USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 33
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Oft while on earth she read the sacred tome, And pondered o'er its truths sublime ; Read of God's glories past, and those to come, Down to the distant verge of time- The view from Patmos of the eternal home Of all the saints, the martyrs and the good Whose names are there; of Moses, who once stood When he had led the hosts to Jordan's plains- On Pisgah's top, and viewed the promised land ;
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As she, through faith, then saw the heavenly strand Beyond the Jordan, Death-of him whose strains Lit up her soul so oft with sacred fire. Such as Isaiah only could inspire-
Of Israel's sweet singer, him whose psalms Attune the church's loudest songs below- Of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Lazarus, too; A host innumerous who wear their palms Of victory and robes washed white as snow- Of their eternal, heavenly home, and all These holy scenes she oft with pleasure read, And longed for freedom from this earthly thrall, For close communion with those righteous dead.
But now she walks amidst that glorious throng, Of kings, apostles, prophets, martyrs there, And mingles hallelujahs with their song,
And falls before the great white throne in prayer, Among the four and twenty elders there, Beholds Enoch and Elijah stand Embodied, who from pain and death are far As when they rode to that celestial land Through clouds and space in God's bright flaming car. There sees Isaiah, David, and with them Casts her bright crown before Messiah's feet,
And hears them still in Heaven extol his name,
While the redeemed with shouts His praise repeat, And Heaven's far-echoing arches back the praise proclaim.
Oh! let us then rejoice, if this be so, That she has left our company below,
T' enjoy these rapturous scenes in Heaven above ;
And let us still pursue the bright'ning road That leads to Heaven's high gates, where, joined in love, We all may meet her in that blest abode, And dwell for aye together 'round the throne of God."
Gabriel Getzendanner, generally known as Gabriel Kitchen- turner, built, owned and occupied the two-story brick residence next east of the Col. Redick house. He was a leading car- penter and contractor of the town in his time. Among the many buildings for which he contracted were the following : the Round
E
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Corner, for John Campbell, where the First National Bank building now stands; the Dr. Hugh Campbell building, now the McClelland Leonard block; the Walker hotel, now the Cen- tral hotel; the old National House as a residence for Judge Thomas Irwin, now the Batton house ; the three-story residence on the diagonal corner, erected by Alfred Patterson; the double residence, the home of the late Dr. Smith Fuller; the Aunt Rachel Skiles residence; his own residence and others. His first contract was the erection of a brick residence for General Ephraim Douglass on East Main street, in which the general lived some years, and was finally destroyed by fire.
William Hunt purchased this Getzendanner property and later added the Wylie lot on the east as a yard, thus making it one of the most desirable resident properties on the street. William Hunt was born in Dunbar township, Fayette county, Pa., February 2, 1836. In 1850 he went to learn the silversmith trade with Henry W. S. Rigden, then in business on Main street. In 1858 he commenced business for himself, and is one of the few business men of the town who have been in continuous and successful business for more than half a century, and in all this time he has enjoyed the respect and confidence of the entire community. He has occupied his present location in business since April 1, 1869.
In 1861 Mr. Hunt was most happily married to Miss Mar- garet Sembower by which marriage 13 children were born, all of which reached maturity but one. The three sons, Isaac, Robert and Benjamin learned their trade with their father and connected themselves in the business with him. Mr. Hunt's mother was the daughter of Benjamin Lincoln, a cousin to President Abraham Lincoln. A very peculiar circumstance about Mr. Hunt's family is that they are able to trace their lineage from Adam and Eve without the loss of a link. Mrs. Hunt's grandfather, Adam Sembower was married to Miss Eve Roof.
Joseph L. Wylie owned a lot next east of the Getzendanner, now the William Hunt property and lived in a frame house thereon. Mr. Wylie carried on the tinning business in the old Whitewash corner on Main street, and was well and favorably known in the community. His wife was a daughter of Thomp- son Mckean, a well known iron master and contractor of North Union township. William Whaley bought and occupied this
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Wylie house for a short time when it was sold to Mr. Hun who tore away the old frame and made a yard at the east side of his residence.
