USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 18
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The following is the correspondence which took place between the committee and Dr. Sturgeon :-
Uniontown, May 10, 1836.
" To Dr. Daniel Sturgeon, Sir :-
Your fellow citizens of the borough of Uniontown, on learn- ing of your arrival with your family amongst them, after an ab- sence of six years, held a meeting at the inn of Mrs. McClelland and resolved to tender to you a public dinner, to be given at such time as might suit your convenience, as a testimony of their esteem for you personally, and the high value placed by them upon your public service as auditor-general of this commonwealth. The un- dersigned were appointed a committee to communicate the wishes of the meeting to you and to receive such answer as you may be pleased to give. The undersigned avail themselves of this occasion to express the satisfaction they feel in being made the organ of a portion of your fellow citizens and neighbors to carry to you their sentiments so entirely in accord with their own. The committee are aware that the duties of the office from which you have just re- tired, were peculiarly arduous, and your responsibilities much greater than fell to the lot of any of your predecessors. Yet they know, and the whole commonwealth knows, those duties were performed with singular zeal. ability and faithfulness. The State, shortly before you entered office had commenced the great system of Internal Improvements, involving the expenditure of many millions of dollars; multiplying the public agents and requiring many legislative enactments, and tending, in a ten-fold degree, to increase the labor, and embarrass the accounting department of the government. The State, too, was precipitated into the gigantic measure without experience and without funds, unless such as could be procured upon the faith of the State, and that faith de- pended very much upon a strict accountability of every branch of
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the public service, and an accurate expose, from time to time, of the public expenditures. In this it is but true to say, you fulfilled the highest expectations of your friends, and satisfied the whole commonwealth, contributing materially to her high credit in seasons of undoubted difficulties in her finances. The public works pro- jected when you entered office, are now mainly completed, among which is the Pennsylvania canal and Columbia and Philadelphia railroad, forming a grand line of entire communication from the Atlantic seaboard to the western waters, through the center of the State. With these important public works, destined to make the age in which we live memorable in future times, it is your good fortune to have been associated as a faithful sentinel over the treasury of the commonwealth, on the one side, and the hand of labor, by which the noble enterprise was successfully accomplished, on the other.
The undersigned seize the present opportunity to assure you of their individual respect and esteem.
John Dawson, William P. Wells, Joshua B. Howell, James Piper, Alonzo L. Littell, C. N. J. Macgill, Matthew Allen, William Crawford, R. P. Flenniken, Joseph Williams."
Dr. Sturgeon accepted the invitation in the following note :
Uniontown, May 10, 1836.
" Gentlemen :-
I have received your very kind note inviting me to partake of a public dinner tendered to me by the citizens of Uniontown on my return to reside among them after an absence of several years. Although adverse to public display of any kind, yet on this occasion I know the invitation proceeds from the purest motives of friend- ship, I feel myself constrained to accept the proffered honor, and I shall be pleased to meet my friends on Tuesday, the 24th inst., at such place as they may think proper to designate. If, in the dis- charge of my official duties, I have been enabled to render a service to my native State, if I have been enabled to secure a portion of the confidence, and merit the approbation of my fellow citizens, it is all that my ambition aimed, and rest assured that the flattering manner in which these services have been noticed in your note of invitation, is greatly enhanced when coming from those with whom I have been so long acquainted, and with whom I have been so intimately connected both in political and personal relations. You
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have been pleased to refer in your note of invitation, to my connec- tion with the improvement system of the commonwealth, the de- ranged state of the finances at the period when I commenced my official duties, and the subsequent restoration of the credit of the State, and final approach to completion of those stupendous and splendid public works. In this part of your note you have attached to me that credit which is due to another. In this matter, my agency was of a subordinate character. To the bold, manly and energetic course adopted by the late Executive of the common- wealth, are those happy results to be attributed, and far be it from me to desire to pluck a single laurel from his venerable brow. I tender you, gentlemen, and through you, the meeting you repre- sent, my best wishes, my kindest regards.
Yours respectfully, Daniel Sturgeon."
It is presumed that the dinner with eulogistic speeches came off, and was a most enjoyable affair.
Dr. Sturgeon was elected to the office of state treasurer, in 1836, the duties of which office he filled for four years with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. During his term of office as state treasurer, there occurred what was known as
" THE BUCK-SHOT WAR."
