USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 34
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Mary Lyon bought from Henry Beeson, July 31, 1798, the lot adjoining the Third Presbyterian church property on the east, fronting 77 feet on South street and 22 feet on Church street, and bounded on the east by the old mill-race. This lot descended to Allen and Eliza King, and on April 7, 1860, it was conveyed to Union Borough school district, at which time it contained two small houses on South street. Moses Shehan, a prominent tailor of the town, owned the lot next east of the Mary Lyon lot, which was also added to the school property.
The eastern part of what is now the public school grounds, after passing through several conveyances, was owned by Wil- liam Salter, who erected on the northeast corner a brick build- ing to be used as a foundry, which business Mr. Salter con- ducted here for about nine years. On September 6, 1838, Mr. Salter and wife conveyed this lot to John Dawson, Hugh Espy, William B. Roberts, Samuel Evans and James Piper, directors of common schools in and for Union Borough district, for $1,350. It is evident that the " old foundry," as this building was always
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known, was used for school purposes several years before it was purchased by the school board. It was divided into four rooms and thus used for many years. An additional school building was erected on this lot, facing on Church street, in 1850. This building stood a little back from the street and had a wooden portico in front. It was two stories high and contained four rooms, with hall through the center. This left ample play- grounds between the two buildings. In 1868, these two build- ings were torn away, and a three-story building erected, 90 by 65 feet, and in 1891, an addition was added, making the building 45 by 150 feet and three stories high. Much dissatisfaction was expressed at the time of erecting this addition. The tax payers of the borough expressed their remonstrance at the polls by electing several new school directors who opposed the addition and favored ward schools for the accommodation of the younger pupils and the old building for a high school. The retiring di- rectors and those favoring the addition let the contract before those representing the will of the people could interfere or take their seats.
David Veech erected a brick tenement on the lot east of the school lot which was occupied by various tenants, among whom were Daniel Kaine, Esq., Amzi S. Fuller, Esq., Alexander M. Linn, Esq., John Holmes, Esq., and others. This building was moved several feet eastward on the lot in order to widen what is now South Gallatin avenue, and appears to have been the first brick house moved in the town. A physician's office has been built to this and Dr. S. H. Baum has occupied it for several years.
Mrs. Priscilla Austin, widow of John M. Austin, Esq., bought of David Veech the large brick house and lot east of the above, April 1, 1862, and made this her home until her death, September 4, 1888, aged 98 years.
John Mustard, a carpenter, bought a lot and built a brick residence thereon about 30 feet back from the street. This house stood with gable to the street and had lower and upper porch on east side. Mustard had scarcely finished this house when he enlisted in Company H, Second Pennsylvania regi- ment, in the war with Mexico, and died at Perote hospital in 1847. The Miller family, consisting of Benjamin, Jefferson, Samuel, Susan, Mary and Rachel, occupied this property as tenants for 33 years, much of which time it was owned by Isaac
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Beeson and subsequently by Hon. John K. Ewing. The Miller family moved out April 1, 1889, and the house was torn down the following year. Judge Ewing donated this lot to the Salva- tion Army who soon erected thereon a three-story brick citadel at a cost of $20,000. The cornerstone of this new citadel was laid July 17, 1904, with public ceremonies, and the dedicatorial services were held March 12, 1905, with appropriate exercises.
The lot east of the Salvation Army citadel laid vacant for many years and was owned and used as a garden patch by Hon. Nathaniel Ewing. The South street end was sold to Hankins and Hogsett who erected a brick warehouse thereon, and they subsequently purchased all the lot.
Joseph Fisher, a well known blacksmith, owned and oc- cupied the property now known as 47-49 East Church street. Here he lived in a small frame house and carried on black- smithing in a shop on the eastern part of the lot. His family consisted of Susan, Margaret and Joseph Huston Fisher. The family continued to occupy the property for many years after the death of the father. Huston Fisher enlisted in the service of his country and was severely wounded in action from which injuries he never fully recovered. He died at the home of a relative near Oliphant furnace, where he had made his home for the past six years, at the age of 77 years, March 28, 1906. He willed his interest in this property to the Methodist Protestant church of Uniontown who conveyed it to C. W. Springer, a veterinarian, who tore away the old buildings and erected on their site a three-story brick building which he uses in the practice of his profession, and as a hospital for the treatment of animals.
