USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 24
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Joseph Pryor was the first purchaser of lot No. 9 in Henry's Addition, December 26, 1797, for $25. Mr. Pryor was a fine old bachelor tailor, and made his home for some time with David Moreland. He served as a private in Captain Thomas Collins' company in the war of 1812, and during the latter part of his life. made his home with Captain Collins, where he died April 13, 1837.
Two colored brothers, Nathan and Thomas Allen, purchased the northern part of this lot and lived in a log cabin which stood back from the street. Tom Allen went as a body servant to Henry H. Beeson during the latter's service in the war of 1812, and subsequently made his home in Uniontown. His wife, whose name was Dorcas, was generally known as Old Dark. She had a son who was known as Dark's Jim who would occasionally accompany droves of horses over the old National road to the eastern markets. Jim conceived the daring plan of making money by allowing himself to be sold into slavery when down at Baltimore. It is reported that he had accomp- lished this feat on more than one occasion, when, alas for poor Jim, he tried it once too often, and he was never heard of again. Dan McDonald, also colored, was a part owner of this lot and they conveyed to John Prettyman, who conveyed to John Keffer, who in turn conveyed to John Hagan, who erected the brick residence still standing. Samuel A. Clark purchased this prop- erty and occupied it for some years. Altha L. Moser is the present owner of the property.
Robert Magill, a colored man who learned the tanning trade under John Miller, purchased the southern half of No. 9, and lived in a log cabin which stood back on this lot. His first wife was an excellent woman, and had been the cook for George W.
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Rutter when he kept bachelor's hall on what was later known as Tremont corner. Robert built the brick dwelling still on this lot, and occupied it as such for some time. Robert's son, Lafay- ette Magill, was incarcerated for incendiarism and broke jail and was never heard of afterwards.
Rev. B. P. Ferguson, a Baptist minister, owned and occupied this property from December 8, 1860, until his death which oc- cured October 27, 1863. He filled the pulpit of the Great Bethel Baptist church and was a most excellent man. Teagel Trader, a retired farmer, purchased this property and occupied it until his death, since which it was occupied by various tenants for several years. John Rhodaback purchased this property and occupied it as a residence.
John Wood, a colored horse doctor and preacher, was the first purchaser of lot No. 10 in Henry's Addition. He was generally known as "Dr. John" and married the mother of Alexander Moxley, the gentlemanly and well remembered barber of the town. Dr. John was assessed as a horse doctor by profes- sion in 1824. He always claimed that he brought the gospel over the mountains in a pair of saddle-bags. He traded the southern half of this lot, it is said, for a horse and wagon that he might do light hauling about the town. After his death the property was inherited by his step-son, Alexander Moxley, and remained in possession of his widow, who was a daughter of David Lewis, until her death.
William McClelland and William Roberts purchased lot No. 11, October 29, 1795. Jacob Eckles, a brickmason by trade, owned and lived in a log house still standing on this lot, in 1844, and John Prettyman succeeded Eckles and John Bowie suc- ceeded Prettyman. Henry Nycum, the well remembered black- smith and inventor of the Nycum wagon hub, owned this prop- erty and occupied it as a residence for many years. He built the frame residence on the northern part of the lot, now the residence of his son, James Nycum. Alexander Chisholm bought the old log dwelling and occupies it.
Simon Sampsel owned and occupied the frame building on the southern part of this lot for many years. Joseph Johns and family owned and occupied this Sampsel property for several years.
Ezra Fell purchased lot No. 12 in Henry's Addition Sep- tember 18, 1807, for $25. He is mentioned elsewhere. Nathaniel
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Jaquette purchased this lot from Ezra Fell, August 24, 1830, for $55. An old log building which stood until lately on the north- ern part of this lot, was used for many years as a church by the colored people of the town, until they purchased lot No. 18 from Zadoc Springer and erected a new meeting-house. Before the colored folks worshiped in this old log house they had been in the practice of meeting at the homes of the different members for religious service. Felty Saunders was an occupant of this house when he enlisted as a drummer in Captain Thomas Col- lins' company in the war of 1812. John Kimberly once owned this house and lot. Many tenants lived here until it became untenantable and was torn away.
