USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 21
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On the west side of Stewart avenue stood a small brick build- ing with frame kitchen. This stood on the western limit of the Jesse Beeson addition to the town. William Reheard, who mar- ried Nancy Boyle, daughter of James Boyle, was at one time an
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occupant of this house. Jane Jones and her daughter, Eliza, and son, Stogdon, owned and occupied this property for many years. They sold to Clyde B. Miller, who tore the old building away in 1913. An alley ran along the west side of this small brick house, and after the opening of Stewart avenue, Isaac Messmore erected a two-story frame business room on this alley, and it was occupied as a drug store by Guyton Brothers. It is now occupied by Clyde B. Miller with a grocery store.
Isaac Messmore erected a one-story frame next west of the drug store, which was used as a meat market by Ed. S. Guyton and others. Next west is a small frame shoe shop.
James Boyle owned and occupied a log house west of the alley mentioned for many years, and after his death, his widow and daughter continued to occupy it. Mr. Boyle came from Cumber- land and settled in Uniontown in 1800. His wife, Margaret, was the daughter of Robert Sturgeon, proprietor of a tract of land on Redstone creek, four miles north of Uniontown, on which was a flouring mill. James Crawford and family occupied this property for several years. Andrew J. Bower erected a two-story frame residence on this lot in 1888. Being a barber by trade, he carried on that business here for several years. John Nara purchased this property, tore away the old building and in 1913 erected on its site a three-story brick building containing a store room and flats above.
Mrs. Mary Crabb purchased a part of the old Boyle residence and converted it into a dwelling and business room in which she kept a small confectionery.
William Merriman purchased what was known as lots Nos. 8, 9 and 10 in Henry's Addition, east of Redstone creek. These lots extended from the alley just west of the mouth of Willson avenue eastward 2171/2 feet. On this he kept a tavern known as " Merri- man's Hive." He was in business here in 1802 under his first license. His place of business was a log house and his career was short. He was succeeded here by Hannah Sands in the tavern busi- ness. Of her family were Mariah, who married Benj. Miller, Arabella, Jane, Pinkney and Ellen. Mrs. Sands died here. The daughters went west.
William Doran purchased this property and lived here from 1854 until 1872.
Robert McDowell purchased this property and tore away the old buildings and erected two dwellings and a store room. Mr.
-
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McDowell and family occupied the first and James R. Barnes, James R. Doran and others occupied the second.
Frank M. Semans occupied the one-story store room with a grocery store for some years, as did John H. Fazenbaker, John W. Hinebaugh, Ewing B. Marshall and James M. Arnett. Judge R. E. Umbel purchased the lot on which this store room stood, and in 1907, removed the frame to the rear and erected on its site a three- story brick building with store room on first floor and flats above. James M. Arnett, whose wife was a sister to Judge Umbel, was the first to occupy the store room with a grocery, and the flats on the second floor as a dwelling. Mrs. Emma Leonard occupied the flat on third floor.
Nancy and Mary Macahan owned and occupied a small log house next west of the Umbel building, and here they kept for many years a small confectionery. Their taffy, the ingredients of which they kept a profound secret, has never been equaled in the history of the town. It was the custom for young folks to walk up to get some of Nancy's taffy. Andrew Beckett bought this prop- erty and built a new frame two-story business room and dwelling. Here he lived and carried on the grocery business. He sold to Thurman Frazee, who occupied it as a residence and grocery.
Jacob Downer owned a frame house that was torn away upon the opening of Willson avenue into East Main street, 1906. Joseph Magie was a tenant here for some years, and he and his wife both died here. William C. Stevens, the well-remembered court crier, lived here several years. John Messmore was an occupant here for several years. George Chick lived here from 1867 to 1871, then moved to the Rev. John Morgan house, where he lived until 1884, a period of 13 years, where he died. His son, Oliver G. Chick, was the owner of the property when it was torn away. .
Granny Jones owned and occupied a small frame house next west of the mouth of Willson avenue and east of a narrow alley. Samuel Harah purchased this property from Harry Millhouse in 1839, for which he was to deliver to said Millhouse nine dozen fur hats as per sample shown.
John R. Altman bought this lot and tore away the old house and erected a neat frame dwelling, which he occupied until the death of his wife. The alley has been closed since the opening of Willson avenue.