Next east of the Dr. Springer's veterinary hospital is the extension of Meadow alley which has never been made a public alley. Next east of Meadow alley and extending to Mill street was a lot that was attached to the old Fulton House. On this stood a large stone stable which was used for the accommoda- tion of the patrons of the hotel, and was subsequently used as a livery stable. James Moran bought this lot in connection with the old Fulton House and tore away the stable and erected several modern frame dwellings. Thomas Matthews owns and occupies the frame residence next west of Mill street and carries on the wagonmaking business on Arch street.
East of Mill street and in the junction of South and East
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Church streets is a triangular lot upon which stood a small frame house owned and occupied by Mrs. William Wyatt and her daughter, Cora. This building was removed by John D. Ruby to the rear of his lot on East Main street. This lot was purchased by J. William Baird, a prominent contractor, who erected thereon a substantial three-story brick business and resi- dence property. Case and Miller were the first to occupy the business room with what they named the "flat-iron " grocery.
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CHAPTER XV.
PITTSBURGH STREET, WEST SIDE, RUNNING NORTH.
On Pittsburgh street, the site now occupied by the Grand Opera block, Mr. John Campbell built, about 1840, a two-story brick building known as Campbell's row. This contained a busi- ness room in the south end and a large warehouse and office in the north end, with a narrow stairway leading to the second floor, dividing the two. The room in the southern end was at times occupied as physicians' offices and as attorneys' offices and other purposes. Dr. F. C. Robinson being the last tenant here where he had been located for many years. The northern end was occupied from the time of its erection as a hardware store by F. H. Oliphant & Son with their own product of bar iron and nails, until Armstrong Hadden bought the stock in 1862, and he was succeeded in the same business by Joseph M. Had- den. Marshall N. Lewis occupied the office part of this lower side for some years, where he held his little courts over which he presided as a justice of the peace.
The upper floor of the Campbell row was principally used as a newspaper office. The Cumberland Presbyterian was pub- lished from here in 1847-50, by Robert W. Jones. While the paper was being published from this room, Bill Smith and Bill Boyle were employed as compositors in the office, and here the late Judge Charles E. Boyle received his first instructions in type-setting while standing on an empty candle box in order to enable him to reach the cases. The Genius of Liberty print- ing office occupied these rooms from 1857, under the proprietor- ship of Searight and Boyle, and under E. G. Roddy and his successors until 1868. The National Enterprise was issued from these rooms from July until November, 1879, by Dr. W. L. Penny as editor and proprietor. Dr. Penny hailed from Greene county, and the paper was issued in the interests of the Green- back party.
The old Campbell row was torn away and the Grand Opera block erected on its site in 1882, and ready for occupancy in the spring of 1883. The first occupants of the new opera block were Altha L. Moser in the first room with his stock of drugs, paints, books, etc. The second room was occupied by John A. Niccolls
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with a dry goods store. The third room was occupied by J. N. Miller with a grocery store, and the fourth was occupied by Malcolm and Harrison with a hardware store. Mr. Malcolm retained this room until 1906, the longest of the original tenants.
Joseph Jefferson gave the initial performance in the new opera house in his rendering of Rip Van Winkle, on the even- ing of April 30, 1883, which was extensively advertised and liberally patronized.
The post office was moved into the opera block during Michael D. Baker's tenure of office.
In front of the Grand Opera block is a triangular piece of ground which is described as follows in
Deed Book I, page 121. John Wood sold to Daniel March- and and James Hutchison two lots as described in their deeds, but not embracing a small oblique figure of a lot on the west side of the road leading to Middletown, and between Peter and Elbow streets, which lot if enclosed or built upon would ob- struct the prospects of Dr. Daniel Marchand's house to Elbow street, also hinder said Hutchinson from the desired recourse to the road from his shops on the west side of said triangular piece of ground.
Now this indenture witnesseth that John Wood and Eliza- beth, his wife, for the sum of forty dollars paid by said Daniel Marchand and James Hutchinson, doth sell said triangular lot eastward of a line drawn from the west corner of Dr. Marchand's dwelling house southward at right angles with Peter street and extended until the intersection of the east side of said Hutchinson's lot. To have and to hold as public grounds as passage in common for the benefit of said Daniel Marchand and James Hutchinson, and not to be hereafter claimed, improved or built upon without the approbation and consent of said Daniel Marchand and James Hutchinson.