Nathaniel Jaquette was a shoemaker by trade. His wife was Elizabeth McClelland, a half-sister to Daniel B. McCarty, who was also a shoemaker and carried on business in a frame build- ing on the corner of Jacob's alley and Elbow street, as men- tioned elsewhere. Mr. Jaquette erected the frame house still standing on the southern part of this lot. He sawed the lumber himself at David Veech's sawmill at the west end of town, and did the carpenter work also himself. One night while at work in his house, a deer, pursued by hounds, ran to the light by which Mr. Jaquette was working, and it was with difficulty he barred the door against it. The deer was caught a short distance away by Robert Magill, a colored neighbor.
Mr. Jaquette occupied this property as a residence, with his shop at the upper side, for many years, until his death at a ripe old age. He was born in Delaware, March 29, 1789, and was bound out to learn the art and mysteries of tanning, and en- listed in the service of his country in the war of 1812, in the defense of Baltimore, after which he settled-in Uniontown. He died at the home of his son, Thomas, on Union street, February 13, 1879. This property is still in the Jaquette name.
Ezra Fell purchased also lot No. 13 in Henry's Addition, September 18, 1807, for $25. This lot was subsequently owned by Adam Lutz. William Nycum purchased the northern part of this lot and erected thereon a frame dwelling in which he made his home until his death. It is still owned and occupied by his widow. Mrs. Martha Couldren erected a modern frame dwell- ing on a part of this lot, and occupied it as such for several years. It is now the home of Mrs. Sally Campbell. Mrs. Mary Ann
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Hibbs erected a modern frame dwelling next south of Mrs. Couldren's house and here made her home.
Lot No. 14 in Henry's Addition was not sold by Henry Beeson as a town lot, but remained in connection with the tract of 65 acres on which stood the mansion, and descended to Henry Beeson, Jr., and in 1838, was sold by the executors of Henry Beeson, Jr., to Joseph Pennock. This lot fronted 66 feet on Cheat street, and was bounded on the south by the road lead- ing to Jeremiah Gard's mill. This road is now known as Berke- ley street.
Wilson Jack, a colored preacher, once owned this lot and built a small log house on the southwest corner and here lived for some time. The house stood high above the street. A steep bluff of shelly stone was in front of the house, and the only approach was around on the southern side by rough steps cut in the steep bank. Samuel Y. Campbell, Absalom Guiler and Henry Nycum, respectively, were recent owners of this lot. John C. Breading purchased this lot and erected a frame busi- ness and dwelling thereon, and here conducted a grocery store for some years. Wilber S. Trax owned and occupied this prop- erty as a dwelling and store room for some time, and sold to Miss Alice Skiles, and Jerome Skiles conducted a grocery here for some time, and after his death his daughter, Miss Josephine, continued the business.
Between lots Nos. 14 and 15 in Henry's Addition a road was left which was generally known as the road to Gard's mill, and was subsequently known as the Barton mill road, but on June 26, 1877, the town council gave it the name of Friend street in recognition of the religious belief of the founders of the town. This name prevailed until the opening of Berkeley street from Morgantown street to Mount Vernon avenue, when the whole street was given that name.
James Downard had selected lot No. 15 in Henry's Addi- tion, but never received a deed for it, and Mr. Beeson made a change in the original plot, locating Nos. 15, 16, 17 and 18, 30.5 feet farther north than originally intended. John Street pur- chased this lot September 21, 1804, for $25, described as facing 72.5 on the road leading to Grassy Ford on Cheat river, and 150 feet on a 30 foot road leading to Gard's mill.
James Fletcher purchased lots 15, 16 and 17 which extended from what is now Berkeley street to the St. Paul's African
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Methodist Episcopal church. He erected a large frame dwell- ing house on this lot and occupied it as such for many years, and died here in 1838. He was a native of England, and his first wife was a woman who took him to be baptized. His second wife was Sarah Millhouse, a sister to the first wife of Judge John Huston. Mr. Fletcher owned much other property in the town, and was highly respected by all who knew him. His widow survived him many years and died on Pittsburgh street.
Isabella and Lydia Stumm, maiden sisters, bought these three lots April 9, 1839, for $1,000, and lived here many years. They were very industrious seamstresses and re-covered umbrel- las and parasols for the public, and for many years made buck- skin and other kinds of gloves for Jonathan Fisher, who then carried on that business. They were neat in their work and were highly respected in the community. They rest side by side in Church Hill cemetery near McClellandtown.
