USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 35
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Barton and Brant Addition-Roberts Barton and Jacob F. Brant bought from Mrs. Ellen Douglass about four acres of land, and in 1851 they laid out what was known as Barton and Brant's addition. This consisted of twenty-two lots, four of which fronted on Market or Church street, four on South street and the rest on each side of Jefferson street. Among the promi- nent property owners and residents of this may be mentioned Patrick Lynch, Maurice Lonergan, James Lynch, Betsy Zearing, John Woodward, Davis Woodward, George Haught, and others. This street has undergone many improvements in the way of several new and modern residences.
John Bradbury and Jacob F. Brant laid off what was known as Bradbury and Brant's addition, in 1841, which con- sisted of about thirty-three lots, six of which fronted on Market or Church street, and ran southwardly on both sides of Center, now known as Iowa street to Fayette street. Among the early property owners and residents on this street may be mentioned Jimmy Hurton, John Carothers, Leonard Richards, Mrs. Jacobs, Edward Pence, William Warwick, Godfrey Cramer, John Hendrickson, Crawford Livingstone, Elisha Hyatt, John Man- away, Prissie Paine, Mills Strayer, John Monaghan, H. C. Rush, John Litman, Daddy Varndell, George W. Wyning, Nancy McMichaels, Hulda Oaks, Jesse Lincoln, and Philip Bogardus.
This street has been greatly improved by the remodeling of some of the old buildings and the erection of several new and modern residences.
Boyd Addition-Was laid off by Hon. A. D. Boyd in 1889, and comprised forty lots located on the east side of Shady Lane, both sides of Willson avenue and the west side of Stewart avenue.
Bierer Addition-Lies on the south side of West Berkeley
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street and comprises fifty-one lots, eighteen of which are on West Berkeley street and thirty-three on Woodland avenue. The plot was recorded June 15, 1910.
Beall Addition-Laid off by L. D. Beall in 1887, comprised twenty-four lots on the east side and twenty-two on the west side of Lexington street and six on the National road or West Main street.
Bowman and Trader Addition-The Bowman and Trader Addition was laid out in 1891, in the east end of town and ran from Connellsville street westward to Cleveland avenue and comprised Prospect and Evans streets and contained one hun- dred and twelve lots.
Cray and Clark Addition-Was laid off in 1888, and com- prised several lots on Whiteman avenue.
Conner Addition-Was laid out by Charles D. Conner and comprised twenty-five lots on both sides of South Gallatin avenue.
Cray Addition-James R. Cray laid out a number of lots on Millview street, in 1888, running east from North Gallatin avenue.
Collins Addition-Was laid out by Col. John Collins in 1888, and lies between Connellsville and Coolspring streets and comprises eighty-four lots and includes Collins avenue, Clark and Middle streets.
Cycle Park Addition-Was laid out in 1911, and comprised ninety-four lots, running from Reppert boulevard on the west and including Cycle and Middle avenues and Areford, Wagner and Spalding streets.
Coffey Addition-Was laid out in 1899, and comprised eighty lots on the west side and one hundred and seventy-three on the east side of North Gallatin avenue, and included Kerr, Coffey, Askin, Lilian and Chew streets.
Cope, Thompson, Moser and Niccoll Addition-Comprises five lots on West Main street and forty-three lots on both sides of Oakland avenue.
Columbia Iron and Steel Addition-Was surveyed in 1912, and lies between the Baltimore and Ohio railroad right of way and North Gallatin avenue, and comprised 118 lots and included Florence and Columbia avenues and Magnolia and Kerr streets.
The Charles H. Cramer Addition comprised forty-five lots
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and included the Country Club boulevard as its principal street. It was surveyed in 1908.
Darby and Conner Addition-Was laid out on 1889, by John W. Darby and Charles D. Conner, and comprised six lots on the North Pennsylvania avenue and seventeen lots on Madi- son avenue.
Downer Addition-Adjoined the McCormick Addition and was laid out in two parts by the Downer heirs in 1894 and 1896, and comprised twenty-nine lots and included Fairview street. Nine of these lots faced on Oakland and seven on Downer avenues.
Derrick Addition-Was laid out by Joseph Derrick between the Chicago and Connellsville Coke company's land on the east and other land of Mr. Derrick on the west and that of William Hopwood's heirs on the south and that of Barton brothers on the north, and comprised twenty-four lots on the eastern side of a road not named (perhaps the Country Club boulevard). This plan was surveyed in May, 1891, but it does not appear that any lots were sold.