Rice G. Hopwood, Esq., erected a two-story brick residence on the lot east of the William Hunt property, as a tenemen house. This stood back from the street some twenty feet, and was occupied by various tenants. Mrs. Frances Diffenderffer widow of Harry C. Diffenderffer, bought and occupied this property until her death. Joseph W. Jones purchased this property from the Diffenderffer heirs, and in 1898, he added a front and has since occupied it as a residence.
A small brick house stood on the lot east of the Joe Jones residence belonging to Rice G. Hopwood, Esq. This was oc- cupied by various tenants. John Marshall, a stone cutter bought this property and here he died. Dr. Peter A. Larkin purchased this property, tore away the old building and erected the present modern brick building which he has since occupied as a resi- dence and physician's office.
Robert Kinkead purchased the lot now known as No. 20 East Church street, April 1, 1842, and erected the present large brick residence now thereon. Here Mr. Kinkead made his home. Mr. Isaac Beeson purchased this property and traded it in as part pay for the Mount Braddock farm which he pur- chased from the widow of Isaac Meason, April 24, 1862. Mrs. Meason moved into this property and occupied it until her death, November 30, 1878, in her 93rd year. Her daughters continue to occupy it. Mrs. Mary Meason was born at Carlisle, Pa., and was the daughter of General Richard Butler, who was lieutenant-colonel in the famous Eighth Pennsylvania regiment in the Revolutionary war. While encamped at Valley Forge he was transferred to the Ninth Pennsylvania, and after the dis- bandonment of the Ninth, which revolted, he joined Lafayette, under whose command he witnessed the surrender of Corn- wallis at Yorktown. At Washington's command Col. Butler led 100 men to occupy the first of the surrounding redoubts, and therefore to have the honor of first to hoist the American flag over the captured city, but Baron Steuben appropriated the honor to himself, claiming the right by virtue of his being the commander of the day. That night Col. Butler sent Steuben a challenge, and it took all the influence of Rochambeau and Washington to prevent a hostile meeting. At noon of the 19th
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unof October, 1781, occurred the first act of surrender. Two idredoubts on the left of the enemy's works were at that time aken possession of by detachments under Col. Butler, of the nceAmericans and of Marquis Laval of the French, each with 100 emmen.
Col. Butler's regiment next joined Gen. Arthur St. Clair to erre-enforce Genl. Greene's army in South Carolina.
Col. Butler was prominent in securing the formation of Alle- isgheny county, and was appointed lieutenant of that new county. aHe was appointed, with Col. John Gibson, to purchase the nterest of the Indians in the Erie Triangle, and he was the first essenator from Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
General Butler was at the defeat of General Arthur St. ht Clair, 1791, where he received a wound in the side and was re- ed moved to the baggage. When the army retreated he was nttomahawked by the Indians. The insigna of the Order of Cin- i-pinnati worn by Genl. Butler on this occasion was restored to Mrs. Butler by Cornplanter twelve years after the defeat, and 0was kept as a precious heirloom by Mrs. Nicholas Biddle, a regreat granddaughter, of Philadelphia. Sixty years after St. is Clair's defeat Col. E. G. W. Butler, son of Col. Edward Butler, dreceived the sword of Col. Richard Butler, a "Toledo," which ·had been presented to Major Guither by Genl. Butler, after the s.army had retreated and left him to his fate. This has been rhanded down with the injunction never to wipe from the blade S the blood of Col. Butler. A memorial window has been placed in St. Peter's Episcopal church in Uniontown to the memory sof Mrs. Mary Butler Meason.
Rice Gaddis Hopwood built, owned and occupied the large brick building now known as No. 26, West Church street. This he built in 1838, and he moved into it as soon as ready for occupancy, and here made his home until his death August 19, 1880. Mr. Hopwood was born in the village of Monroe, now known as Hopwood, June 22, 1810. He was a son of Moses Hopwood who laid out that village, and a grandson of John Hopwood who laid out the village of Woodstock on the old road before the National road was constructed. After he retired from the practice of law his hearing became very defective, but for many years he was the tax collector for Union borough, at which his defective hearing was a decided advantage rather than a disadvantage. Mr. Hopwood was married to Miss Ruth t
-
,
und his
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Jackson of Menallen township, Nov. 3, 1836, to which unic six children were born, viz., David J., Robert F., Frank, Vi ginia, Margaret and Alvira. Mr. Hopwood was for many yea an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcop church.
