USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 26
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Upon the appointment of Thomas Irwin, Esq. to the bench
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of the United States Court he sold this property, January 26, 1832, to Dr. John F. Braddee, who added a two-story brick wing to the north side of the original building. This wing ex- tended to the line of the stage-yard and had upper and lower porches extending the full length of the building. In this the doctor lived and carried on his extensive practice as a physician and business in other lines as related elsewhere. This property was sold as the property of Dr. Braddee by the sheriff, Decem- ber 8, 1841, to L. W. Stockton, agent for the National Stage- coach company, who converted it into a hotel which he named the National House, and placed Redding Bunting in charge as its first proprietor. A twenty-foot passageway, known as Fell's alley, on the south was widened to 60 feet and opened to the National road on the west in order that the stage-coaches might be run directly to the National House and stage-yard. Joshua Marsh succeeded Mr. Bunting as proprietor of the National House, and among his many distinguished guests while pro- prietor here may be mentioned James K. Polk, who with his family stopped over night with Mr. Marsh when on his way to be inaugurated as president of the United States. On this occasion Hon. R. P. Flenniken introduced the president elect from the high steps in front of the hotel to the assembled crowd. General William O. Butler, when candidate for the vice-presi- dency of the United States on the ticket with General Cass, lodged over night July 24, 1848, with his staff, as guests of Mr. Marsh. Dr. John Patrick addressed him on behalf of the citi- zens, and the general made a reply. After running this hotel for some time under the ownership of L. W. Stockton, Mr. Marsh purchased it at administrator's sale, April 1, 1846, front- ing 114 feet, 9 inches, on Morgantown street. Mr. Marsh con- tinued to conduct the hotel until failing health compelled him to relinquish the business. Mr. Marsh visited Washington city at the inauguration of President Buchanan and was one of the several who were poisoned at the National Hotel on that oc- casion. He never recovered from the effects of the poisoning. and died in Uniontown March 6, 1864, aged 72 years.
Col. Samuel Elder, an experienced hotel proprietor, suc- ceeded Mr. Marsh as proprietor of the National House and conducted it for several years. He acquired a wide acquaintance with public men, and had more or less of an acquaintance with every president for whom he voted, being thirteen in number.
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Col. Elder spent the latter days of his life at Ligonier, where on December 10, 1898, he and Mrs. Elder celebrated their 65th marriage anniversary, and although Col. Elder had already passed his 94th milestone he still drove his own team of spirited horses.
Frank Reynolds became a tenant of the National House when under the ownership of George A. Torrence and Joseph Johnston and ran a boarding house for some time. R. M. Modisette became owner of this property, September 5, 1866, and his son, John Austin Modisette, occupied the wing part as a residence until 1879, when he moved to Minneapolis, Min- nesota, and John K. Beeson moved in as owner and occupant. On December 19, 1882, I. L. Messmore bought the wing or northern part of the National House property from J. K. Bee- son and tore away the old building and erected the present three-story business block.
The original National House building was sold at sheriff's sale as the property of George A. Torrence and Joseph John- ston, June 7, 1877, to Thomas Batton who tore away the large circular stone steps which led to the main entrance on the second floor and constructed a fine veranda and other improve- ments and occupied it as a private residence. It is still in the ownership of his descendants.
Lots Nos. 4 and 5 in Jacob's Second addition were separated by a 20-foot passageway, known as Fell's alley, extending from Morgantown street to Mill street and was so named from the fact that Mahlon Fell owned property on Mill street to which this alley led. This alley was widened to 60 feet by the addition of 40 feet from lot No. 4 and opened through to the National road at the west end of town.
Richard Weaver was the first purchaser of lot No. 5 in Jacob's Second Addition, March 31, 1798, for $107, and Weaver transferred it to John Phillips March 15, 1810. Mr. Phillips built a two-story brick building on the northeast corner of this lot in which he carried on his business as a furniture manu- facturer and dealer for many years, at the same time living in a frame building which stood on lot No. 6, a yard separating the two. Mr. Phillips subsequently moved into the brick build- ing. Mr. Phillips owned lots Nos. 5, 6 and 7, and his frame house stood on No. 6, and subsequently his shops occupied much of No. 7. He converted the brick shop into a dwelling
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and occupied it as such. Mr. Phillips enlisted a company for the war of 1812, and entered the service as captain in August of that year, and after serving along the northern lakes, was hon- orably discharged at Oswego, August 26, 1813.