Felty Addition-Was laid out in 1907, at the head of Pros- pect street, and comprised ninety-eight lots and included Cleve- land avenue extension, Markle, Elmwood and Felty streets.
Fair Grounds Addition-On the Pittsburgh road north of town comprised seventy-one lots on the east side of the road and ninety-six on the west side, and included Crawford, Walters, Fairview and Grand streets.
Gallatin Park Addition-Was laid out in 1904, and lies be- tween the old Connellsville road and Cleveland avenue, on the north side of town, and comprises ninety lots, including Faulk- ner, Hill, Charlott, Esther and Herman streets.
Gilmore Addition-Comprised about one hundred and eighty-five lots, thirteen of which line on West Main street, and includes North Mount Vernon avenue, Ben Lomond, Stockton, Gilmore, Kensington and Nassau streets. This plan was laid out in 1888.
Highland Park Addition-Was laid out by O. P. Markle in 1905, and comprised sixteen lots on Coolspring street, eighteen on Bierer street, twenty-four on Gans street, twenty-two on Grand avenue, and nineteen on North avenue.
Hadden Addition-Was laid out by Joseph M. Hadden in
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1886, and comprised ten lots on each side of West Berkeley street and eight lots on South Mount Vernon avenue.
Jennings and Feather Addition-Was laid out by Henry Jennings and James I. Feather and comprised fifty-seven lots on Feather avenue and six lots on East Fayette street.
Lenox Addition-Was laid out by George W. Lenox and recorded in 1893, running from North Gallatin avenue eastward to the old Connellsville road, and comprised forty-one lots, nine of which faced on the east side of North Gallatin avenue and thirty-two on both sides of Lenox street. This addition soon was built up with comfortable residences.
Lenox Addition-James Lenox, on the 14th of February, 1890, recorded a plat of nineteen lots on the west side of North Gallatin avenue.
Lewis Addition-Was laid out by Thomas H. Lewis and comprised eleven lots near and on the north side of East Fay- ette street.
McCormick Addition-Was laid out by Noble McCormick on the north side of town and comprised one hundred and sixty- four lots, and included Oakland avenue, Downer, Chestnut, Wall, Arch and Wine streets. This plan was recorded May 10, 1889.
McCormick and Ewing Addition-Comprised two hundred and fifteen lots and included Searight, Liberty, Fairview, Moun- tain and Park streets, all on the east side of Coolspring street.
McCormick Addition-Was laid out by George A. Mc- Cormick west of Morgantown street and comprised thirty lots on both sides of West Berkeley street.
Markle, Adams and Cray Addition-Recorded August 29, 1910, comprised eleven lots on the east side of North Gallatin avenue, eight lots on Millview street and forty-five lots on both sides of Lemon street.
Miller Addition-The Thomas J. Miller heirs recorded a plan of lots, August 23, 1902, comprising eight lots on the east side of South Mount Vernon avenue and twenty-seven lots on both sides of Miller avenue, running to Coal Lick run.
Murray Place Addition-Was laid out by O. P. Markle and I. Frank in 1906, and ran from East Main to Lincoln street, comprising some ninety lots, including Murray and Rist streets and one side of Cleveland avenue and Briner street. In 1908, they extended this addition from Lincoln street northward,
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comprising some seventy lots and including Hortense, Frank and Wendall streets, all opening into Cleveland avenue.
Park Place Addition-Was laid out by R. F. Hopwood and O. P. Markle and recorded in 1912. It contained over one hun- dred lots lying between Connellsville and Coolspring streets, embracing Murphy; Bouquet, Forbes and Braddock streets.
Nutt Addition-Adam C. Nutt purchased from Clark Breading about six acres of land on Veech's lane, now South Mt. Vernon avenue, and in 1882, laid off what was known as the Nutt Addition, his mansion occupying a prominent position at the head of Nutt avenue, and the whole making a very valuable addition to the town. This addition comprised thirty- three lots on both sides of Nutt avenue, exclusive of the mansion and several outlots. This mansion, after passing through several conveyances has been greatly improved and was finally transferred to the Home Missionary society of the Methodist Episcopal church for the use of the McCrum Slavonic training school.
Oakland Heights Addition-Laid off by Isadore Frank in October, 1903, comprised some seventy lots, eighteen of which fronted on Oakland avenue and the others on Downer and Dela- ware avenues.
