USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 54
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Roll of membership: A. J. Hunt, John Balsinger, James Kissinger, Robert Moore, William Dixson, Charles Hagan, Joseph Conard, John C. Bierer, George Denny, David Denny, Robert Ramsey, Frank King, George P. Gadd, Samuel R. Shu- man, J. K. Ritenour, Harry F. Moser, Edward Miller, Charles Rush, Joseph Hager, William McLaughlin, Robert Seese, John Williams, James Saul, George M. Baily, John H. Todd, Springer Todd, George Titlow, Samuel Coburn, Thomas Howard, James Cook, Joseph H. Miller, George A. Moser, Joseph Snead, C. H. Rush, Orville Rush, Albert Rush, Samuel Hagan, Lewis Miller, Lewis Williams, Judson Sisler, Shriver Rankin, Edward Bierer, S. N. Rockwell.
On March 28, 1902, Mr. Edgar S. Hackney gave a grand banquet at the Exchange hotel in honor of the members of the fire department which was attended and duly enjoyed by one hundred and four firemen.
The first chemical apparatus and wagon was added to the fire department in 1905, and the department was moved into the new municipal building December 31, 1908. The first uni- forms were procured for the firemen in May, 1899, and the first men to receive pay for their services in caring for the horses and apparatus were Eddie Coffman Will Thompson, Alfred Mil- ler and Sam Beckett, the latter serving at the east end. This arrangement took effect when the department was removed to the new quarters in the municipal building.
An ordinance fixing a fire limit was passed April 19, 1890.
The Union Hose Company No. 1 was organized January 20, 1892, in response to a call for additional firemen. Lewis
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$ 7
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KEYSTONE FIRE CO.
THE OLD MARKET HOUSE.
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Williams was the chief spirit in the movement, and a sufficient number of men were secured to organize an additional company. At this meeting the following officers were elected: Captain, Lewis Williams; First Lieutenant, W. C. McCormick; Second Lieutenant, C. H. Bierer; Secretary, Russel Beall; Treasurer, Harold Herd; President, A. J. Bower.
The new company took its name in honor of the old Union fire engine, as the other company had taken its name in honor of the steamer-the Keystone.
This company was quartered in a frame building erected for the purpose on the north side of East Main street at the eastern bridge, and here remained until the erection of the new hose house at the east end in 1907, into which the apparatus was moved.
This company purchased a horse from their own private funds, June 6, 1898, which was the first horse used in the fire department of the town, the borough contributing $15 per month toward its maintenance.
The Union Hose Company No. 1 was incorporated July 1. 1898, with the following charter members: Lewis Williams, Charles D. Conner, Andrew J. Bower, Walter Brownfield, Jesse B. West, Lyman Litman, George A. McCormick, John Lynch, William C. McCormick, Henry C. Johnson, George H. Mat- thews, Hugh B. McKean, John W. Murphy, William J. Bore- land, John T. Collins.
A chemical apparatus and wagon was furnished to this company in January, 1911.
CHIEF WILLIAMS' HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY.
In 1901 a movement was inaugurated to organize a Hook and Ladder company in addition to the two other companies already organized. Louis Williams was the leading spirit in this new movement, and was elected the first captain of the company, but by his untimely death he was denied the realiza- tion of his plans. Fortunately George H. Matthews stepped into the breach and was effective in securing a charter for the company on March 22, 1902.
The object of the formation of this company was to add to the fire department a hook and ladder wagon also bearing chemical tanks by which fires might be extinguished without damage by water. The wisdom of this accessory to the fire de-
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partment has been more than verified. The first apparatus placed at the disposal of this company was an old hook and ladder wagon with three or four ladders and a string of buckets hung on the sides, but this was soon displaced by a more modern truck and longer and better ladders.
This company has its apparatus and its headquarters in the new municipal building, and on January 1, 1910, they gave a fine turkey supper to the newsboys of the town which was participated in and enjoyed by the newsboys of the town, and on January 1, 1911, they gave the second supper that even sur- passed, if possible, the first ; and on January 1, 1912, they gave the third, and on January 1, 1913, they gave the fourth.
The Park Hose Company was organized in the East End for the protection of that part of the town. The officers of this company were: William R. Hoop, president; O. E. Keener, vice-president; A. W. Cunningham, secretary ; Andrew Barron, O. E. Keener, William Madison, Wilfred Wahler, Grover Lynch, trustees; Charles E. Williams, captain; Frank Schiff- baurer, first lieutenant; William Madison, second lieutenant. The following were the members: John D. Fallon, John Schiff- bauer, William McCormick, Daniel Crawford, George R. Miller, C. J. Miller, Sam Holler, Joseph Hornbeck, Charles E. Keener, Harry J. Hooper and Frank Graham.