The property on the northwest corner of Peter and Pitts- burgh streets is described on Peter street. Richard Miller moved here from Washington, Pa., in 1839. He had previously been in the dry goods business in Kentucky with two of his brothers. He peddled clocks in the vicinity of Washington and continued in the same business after locating here. He built the house in which he lived on Pittsburgh street, in 1842. He established the well known Miller foundry which made its first blast July 4, 1846, and which has been in continuous use ever since. Mr.
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Miller died July 7, 1880. This property came into the owner- ship of William H. Wilhelm, the well known blacksmith, and who served as high sheriff, 1892-95, who occupied it until his death. It is now a part of the D. P. Gibson estate.
Daniel Bierer, son of John Bierer, built a two-story brick dwelling on the southern part of the Samuel McDonald lot which he sold to Dr. George Magee, a veterinary surgeon, who made it his home. Samuel McDonald owned and occupied the property now known as No. 35, this street. Mr. McDonald conducted a book and stationery store in the room now known as No. 9, East Main street from 1847 to 1852, when he sold out to M. T. Patrick. He and his brother, William, owned and edited the Pennsylvania Democrat, as related in the history of that paper. When the epidemic of cholera broke out in Union- town in 1850, Mrs. McDonald was advised to leave town and visit her people in Redstone township, but the fatal disease soon developed and she died on the first day of August. She was a most estimable lady. Mr. McDonald removed to Pitts- burgh where he purchased an interest in the Pittsburgh Chronicle and also in the Iron City Era and the two papers were con- solidated. Armstrong Hadden bought this property and James L. Bugh was a tenant for a while. C. E. Boyle bought this property and occupied it for some time. The family of Capt. John Bierer purchased this and still own and occupy it.
A Mr. Byers built the double brick known as Nos. 37 and 39, the former was owned and occupied for several years by Carrie Barre; and James T. Gorley bought No. 39 for a home for his mother, who occupied it until her death.
Uriah Hook bought the lot and erected the dwelling now known as No. 41 on this street in 1838, and here made his home until his death, October 10, 1870.
Peter Uriah Hook was the son of Peter Hook, Jr., and was born in Uniontown September 3, 1809. Early in life his father died, and a short time after he was apprenticed to Benjamin Hellen, an uncle, in the manufacture of hats; and after serving his time he engaged in mercantile pursuits. In 1833 he went to McClellandtown and opened a store where he continued to do business until 1837, when he sold out and returned to Union- town and clerked for Foster and Nixon who soon broke up; and Hook took the goods for his wages and continued the busi- ness for many years. Being possessed of a splendid voice, he
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became the best auctioneer at public sales the town has ever produced. In 1851, he entered the political arena and was elected to the house of representatives for two successive terms. He became proprietor of the Eagle hotel in 1856, which he con- ducted for several years. He married Miss Elizabeth Harmon, daughter of Abraham Harmon, January 17, 1833, who was a most amiable woman.
Flavius B. Titlow occupied this house from 1874 to 1884.
William Gaddis owned and occupied a frame house next north of a 16-foot alley. Mr. Gaddis was a well known wagon maker of the town and carried on that business for many years.
Daniel Bierer bought this property and erected the present residence in which he made his home for several years.
Isaac Beeson erected a two-story brick residence, now known as No. 45 on this street, for a home for the widow of William McClelland, the proprietor of the original McClelland hotel, but for some reason she declined to occupy it.
Rev. J. Marks occupied this house in 1849, and he and his wife taught school.
John Irons, proprietor of the Genius of Liberty, occupied this house at the time of the cholera scourage, 1850, and died here of that disease.
John Barry, a blacksmith and liveryman, owned and oc- cupied this house for several years.
M. W. Miller, after owning and occupying this property for several years, sold it to Rev. Prebyl, who greatly enlarged and improved it.
A double frame house was built by Richard Miller, next north of the above and occupied by various tenants.
A single frame next north was used as a hatter shop, a wagon shop, a weaver's loom and a residence.
The brick house known as 53 on this street was owned and occupied by Charles Page, a shoemaker, who married Bertha, daughter of John Miller.