Patterson Addition-Was laid out on lands of the late Robert Patterson, at the head of Morgantown street, and com- prised fourteen lots on the west side of Morgantown street, and six on Lebanon avenue, and twenty-five on both sides of Winchel street. Highland avenue extension runs through this addition.
North Gallation Addition-William H. Playford, Charles E. Boyle, John H. McClelland and Ezra Sayers purchased lands north of Redstone creek on which they platted North Gallatin avenue, Lincoln, Maple and Walnut streets, comprising more than one hundred desirable building lots. The Presbyterian parsonage was the first building erected on this plat. It was a comfortable brick dwelling and first occupied by Rev. S. S. Gilson, then pastor of the church. This is now, and has been for many years, the residence of the Misses L. B. and E. D. Richey. Many elegant and comfortable homes have been erected in this addition, together with St. Paul's Lutheran church, the Armour cold storage warehouse and the fine North
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Gallatin public school building, making it one of the most de- sirable residence section of the town.
Richey Addition-Was laid off in 1891, and comprised twelve lots on the north side of Millview street.
Robinson and Partridge Addition-Was laid out by H. L. Robinson and Ira D. Partridge in 1891, and comprised ten lots at the junction of East Fayette with East Main street.
Robinson Addition-Laid off by Dr. F. C. Robinson in 1888, comprised twenty-six lots on the east side of Lawn avenue and ten on Berkeley street.
South Side Addition-Robinson, Hunt, Lonergan, Mc- Cormick and Craig Addition was laid off in 1882, and com- prised eighty-one lots on the south side of Craig street, forty- six on the North side of that street, twenty-two on the south side of Maurice street and the same number on the north side, and twenty-four on the south side and twenty-two on the north side of Highland avenue, and twenty-six on the west side of Lawn avenue, and nine on Berkeley street. This addition was known as the South Side Addition and comprises fifteen acres of land, making a most desirable residence addition to the town.
Sturgeon Addition-Located near East Penn street, com- prises sixteen lots on both sides of Locust street. This addition was accepted by the borough March 21, 1890.
Searight Addition-Was laid off east of Coolspring street in 1892, by James A. Searight, and comprised one hundred and sixty lots, and included Butler, Carlisle and Dunlap streets.
Titlow Addition-Was laid off by George F. Titlow in 1903, on the east side of the McClellandtown road, and comprised eighty lots, and included Delaware, Thompson and Easy streets. The Titlow Annex to this addition was admitted to the borough in 1912, and consisted of the extension of Easy street eastward to South Mount Vernon avenue.
Thompson Glass-works Addition-Was recorded in 1890, and comprises eighty-nine lots and includes Zimmer, Dawson and Schaffer streets, all on the west side of South Mount Vernon avenue. This part of town is known as Continental Number One.
Wood Addition-Was laid off by Thomas S. Wood near East Main street in 1890, and comprised seventeen lots.
Wolf Addition-Was laid out by Joseph Wolf in 1893, and ran from Lebanon avenue southward to the Thaw line, and
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comprised over two hundred lots, thirty-seven of which lined on the west side of Morgantown street, and included Albion, Clarendon, Braddock and Warren streets.
Williams Addition-Laid out by Josiah V. Williams comprised twenty-seven lots, nine of which lined on Derrick avenue ; an unnamed street running parallel thereto, these were crossed by an unnamed street, perhaps an extension of Martha street. This plan was bounded on the south by lands of Joseph Derrick, on the east by the Barton heirs, on the north by John Brownfield and on the west by Derrick avenue. Another ad- dition laid off by Josiah V. Williams, in 1888, comprised ten lots on each side of Martha street, and six lots on Derrick avenue.
Whyel Addition-Was recorded by John Whyel August 1, 1904, the plat running from North Gallatin avenue eastward to the- old Connellsville road, comprising ninety lots, twelve of which lined on North Gallatin avenue, and through which ran Oliver, Hogsett and Whyel streets.
Willson Addition-Was laid off in 1892, in the eastern part of town on the west side of Connellsville street, and comprised ninety-eight lots, twenty-four of which lined on Connellsville street, and includes Hancock street.
Williams and Gans Addition-Was laid out by Allan D. Williams and David Gans in 1905, and comprised a number of desirable building lots on both sides of Byrer street.
Oakmont Addition-Was laid out by Isadore Frank in 1905, and comprised forty-six lots, lining on Gilmore, Oakland, Delaware and Arlington streets.