At the October election of 1838, each of the two political parties determined to carry the election, especially in one of the precincts of Philadelphia. The Northern Liberals managed to secure the re- turns and had the proper papers filed in due form, but the Demo- crats claimed the majority of the votes cast, and determined that their candidates should have their seats in the legislature and senate. When these bodies met for organization at the state capitol in December, the Whig party depended on the papers having been made out in due form of law, and the Democrats determined that the new members should not take the oath of office until a thorough investigation of the returns be made.
The Democrats turned out a force of at least four hundred, and filled the galleries of the senate chamber. The disorder and demonstration became so threatening that the speaker and several members escaped by a back window, and fled for their lives, and remained secreted for several days, leaving the wheels of gov- ernment at a stand-still.
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Governor Ritner ordered out some of the state troops to quell the disturbance, which had soon attained alarming proportions. Major-General R. Patterson ordered his troops to assemble in Broad street, south of Market, at 3 o'clock, December 7th. They ar- rived at Harrisburg Sunday afternoon at half-past four, of the 9th, provided with thirteen rounds of buck-shot and seven rounds of ball cartridges. But as in the " Whisky Insurrection " of 1794, the troops found no armed foe, yet their presence had a more soothing effect than all the soft words of the speakers. No one was allowed to enter the capitol grounds in uniform, and no one in citizen's clothing was refused admittance. The senate and two houses of representatives sat on Wednesday, Dec. 12th, but chaos reigned supreme.
The Democrats petitioned the governor to withdraw the troops, alleging that their presence had an intimidating effect, and that they were kept there unnecessarily at an enormous expense. Many busi- ness men of the city joined in this petition, stating that the presence of the troops had a depressing effect on the business of the city, but the governor persisted in keeping the troops present to further his own interests. The Democrats claimed that Porter had polled a vote of 127,325, and that Ritner had polled only 122,325, giving Porter a majority of 5,000 votes.
When the governor drew on the state treasurer for the pay for the state troops, much dissatisfaction prevailed, and the treasurer, Daniel Sturgeon, refused to honor the draft, and when threats were made, he placed an armed guard around the treasury vaults and the troops went unpaid. Thus ended the bloodless " Buck-shot War."
Matters were so unsettled at the state capitol at this time, no United States senator was elected for the year 1839, but Dr. Sturgeon became a candidate and was elected to that honorable position in 1840, and his commission dated back to March 4, 1839, which position he filled till 1851.
His colleagues were Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Cal- houn, Thomas H. Benton, Silas Wright, James Buchanan, William Allen and Simon Cameron. From the fact that Dr. Sturgeon was not a fluent speaker, he acquired the sobriquet of the " Silent Senator."
In 1852, several southern newspapers named Honorable Daniel Sturgeon as a suitable man for the nomination for the presidency of the United States.
He was appointed by President Pierce, in 1853, treasurer of the
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United States mint at Philadelphia, and President Buchanan con- tinued him in the same position, but he resigned in 1858, after a public service of nearly forty years, without a smirch on his political ermine.
Dr. Sturgeon was married in 1814 to Miss Nancy Gregg, daughter of James Gregg, who died of pulmonary consumption, September 2, 1836, in the 42nd year of her age. The following verses, perhaps by Mrs. Emily Connell, mentioned elsewhere, were suggested at the funeral of Mrs. Sturgeon :
" Tread softly 'mid that soft and tangled grass That garnishes the dwelling of the dead, And slowly let the lengthened column pass, With tearful eye and low, dejected head.
So-Let the bier down gently; 'tis the last Sad honor ye the confined dead can pay. A few brief sobs, and all the scene is past. Like morning cloud and early dew away.
See the unfilled grave pale age has press'd, Blending her griefs with childhood's piteous moans.
For her the shroud enfolds a mother's breast, A husband's stricken bosom bleeds alone.
Oh! 'tis a sight might rend the marble heart, And print deep sorrow in its inmost core,
When 'til like these are rudely torn apart, And with the loved and lost may twine no more.
But thou, mute tenant of this scant domain, Whose eyes no drop of grief again shall know, Nor tranquil bosom prove a throb of pain, Nor stunned ear tingle with the shriek of woe.