William B. McCormick purchased this property and re- moved the frame building and erected the two-story brick resi- dence which he occupied until his death, March 19, 1895. He was the son of a school teacher and taught school in Union- town for several years, after which he carried on the butcher- ing business for many years. He was very fond of bees, and spent much of the latter part of his life at his apiary. He was successful in business and highly respected in the community.
Isaac Taylor purchased this property, added many valuable improvements thereto and occupied it as a residence.
Next south of the Taylor property a frame house was built which became the home of Isaiah Fouch who occupied it several years prior to his death.
The frame dwelling next north of the St. Paul's church was purchased by the congregation of that church as a parson- age for their pastor.
Zadoc Springer purchased lots Nos. 18 and 19 in Henry's Addition, July 9, 1803. Lot No. 19 was made to have a frontage of 103 feet on Cheat street by a change in the original plan, as previously stated. On June 10, 1835, Mr. Springer conveyed to Wilson Jack, John Woods, David Wedlock, Thomas Waller and David Lewis, trustees of St. Paul's African Methodist Episcopal church, for $75, 50 feet frontage of the northern part of lot No. 18. The first house of worship erected on this lot was built of
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logs in 1831, and Miss Mary Ann Truly, who later became the wife of Eli Curry, had the honor of making the first contribution of fifty cents from her meager earnings, to the erection of this new church. She was at the time a servant in the home of Hon. Andrew Stewart. . In 1855 the old log building was demolished and a plain brick, one-story, one-roomed structure was erected on its site. This, in turn, was replaced by a new and modern brick church.
Mrs. Emily Grant, widow of George Grant, a colored blacksmith, owned and occupied for many years a small, one and a half-story log plastered house and lot adjoining the colored church lot on the south. This lot had 53 feet frontage ; being 23 feet of the southern part of No. 18, and 30 feet of the northern part of No. 19. George Grant carried on blacksmithing at various locations in the town. Emily Liston, the mother of Mrs. Grant, had been owned by Mrs. John Miller, and in her old age she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Grant. Mrs. Grant died here, August 7, 1902, in her 80th year, much respected by the whole community. Her son, Henry Albert, is a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On lot No. 19 stood a two-story log house. Dr. John F. Braddee at one time fitted up steaming tanks in this log house for the purpose of giving his patients vapor baths, which he claimed as a great remedy for chronic diseases of all kinds. His office and dwelling were at that time opposite the Great Bethel Baptist church.
James Winterbottom purchased this property from Benja- min Brownfield, Mar. 13, 1852, and here lived and carried on his business as a carpet weaver. He was an Englishman, and was familiarly known as " Jimmy the Weaver." He was indus- trious and thrifty, and accumulated much property on Morgan- town street. This house was purchased by William H. Wilson April 25, 1906, who occupies it as a residence. He removed the old building and erected a modern frame residence on its site in 1913.
Lot No. 20 was originally designated as No. 1 in Henry's Addition, and was thus designated when first sold; but by a change in the numbering of the lots in this addition, it became No. 20. Lydia Ayres purchased this lot, November 27, 1793, for six pounds, a sum equal to $16. It was bounded on the south by a 33 foot alley which lay between it and the Great Bethel Baptist church lot. Lydia Ayres was a daughter of
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Squire Ayres who was a very active and influential member of the Baptist church, and moved west at an early date.
Mrs. Lydia Huffman came into possession of this prop- erty and conducted a house of public entertainment in a log building on the lot. She was granted a license in 1799, and the court records show a number of times that Lydia Huffman, alias Lydia Knapp, was before the court for keeping a tippling house.
Jacob Ott came into possession of this property and erected a small frame building on the southwest corner of the lot in which he carried on his business as a hatter which occupation he had learned under the instruction of Benjamin Hellen. Mr. Ott's advertisement of June 24, 1813, announced that he had just commenced the hatting business next door to the Baptist church. Mr. Ott was an exceedingly tall man, and at one time filled the office of borough assessor. He and his aged wife became subjects of charity and died in a small frame house on Peter street, opposite the M. E. church.