Dr. Thomas M. Waldron, veterinary surgeon, removed the Altman house to a rear lot and erected a modern brick residence,
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occupying the Altman lot and the narrow alley, and made this his home. A frame dwelling stood next west, which was occupied for several years by Eli Curry and was owned by Samuel Magee, who purchased this property and improved it and made it his home until his death, August 17, 1897. His family still possess it.
Margaret Allen purchased more than an acre of land on the south side of East Main street, November 3, 1789, on which she kept a tavern in a log house that stood on a high bluff. Her tavern was known as "The Pinnacle," on account of its high location. " Granny" Allen was licensed at June sessions, 1788, and continued tavern keeping until her death in 1810, at the age of 91 years. Harry Jack owned and occupied this old building for several years. His wife was a sister to James Piper, Esq. He was a stone-cutter by trade and also erected tombstones. Patrick McNarney was a tenant of this old log house for some years. He was well known about the town.
William Shipley erected a double frame house on this elevated ground and lived here until his death. C. P. Dunaway, a member of the Fayette county bar, built a frame residence next to the Shipley house and occupied it for several years. William G. Guiler, also a member of the bar, succeeded Mr. Dunaway in the occupancy of this house. William Shipley built also the frame dwelling since occupied by John Diffenderffer. Joseph Nara built a frame dwell- ing, which was occupied for some time by Amadee M. Litman, and he also built a frame dwelling and store room on the corner of East Main and Shady Lane, which he occupied as a residence and fruit and confectionery stand.
What is now Shady Lane was at one time a private lane leading to what is now the late home of Senator A. D. Boyd. Daniel Kaine, Esq., erected for himself a residence at the head of this lane, but just before its completion, it was destroyed by an incendiary fire and was rebuilt a cottage instead of two stories, as formerly. This desirable property subsequently became the home of Dr. Cox, president of Madison college, Isaac Skiles, Jr., Samuel Smith and others. Senator Boyd purchased this property and laid off Shady Lane, which has been built up with most desirable residences.
An old couple, known as Dad and Mam Whitesides, raised two girls named respectively Hannah and Peggy. Hannah became the wife of Joseph Collins and Peggy became the wife of Capt. Thomas Collins. These old folks lived in a small log house which stood just west of the mouth of Shady Lane in which, many years after, old Mrs. Davis lived.
CHAPTER X.
CHEAT OR MORGANTOWN STREET, EAST SIDE, COMPRISING LOTS NOS. 1 TO 20, INCLUSIVE, IN HENRY'S ADDITION.
Before Fayette county was erected there was a road leading from the Kiskennity Salt Works in Westmoreland county through Uniontown to Grassy Ford on Cheat river, and the middle of that road from Main street southward formed a part of the dividing line between the original tracts of Henry and Jacob Beeson.
At the first session of the Courts of Fayette county, held in December, 1783, a petition was presented asking that a public road be laid out from the Town of Union to Grassy Ford on Cheat river. From the fact that this road led to Cheat river gave rise to the name of Cheat street to that part of the road lying within the limits of Uniontown, and from the fact that it led to Morgantown it also acquired the name of Morgantown street. In some deeds it is also referred to as Market street, perhaps from the fact that the first market of the town was established on that street. This street began at Elbow or Main street and ran south 283/4 degrees west 305 perches, the divid- ing line between the two patented tracts of Henry and Jacob Beeson ran up the middle of this street.
On the east side of Cheat or Morgantown street where it enters Main street, on what is now known as the Tremont Building corner, stood a two-story frame building facing Cheat street, running up said street fifty feet affording two business rooms, the one nearest Main street being small and was used principally as tailor shops. Morgan A. and Daniel Miller announced that they had commenced the tailoring busi- ness in this room, corner of Elbow and Cheat streets, May 24, 1817. They were succeeded in the same business by Joseph Peach, John L. Means, John McCuen, Daniel M. Springer and Absolem Guiler and perhaps others. John L. Means had his own peculiar way of advertising, and being quite a versifier he announced his business as follows :
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" Then you who wish your clothes made right, Just call and give him notice,
And you shall have them loose or tight, As any tailor's coat is ;
But when you call, oh, do with care,
Bring cash or something equal, And how in that event you'll fare,
Stands written in the sequel."