We leave thee 'til the Judgment trump shall pour Th' Almighty's summons through these charnels dim, Unseen, unthought of in that fearful hour, For every eye shall look alone on Him."
Dr. Sturgeon was the father of four sons and one daughter. One son, John Sturgeon, was a lieutenant in Company H, Second Pennsylvania Volunteers, in the war with Mexico, and died of dis- ease in the city of Pueblo, July 18, 1848.
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No one who ever saw Dr. Sturgeon in his later life could fail to be impressed with his venerable and dignified appearance, as he was a magnificent specimen of physical manhood whose appearance was majestic and impressive.
Dr. Sturgeon erected on the eastern part of this lot a two- story brick dwelling, among the occupants of which may be men- tioned his son, Dr. William Sturgeon, Henry R. Beeson, Samuel S. Austin, Esq., and Daniel F. Cooper.
Alfred Frost purchased this dwelling, June 25, 1889, from the heirs of Dr. Sturgeon, and after enlarging it to three stories, con- ducted it for some time as a public house, but being refused a license, he failed to meet his obligations, and the property was sold.
George F. Titlow opened "Hotel Titlow " in the Frost house, in 1898, where he continued until he secured the property on the west.
Miss Mary E. Sturgeon, daughter of Dr. Sturgeon, continued to occupy the mansion house for some time after her father's death. Other tenants were Amos M. Jolliffe and Michael D. Baker.
Daniel Sharpnack purchased this property from Miss Sturgeon April 1, 1885, and his executors conveyed the same to E. A. Lingo, February 5, 1891. Mr. Lingo removed the old residence to the rear of the lot and on its site erected a three-story brick business block with business rooms on the first floor and flats above. The eastern business room was used by Stuck and Basnett as a grocery ; Thomas Claggett as a furniture store and George F. Titlow as a bar- room in connection with the Frost house.
The Johnson Machine company occupied the western room for some time.
E. A. Lingo sold this property September 29, 1899, to a syn- dicate, who soon transferred their individual interests to George F. Titlow, who immediately fitted it up for a hotel.
He opened his hostelry as Hotel Titlow, and built it up to four stories, and in 1906 he extended the building back to Peter street, covering the whole of the lot. He had a re-opening of his hotel April 2, 1906, and gave a public reception on May 16th, to which the public was invited. The Hotel Titlow was the first hotel in the county to be run on the European plan.
THE OLD BEESON MILL.
Henry Beeson, the founder of the town, purchased back from his brother, Jacob, about eight acres of land facing 281.8 feet on
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the north side of West Main street, October 12, 1793, for five pounds, Pennsylvania money.
The cause for the re-purchase of this ground was from the fact that the raceway of the original Beeson mill did not prove satisfactory on account of the porous nature of the ground through which it was constructed. The old mill was dismantled and a new one erected upon this ground in 1783, and here under different ownerships and operators it was operated until the year 1866 as a flouring mill, and from that date until 1890 as a cement mill, when as a mill it was abandoned after a continuous service of 94 years as a flouring mill and 24 years as a cement mill.
Henry Beeson, Jr., son of Henry Beeson, the founder, pur- chased this property before the year 1800, and conducted the mill until his death, January 20, 1832, and he was known as Henry Beeson, the miller. Among those employed as millers under him may be mentioned the following: John Johns was the miller under Henry Beeson, Sr., and helped in the construction of this mill. He carried an immense corner-stone up onto the wall, a feat which but few would attempt. Nathan Jefferis was employed here about 1808, and spent the most of his life as a miller here and elsewhere. He went out in Captain Valentine Giesey's company in the war of 1812, and was mustered into the service of his country at Baltimore.
John Denny was employed as a miller here for two years, and about the close of his service in 1817, his son, Henry Denny, was born in the residence part of the mill.
Jacob Landers followed Denny as miller, and he and his family lived in the mill.
An act of Assembly of 1781 required all millers to record their brands with the Clerk of Quarter Sessions, and ir. 1823 all millers and bolters of flour were notified to have their brands recorded.