Mr. Phillips became a minister in the Methodist Protestant church and devoted much of his means to the cause of religion. He died May 11, 1847, in the 75th year of his age.
His two sons, John and Daniel Howell Phillips, succeeded him in the furniture business, first in the brick building, in 1838, then in the frame shop, and they in turn were succeeded by another son, John Wesley Phillips. Howell Phillips mar- ried Eliza and John Wesley married Margaret, the two daugh- ters of Zachariah Connell, the founder of Connellsville.
Rev. George Brown, D. D., occupied this brick building as a residence for a while during his incumbency as president of Madison college, as referred to elsewhere. Benjamin Franklin Hellen occupied this property as a residence, 1854-57, and had his office in a small frame building on the southern part of the lot. He served one term as burgess of the town, and moved to Cottage Hill, one mile south of town, April 1, 1858. He was a son of Benjamin Hellen and had been in the mercantile busi- ness for some time. S. D. Oliphant was also an occupant of this property at one time.
George W. Morrison came into possession of this property and occupied it as a residence the remainder of his life. He was born in Waterford, Ireland, October 31, 1800, and came to America when 16 years of age. He entered the United States army and was stationed at Fort McHenry, and was assigned as a musician in the post band, where he served 18 months. He subsequently settled in Washington county, Pa., where he was elected to a term as register and recorder of that county. He next moved to Brownsville where he was elected a justice of the peace. Upon the death of Joseph Gadd he was employed as clerk of the commissioners of Fayette county for a term of five years, after which he was elected to the office of register of deeds and recorder of wills, which position he filled for two terms. He was a most excellent penman and an accurate clerk. On April 26, 1887, he was stricken with apoplexy at his resi- dence and died in a few minutes, leaving a wife and two daugh- ters, one of whom was the wife of State Senator T. B. Schnat- terly.
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Samuel E. Ewing, Esq., purchased this property and oc- cupied it as a residence for several years. He sold it to the trustees of the First Presbyterian church who tore away the old buildings and constructed the present fine stone structure.
Andrew McClelland was first purchaser of lot No. 6 in Jacob's Second Addition, January 2, 1797, for $40. He also owned a mill at Haydentown and kept a tavern in Georges township. Mrs. William Guiler purchased 35 feet frontage of this lot from Dr. John Boyd and built a modern two-story frame residence thereon, which she occupied until her death. She was a daughter of Leonard Lenhart of Brownsville and the wife of William Guiler, a member of the Fayette county bar. After passing through other bands, the congregation of the First Presbysterian church purchased this property, the frame resi- dence was sold to Daniel Chisholm who removed it to his lot on Morgantown street, and they erected a fine brick manse on its site, which was finished in 1908; and their pastor, the Rev. Dr. W. Hamilton Spence became its first occupant.
Ann Harmon, a colored woman, was the first purchaser of lot No. 7 in Jacob's Second Addition, July 9, 1807, and the price paid was $160.00. She was one of the two colored persons who were first purchasers of town lots. Ann Harmon had two sisters, Mary and Nancy, who lived nearly opposite this lot, and it was at their home the colored Methodist Episcopal church `of Uniontown was organized in 1822, and where services were held for two years.
John Phillips came into possession of this lot as before related, who occupied the two-story frame dwelling thereon as a residence. There were at first two frame dwelling houses on the front of this lot, the northern one was small and was torn away many years ago. John Phillips' sons occupied this remaining frame building as a residence after Mr. Phillips re- moved to the large brick building below, as before related. A two-story frame building was removed to the southern part of this lot from the southeast corner of Fayette and Morgan- town streets preparatory to the erection of the three-story brick building thereon by Alfred Patterson. This frame was con- verted to a ware-room for the display of furniture manufactured in the shops of the Phillipses on the rear of the lot.
Henry T. Diffenderffer succeeded the Phillipses in the furn- iture business at this stand in 1854. Mr. Diffenderffer had been
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in the furniture business in the town for several years before purchasing this property, and locating his business here. Mr. Diffenderffer was a most excellent man and was held in the highest esteem by the community. He died here June 11, 1857, leaving a widow and several children.