The room next south of the foregoing was some larger and was at one time occupied by John Strayer with a saddle and harness shop. John W. Barr, well known in business elsewhere, kept a confectionery here, as did John Endsley with a con- fectionery and oyster saloon. James Ebert succeeded Endsley from 1849 to '52 in the same line of business. These old build- ings were torn away by Peter H. Hellen in 1853 preparatory to the erection of the present Tremont Building. In addition to the Main store room facing Main street the Tremont Building had two business rooms on Morgantown street. The one next to Main street was small, and John T. Hogg was its first occu- pant with his private banking house. Mr. Hogg had also bank- ing houses in Bedford, Somerset, Mount Pleasant, Connellsville, Brownsville and New Brighton. William Wilson, the well re- membered bank cashier, had charge of Mr. Hogg's business at this bank until 1858. Upon the organization of the Bank of Fayette county in that year, Mr. Wilson was chosen cashier of that institution and James T. Redburn was chosen to fill the va- cancy. This soon became the banking house of Isaac Skiles, Jr., and in 1863, he became one of the incorporators of the First Na- tional Bank of Uniontown, and on May 3, 1864, the business of the bank was opened in a room on Main street.
P. M. Hochheimer succeeded in this room with a millinery store which he conducted for some years, and he was succeeded in the same line of business in 1872, by, then, Miss Donna M. Paine, now Mrs. W. H. Myers, who has occupied this room from the above date.
The southern business room of this building was first used as the grocery department of Mr. Hellen's store, but was later occupied by various tenants. A German by the name of Seitz kept a lager beer saloon in this room for a while. It is said he
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introduced lager beer into the town, and that one keg would last a week.
Max Baum came to Uniontown in 1866, and first opened a clothing store in this room, but in the following year he moved to the old Benjamin Hellen store room on Main street. Samuel Clark carried on the harness business in this room for a few years. Charles Elliott carried on a tobacco store here in 1880. The Adams Express company occupied this room as an office for several years, and they were succeeded by Joseph Wood with a fruit stand, for which purpose it is still used.
Over the small banking room in this building, on the second floor the following artists conducted daguerrean and ambrotype galleries; Austin Lane, G. Adams, F. A. Simonds, Mr. Pur- viance, William K. Cooper and others. O. L. Williams taught writing school here in 1856. The room has been used as a barber shop much of the time since.
The room over the main store room has been used most of the time as a billiard hall. The third floor of the Tremont Building was originally intended as a public hall in which many entertainments were held, and here many of the public school " exhibitions " and small shows were given for the entertain- ment of the public. Here Blyth's "Great Panorama of the Allegheny Mountains " was exhibited on the nights of February 24th and 25th, 1854, to crowded houses. A full history of this panorama is given elsewhere.
Amzi S. Fuller and E. B. Wood, in the summer of 1861, secured a contract for manufacturing artillery harness for the government, and carried on their work in the third story of this building. They employed about 30 men, and by the following April they had turned out $10,000 worth of work.
Several persons have conducted oyster saloons and billiard halls here. The Salvation Army first occupied this third story on locating in Uniontown and continued here until the comple- tion of their new citadel on Church street, 1905.
Hon. Andrew Stewart erected a block of two-story brick houses on Morgantown street beginning at what is now known as the Tremont Building and extending to South street. This was always known as "Stewart's Row" and contained seven different apartments and were numbered from the present Tre- mont Building toward South street. The occupants of No. 1 in Stewart's Row were as follows: John and Ewing Brownfield
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embarked in the mercantile business in 1830, and were the first occupants of this room after its completion. This partnership was dissolved in 1832, John withdrawing and Ewing continued the business until 1836, at which time he went west and settled at Mishawaka, Indiana, but in 1837 he returned and re-entered business on Main street.
T. S. Battell succeeded the Brownfields in this room, and he was in turn succeeded by P. H. & B. F. Hellen in 1836, and this firm was dissolved November 13, 1845, and the firm became P. H. Hellen and William A. West in 1846, but West withdrew November 11, 1847, and Hellen continued alone until he finished the Tremont building into which he moved his store. C. E. Swearingen succeeded Hellen in this room, moving his stock from the James Gibson room on Main street. While here Mr. Swearingen associated with him William A. West as a partner, and in 1860 the place was known as the Farmers' Exchange, and on March 21, 1867, it was announced that Swearingen & Co. had sold out to T. Brent Swearingen, a brother to C. E. and that he would continue at the old stand. John C. Johnson was located here with a grocery in 1878, with J. Squire Hagans as clerk, after which came Keener and Gadd, George F. Brown, Moser and Moser, E. L. Hibbs, and J. G. Rider with a meat market.