This company made application for admission to the fire department February 1, 1910, but the borough has not as yet provided apparatus nor quarters for the same.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania passed an act in 1895 pro- viding that on and after January 1, 1896, one-half of the net proceeds derived from the taxation of the foreign insurance companies doing business within the Commonwealth of Penn- sylvania should be appropriated to the relief of firemen who may be disabled or the burial of those killed while on duty as firemen, and for the pensioning of widows or orphans or de- pendent parents of firemen so killed or die from injuries sus- tained while in the discharge of such duties.
Preliminary steps were taken March 25, 1902, toward the organization of a Firemen's Relief Association by which the funds thus provided might become available for the relief of members of the fire department of Uniontown. In this move- ment the Keystone Fire Company was represented by J. K. Ritenour, James Cook and S. R. Shuman; the Chief Williams
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Hook and Ladder Company was represented by George W. Little, J. N. Hibbs and Charles O. LaClair; and the Union Hose Company No. 1 was represented by C. H. Bierer, Charles I. Kaine and Alexander McDowell. The Association was to be officered by the Chief, Assistant Chief and representatives from each of the various companies constituting the Fire Depart- ment, and all applications for relief were to be subjected to a Board of Control.
An organization was finally consummated and on Decem- ber 2, 1905, a charter was granted by the court, with the follow- ing charter members: Robert F. Sample, President; William McClelland, A. J. Hunt, William L. Wood, Geo. F. White, C. L. Titus, John T. Williams, J. Ross Summers and William H. Moore, Jr., secretary.
The first funds received into this association from the State was on November 10, 1906, and amount to $473, and the average amount since received is near $600 per annum, and the funds have been considerably augmented by the generosity of persons who are friendly to the cause and have become life members of the association.
THE MARKETS.
Among the first things done after Uniontown was incor- porated as a borough was the establishment of a market. The first market house was erected on a triangular piece of ground, then belonging to Capt. Thomas Collins, on which the whisky boys had, but two years before, erected a pole in honor of " Tom the Tinker." The interest in this market appears to have waned, and in the Genius of Liberty of May 29, 1837, the follow- ing notice appeared: "Union market-To those whom it may concern will take notice that the Town Council have resolved to re-establish a market in the borough of Uniontown to com- mence on Saturday the 9th day of June next, thence on Tues- days, Thursdays and Saturdays following throughout the year. Therefore from this time on it will be contrary to the ordinance of the borough, under certain penalties, for any person or per- sons to buy or sell any kind of provisions on any other than market days, or at any other place than the market house in said borough, with the exception of the surplus which may remain undisposed of after the market hours have closed, which will be from 6 to 9 until the 1st of Novem-
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ber, then from 6 to 10 until the 1st of April following." This notice was dated May 29, 1827, and signed by Samuel Clevenger, borough clerk. Another notice published later announced that " The market will commence Saturday, the third day of April, 1830, and that market days would be Tuesdays and Satur- days from 4 to 8 a. m., until the first of June next. All persons are warned to observe the market laws." Signed, James A. Yerk, clerk of the market.
The old market house was used as such until the comple- tion of the new one in February, 1844, at which time William Ebert was placed in charge as market master at a salary of $60 per annum.
The new market house had seven stalls, the choicest of which rented at fifteen dollars per annum, and the less choice at a much lower rate. The whole seven did not net the borough over $46 per annum. The early butchers to occupy the new market house, some of whom had previously occupied the old one, were Elijah Crossland, Everhart Bierer, John Fisher, Greenberry Crossland, George Coburn, Robert Patterson, Nelson Randolph, Thomas Miller, William B. McCormick.
The hours for holding market were limited by ordinance, and no one was permitted to sell any fresh meat, poultry, fresh fish, butter, eggs or vegetables elsewhere than at the market house, and within the hours named in the ordinance under a penalty of $5; one half of which went to the informer. No person was allowed to purchase any of the before-mentioned articles during market hours to retail and sell again.
No one not a regular butcher was allowed to sell in less quantities than half a quarter without applying to the market master and taking special license therefor, at the rate of 30 cents for each beef or part thereof ; or for each hog, calf or sheep or part thereof, the sum of ten cents.
It was the duty of the market master or clerk of the market to seize all unsound provisions which may be offered for sale; to ascertain the weight of all butter offered for sale, and if found deficient in weight, it was forfeited to the borough; to adjust all scales and measures used in the market ; to decide all disputes between buyers and sellers as to weights and measures, no steelyards were allowed to be used for a less weight than twenty pounds ; to examine all persons suspected of selling as hucksters
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or forestallers; to prosecute all persons violating the market ordinance and to keep the market house clean.
THE PUBLIC SQUARE ON SOUTH STREET.