After the death of Mr. Diffenderffer the furniture business was continued at this stand by Amos M. Jolliffe, followed by Hagan & Wood, John C. Wood, and John Clark Beeson.
Dr. John Boyd came to Uniontown as a Baptist minister in response to a call from the Great Bethel Baptist church, in 1864. He purchased this Diffenderffer property and occupied the house as a residence and the furniture ware-house as a physician's of- fice. He seems to have risen to the dignity of a physician gradually, as his first practice was more of the nature of an amateur than that of a regular practitioner. More of the career of Dr. Boyd is given elsewhere, in the history of the Great Bethel Baptist church. He died here February 27, 1889, and his remains were sent to Newberryport, Mass., where they were placed in the family vault. After the death of Dr. Boyd the lot was sold to John K. Beeson who tore away the old buildings and allowed the lot to lay bare for a few years, when it was sold to Edgar S. Hackney, cashier of the First National Bank of Uniontown. who erected thereon a fine brick mansion in 1904 and has oc- cupied it since its completion.
General Alexander McClelland, a very prominent citizen of Springhill township, purchased lot No. 8 in Jacob's Second Addition January 10, 1801, for $40.00. The southern boundary of this lot was Ray street. General McClelland and Bathsheba, his wife, conveyed this lot to Jacob Baltzell, whose heirs con- veyed it to Frederick Byrer, August 21, 1828. A log house stood on this lot previous to this date in which the late Mrs. Hannah Lincoln was born, October. 9, 1830. Mr. Byrer learned the coopering trade in Westmoreland county and settled in Uniontown about 1818. He was an industrious and economical German, and it is said, made the first pine ware manufactured west of the mountains. He erected a small, one-story building on the northern part of this lot, in which he carried on his occu- pation for some years. Mr. Byrer's son, John C., carried on the business here in 1846. Mrs. Sarah Ann Hill Sampsell widow of Isaac Sampsell, occupied this little brick as a residence for some time. She wrote quite a lot of good poetry for the local papers
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over the name of "Ada," and taught in the public schools of the town for a number of terms.
George S. Anderson was another tenant of this house. Mr. Anderson was widely known as an itinerant clock fixer, travel- ing over the country practicing his profession, and many old clocks bear witness of his visits and professional skill by his name and date written therein. Mr. Anderson always received a kindly welcome at the farm houses wheresoever he called. He was a quiet, industrious and religious man, and a gentleman at all times. His gentle disposition and kindly manners, to- gether with his patient industry, made him many friends. He was born September 15, 1810, and while returning home one exceedingly hot day in August, 1870, he was overcome by the heat and fell on Morgantown street, a short distance from his home, and died soon after.
Thomas Brownfield purchased this property, fronting 36 feet on Morgantown street, and added a second story to it and made other improvements and occupied it several years as a residence. Edgar S. Hackney purchased this property in 1908, and tore away the building to enlarge his lawn.
Frederick Byrer erected a two-story brick building on the southern part of this lot, lining on Ray street. This stood with its end toward, but several feet back from Morgantown street. In this Mr. Byrer carried on the coopering trade for a while and later it was occupied as a residence by Ellis Hol- land, who had learned the coopering trade with John Byrer, and he also carried on the same business on these premises. His shops were later in the rear of the house, on Ray street. Mr. Holland moved to Mt. Braddock where he held the office of postmaster for more than 30 years.
William Irwin, an architect and carpenter, purchased this property and erected the present brick front and otherwise im- proved property and occupied it as a residence.
Dr. Cortland King, a retired dentist, purchased this prop- erty and occupied it as a residence until his death, November 4, 1897, at the age of 71 years. His widow, who was Miss Emma, daughter of Eleazer Robinson, continued to occupy the property. She died in Virginia, February 6, 1902. Mrs. Mar- garet McClelland purchased this property and made it her home.
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Ray street is 40 feet wide and runs from Morgantown to Mill street.