Uniontown Land Company Addition-Was laid out by O. P. Markle, John W. Ely and John S. Douglas and comprised one hundred and forty-five lots between Connellsville and Cool- spring streets, including John, Gordon, Carson, Clark and Murphy streets. Another addition was laid out by the same parties which included Ely, Douglas and Markle streets.
Laurel Hill Addition-Was laid out by the Uniontown Construction Company in 1913 east of and near North Gallatin extension and comprised over three hundred lots and included Garfield, Roosevelt, Fillmore, Mckinley, Taylor, Washington and Laurel Hill streets.
CHAPTER XVII.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURTS OF FAYETTE COUNTY-HER JUDGES -HER FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS-DISBARMENT OF EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE FAYETTE COUNTY BAR-DIFFICULTIES WITH JUDGE BAIRD- FAYETTE COUNTY COURT HOUSES-HER JAILS-THE BAR OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
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Upon the erection of Westmoreland county on February 26, 1773, the first court west of the Allegheny mountains was established and was held at the house of Robert Hanna, April 6th of that year; Colonel William Crawford and his associate justices presiding. Although this court was broken up on April 9, 1774, by Dr. John Connelly, acting under authority from Governor Dunmore of Virginia, and the justices arrested, courts continued to be held here until the burning of Hannas- town by the Indians, July 13, 1782.
The District of West Augusta, Virginia, was formed in the fall of 1774, to include all the territory of the present West Vir- ginia, as well as all of southern Pennsylvania lying west of the Allegheny mountains, and a county court was established at Fort Dunmore, now Pittsburgh, and was there maintained until 1776, when it was removed to what was called Augusta town, a short distance west of the present town of Washington, Pa., where it was continued until the summer of 1777, when the District of West Augusta ceased to exist, having been divided into three Virginia counties, viz., Ohio, Youghiogania and Monongalia.
The courts of Monongalia county were held in a shop on the farm of Theophilus Phillips in Springhill township, now Fayette county, until the running of the Mason and Dixon line, which was completed in 1782.
The act by which Fayette county was erected provided and declared that "The justices of the peace commissioned at the time of the passage of this act and residing within the county of Fayette, or any three of them, may and shall hold courts of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, and General Jail Delivery, and county courts for holding of Pleas, and shall have all and singular the powers, rights, jurisdiction and au- thority to all intents and purposes as held in other counties ;
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which said court shall sit and be held for the county of Fayette on the Tuesday preceding the courts of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas in Washington county in every year.
Under these provisions and authority the first term of the court of Quarter Sessions and Common Pleas for Fayette county was held in a school house at Uniontown on the fourth Tuesday in December, 1783, before Philip Rogers, Esq., and his associates, Alexander McClean, Robert Adams, John Allen, Robert Ritchie and Andrew Rabb, all justices in and for the county of Westmoreland.
The business of the first court was the admission of at- torneys, viz., Thomas Scott, Hugh H. Brackenridge, David Bradford, Michael Huffnagle, George Thompson, Robert Gil- braith, Samuel Irwin and David Redick, the fixing of tavern rates, the subdivision of the county into townships and the trial of a few trivial cases. The original townships of the county established at the first court were Menallen, Washington, Frank- lin, Luzerne, Union, German, Springhill, Wharton and Georges,
These justices courts were held until the new constitution of 1790, abolished the justices county courts and provided for a judge learned in the law, and two associate judges, all to be appointed by the governor. The Honorable Alexander Ad- dison was the first judge learned in the law to preside in the county of Fayette, and held his first term at Uniontown on the third Monday in September, 1791; Fayette county at that time forming a part of the Fifth Judicial Circuit, which comprised the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington and Allegheny, and to which Greene was attached upon its formation in 1796, and later, Crawford was added upon its formation in 1800. In 1803, Beaver was added and Washington and Crawford de- tached.
Judge Addison was born in Ireland in 1759, was educated at Edinburgh, Scotland, and was licensed to preach the gospel at Aberlour, Scotland. He came to the United States and ap- peared before Redstone presbytery of the Presbyterian church at Pigeon creek in Washington county, December 20, 1785, and applied for a license to preach by that body. This was denied him for the time being, and he turned his attention to the law, and was admitted to the Washington county bar in March, 1787. He was a man of culture and ability. His exalted opin- ion as to the supremacy of the law, and the necessity of subor-
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dination to the same showed forth in him during the trying times of the Whisky Insurrection.