After many transfers, this property came into the posses- sion of Mrs. Jane Fuller, wife of Robert Fuller, in 1879, who made it her home for several years. She died February 7, 1900 at the age of 82 years, willing this property to her brother, Ellis Holland, who soon sold it to James Hadden in whose ownership the building was destroyed by fire on the night of February 9, 1906. William H. Trader purchased this lot, March 1, 1907, and is the present owner.
The members of the Regular Baptist church called Great Bethel, purchased from Henry Beeson one acre of ground on the east side of the great road leading to Grassy Ford on Cheat river, and south of Henry's Addition. The deed for this prop- erty is dated May 26, 1804, and the price paid was five pounds, Pennsylvania money, equal to $13.33. This lot had a frontage on Cheat street of 330 feet, 75 feet of the northern part of which was set apart for a church building and yard, and the balance, of 254 feet, was set apart as a burying-ground.
The Great Bethel Baptist church was organized Novem- ber 7, 1770, and in July, 1780, this church resolved to build two meeting houses : the first one to be located on the Rogers farm, later the Fairchance Furnace company's farm, about six miles south of Uniontown and near Ichabod Ashcraft's fort. Work seems to have been delayed on this meeting house, as on June 19, 1784, it was resolved that members should work on the
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erection of the new meeting house or pay a fine of five shillings. Dissension soon arose in this church, and a faction known as the Loofbower party formed themselves into what was called the Uniontown Baptist church, and doubtless it was this faction who erected the first log meeting house on this lot. On Sep- tember 15, 1787, it was resolved that a meeting house be built on the great road a quarter of a mile from Uniontown, and that Thomas Gaddis, Moses Carr and James Little be authorized to carry on the work.
In deed book D, page 295 is recorded an article of agree- ment bearing date of March 12, 1789, between Joseph Tomles- ton and William McCoy by which Tomleston allows McCoy to remove the logs already cut for the construction of the Baptist meeting house, by the first of April next. James McCoy had taken up the tract of land adjoining the Henry Beeson tract on the south, and having descended to William McCoy who sold to Joseph Tomleston, McCoy reserved the right to remove the timber already cut for the construction of the meeting house. This article of agreement evidently fixes the date of the erection of the first house of worship on this lot. The Loofbower fac- tion dissolved their constitution in 1790 and were received back into the fellowship with Great Bethel; but Loofbower continued to preach here until 1793, when he went to New Jersey.
The first brick meeting house erected on this lot was erected in 1831-33. The bricks were made on the Rev. William Brown- field farm, on the same land from which the timbers were cut for the construction of the first building.
The timbers for the pillars which supported the galleries in this brick church were cut on the Thomas Semans farm and hauled to the home of the Rev. Brownfield where he fitted up a turning lathe after the fashion of a windlass with a crank at each end, and while Joseph Hayden and Isaac Wynn turned the log, Rev. William Brownfield, who was a carpenter by trade, shaped the columns for the new church.
Religious services have been held in this church, with various intermissions, ever since its completion. Toward the close of 1866, during the pastorate of Rev. Dr. John Boyd, dif- ferences began to arise between the pastor and some of his members. These troubles grew in tensity until March 2, 1867, when Dr. Boyd was discharged as pastor ; but his friends stood by him and he continued to preach in the old church, and the
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opposition withdrew and called another pastor, and held services elsewhere.
In December, 1882, suit was brought by the Great Bethel Baptist church for the possession of the church property which resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff.
In 1884 the Georges Creek congregation of the German Baptist Brethren church purchased this church property and remodeled, repaired and re-dedicated it to the worship of Al- mighty God. The dedicatory services were conducted by Elder James Quinter, assisted by Elders, Solomon Bucklue and Nath- aniel Merrel, and was placed under the pastorate of Elder John C. Johnson. Deed book No. 262, page 267 recites that the trus- tees of the Great Bethel Baptist church exposed this property at public sale August 2, 1884, and sold it to John C. Johnson, atty .- in-fact for the German Baptist congregation for $1,200, and the sale was confirmed by the court, October 4, 1884: the property facing 76 feet, 8 inches on Morgantown street. After considerable time and money had been expended in re-modeling and improving this property, to which the members of the Georges Creek congregation contributed $300, and outside sub- scriptions to the amount of $500, and the balance, aggregating near $3,000, was contributed by John C. Johnson, Mary Ann Johnson, Sadie Johnson Beachly and Jacob M. Johnson. In 1886 some of the members withdrew from the Uniontown church and refused to pay any more towards the purchase of the property. On December 31, 1896, a deed was executed by which this prop- erty was conveyed to the German Baptist church of the Georges Creek congregation. A committee of that congregation as- sembled August 17, 1897, decided that Elder Johnson had acted without due authority from that congregation, and the property was left in the hands of the Johnsons. In June, 1900, Elder John C. Johnson brought suit against Ephraim Walters, David F. Johnson, Robert C. Ross and William J. Fouch, trustees of the German Baptist church of the Georges Creek congregation to recover $1,500 for back payment on the church property, but the trustees denied having authorized Mr. Johnson to make the purchase, and Mr. Johnson lost his case, but still continued to hold services until he removed from the town. He gave it the name of The First Brethren church.