In Deed Book E, page 55, is a deed bearing date of May 28, 1802, in which it is stated that for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, Jacob Beeson and Elizabeth, his wife, convey to the inhabitants of Jacob's Second Addition a plat of ground embraced between Jacob's alley, now Arch street, South street, Strawberry alley and lot No. 1 in Jacob's Second Addition, to be devoted to any useful public purpose they may elect.
This valuable piece of ground, the munificent gift of one of the founders of the town, lay unoccupied for many years, when, in 1819, the members of the Presbyterian church erected thereon a brick house of worship. Dissatisfaction soon made itself manifest on the part of the "Inhabitants of Jacob's Ad- dition and Jacob's Second Addition," as this was regarded a de- nominational rather than a public use of the ground.
Deed Book P, page 510, recites that Enos West was granted power of attorney to bring suit of ejectment against the trus- tees of the Presbyterian church to gain possession of the Central Public Grounds, October 16, 1828. This building was removed in 1839.
In the year 1835, the council of Union Borough agreed to make an appropriation of twenty-five dollars toward the erection of a borough scales, and Mr. L. W. Stockton, the enterprising agent of the National Stage line, put in the first set of scales, the first thing of public use to occupy the Public Grounds after a lapse of thirty-three years, but Mr. Stockton was required to wait for nine years before the borough had funds to reimburse him for his outlay.
Prior to 1842, the town council had decided that a new market house was a necessity, as the old one had become a nuisance, and at a meeting on March 14, 1843, on motion of William B. Roberts, it was resolved to erect a new market house on the public grounds. Why the first market house and engine house were erected on private ground is not apparent. Plans were submitted and the contract was let to Robert L. Barry, a merchant of the town, to erect the building of brick according to the plans, for the sum of $1,350, and in November,
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1843, the building was completed. This building was of brick, two stories high and about sixty feet in length by twenty-four feet in width, the windows were about six feet wide and arched at the top but contained no sash. The end fronting on South street had a large arched doorway, and two smaller door-ways were at the sides: heavy oak benches were along the sides both inside and outside the building for the display of meat, vegetables and country produce. The second story was used as council chamber and for public entertainments, and was known as the " Town Hall." Many and various were the enter- tainments held here, and it was a popular place for holding church festivals, on which occasions the very élite of the town were wont to assemble here and be entertained. Bracket roofs ran along each side of the building and afforded shelter for the market gardeners who exhibited their produce on the out- side of the building. A row of posts through which a stout chain was passed surrounded the grounds to keep teams at a distance.
Among the many butchers who rented stalls in this old market house may be mentioned Everhart Bierer, Robert Pat- terson, William B. McCormick, Nelson Randolph, Elijah Cross- land, Greenberry Crossland and others. Robert Patterson was perhaps the longest tenant, as he came here in 1842, and occu- pied a stall in the old market house, and when this new one was erected, in 1843, he continued to occupy a stall until the build- ing became unfit for use. The borough authorities tried to compell Mr. Patterson to continue his business in the market house, but he defied the authorities on account of the unfitness of the building, won his case and transferred his business to a suitable room over the race on Morgantown street.
A fire broke out on Tuesday, July 1, 1851, in a nearby building which soon communicated with the market house which resulted in much damage to the building, and the de- struction of the borough records up to that date.
From the fact that this old market house was never pro- vided with doors, it stood open to the free access of loafers and bums, and notwithstanding a market master was employed, it soon became in such a filthy condition it was unfit for the use for which it was intended. The old market house remained in this filthy condition, a disgrace to the town, until 1877, when the steam fire engine was purchased, and the fire apparatus of
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the town was housed therein. The Keystone Fire company have occupied the old Town Hall as headquarters from the time of its organization until the building was torn down.
A frame building was erected in 1851 for the housing of the two old fire engines and the pump known as the "crab ", and the bucket carts. This frame building stood against the end of the market house and spanned the borough scales, with open- ings at each side of the scales. This was torn away in 1880, when the new scales were put in, and other brick work added to the property. About 1880, the southern end of the old market house was divided off by a heavy plank partition, and this part was used for several years as a borough lockup. This too, soon became in a filthy condition and the borough was made liable for heavy damages by the incarceration of poor unfortunates in such an unsanitary place. A lot was procured and a new lockup built near the jail in 1889.
MUNICIPAL HALL.