Henry Haws followed Jacob Landers in 1824, and remained about five years or more. Billy McGuinn was one of the old millers employed here and occupied a part of the mill as a residence. During his occupancy, which continued many years, both under the ownership of Henry Beeson, Jr., and under his son and suc- cessor, Jesse Beeson, his home was, on account of its room and the tidy manner in which it was kept, a favorite place for quilting parties. Many pleasant afternoons were spent here by the neigh- bors, who gathered in the old mill and took out a quilt. Billy held his position here until he went blind from overwork. Billy Mc-
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Gwinn and Essenith McCoy were married August 27, 1854, and they ended their days at their home on Redstone creek about one mile south of Uniontown.
David Messmore was the miller here, 1830-35, up to the time George W. Rutter took a lease on the mill. Jesse Sacket was the miller under Rutter, and Robert Gaddis ran a carding machine, which was operated by the same power as the mill. Mr. Rutter's lease held for only about one year, and he introduced steam power.
Adam Sembower was miller here in the middle 30s, and also in the 50s.
Isaac Skiles was employed here as the miller and occupied the living apartments as a dwelling. He afterward became the founder of the famous Skiles store, and was a successful merchant.
Alfred Clear was miller here in 1862, and lived in the lower end of the White Swan tavern. He removed to Ohiopyle and ran the mill there.
William D. Swearingen, known as "River Bill," leased this mill for the years 1841-42, and had in his employ John Mickey and a Mr. Vandiver, and Garret Jordan ran the carding machine.
Henry R. Beeson, son of Jesse Beeson, had charge of the mill in 1851-52, and employed Alfred Clear as the miller.
Joseph B. Moser and Jacob Mack leased the mill for the year 1856, and both being millers, they ran it themselves. The mill at this time had three runs of stones : two French burrs and one Laurel Hill stone; also a good saw mill, two carding machines and one picker, fulling works, cooper shop, two good dwelling houses, a blacksmith shop and two acres of ground. The mill was run by steam, in case of low water, and was considered to be the best mill property in the county. Daniel Swearingen and Philip D. Stentz took a lease on the mill for 1859-60, and Mr. Swearingen suc- ceeded Mr. Stentz for at least another year. John McCoy was miller under Daniel Swearingen and under Jesse Beeson in the early 60s, and later under Henry R. Beeson, who put in a more modern steam power.
In 1864, during the oil excitement, Henry R. Beeson drilled a well at the old mill, and after drilling 1150 feet, the well was aban- doned. A continuous stream of sulphur water flowed from this well for several years.
In 1866, he converted the old flouring mill into a cement mill, and manufactured a very superior article of hydraulic cement, which
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was known as the Phoenix cement. This he continued to manu- facture until his death, which occurred June 4, 1875.
A fulling mill was erected but a few feet north of the old flouring mill, in which was placed a carding machine, and these were operated by the same water power as the mill.
Thomas Young advertised that he was carrying on the fulling. dyeing and dressing cloth at his former stand at the Union fulling mill, January 1, 1816.
Samuel Wolverton announces that he is running a carding machine in the Uniontown mill, where he will card all kinds of wool, common at 8 cents per pound, other wool at proportionate rate, June 14, 1819.
Elias V. Watson and George W. Stacy succeeded Wolverton for five or six years. The agreement between them was that Wat- son was to teach Stacy the art and mystery of fulling, and Stacy was to teach Watson the art and mystery of carding.
William Patrick ran the carding machine for awhile, and Rob- ert Gaddis served about three years under him. Mr. Gaddis con- tinued under the employ of John Huston of Clearfield, Md., who rented the property after the expiration of the lease of Patrick. Part of the time Gaddis conducted the business for half the profits in 1837. Mr. Gaddis, in the fall of 1837, worked twenty hours a day for many days, and by the assistance of a young girl, he carded ten thousand pounds of wool that fall.
Elijah Stevens advertised that he is now prepared to weave linen of all kinds, woolen cloths, cassinetts, carpets, etc., " with the flying shuttle " at Henry Beeson's mill, August 2, 1830.
William Jordan was the fuller here in 1847, under Jesse Beeson.
The weavers of Fayette county met to agree on prices for weaving, June 24, 1829, and the following weavers signed the scale : Elias Jeffries, Richard Woodward, Noble McCormick, Daniel Moser, Jacob Rotruck, Jacob Galley and Elias Freeman.