Room No. ? in Stewart's Row was occupied as a residence for a short time by Hon. Andrew Stewart while he erected the large brick residence just east of the court house, later known as the Clinton House, into which he removed upon its comple- tion. C. E. Swearingen, Mr. Stewart's son-in-law, occupied this as a residence while in the mercantile business. Dr. E. W. Power occupied this as a residence and where he carried on business as a dentist. Dr. Cortland King also occupied this as a dental office while John Fetter occupied the rear as a residence. Dr. J. B. Ewing occupied this as a residence and physician's office for some years, and he was succeeded by Armor S. Craig as a residence.
No. 3 Stewart's Row was occupied at one time by Jackson Harry as a tinner and coppersmith. He started to Pittsburgh with considerable money to buy stock for his business in com- pany with two of his " friends." He fell from the boat below Brownsville and was drowned, but when the body was recovered there was no money found upon it.
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Theophilus Bowie and Joseph Wiley announced that they continued to carry on the tinning and coppersmith business here in 1838. Mr. Wiley withdrew from the firm and located in " Whitewash " corner, and Mr. Bowie announced March ?? , 1842, that he had resumed business at his old stand on Morgan- town street, and makes a new beginning. His immense sign with his name and a large copper kettle painted thereon, was a familiar figure here for many years. In 1852, Mr. Bowie em- barked in the foundry business at New Geneva at the well- known foundry of J. P. Shealor, where he manufactured all kinds of castings. Mr. Bowie was unfortunate in this venture, as a flood destroyed the foundry and swept all his wares and materials into the river from which nothing was ever recovered. He next located `on Main street where he continued to carry on his business until the property was destroyed by fire, April 8, 1878, after which he continued in a small way on Morgan- town street, in connection with his grocery store, and finally at the rear of his residence on Union street.
No. 4 Stewart's Row-James A. Yerk announced that he continued to carry on his business as a copper and tinsmith at No. 4 Stewart's Row, near the market house, and one door north of the office of the Pennsylvania Democrat, and that two or three apprentices were wanted to learn the trade, and that boys from the country were preferred, April 10, 1832, Mr. Yerk had occupied a room on the opposite side of the street before locating here. He erected a two-story brick residence on the corner of Church street and Jackson alley in which he lived. John Heitz, a clock and watch maker commenced business here April 1, 1843, and he had many valuable watches in his estab- lishment for repairs, among which was a very valuable watch belonging to Mr. L. W. Stockton, manager of the National Stage Coach line. On the night of September 25, 1843, Heitz's establishment was robbed and the watches left for repairs were stolen. Heitz shed many tears as he related his misfortune and offered $100 as a reward for the apprehension of the thief and the recovery of the watches, or $50 for the recovery of the watches. Many of these watches were recovered, having been found wrapped in greasy rags and buried near Hatfield's school house, about one mile south of town. J. Clark Beeson carried on the furniture business here for a while as did John C. Wood.
No. 5 Stewart's Row consisted of a hallway leading to the
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second story, and, it appears, upon completion of this building the office of the Pennsylvania Democrat, which had been founded by Jacob B. Miller, July 25, 1827, was moved into the room over No. 4 where it remained many years under different owner- ships and changes of names. While located here it was under the ownership of Samuel McDonald from 1834 to 1844, and of John Foster from 1844 to 1846, when John F. Beazell was admit- ted to partnership, and soon Foster retired and Beazell continued until 1866. The name of the paper was changed while in this location, November 18, 1854, by Mr. Beazell to that of The American Standard, which name it retained until March 21, 1879. Upon Jacob B. Miller acquiring the Bryan building on West Main street, the office of The American Standard was removed to the second floor of that building, after having been located in Stewart's Row for about twenty-two years.
No. 6 Stewart's Row-Dr. H. F. Roberts located here in 1841, and had his office in this room for several years. He was a native of Allegheny county, and was the son of Judge Samuel Roberts who at one time presided over the Fayette County courts. Dr. F. C. Robinson came to Uniontown in 1841, and commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Roberts in this room and in 1851, he commenced the practice of his profession in this same room, where he remained for several years, till April 1, 1859. Jesse B. Gardner and Oliver P. Wells opened an eating house and billiard hall in this room in 1863, and they were suc- ceeded in the same business by Amos M. Jolliffe in 1867.