Joshua W. Scott purchased this property and moved into it in 1899 and occupied it for some time as a residence.
John A. Roony lived next north of Charley Page, 1843-4-5, he was succeeded by Mills Strayer, a saddler.
George L. West bought this from Mrs. Hamilton and made it his home.
A 16-foot alley separates the above from the large lot of
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History of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
Nathaniel Mitchell who owned and lived in a small one-story brick house which stood just north. This house stood above the level of the street and was approached by steps. Mr. Mitch- ell was a cutler by trade and a good mechanic in his line. He owned and operated the old tilt hammer at the foot of Pitts- burgh street. This house stood many years after the death of Mr. Mitchell and was occupied by his aged widow. Nathaniel Brownfield came into the possession of this property.
John Clark tore away the little brick and erected a comfort- able frame residence on its site and made this his home for a few years. He also built the frame residence next north of the foregoing, now known as No. 59. This was sold to Samuel Levin, an iron monger or junk dealer, who occupied it for several years.
An old log house stood on the lot now known as No. 61 and was usually occupied by parties employed at the old tilt hammer and " grinding works," the grinding works in connection with the tilt hammer was evidently for the grinding or sharpen- ing of edged tools and not for the grinding of grain.
Among the occupants of this log house may be mentioned George Crop, who carried on blacksmithing at the old tilt ham= mer, Henry Nycum, Robert Goodwin, Samuel Starnes and others.
Calvin Altman built the present large frame house and soon thereafter sold to Mrs. Amanda Williams who has since kept it as a boarding house.
The old tilt hammer and grinding works were constructed by Nathaniel Mitchell and stood immediately south of Jacob's run and operated by water-power conducted through a short race which emptied into Redstone creek a short distance above the mouth of Jacob's run. Here Mr. Mitchell manufactured all kinds of edged tools. The " tilt hammer " was an immense ham- mer which was raised by water power and let fall upon the heated metal. This was a great saving of hand labor. Isaac Beeson became the owner of the old tilt hammer and surround- ing grounds, about 1847. In 1852, a cement mill was operated on this site; the cement being manufactured from rock from an adjoining quarry. This cement mill was converted into a flour- ing mill by W. & J. K. Beeson in 1878, and operated under the name of the Waverly Mill until 1886, and after being aban- doned as a flouring mill, was occupied by a company of con-
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tractors as dealers in lumber and building materials. The build- ing went to wreck and was entirely destroyed by fire.
Several attempts were made to carry on business in the small buildings at this mill, such as cooper shops, etc .; a hub and spoke factory was started in 1871, and a chair factory was at- tempted but all were of short duration.
The first bridges over Jacob's run at the foot of Pittsburgh street, for there were two of them, were arch bridges built of stone, but in 1900 a steel bridge was erected, some six feet higher than the former, by the King Bridge company.
Near the north end of Pittsburgh street still stands a small log house once occupied by Richard Moore, a shoemaker by trade, and on account of his size, was generally known as Big Dick Moore.
Just off Pittsburgh street, on a beautiful eminence, afford- ing a commanding view of the town and distant mountains, stands the residence of N. W. Miller, the noted deer and fox hunter, where he made his home for many years. He died here August 5, 1913.
PITTSBURGH STREET, EAST SIDE.
A row of one-story frame buildings occupied the space from Concert Hall to Peter street, occupied by various persons as offices and small business rooms. In the seventies this row of frame buildings was torn away and in 1883 a brick business block was erected and occupied as such to the present.
Richard Miller purchased the lot now on the corner of Pittsburgh and Penn streets and erected thereon a foundry which was put in blast July 4, 1846, and operated it until com- pelled by advanced age to retire from active business, since which it is still operated and known as Miller's foundry.
Robert Jackaway, a saddle-tree maker, owned the land on the east side of this street from Penn street to Redstone creek, and, after several conveyances, it was laid off into lots. Captain Hugh Gorley purchased the lot on the corner and moved to it the frame building still thereon from the McClelland house lot, it being a part of the original building in which William Mc- Clelland kept his tavern in the very early history of the town. Here Capt. Gorley made his home for some years. This prop- erty now belongs to the estate of N. W. Miller.
A double brick house was erected on the lot north of Capt.