Through a disaffection in the courts of Allegheny county, Judge Addison was unjustly removed by the Senate of Penn- sylvania, and was disqualified to hold and exercise the office of judge in any court of law within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He did not long survive the injustice of his removal, and died at his home in Pittsburgh, November 24, 1807.
Samuel Roberts was commissioned to succeed Judge Ad- dison in the Fifth District and first presided at March term, 1803. In 1806, the Fifth District was composed of Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Fayette and Greene counties. In 1818, another change was made by which Washington, Fayette, Greene and Somerset were made to compose the Fourteenth District, and Judge Roberts ceased to preside in Fayette county.
Thomas H. Baird was commissioned president judge of the new Fourteenth District on October 19, 1818, and held the office until he resigned, December, 1837. His term of office on the Fayette county bench was anything but pleasant on account of disaffection existing between the bench and the bar; an account of which is related elsewhere. During Judge Baird's term Somerset county was taken from the Fourteenth District.
Nathaniel Ewing was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Baird, his commission bearing the date of February 22, 1838. The constitution of that year made the term of office to be ten years, which term Judge Ewing filled with signal ability. During his term the court house was burned.
Samuel A. Gilmore of the Butler county bar, was appointed and commissioned in February, 1848, to succeed Judge Ewing as president judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District, which office he filled until January, 1, 1852. Under the constitution of 1850, the office became elective, and at the election in Oc- tober, 1851, Judge Gilmore was elected for the term of ten years, beginning January 1, 1852, and at the expiration of which term he was admitted to the bar and resumed the practice of law. He was the first to preside in the new court house.
James Lindsey, of the Greene county bar, was elected in October, 1861, to succeed Judge Gilmore, and he opened his first term of court in December following. He was one of
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the youngest judges in the state and was a man of great prom- ise. His untimely death in September, 1864, terminated what promised to be a brilliant career.
John Kennedy Ewing was appointed by Governor A. G. Curtain to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Lind- sey, in November, 1864. He presided at the sessions of Decem- ber, 1864, and March, June and September, 1865.
Ex-Judge Samuel A. Gilmore was re-elected in October, 1865, and served on the bench until his death, which occurred May 15, 1873. During Judge Gilmore's second term Washing- ton county was cut off from the Fourteenth District.
Edward Campbell was appointed by Governor Hartranft to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Judge Gilmore, and presided at the terms of June and September, 1873, having been commissioned May 31, 1873.
Alpheus Evans Willson was elected to the bench at the October election in 1873, and held his first term of court in December following. He served his full term with dignity and ability, and died September 9, 1884, within a year from his retirement from the bench.
Under the constitution of 1873, the Supreme Court in 1881, declared that Fayette county was not entitled to associate judges any longer, and the two associate judges, Griffith Rob- erts and D. W. C. Dumbald, were ousted from their office.
James Inghram, of the Greene county bar, was elected to succeed Judge Willson in November, 1883, and served his full term of ten years, the latter eight of which he had associated with him on the bench Nathaniel Ewing as additional law judge.
Nathaniel Ewing, Jr., grandson of ex-Judge Nathaniel Ewing and son of ex-Judge John Kennedy Ewing, was ap- pointed additional law judge to fill the newly created judgeship on the Fayette county bench, his commission bearing date of August 25, 1887, his term to run until January 1, 1888. At the November election, 1887, he was elected to that position which he held until the expiration of Judge Inghram's term, 1894, when he became president judge, which position he filled until 1898. During his term the present court house and jail were erected, and the county of Greene was taken from this judicial district.
S. Leslie Mestrezat was elected additional law judge at the November election, 1893, and held that position until 1898,
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when on the expiration of Judge Ewing's term he became the president judge. Upon becoming a candidate for associate justice on the supreme bench of Pennsylvania, he resigned his position on the local bench in 1899. He was elected a justice of the supreme court in November, 1899.
Samuel E. Ewing was appointed additional law judge to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Mestrezat, and acted in that capacity at December term, 1900.
Edmund H. Reppert was elected to the bench and was commissioned a judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the Fourteenth District, December 7, 1897, and became president judge upon the resignation of Judge Mestrezat.
Robert E. Umbel was elected additional law judge Novem- ber, 1899, and commissioned December 7, 1899, his term to begin the first Monday in January following, and upon the ex- piration of Judge Reppert's term he became president judge, January 1, 1908, and upon the expiration of his term he was re-elected to succeed himself as president judge.
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