USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 15
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James Todd purchased this mill-seat, together with 45 acres of land, from Jacob Beeson in 1838. David Veech pur- chased this mill-seat and much of Todd's purchase, and operated the saw-mill for several years before he moved to Uniontown. It was the custom for persons to rent the use of the privilege of sawing their own lumber at this mill, and it was Mr. Veech's custom to come to town from his farm at a good stage of water and run his mill while the supply of water was sufficient for that purpose and then return to his farm.
Lucius W. Stockton purchased from the executors of Jacob Beeson a lot fronting 144 feet on Elbow street immediately west of the old saw-mill, and he sold to R. L. Barry, and Barry in turn, sold to David Veech. A small log house consisting of one room and hall down stairs, and the same up, with log kitchen back, stood on this lot, several steps below the street. Granny Wini- fred Price, mother of Simon and Benjamin Price, the latter a soldier of 1812, was an occupant of this log house. Samuel Mitchell was also an occupant here. Ed. Fowler, a painter and decorator employed at Stockton's stage yard, lived here in 1834. He moved to New Orleans where he died of yellow fever.
David Veech built the large double brick residence on this lot. William Wilson, the well known banker, moved into the eastern part of this property upon its completion in 1848, and
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in 1860, removed to the old Bank building where he remained eighteen years. He died in a frame house on Church street. Rev. Hiram A. Hunter, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister stationed here from July, 1849 to November, 1852, was a tenant of the western part of this house, succeeded by Rev. James H. Cal- len who was called to the Presbyterian church here in 1853, and resigned April 10, 1855. Rev. Ball, of Madison college, was a tenant here. John K. Fisher, a merchant of the town lived here for several years. He entered the service of his country in the civil war and afterwards removed to Kansas. G. W. K. Minor, Esq., purchased the western part of this property February 22, 1869, and his family have occupied it ever since.
After Mr. Wilson, E. P. Oliphant was an occupant of the eastern part in 1867; James T. Redburn purchased the eastern part of this house and the lawn to the east, including the site of the old saw-mill and made a desirable property in which he spent the remainder of his days.
James T. Redburn was born near Masontown, Pa., May 19, 1822. In his minority he was engaged for several years with Zalmon Ludington in the leather trade at Addison, Somerset county, Pa. On March 21, 1848, he was married to Miss Har- riet Ann, youngest daughter of Mr. Ludington and shortly afterwards moved to Washington, Pa., and embarked in the boot and shoe business. In 1850 he returned to Uniontown and again associated himself with Mr. Ludington in the boot and shoe and tanning business. In 1858 he was chosen cashier and manager of the Uniontown banking house of John T. Hogg, which soon became the banking house of Isaac Skiles, Jr., in which Mr. Redburn continued as cashier. In 1863 he became one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Union- town, which succeeded that of Isaac Skiles, Jr., and opened its doors for business May 2, 1864. In this he was elected a di- rector and cashier, to which office he was re-elected from year to year until his death, which occurred May 22, 1877. He was one of the originators of the Uniontown and West Virginia railroad company and was its treasurer. He was also the treasurer of the Uniontown woolen mill of which he was instru- mental in establishing. No citizen of Uniontown was ever held in higher respect than Mr. Redburn. He died May 23, 1877. Mrs. Redburn died December, 1860. They left one daughter, Miss Minnie who still owns and occupies the property.
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Jacob's run, named after Jacob Beeson, now known as Coal Lick run, was the western borough limit at the incorporation of the borough and remained as such for many years. The old street of the town, later named Elbow street, crossed Jacob's run near the place of the present stone bridge and wound to the north of the present Gilmore mansion. The large stone bridge which now forms part of West Main street, was con- structed in 1820. Alexander Turner, Abraham Hall, Abraham Beigler and perhaps German D. Hair and many others were em- ployed in the construction of this bridge. Stone walls about three feet in height, upon which were placed heavy cap-stones, guarded each side of this bridge. These have been removed, the bridge widened and iron guard-rails placed at each side of the bridge.
The Coal Lick branch of the Southwest Pennsylvania rail- road crossed West Main street at the western bridge, following Coal Lick run beyond the borough limits. A small station house was erected at this crossing and named South Uniontown station.