Dr. Frank H. Taylor purchased this property and put e: tensive and valuable improvements on it in 1902, and occupie it as a residence and physician's office.
The Beneficial Protective Order of Elks purchased th property and converted it into lodge and society rooms, 191
Two maiden sisters of Isaac Hague purchased the lot ne: east of South Gallatin avenue and erected thereon a two story brick residence which they occupied as such for mar years. Mrs. Mary G. Lewis purchased this property and o cupied it as a residence. Mrs. Lewis erected in 1884, the fran building on the western part of this lot, fronting on South Ga latin avenue. Mrs. Lewis was a sister to Harvey C. Jefferis an her husband was James H. Lewis. She died in this brick hous Sept. 18, 1905.
Richard Randolph purchased this property and added man improvements, adding a concrete garage on the southern par of the lot.
BRADBURY AND BRANT'S ADDITION TO UNIONTOWN.
John Bradbury and Jacob F. Brant's addition was sui veyed off by Freeman Lewis in 1841, on which they laid o six town lots on the south side of Church street and a row of lots on each side of Iowa street, extending to Fayette stree The lots on Church street included the Tedrick livery stabl and ran eastward including Mill street.
Lot No. 1 in Bradbury and Brant's addition lay vacant fo many years. The first building erected on this lot was a larg one-story frame for the purpose of a skating rink, the firs amusement of the kind in the town. This amusement was car ried on with much spirit for some time, but in the course of tim all kinds of inducements were held out to keep up the attendance The building was subsequently used for a variety of amusements and was finally used by the colored folks in which they hel festivals and dances : these amusements were conducted in suc! a manner as to cause complaint to be made, and the place wa condemned as a nuisance, and the building went to wreck. J. B
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nk Tedrick and Thomas F. Williams purchased this lot and erected Vithereon a large brick livery stable, and here conducted a first earclass livery and feed stable.
Next east of the livery stable Norval Greenland, the well known potter, erected a neat brick residence and occupied it for esa while. John T. Darby purchased this property and improved ielit and made it his home.
The next house east of the foregoing was erected by Bar- thinabas Collier, an engineer on the old Fayette County railroad, nfor a home for his daughter, Sadie, the wife of Davis Jones, a exprinter. Joseph Mack purchased this property, added many wimprovements and occupied it until his death, January 15, 1909, nat the age of 80 years. He started the Mack mill near McClel- oglandtown about 1864, and was a resident of Uniontown for mabout 15 years. His widow continued to occupy the property.
al n William Selden purchased lot No. 3 in Bradbury and Brant's addition and built a two-story brick residence back sesome distance from each street, which he occupied for some years. Mr. Selden was one of the old time cabinet makers when all furniture was made by hand. He worked for Col. W. B. Roberts, and was connected with others in the furniture busi- ness in the town for many years. He was a conscientious work- man and commanded and enjoyed the confidence and respect of the community. He died at his residence on Union street, September 7, 1889, in the 82nd year of his age. I
Barney Collier bought this property and occupied it as a residence for many years. Mr. Collier came here from Cone- maugh, and was the faithful and trusted engineer on the old Fayette County railroad between Uniontown and Connellsville. Mrs. Collier died here and the family settled on a farm in Illinois.
Nathaniel Brownfield purchased this property as a home for his daughter, Emma, the wife of William T. Moore, who added a brick front and continued to occupy it.
Thomas Lynch erected a block of four brick dwellings next east of Iowa street, on lots 4 and 5 of Bradbury and Brant's addition, which has been occupied since its completion by various tenants. Rice G. Hopwood purchased the easter- most lot of the Bradbury and Brant addition and erected thereon a frame tenement which has been occupied by William Doran, John P. Huskins, Isaac Drake, Henry Lape, T. P. R. House
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and others. Thomas E. Donovan owned and occupied this fc several years. Mill street, next east of the before mentione property, was so named because it led to Henry Beeson's sav mill which stood on the site of the present synagogue of th Tree of Life congregation, and there connected with a roa leading to Barton's mill.