Dr. J. B. Phythian was located in No. 7 Stewart's Row in 1830, and had his residence on West Main street. A more ex- tended notice of him is given elsewhere. While here he an- nounced that he kept vaccine matter for sale, and that the President of the United States had appointed James Smith of Baltimore agent for vaccination, who is prepared to furnish genuine vaccine matter by post, and that application must be made by post, accompanied with the requisite fee of five dollars in the current bank paper of any of the middle states. Direc- tions for its use will be furnished. All letters on this subject, not exceeding half an ounce, free of postage in accordance with a late act of Congress entitled " An act to encourage vaccina- tion." Signed James Smith, U. S. agent for vaccination.
Samuel Harris opened a cap store in this room in 1842. He was a small and energetic man, and was said to be a Jew
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and the first of that race to locate in Uniontown. He had been located on West Main street in 1836, and subsequent to his being in Stewart's Row he was located in Commercial Row on East Main street. His advertisements were spicy and unique as the following will show :
" New caps, new caps, by Samuel Harris, Of fashions just received from Paris, And every size that you can mention, To which he now would call attention, The price will suit-yes nothing shorter, His caps will screen your heads from water.
Then if you please, just bring your cash on, And you shall have the latest fashion.
His shop you know is in Stewart's Row."
Mr. Harris was succeeded here by Peter and James Heck who carried on the tailoring business for some time. Several other tenants followed in this room.
In the year 1794, Western Pennsylvania was agitated by what was known as the Whisky Insurrection. Incendiary meet-' ings were held, and armed bodies of men met at different locali- ties to intimidate those who were disposed to comply with the excise law, and to deter those officers who were appointed to collect the revenue on distilled liquors. Between the middle of July and the last of August the excitement had reached its high- est point, when Captain Robert Ross, an early settler of what is now Nicholson township, and who had served in the Revolution- ary war under General Anthony Wayne, and in campaigns in Ohio and Indiana against the Indians, at the head of between 100 and 150 men, marched to Uniontown and erected a liberty pole in defiance of the government. This pole was raised on this lot, No. 33, near the corner of Morgantown and South streets, later known as the market house lot, and still later known as the triangular lot in front of Stewart's Row. Capt. Ross next marched to the farm of Thomas Gaddis, who had also served in an expedition against the Indians under Col. William Craw- ford, about two miles south of town, where they erected another pole. General Ephraim Douglass, who had also served in the Revolutionary war, and a man who never knew fear, cut both of these poles down in defiance of "Tom the Tinker," as the op- posers of the excise law styled themselves.
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
A frame market house, about 25 by 50 feet in size, was erected on this triangular piece of ground, then belonging to Captain Thomas Collins, on which the "Whisky Boys " had but two years before, erected a pole in honor of "Tom the Tinker." This market house was used by the various butchers of the town until a new one was constructed on the public grounds donated by Jacob Beeson, the founder of the western part of the town. This old building was sold to Thomas King, who removed it to Peter street and there used it as a blacksmith shop for many years.
The Madison fire-engine was purchased in 1841, and a small frame house was built for its protection on this lot near the market house. Hon. Andrew Stewart notified the borough au- thorities to remove their buildings, and the first was disposed of as related and the second was sold to Mr. Isaac Beeson, who removed it to Fayette street near Redstone creek, where it sub- sequently became the property and home of Dicky Paine and Prissie, his wife.
A Mr. Hare of Greensburg and a photographer by occupa- tion, erected a one-story frame photograph gallery on this tri- angle in the 60's, and being a good photographer, he did a good business in his line. His brother, Thomas Hare, soon came out and purchased the gallery and continued the business. He soon associated with him R. Hunter Newlon, and the firm became Newlon and Hare, and in 1866, Mr. Newlon sold his interest to E. A. Lingo and the firm became Hare and Lingo. A fire de- stroyed the old frame building, corner of West Main and Arch streets in March, 1868, and Hare and Lingo purchased the lot and erected thereon a two-story frame photograph gallery and business room, and upon its completion they vacated the old building on this lot. It was subsequently and for several years used as a marble cutter's shop by R. P. Thistlethwaite and others.
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