A small triangular piece of ground lay west of Jacob's run, at the junction of West Fayette and West Main streets on which Charles Laclare erected a small frame residence and occupied it as such for some time. He sold to John C. Johnson and others who had the lot filled up and erected thereon some small frame buildings in which have been carried on the grocery, fruit and other business.
Henry Beeson, the founder of Uniontown, settled west of the mountains in the spring of 1768, and erected his cabin where the fine brick residence of Mrs. John Niccolls now stands, at the junction of South Mt. Vernon avenue, West Fayette and West Main streets. In this he lived with his wife and one child until he purchased the Thomas Douthet tract contiguous on the east, and removed to the Thomas Douthet house which then stood where the present borough lockup stands. Jacob Beeson, a brother of Henry, located just one mile west of town and upon his purchase from Henry a part of the Mt. Vernon tract, he constructed a tannery a short distance east of this cabin, near a spring and here conducted his business of tanning together with farming, successfully for many years. He erected his mansion upon a beautiful knoll a short distance north of this cabin, and upon its completion moved into it. The original cabin of Henry
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Beeson was for many years occupied by some members of Jacob's family.
John Miller married Rebecca, a daughter of Jacob Beeson, March 29, 1798, and went to housekeeping in the old log house. Here he resided when his first child, Jacob Beeson Miller, was born. Mary Beeson, daughter of Jacob Beeson, married William Barrickman about the year 1800 and settled on a farm near Jefferson, Greene county, Pa. Mr. Barrickman lived but a few years after this marriage and his widow returned and occupied this old log house with her daughter, for some time. In 1811, she married William Fulton and removed to a farm near Zanes- ville, Ohio.
James Veech, Esq., built the house now the residence of Mrs. Niccolls in which he lived for many years, and had his law office in the brick building a short distance west formerly the residence of Judge James Todd, and where several young stu- dents of Blackstone read law under him. He removed from Uniontown, finally, in 1861, and died at Emsworth, Allegheny county, December 11, 1879.
Clark Breading purchased this property on February 2, 1869, and made this his home until his death, April 12, 1882. Major Breading was born in Luzerne township March 9, 1806, and became a prosperous farmer and stock dealer, but after com- ing to Uniontown he lived a retired life entertaining his many friends. The administrator of Clark Breading sold this property to Jasper M. Thompson July 23, 1885, and it became the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Niccolls, who put many valuable im- provements on it. John A. Niccolls died here October 16, 1892, and his widow still occupies the property.
James Todd purchased from Jacob Beeson's executors 62 acres of land in two bodies lying south of the National road. On one of these he built his residence, a neat two-story brick build- ing, immediately south of Jacob's mansion. In this Mr. Todd lived while practicing law here. He was admitted to the bar of Fayette county October 30, 1823, and had his office in a room im- mediately west of Seth Howell's tavern. A fuller mention of Judge Todd is given in the chapter on the Fayette county bar.
Rev. Alfred Newlon, a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church and merchant of the town owned and lived here for several years prior to his death.
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Daniel P. Gibson purchased this property and greatly im- proved it, and Altha L. Moser has occupied it as a residence since. It is now owned by Mrs. Frank E. Merts.
Everhart Bierer, a well known butcher of the town, was born January 6, 1795, in Wiernsheim, Germany, and came with his father, John Bierer, to the United States in 1804. His father died on the voyage, and his mother and three sons settled at Greensburg, Westmoreland county. He carried on butchering in Connellsville for some time, and in the spring of 1817, he moved to Uniontown where he followed his occupation as a cattle dealer and butcher up until 1849, when he was succeeded in the butchering business by his sons. Mr. Bierer bought property on Mill street and erected a two-story brick residence which he occupied and had his slaughter-house near the present site of the Hogsett mill. Mr. Bierer purchased the L. W. Stock- ton mansion, 1850, and lived there for some time.
He purchased 38 acres on the south side of the National road from the Veech estate and 6 acres from James Bryon. Here he lived and conducted the farm for many years. Mr. Bierer by industry and frugality amassed quite a fortune, and was one of the sound business men of the town. He died August 2, 1876. His family consisted of seven sons and four daughters. Miss Eliza still owns and occupies much of the estate.