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Gorley's which was built by Maj. John Byers and occupied by him. He was a son-in-law of Isaac Skiles. It was owned by Isaac Skiles 1855, and since belongs to the James T. Gorley estate. Charles King was once an occupant of this property.
The ten-foot alley next north is now closed.
A frame building next north Jacob B. Miller purchased for a home for Mary McLaughlin and at her death it descended to her daughter, Mrs. James T. Gorley. The old frame building was torn away and the present brick dwelling erected on its site and occupied as the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gorley the rest of their lives. It was sold at executors' sale April 22, 1913, to J. Searight Marshall, and has since been absorbed by the South- west Pennsylvania railroad company.
A small frame house stood next north of the Mrs. Gorley brick house in which Samuel Smith died of cholera. He was succeeded by Sallie Fletcher, Evaline Stanley, Amanda Miller and others.
Next north of the above Mary Wildie owned and occupied a neat frame house. A ten-foot alley separated the Mary Wildie property from a frame house that had gone through the owner- ship and occupancy of John Carpenter, James Thorndell, Wil- liam McCoy, Daniel Duer, John Barry and finally of James Whoolery.
Next was a vacant lot on which Presley Moore and J. D. Boyd erected a large frame dwelling which was occupied by various tenants until Amanda Yeager purchased and occupied it.
On the rear of this lot J. D. Boyd conducted a coal yard for some time, and he was succeeded in the same business by John C. White. Subsequently a four-story brick and concrete building was erected on this lot by the Standard Wood Fiber Plaster company for the manufacture of wood fiber plaster in 1904, but the enterprise was not long in operation.
A ten-foot alley separated the above from the Ashbel G. Crusen property, where he lived a number of years. He sold to Absalom Guiler and moved to Iowa. Mr. Guiler lived here a while and sold to George W. Costelo who made it his home the rest of his life.
Mrs. A. D. Boyd owned a frame tenement next north which was occupied by various tenants. The Laughead-Modisett planing mill company built a frame house next to the creek
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which was occupied by Mrs. Beatty and subsequently owned and occupied by Ewing Baily.
The Southwest Pennsylvania railroad company purchased the land on the east side of Pittsburgh street from Redstone creek southward to the Gorley brick residence, and in 1912 tore away the dwellings and commenced the erection of large ware- houses and other buildings necessary for the handling of its business.
The Laughead-Modisette Planing Mill Company erected a large warehouse immediately over the creek at the foot of Pittsburgh street which was used as such until the planing mill was burned, after which it was used for several years as a livery stable. This building was entirely destroyed by fire.
Jonathan West, one of the old and respected citizens of the town, owned about 240 feet frontage on the north side of Jacob's run, and lived in a red frame house which stood on a beautiful knoll facing the town. Jonathan West, Jr. (known as Jonter), since owned and occupied this property and sold it to the South- west Pennsylvania railroad company, who moved the house some distance north, and still own the property.
That part of the town on Pittsburgh street north of Jacob's run was known as Westburg, on account of the prominence of the West family who lived there.
North of the old Jonathan West residence ran a row of houses on a street known as West Place, among the residents of which at different times may be mentioned, Zadoc Springer, Joseph Beggs, Mrs. Noah Morrison, Johnson Dearth, William Perry, Absalom Guiler, James M. Howard, Asher M. Baily, Dorsey Baily, Dennis Galespy, Jerry Miller, Peter Burgess, Jacob Prettyman, Michael Canaan.
James T. Gorley built two frame dwellings at the forks of West Place and Pittsburgh street which have been occupied by various tenants. North of these is an old frame house in which Jonathan West spent the latter part of his long life, and died respected by the community.
North of Westburg on the Pittsburgh road James Piper built a fine brick dwelling, but did not own it long when it was pur- chased by Jacob B. Miller who made it his home for many years and died there December 6, 1878. He willed this property to D. J. Jordan with whom he had made his home for many years. Mr. Jordan died here April 2, 1911, and his family continued to own and occupy the property.
CHAPTER XVI.
ADDITIONS TO THE TOWN.
Beeson Addition-Was laid off by Jesse Beeson, son of Henry Beeson, the founder, on the south side of East Main street in 1818, and comprised thirteen in lots and five large out lots.
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