On March 26, 1851 Ellen M. Douglass of Greensburg, widov of Ephraim Douglass, Jr. Esq., conveyed to Roberts Barto! and Jacob F. Brant four and a half acres of the Douglas meadow lying south of Church street. On this plat they lai off what was known as Barton and Brant's addition. Thi comprised eight lots on Church street and South street and fourteen lots on Jefferson street. Lot No. 1 was next east o Mill street, and upon this and No. 2 Thomas Lynch erected tw( comfortable frame dwellings which have been since occupied by various tenants. Joseph Manger bought the lot next eas of the Lynch tenements, on which stood a frame house once oc cupied by James J. White and family. Mr. Manger moved the frame to the rear of the lot and erected a modern brick resi- dence which he occupied.
On lot No. 4 in Barton and Brant's addition, which lined on Jefferson street, was erected a long, one-story brick building with a one-and-a-half-story frame front on Church street. This building was built and used as a ten-pin alley for many years and was patronized by stage drivers and the rougher element of the town, and was the cause of much complaint. John Canon purchased this property at sheriff's sale and converted it into a shop in which he finished buggies and carriages made at his shops on East Main street. William A. Donaldson purchased this property and occupied it for many years in painting bug- gies and vehicles of all kinds. After his retirement from busi- ness the building soon fell into decay. Asa Rogers tore away the old building and in 1897, erected a neat brick residence which for several years was occupied by Amos Jolliffe and family.
East of Jefferson street and on the south side of Church street was a triangular lot which lay vacant for many years. In the latter part of the 70's Samuel Loughman erected a black- smith shop here and carried on the blacksmithing business, since which it has been occupied by dwelling houses.
At the eastern extremity of Church street Hugh Rogers
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blo sis
Asa
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
lived and carried on blacksmithing for many years. His son, Asa, tore away the old buildings and erected the brick residence now occupying the lot.
CHURCH STREET, NORTH SIDE, RUNNING EASTWARD.
On the site of the old Greenland property Norval Green- land and Daniel Jackson erected a three-story brick business block in 1892, which they called Commercial Block. This con- sisted of four business rooms on first floor, public hall and other rooms on second and flats on third floor. Dr. J. W. Jaco pur- chased this property in 1900, and made many valuable changes and occupied the front of the second floor as a dental office.
The members of St. Peter's parish purchased the lot next east of the Commercial Block and erected thereon a two-story brick parish house which was finished in 1895. It contains an auditorium, reading room, rooms for the various church so- cieties and rector's study.
Dr. Jacob S. Hackney erected the frame dwelling next east of the parish house and occupied it as such and a physician's office until he built another on Center street to which he moved, and his parents moved into this property. Hiram H. Hackney died here February 17, 1899, in his 77th year. He was a grad- uate of Madison college. On March 1, 1849, a company of twelve young men, under the command of Norval H. Hellen, left Uniontown for the California gold fields. At what is now St. Joe, Missouri, they equipped themselves with ox teams and other necessary outfit and started overland for the Pacific coast. Difficulties and disaffection arose and the command was given over to Mr. Hackney. The party was 97 days in reaching Sut- ter's Fort, then the outlying post of California. Mr. Hackney then engaged in furnishing miners with supplies and soon ac- cumulated considerable gold. He was one of the original incor- porators of the First National Bank of Uniontown, and was the last of that number to join the great majority. He had served as a director of that institution from 1866 to the time of his death. Mrs. Hackney continues to occupy the residence part of this property and Dr. Hackney the office part.
Daniel P. Gibson erected the frame dwelling now known as 32 West Church street which was occupied for many years by Miss Alcinda Thompson who taught a juvenile school in the
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same. She was found dead in her bed on Saturday, December 21, 1907.
James Bunton owned a good sized lot fronting on both South and Church streets much of which lay vacant for many years. The residence of Thomas S. Gorley now occupies the western part of this lot, now known as No. 30 West Church street. Mr. Gorley was a printer by trade and for many years has been a part owner and business manager of the News Stand- ard printing office.
Daniel P. Gibson erected a frame house next east of the Gorley house, and sold it to Dr. Thomas N. Eastman who oc- cupied it as a residence and office. He sold it to Dr. Charles H. La Clair, who occupied it as a residence and office.
Cornelius Claggett built the frame residence next east, and occupied it until his death, after which it was sold to Isaac W. Semans, who after improving and occupying it, transferred it to Mrs. Thomas H. Lowry who made it her home.