Daniel Bierer built a frame residence on West Main street just west of the McClellandtown road in which he lived and farmed his father's estate.
Charles Bierer, son of Daniel, built a frame residence at the northwest corner of the Bierer estate, on the National road, near Oak Grove cemetery, in which he lived.
A small log, weather-boarded house stood at the northwest corner of the Bierer estate next to the Union cemetery which has been occupied by various tenants.
The Union Cemetery Company was organized in 1867, and on June 7 of that year purchased the Dr. Lewis Marchand lot of 6 acres and 154 perches lying on the National road adjoining the Bierer estate, and here laid off a cemetery, and on May 26, 1892, an additional tract of 9 acres and 36 perches was added on the west to the original plot. In this " silent city of the dead " sleep many of the former citizens of the town and vicinity await- ing the resurrection morn.
Louis E. Beall laid off the old Hugh Thompson lot of 14
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acres into town lots in 1887, and named his plat the West High- land or Mountain View Addition. David Richey purchased one of these lots fronting on the National road and in 1893 erected thereon a tasty and comfortable frame residence. In 1894, Mr. Beall erected a very fine residence on the western part of this addition and has since made it his home.
James Baird, a native of County Derry, Ireland, purchased 10 acres and 125 perches of land just west of the Hugh Thomp- son lot and erected thereon a two-story frame residence and oc- cupied it as such for several years. He was a stone mason by trade and worked on the construction of several of the bridges on the old National road. Sebastian Rush married one of his daughters.
Hugh Espey, who had been a merchant in Uniontown for many years, purchased this property and moved his family onto it and went into the nursery business until his death, after which his widow continued the business until her death. Their son, Samuel Espey, became a prominent educator in the city schools of Allegheny City. He conveyed this property to Martha A. Parshall January 20, 1877, who with her husband, oc- cupied it as a residence until after the death of her husband, William G. Parshall, Esq., which occurred July 4, 1883. Ex- Sheriff Eli Cope occupied this property for a few years previous to his death, which occurred June 15, 1896. Mrs. Parshall con- veyed this property to her son, William W. Parshall, Esq., May 14, 1906, and he immediately erected thereon a fine modern man- sion in which he has since resided.
S. Kim Frey, after his retirement from the hotel business in which he had been engaged for many years, purchased 38 acres of land from Miss Harriet Skiles and others, August 14, 1869, and built a comfortable frame residence and here spent the remainder of his days. This property passed into the ownership of J. V. Thompson who on March 15, 1900, conveyed it to George W. Hess, who has since occupied it as a residence. This property has been greatly improved and made a most de- sirable suburban residence.
THE POOR HOUSE.
In 1820, the subject of erecting a county home for the care of the indigent poor of the county was being agitated, and a notice was published urging the citizens of Uniontown and
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vicinity to meet at the inn of Col. Cuthbert Wiggins in Union- town, on December 5, 1820, for the purpose of taking measures toward the erection of a poor house. At the appointed time a goodly number of citizens met at Col. Wiggins' inn and ad- journed to the court house. Abel Campbell, John Bouvier and John Dawson were appointed a committee to petition the legis- lature to enact a law allowing Fayette county to build a poor house. The idea of joining with Greene and Washington counties to build one in common, as previously talked of, was abandoned. The arguments produced pro and con on the mat- ter were about as follows: By the erection and maintenance of a poor house paupers could be maintained at a less expense than if scattered over the county: That rather than be confined under restrictions at the poor house, many who would other- wise draw assistance from the county, would be self-sustaining : That pauperism being largely due to dissipated habits, that rather than submit to strict discipline, many would become self-sustaining: That rather than submit to the humiliation of becoming an inmate of the poor house, many would procure assistance from friends and relatives, and would thus be self- sustaining.
On the other hand, some held that by the erection and maintenance of a poor house it would be a bid for pauperism, and that many who are now self-sustaining would place them- selves upon the county : That political jobbery would be prac- ticed at the public expense: That the foreign floating element would be harbored at the public expense : That the taxes would be unnecessarily increased : That the congregating together of paupers would breed crime.