Lot No. 9 in Jacob's Second Addition was bounded on the north by Ray street, and was first sold to Samuel Rainey, a merchant of Geneva, March 15, 1803, for $48.00. Frederick Byrer purchased the northern part of this lot, lining on Ray street, having a frontage on Morgantown street of 46 feet, on which he erected a log house from logs removed from the Judge Nathaniel Ewing lot opposite the court house on East Main street. He had the front weatherboarded and the north end plastered, and in this he lived for many years. Several young men boarded with Mr. Byrer who were attending Madison col- lege, among whom was William Hunter, who assisted in the cooper shop to pay his way at the college. A well pump stood in the yard, and the boys annoyed Mr. Byrer by throwing water on each other, so Mr. Byrer constructed a high fence to keep the boys out. Young Hunter, being quite a versifier, wrote the following as a warning to Mr. Byrer: "You'd better mind your ps and qs, for there is one who's come to town, Who every lawful means will use, To catch your slips and write them down, ****** Botheration to the man who shut us out from thence, And if no other way, We'll strive to climb the fence." William wrote some verses which he thought very creditable and read them for Mr. Byrer's criticism. Mr. Byrer listened attentively and then said, "Vell, Villiam dat ish very goot, but I think you hat better stick to de coopering pusiness." William Hunter became quite prominent in the Methodist Episcopal church, and was the author of the popular hymn, " The great physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus."
Mr. Byrer filled the office of tax collector for Union borough for many years to the satisfaction of the people. This property descended to his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Derrick, and was oc- cupied by various tenants.
I. White Miller purchased this property from Mrs. Der- rick, tore away the old buildings and erected the present two- story brick residence which he occupied for several years. Mr. Miller was a tinner by trade and carried on that business for many years. His wife was Elizabeth Trader, daughter of Teagel Trader. She died in this house.
George Seaton became owner of this property and occupied it as a residence for several years, when he moved to California.
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It later passed into the ownership and occupancy of J. L. Hayden, later to William Rankin, next to George Gans, who added many and valuable improvements, and traded it to George Porter, Jr.
Next south of the Porter house stood a two-story frame dwelling which had been erected on lot No. 32, West Main street, now occupied by the Harah property, and was at one time the residence of Dr. Simonson who practiced medicine here prior to 1795, as mentioned elsewhere. This old frame building was the one in which the Genius of Liberty was pub- lished while in the ownership of Jesse Beeson, 1809-1818. Mr. Byrer likely purchased this building from Samuel Y. Campbell preparatory to his erection of the brick business block, now the Harah property. Rebecca Holland purchased this house and lot with a frontage of 55 feet from Richard Beeson and made this her home the remainder of her life, and after her death the property descended to the heirs of William H. Murphy. Mr. Murphy was a printer by trade and established a newspaper in this town in 1855, known as The American Citizen, which was published in the interests of the American or " Know-Noth- ing " party. It lasted but a little over two years. Mr. Murphy had previously been the publisher of a newspaper known as the Western Commercial, a family newspaper, neutral in politics, at Aurora, Indiana. Mr. Murphy entered the army under Cap- tain Kerr, in whose company he was a lieutenant and served in the First West Virginia cavalry, from which he was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He died at Galveston, Texas. His widow made this her home during the remainder of her life. Mrs. Murphy was a most excellent woman, and died here October 28, 1909, after an occupancy of more than 60 years. This property was sold at public sale October 18, 1910, to Dr. Charles H. Smith who tore away the house. A. C. Fouch pur- chased this lot in 1913, and erected thereon a modern brick dwelling.
Thomas Chaplain purchased lot No. 10 in Jacob's Second Addition January 26, 1797, for $48.00, and on November 16, 1801, he conveyed the same back to Jacob Beeson for $60.00, and on the same day Jacob Beeson conveyed it to John Wood who owned also lot No. 11 and part of No. 12.
John Keffer bought from Frederick Byrer, May 22, 1843, a part of No. 10, and built thereon the large, two-story brick
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residence and occupied it for some time. Mr. Keffer was the son of Christian Keffer, mentioned elsewhere. Mr. Keffer was clerk in the register and recorder's office under Col. Alexander McClean, and upon the death of Col. McClean, 1834, he was appointed to fill the vacancy, after which he was succeeded by Roberts Barton, January 13, 1836. Mr. Keffer was the efficient clerk and bookkeeper for L. W. Stockton much of the time when the National Stage Coach company was in successful operation. He subsequently owned and lived on the east side of Morgantown street a few doors south of Church street. He was a quiet, unassuming gentleman and much respected by the community.