James A. Yerk, a tinner by trade, built the two-story brick dwelling now known as No. 16 West Church street, lining on the west side of Jackson alley. He lived in a small frame house on the west side of Morgantown street and had his shop in a small frame building adjoining, previous to his building this brick residence. He was a thrifty man and owned other property in the town. Col. Samuel Evans, at one time owned this property and Dr. Smith Fuller was a tenant. Thomas Foster, a gentle- man of Harrisburg, was a tenant here for a while. He had been induced to come here and take charge of the Pennsylvania Democrat which had been owned and edited by Samuel Mc- Donald. Mr. Foster was backed by Dr. Hugh Campbell and other gentlemen of means, and he took charge of the paper in 1844, and in 1846 John F. Beazell acquired a half interest, and soon became sole owner of the paper. Mr. Foster was a man of intrinsic worth. His daughter, Anna, led the choir in the Presbyterian church during their stay in Uniontown. Rev. J. P. Weethee, D. D., principal of Madison college and a Cum- berland Presbyterian minister, occupied this house. John Cary, M. D., also a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, resided here. Mrs. Ewing, widow of James Ewing, and her daughters, owned and occupied this property for some time. D. J. and J. A. King bought this property and the front was used as a residence while the rear of the lot was occupied by a grain and feed warehouse.
THE FAYETTE COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
This frame warehouse was destroyed by fire and replaced by a brick one in which the King Brothers continued their business.
Robert Skiles owned the lot from Jackson alley to Middle alley, now South Beeson avenue. This was known as Mr. Skiles' out lot or garden. This property came into the ownership of Isaac Beeson and later was purchased by Samuel Harah, the veteran hat manufacturer, and here he and his widow ended their days. It still belongs to the Harah estate.
The house now known as No. 10 West Church street was built by Daniel Witherow, from whom it was sold to Jacob B. Miller, after whose death it passed to the ownership of his half brother, William H. Miller, who occupied it for some time. John Collier became the owner of this property and occupied the dwelling and conducted a livery business on the rear of the lot. In 1909 his heirs conveyed this lot to William Nixon.
John F. Gray erected a frame dwelling on the eastern part of the Robert Skiles garden lot and occupied it for some years.
James G. Watson, the well remembered blacksmith, pur- chased this property and made it his home until his death, and his widow still continues to occupy it.
Next east of Middle or Bank alley, on the lot partially occu- pied by the Adams Express office and baggage room of the S. W. Pennsylvania railroad company stood a frame dwelling about midway between Church and South streets. This house had two porches, upper and lower, and fronted on Bank alley. This was the property and residence of Col. William Redick, before the erection of his brick residence on the south side of Church street. Many tenants occupied this property after Col. Redick, among whom may be mentioned John Jones the tinner. This house went to wreck some time before it was torn away. On the South street side of this lot stood a frame building in which Col. Redick carried on the furniture business for some years. It was in this building the office of the Genius of Liberty was located most of the time it was owned by Col. Redick and his brother-in-law, William Whitten. After the removal of the printing office this building was used by James P. Hedges and others as a shop. The Southwest Pennsylvania railroad com- pany now owns the ground.
The lot on which the Third Presbyterian church now stands was purchased from Henry Beeson by Joseph Huston, August 2, 1796. The trustees of the Cumberland Presbyterian church
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purchased this lot and built thereon a brick house of worship, the cornerstone of which was laid August 6, 1833, and the build- ing was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God September 13, 1834. - Isaac Beeson, George Meason, Dr. Lewis Marchand, James Boyle and John Dawson composed the building com- mittee. The building stood about twenty feet back from the sidewalk, had an open, covered portico in front, supported by large, round columns. There was a vestibule from which two pairs of stairs reached the gallery which encircled three sides of the interior. The building was probably 40 by 60 feet and was surmounted by an octagonal belfry which, in turn, was sur- mounted by a large tin globe.
John Quincy Adams was entertained in this church in May, 1837, when on his return from Cincinnati where he had at- tended the laying of the cornerstone of the observatory of Mount Adams, near that city. On this occasion Dr. Hugh Campbell made the address of welcome to which Mr. Adams replied in his usual elegant style. In 1881 this building was torn away and a new one erected in its place. In 1891 a room was added to the rear for a pipe organ and other improvements made. Through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. I. W. Semans the building was remodeled and extended to South street, and re- dedicated Sunday, October 4, 1908.
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