In the Genius of Liberty of September 24, 1822, was a long article advocating the erection of a poor house and giving notice that the people were to vote at the coming election to decide the matter by ballot. There were then in the county thirty paupers, and the expense of their maintenance under the present system was $70.00 each per annum. Dauphin county kept her paupers at $34.20 per annum each. The paupers of Fayette county could be kept in a poor house for $1,041.20 per annum. A farm of 100 acres could now be purchased for $1,500, to be paid for in three equal annual payments, and the buildings could be erected for about the same amount. Or perhaps the farm
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and buildings would cost $4,000, on four equal annual install- ments, the investment would not be burdensome.
By a special act of the legislature of Pennsylvania passed April 2, 1822, authority was granted to establish a county home for the care of the poor of Fayette county. By this act it was stipulated that the directors of the poor should each receive for their services the sum of ten dollars to defray the necessary ex- penses of their attendance on the duties of the office.
An election held on October 8, 1822, at which the people were to vote for or against a poor house resulted as follows : For a poor house, 1,432 votes ; against a poor house, 1,025 votes ; majority in favor of a poor house, 411. Announcement was made that the county commissioners would meet at the inn of Zadoc Walker on the 1st Monday of December, 1823, to receive proposals with the view of purchasing a farm on which to erect a poor house.
On December 12, 1823, the board of poor directors met to make an estimate of the expense of building a poor house and of maintaining the poor for one year. On January 7, 1824, they bought from Peter McCann a tract of 113 acres and 99 perches of land for a poor farm. William Swearingen, John Boyd and Frederick Shearer, directors of the poor, advertised for bids for furnishing 150,000 bricks and other material for the erection of a poor house ; the bids to be submitted on or before January 7, 1824. In 1825-26, the first poor house was erected, and on June 2, 1834, the Alexander Turner tract of 16 acres and 60 perches was added on the east.
The first poor house was a long two-story brick building of very plain design and stood much nearer the National road than the present structure.
One of the noted inmates of the county home was an Indian chief by the name of Wanapusha who had been to Washington city in 1848 to interview the president in the interests of his tribe, and while returning on foot by the National road, he was taken violently ill with hemorrhage of the lungs. He was taken to the county home with his two companions, Weahoma and La Sophus, where they remained for some time. The chief's health improving, they resolved to proceed on their westward journey, but at Brownsville the hemorrhage returned and the three were brought back to the county home, where they re- mained under the care of William Beggs, as steward and Dr.
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R. M. Walker as physician until his death. He was buried in the public burying ground east of the court house.
The present county home was erected in 1884; the contract price being $90,000. Fraud was manifest and deductions and surcharges were made to the extent of $8,500.
The following persons have filled the office of steward of the poor since the establishment of the county home, viz .: William Condon being the first; Rowland Shaw, William Beggs, John Morris, Joseph Stacy, Jack Dunham, Robert Higenbotham, who moved from the old house into the new, March, 1885; John D. Carr, 1885-1890; Johnson Carter, 1890- 1891; John D. Carr, 1891-1894 ; Ewing Speer, 1894-1895; William Jackson, 1895-1898; Samuel Newcomer, 1898-1901; Joseph O. Miller, 1901-1905; Marshall Dean, 1905-1909 ; Johnson Hunsaker, 1909.
CHAPTER VIII.
WEST MAIN STREET, NORTH SIDE, FROM PITTSBURGH STREET WEST, COMPRISING LOTS NOS. 4 TO 8, AND 21 TO 23, INCLUSIVE, IN JACOB'S ADDITION-THE OLD BEESON MILL.
What is now Pittsburgh street where it enters Main street was a narrow alley leading from Main street to Peter street. The east- ern line of this alley was about the dividing line between the two tracts of Henry and Jacob Beeson. Main street west of this line was known as Jacob's Addition to the town of Union, and the first lot west of this narrow alley and on the north side of Main street was designated as lot No. 4 in Jacob's Addition. This was a triangular lot running to a point on Main street and having a front- age of about 74 feet on Peter street. Having no frontage on Main street, it was sold in connection with lot No. 5, which joined it on the west, which had a frontage of 721/2 feet on Main street, thus making the frontage of the two lots 147 feet on Peter street. In the early history of the town these lots passed through the owner- ship of the following persons: Jacob Beeson, on the 13th of August, 1791, sold to Dr. Henry Chapeese for five pounds, Penn- sylvania money, equal to $13.33, lots Nos. 4 and 5. Dr. Chapeese was located here as a druggist and physician before 1790. It is not known whence he came nor whither he went. He advertised an infallible cure for snake bite; by wetting the wound with said sub- stance and drinking about fifteen drops, an immediate cure was effected. Price three shillings five pence for small viol. His place of business was on the corner, and he advertised paints, oils, pencils, etc., for sale, July 6, 1793.