William H. Baily, as executor of the will of Henry R. Beeson, divided up this property and sold the old mill site, October 22, 1877. to William Beeson, and on December 5, 1889, it was transferred to other parties. Thus, after being known as the Beeson mill for over a century, it passed out of the name.
An association, known as the Hygeia Ice company, purchased the site of the old Beeson flouring mill in 1899, and tore away the old mill and erected on its site a modern ice factory and cold-
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storage plant. The capacity of the ice plant was twenty-five tons per diem, and the cold storage had a capacity of 300,000 cubic feet. The first ice was drawn June 25, 1890. The output of this factory proved so satisfactory that the company, in 1900, increased its capacity to forty tons per diem. The building has since been greatly enlarged and the capacity increased to eighty tons per diem, and the cold storage to 500,000 cubic feet. On August 22, 1898, the company purchased the lot lying between their factory and West Main street, having a frontage on that street of ninety feet.
A lot west of the ice factory was sold to Brehm and Nabors, who erected a planing mill and carried on a lumber yard and con- tracting. It was subsequently used for other purposes.
Samuel and Alf Johnson purchased purpart No. 1, in the division of this property, consisting of eighty-four perches, includ- ing the old red dwelling house, and erected a brick machine shop for the repair of machinery.
Henry Beeson, Jr., erected a frame dwelling close to the mill, on the west, and occupied it for a while. His son, Jesse, and fam- ily lived here for many years, and they were succeeded by other occupants.
A small frame building was erected in front of the mill, facing on Main street, in which Henry R. Beeson kept a line of groceries and provisions in 1851-2. This building was converted into a dwelling, and is now owned and occupied by Miss Alice Skiles.
A blacksmith shop stood on the western front of this property and the following are among the blacksmiths who carried on busi- ness here: Wilson Swain, Henry Nycum, Isaac Sampsel, Seth White, John Barry and others. John N. Lewellen purchased this property in 1882, and converted it into a carriage and buggy fac- tory, which, in connection with his son, Frank, he conducted until January 1, 1908, when John N. withdrew and Frank continued until he sold the property to Isaac W. Semans, who tore away the old buildings and erected on their site a large and modern automobile garage.
Just west of the blacksmith shop above mentioned stood a log building that was used as a wagon maker's shop. Henry Kerns, a wagon maker, came here from Winchester, and occupied this shop for many years. He was a devout Methodist, and lived in his shop, where he did his own cooking and slept in the loft. Wagon spokes were driven in holes bored in the side of the shop, and by these he was enabled to reach the loft. Henry kept a number of chickens
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in his shop, of whom he made intimate companions. He had each named and would converse with them as though they were intelli- gent creatures, and they shared his fireside and board. He also kept his favorite mare, " Kitty Clover," in one corner of his shop. The boys of town annoyed Henry very much with their mischievous pranks. Henry took James Bryan into partnership with him for a short time, but Bryan withdrew in 1818, and Henry continued many years alone.
Henry Beeson, Jr., built a two-story frame house west of the Henry Kerns wagon maker's shop, as a residence for Elizabeth Beeson, the widow of his brother, Jesse Beeson, who died in 1826. In this she lived for several years, together with her niece, Sidney Gardner. Mrs. Beeson married as her second husband the Reverend James Guthrie, the old and well-remembered Presbyterian minister of Laurel Hill church, who died in 1850. In 1860, she married Johnson Vankirk, with whom she lived for ten years, when he died. She died June 26, 1886, in the 95th year of her age.
William D. Swearingen, father-in-law and partner in business with William McCleary, occupied this house as a residence for a time, while miller at the Beeson mill. George B. Rutter occupied this house as a residence for several years. The Johnson Machine company purchased this property in 1899 and converted the dwelling into a workshop for the repair of bicycles and other work.
David Moreland purchased from Jacob Beeson a small piece of land containing eleven perches, lying between an old tail race and Jacob's run. Upon this Mr. Moreland constructed a log black- smith shop on the east and a log dwelling on the west. Here he lived and carried on the business of blacksmithing for many years. He was also connected with L. W. Stockton in purchasing horses for the National Stage line. He married a daughter of Joseph Collins, who lived out the Morgantown road on the Colonel Thomas Gaddis farm. He moved to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1839.
Daniel Duer subsequently lived in this house.
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