence, and being appointed postmaster, July 13, 1841, he kept that office in this property. At the instigation of L. W. Stock- ton, the superintendent of the National Stage-coach line, on account of dissatisfaction in the mail service at this office. Mr. McDonald was removed and Daniel Smith was appointed in his place, and continued the office in this property.
Neither Mr. Lewis nor Mr. McDonald received a deed for this property, but on December 4, 1844, Judge Ewing executed a deed conveying to John W. Barr of Westmoreland county,
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lot No. 42 for the sum of $1200. Here Mr. Barr conducted a confectionery and toy store until the infirmities of old age com- pelled him to retire from business. He purchased property on Morgantown street and there ended his days. Mr. Barr was a most exemplary man, and a devout and consistent mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
S. M. Baily moved his jewelry store into the Barr room in 1868, and here continued until 1875, when he was succeeded by Frank M. Fuller, Esq., with a law office.
Dr. Smith Fuller purchased this property November 6, 1867, at the opening of Broadway, and converted the residence part into a business room, and Daniel Huston, the veteran mer- chant tailor was the first to occupy the new room. He moved his store to here in 1868, and styled his place of business "The Gold Mine," and here remained in business until 1881, when he sold out to John Lynch & Co., and retired permanently from business. Mr. Huston came to Uniontown in 1830, and was continuously in business for fifty-one years. Mr. Huston de- voted his time industriously to his business and acquired a competency of this world's goods.
John Lynch & Co. continued in business here until Jan- uary 22, 1902, at which time John Lynch retired, after a part- nership of 21 years, and Maurice Lynch continued the business until July 29, 1907, after an occupancy of 26 years. On Decem- ber 20, 1906, Maurice Lynch purchased this property from the heirs of Dr. Smith Fuller, and in 1907, tore away the old build- ing and commenced the erection of a reinforced concrete, three- story business block, upon the completion of which he has con- tinued his business. The old store room had been previously added, and also one room in the Downer building.
Andrew L. Crain and John Witherow were located on the western part of lot No. 42, had a frontage of 35 feet, 9 inches on Main street and was bounded on the west by a twenty- foot alley known as Middle alley. They were conducting a dry goods business here as early as 1814. Mr. Crain advertised this half lot for sale in 1821, then in tenure of John Witherow. Mr. Crain at that time was residing at Cookstown, but he moved to Mt. Washington where he had charge of a store belonging to John Gaddis. He announced himself as a candi- date for commissioner from Wharton township in 1826.
Joshua Hart, a hatter by trade, occupied this property at a very early day, with a dry goods store.
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Nathaniel Ewing purchased this property at sheriff's sale as the property of John Witherow, March 11, 1822, and sold it to Samuel Harah in 1828. Samuel Harah located here from Allegheny county in 1827, and by his advertisement March 29, 1827, commenced the hatting business with James F. Canon two doors east of Robert Skiles' store and opposite Mr. Walker's tavern. The manufacturing shops were one door east of Thomas Brownfield's tavern. This would locate Mr. Harah on the corner now occupied by the Second National bank, and his shop at the west end where the " Roberts Building " now stands.
Mr. Harah moved into this property upon purchasing it and here continued to manufacture and sell hats until old age compelled him to retire from business, after a business career in Uniontown of 41 years. In 1848, Mr. Harah associated with him in business, his son John S. Harah, and the firm became S. Harah & Son, which partnership lasted until April 23, 1857, when John S. withdrew and entered into partnership with James F. Canon.
As an example of how business was conducted in the early history of the town, it was customary for the merchants to drive through the country and supply the smaller towns with their wares, and Mr. Harah followed this custom, taking out his hats and exchanging them for salable country produce. A queer article of agreement is of record where Samuel Harah purchased of Harry Millhouse a house and lot on East Main street to be paid for by nine dozen fur hats like sample shown the witness to this article of agreement, and upon the delivery of said hats a deed in fee simple is to be made; first, however, a survey is to be made to fix the boundaries and ascertain whether the house is on the lot. In 1846, the back shops and stable and other adjoining property of Mr. Harah was destroyed by an incendiary fire, and at the same time the barn of Isaac Beeson, near the old Beeson mansion house on the hill was burned. A young negro, named Lafayette Magill was seen running away from the Beeson barn and was caught and placed in jail, but he escaped and was never heard of afterward.
In 1867, the Harah property was taken by condemnation proceedings for the purpose of opening Broadway down as far as the old Fayette County railroad station, and the old buildings were torn away.
The name of the street has since been changed to North Beeson avenue.
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CHAPTER VI.
WEST MAIN STREET, NORTH SIDE, FROM MIDDLE ALLEY, NOW NORTH BEESON AVENUE, TO PITTSBURGH STREET, COMPRISING LOTS Nos. 43 TO 46, INCLUSIVE.
Lot No. 43, was the first lot west of a twenty-foot alley known as Middle alley. This alley was widened in 1868 by the tearing away of the Harah property on the east, and the new street was named Broadway and later the name was changed to that of North Beeson avenue.
Colin Campbell purchased this lot, fronting seventy-two and a half feet on Elbow or Main street, March 15, 1784, paying therefore five pounds Pennsylvania money, equal to thirteen dol- lars and thirty-three cents. He was licensed as an inn-keeper at December court, 1785, and in 1786, he conveyed this property to Samuel Salter who kept a tavern until 1810, when he removed to Dunbar and opened a tavern there. Before coming to Union- town Samuel Salter had been a tavern-keeper in Wharton town- ship for about two years.
Zadoc Walker purchased this property April 7, 1794. Mr. Walker was for several years connected with John Rogers in running a woolen mill at Connellsville, and kept a store in Uniontown for the sale of the products of their mill. In 1815, Mr. Walker erected on this lot a large two-story brick tavern- stand, which was opened for the entertainment of the public in 1816. This hostlery, under Mr. Walker's management, became the most popular place of entertainment in the town. Among the many distinguished guests entertained at this hostlery may be mentioned General Lafayette while touring the country as the nation's guest, with his suite and Honorable Albert Galla- tin, stopped two nights, May 26th and 28th, 1825. General Santa Anna, the great Mexican warrior and leader, stopped over night here in 1834 or 1835, while on his route to Washington city. General William Henry Harrison was also a patron of this house, with his party when on his way to the capital of the nation to be inaugurated as president of the United States. After Mr. Walker's retirement, his son William conducted the
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