John Savary de Valcoulon of Lyons, France, purchased this property from Dr. Chapeese, March 25, 1793, and Mr. Savary had the distinction of being the only "gentleman " who purchased a lot in Uniontown. The trades were well represented by black- smiths, cutlers, merchants, tailors, tanners, cordwainers, joiners, gunsmiths and saddle-tree makers, but only the one deed designated the purchaser as a " gentleman."
John Savary and Albert Gallatin first met in Philadelphia, where they became fast friends, and both being imbibed with the western land fever, Mr. Savary bought warrants for 120,000 acres of land on the Ohio river, between the Big and the Little Kanawhas,
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and interested Mr. Gallatin to the extent of one-fourth of the purchase, and Mr. Gallatin was not to make payment until he attained his majority, January 29, 1786.
This was the first time and to the only person that Gallatin ever consented to incur pecuniary obligations. Later Savary in- creased Gallatin's interest to one-half. They together moved to Richmond, and in March, 1784, Gallatin crossed the mountains, and he, together with Savary, purchased the farm of Thomas Clare on the Monongahela river, about four miles north of the Virginia line, and here they established a store. They together leased, for five years, a house and five acres of land from Thomas Clare in November, 1785, and transferred their store to it. After carrying on their store and business for two or three years, Gallatin bought four hundred acres about a mile further up the river, to which he transferred his business, and this became his home.
It is not at all probable that John Savary ever became a resident of Uniontown, but may have purchased this property to accommo- date a friend, and on November ?, 1794, he sold it to John Wood.
John Wood was a saddler and harness maker by trade, and conducted his business in a white frame house that stood on the corner of this lot; there was also a frame house immediately to the west. Mr. Wood was the first of the name to carry on the saddle and harness business in the town, and that business was not with- out a representative by the name of Wood for one hundred and twelve years; he being succeeded by his son, Gen. William Wood, and he by his son, John W. Wood.
John Wood was a man of energy and ability ; prosperous in business, and commanding the respect of the community. He ac- quired much town property, besides an excellent farm one mile south of town, on which he resided for some time. He filled the office of justice of the peace for some years, and in 1784, he was elected for a two-years term as member of the Supreme Executive Council, then the legislative body of the State.
Among the apprentices to learn the "art and mysteries " of the harness business under Mr. Wood was John Campbell, who subsequently purchased the property and erected the "Round Corner."
John Wood sold a part of this property, 29th of July, 1797, to Daniel Miracle, late of Berks county, and a hatter by trade, who transferred it back to Mr. Wood the 25th of July, 1800, and Mr. Wood makes further sale of part to James Hutchinson of Greene
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THE THOMPSON-RUBY BUILDING.
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county, a tinner by trade, February 13, 1813, who carried on his business in a shop facing on Pittsburgh street. John Wood died November 12, 1813, at the age of 64 years and was buried in the old Methodist Episcopal graveyard. His wife, Elizabeth Wood, died May 17, 1843, in her 81st year.
Jesse Evans, father of Colonel Samuel Evans, and a prosperous ironmaster of Springhill township, purchased this property, and as early as 1815, he and John Campbell kept a store on this corner. Mr. Evans never gave his personal attention to the business, but soon Samuel Y. Campbell, a brother of John, took his interest and conducted business for a number of years together. Samuel Duncan kept store here for one year, from the spring of 1839, till the spring of 1840, with George H. Wood as his clerk. He then moved his goods to Springhill township.
There were two shops adjoining the store building and also a house on the same lot, the front room of which was occupied by Dr. Hugh Campbell as a drug store in 1822.
Joseph Kibler occupied one of these small buildings for a number of years as a tinner's shop, and it was said that the late Col. Samuel Evans occupied the other for a while as a law office. He attended to the collecting of the rents.
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