Henry Beeson, miller, son of Henry Beeson, the founder, purchased this lot and by will gave it to his daughter, Mary, the wife of George W. Rutter, the well known veteran grocery- man of the town. In this property Mr. and Mrs. Rutter made their home the greater part of their married life. Mrs. Rutter dying here June 1, 1893, and Mr. Rutter January 9, 1897, the property descending to their children.
John Wood purchased lot No. 11 and part of No. 12 in Jacob's Second Addition, a frontage on Morgantown street of 119 feet, January 26, 1797; Foundry alley consuming part of lot No. 12. John Wood is mentioned elsewhere as being one of the most prominent citizens in the early history of the town, and was an extensive real estate owner both in the town and the vicinity.
Robert Carr purchased 33 feet of the northern part of lot No. 11 and erected thereon a small, one-story brick dwelling, which he occupied for some time, and he sold it to Frederick Byrer, and he to Richard Beeson, and he to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church for a parsonage, and they in turn, conveyed it, April 29, 1865, to Alexander Chisholm for $600. Here Mr. and Mrs. Chisholm made their home until their death. Mr. Chisholm dying December 23, 1891, and Mrs. Chisholm the year prior.
Robert Patterson purchased this property at adminis- trator's sale and after keeping it awhile sold it to John R. Barnes who improved it to considerable extent and occupied it as a home.
It appears that Philip Creichbaum had bought this lot from John Wood and lived in a small frame house near the corner of
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Foundry alley and Morgantown street, and in 1832 it was put to sheriff's sale by the administrators of John Wood.
The large brick dwelling on lot No. 11, previously owned by John Wood, was erected by John Knight, a well known painter of the town, and he occupied it as a residence for some time. Redding Bunting, the well known stage agent, mentioned else- where, purchased this property and occupied it for several years. Dr. F. C. Robinson purchased this property from Redding Bunt- ing, 1859, from which time he made this his residence until his death. He erected a wing to the southern side and otherwise greatly improving it, making it one of the neatest and most desirable resident properties on the street.
Foundry alley, named so because it led to the old Robinson foundry on the east side of Morgantown street, separated lots Nos. 12 and 13 in Jacob's Second Addition. Jacob Medtart pur- chased No. 13, facing on Morgantown street and also No. 30, immediately in the rear.
John Miller, the tanner, elsewhere mentioned, owned this property in connection with his property on Mill street. Wil- liam Stone purchased the tan yard formerly -the property of John Miller, and the land fronting on Morgantown street from Foundry alley to the alley north of the old Catholic church, as mentioned elsewhere.
Eli Cope purchased the old William Stone tan yard on Mill street and the above mentioned meadow facing on Morgantown street. Mr. Cope sold 140 feet frontage of this property to Thomas H. Lewis in 1870, and Mr. Lewis erected a frame resi- dence on the southern part of this lot, and occupied it as a dwell- ing until 1874, at which time he sold it to Lucy S. Dawson, who occupied it as a residence until 1877, when she sold the house and lot of 65 feet frontage to Lewis Campbell for the use of his daughter, Mrs. Martha Couldren. Mrs. Dawson erected the fine brick residence on the northern part of this lot and moved into it in March, 1878.
Eighteen feet and two inches of the frontage of lot No. 14 in Jacob's Second Addition belonged to Jacob Beeson, and the dividing line between Jacob and Henry Beeson threw the re- maining portion of the frontage on Henry's side. Consequently it required two deeds to convey the whole of each of the lots numbered 14, 15 and 16. This was the limit of Jacob's Second Addition on Morgantown street.
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The line between the tracts of Jacob and Henry Beeson ran from a wild cherry stump which stood in the middle of Morgan- town street at the mouth of Foundry street, and crossed the fronts of lots Nos. 14, 15 and 16 and along the rear of the lots in Henry's Addition from the alley below the old Catholic church to the southern limit of Henry's tract.
William McArthur purchased from Henry Beeson the front part of Nos. 14, 15 and 16, August 10, 1798. These lots had a frontage of about 210 feet on Morgantown street, and from Jacob Beeson the rear part of these lots, September 15, 1798. These deeds comprehended the alley below the Catholic church and some meadow land in the rear. He donated the 20-foot alley at the south of this lot for public use.
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