Rev. John C. Mackey, Ph. D., D. D., was installed as pastor of the First Brethren church, January 6, 1907, and preached his
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farewell sermon December 27, 1908. He was a man of education and a good speaker. He was succeeded by Rev. William Craw- ford who supplied. the pulpit for one year, when Rev. Dyoll Belote of Ashland, Ohio, was called and preached in this church until the middle of July, 1910, when the congregation moved to their new church building on Union street extension, since which time the old building has not been in use.
Had this old meeting house the power of speech it could relate thrilling incidents that have transpired within her sacred walls. Many fervent prayers and many earnest sermons have been uttered within her consecrated walls, while on the other hand these same walls have been mute witnesses of many bitter contentions and heated disputes between contending factions, more befitting a bedlam than a temple dedicated to the Prince of Peace. Let it be hoped, however, that the participants in these bitter contentions were honest in their opinions and earnest in contending for what they believed was right.
Reverend William Brownfield purchased a farm of ninety- eight acres, February 23, 1804, from Henry Tomleston adjoin- ing the Baptist burying-ground on the south. His dwelling stood near a fine spring, and his home was the Mecca to which many journeyed who were matrimonially inclined.
R. Porter Craig purchased the Rev. William Brownfield farm, which lined one hundred perches on the Morgantown road.
Isaac Hunt bought a lot just south of the Baptist burying ground and erected thereon a small frame tenement, on the corner of Highland avenue and Morgantown street. Highland avenue was opened from Morgantown street eastward.
James M. Collins purchased the lot on the south corner of Highland avenue and Morgantown street and erected thereon a modern brick dwelling and store room. He also erected a comfortable brick dwelling on the southern part of this lot. Miss Sarah Baird, in 1881, purchased from R. Porter Craig, three acres of the Brownfield farm, lining 344 feet on Morgan- town street, and erected a modern brick residence which she made her home. She also erected a small frame tenement south of her residence which was occupied by her gardener and florist. The latter she sold to Ewing M. Dawson, who improved the building and made it his home. Charles Moser erected a com- fortable residence on a lot next south of Ewing Dawson's prop- erty and occupied it as such. William Laughead erected a
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frame residence on the southern limit of the Miss Baird pur- chase, and after occupying it for a time it was sold to Mrs. Catharine Humbert, who made it her home. R. Porter Craig tore away the old Rev. Brownfield dwelling and erected near its site a modern brick residence which is still occupied by his widow.
A60557
F. M. SEMANS' JAPANESE GARDEN.
CHAPTER XI.
CHEAT OR MORGANTOWN STREET, WEST SIDE, COMPRISING LOTS Nos. 1 TO 16, INCLUSIVE, IN JACOB'S SECOND ADDITION, AND LOTS Nos. 21 TO 30, INCLUSIVE, IN HENRY'S ADDITION.
Next to the building which occupied the southwest corner of Elbow or Main and Cheat or Morgantown streets stood a one-story log building in which Aunt Betsy Fausett, daughter of Millie Fausett who owned the property, taught school in the early history of the town. This building was torn away and Clement Wood leased the ground and erected thereon a two- story frame building which he occupied for many years as a saddle and harness shop and in which he held his office as a justice of the peace. -
James A. Yerk carried on his business here in 1825 as a manufacturer of copper, tin and sheet-iron ware. Mr. Yerk was a man of considerable enterprise and owned real estate in the town. He erected the two-story brick residence on the north side of Church street, immediately west of Jackson alley, and lived there.
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