In 1906, the fire department of the town demanded that better and more adequate quarters be furnished the apparatus and fire companies. This demand met with the hearty approval of the borough officials and the people, and it was decided to make a $50,000 bond issue for the erection of a lockup, a new hose house at the East End and a municipal building on the Public Grounds. Architect John C. Fulton was employed to draft the plans, and on January 11, 1898, the contract was let to George M. Beatty and Brother of Uniontown, at a bid of $43,441. Work was begun immediately, and the building was accepted on Wednesday, December 30, 1908, and the fire department moved in the following day. The borough council met for the first time in their new quarters, February 2, 1909, and the dedi- cation of the building took place Tuesday evening, February 9, 1909, with appropriate ceremonies in the public hall. The build- ing was presented to the people in an address by Hon. Nathaniel Ewing and accepted by an address by Robert F. Hopwood, Esq., on the part of the people. Ex-Mayor George W. Guthrie of Pittsburgh, made some appropriate congratulatory remarks, and he was followed by Edward G. Lang, Director of Public Safety of Pittsburgh. John D. Carr of the advisory committee told as to the cost and construction of the building, and Daniel W. Mc-
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Donald, Esq., gave a history of the fire department. James Hadden, in the name of William C. McCormick, presented to the borough a portrait of General Ephraim Douglass, the first burgess of the town, which was received by Burgess R. D. Warman. After the exercises in the Municipal Hall a banquet was held at the McClelland House at which about one hundred and sixty guests were entertained, and addresses were made by Rev. Dr. W. Hamilton Spence, W. H. Cook, Supt. C. J. Scott, Mayor Guthrie, D. M. Hertzog, Esq., and Judge J. Q. Van. Swearingen, R. F. Hopwood, Esq., acting as toastmaster.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE WHISKY INSURRECTION-DAVID G. BLYTHE AND HIS PANO- RAMA OF THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS-AGRICULTURAL EXHIBI- TIONS.
The first excise law passed in Pennsylvania was the act of March 16, 1684. This was soon repealed and another was passed in May, 1744, and still another in 1756, which levied a tax on all imported spirits. In March, 1772, this law was re- vised and extended to spirits distilled at home, exempting that intended for private use for the owner of the still.
During the Revolution whisky was in great demand, and the business of distilling became very remunerative. In many parts of the country distilleries became very plentiful and the people became alarmed at the consumption of grain by the distillers.
From the fact that the region west of the mountains was an agricultural district grain was comparatively plentiful but money scarce. The difficulty was to dispose of the grain at remunerative prices. It was found that a horse could carry but four bushels of grain to the eastern markets, but when distilled into liquor one horse could carry the product of twenty-four bushels, consequently those engaged in distilling remonstrated against an excise tax law, which would fall heavily upon the inhabitants of the four western counties of the state, namely, Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette and Washington.
An excise law was passed by Congress on March 3, 1791, by which was placed four pence per gallon on all distilled spirits. Grain was needed for the army, and money was needed to reimburse the Revolutionary soldiers who had been paid in depreciated money.
The passage of this act naturally aroused a spirit of indig- nation among the inhabitants of the four western counties, and an indignation meeting was held at Redstone Old Fort (now Brownsville), on the 17th of July, 1791, at which it was deter-
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mined to petition Congress for relief. These petitions were re- peated at a meeting in August, 1792, and expressed in most strenuous terms their contempt for those who attempted to en- force the law or collect the excise tax. The expressions at these meetings grew more and more intemperate.
In the month of June, 1791, the first year in which the stills were to have been entered, there were no offices of inspection opened west of the mountains. In June of 1794, however, offices for that purpose were opened in Westmoreland, Alle- gheny, Washington and Fayette counties, that of the latter being at the home of Benjamin Wells, then living at Stewart's Crossing, (now Connellsville).
Liberty poles were hoisted at different localities, bearing the motto "Liberty and no excise, and no asylum for cowards and traitors." Notices of warnings and threats were posted in public places, signed "Tom the Tinker." Signifying that if the still was entered, Tom the Tinker would call and " fix " it. A liberty pole was erected in Uniontown and one on the farm of Col. Thomas Gaddis, two miles south.
The first actual outrage perpetrated upon an excise officer was committed near Pigeon creek in Washington county, September 6, 1791, upon Robert Johnson, the collector for Washington and Allegheny counties. He was stripped of his clothing and tarred and feathered and otherwise abused.
Knowledge of the state of affairs in this western district having reached the president, he issued a proclamation in which he stated that in the night of the 22nd of November, 1793, a number of armed men, with blackened faces and otherwise dis- guised, violently broke open and entered the dwelling house of Benjamin Wells, collector of revenue in and for the counties of Fayette and Westmoreland, and did compel him to deliver up his commission, together with the books kept by him. And whereas infractions of the law may be prevented and officers protected, I hereby offer a reward of two hundred dollars for each of the said offenders that shall be discovered and brought to justice, and I hereby strictly charge and enjoin all officers and ministers of justice to use their best endeavors to cause the offenders to be discovered so they may be speedily brought to trial.
Signed, Geo. Washington.
Done at the city of Philadelphia, February, 1794.
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On September 25th, the president issued a proclamation offering clemency to all who would submit to the law.
The president issued a call for 15,000 troops to be raised in four divisions from Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey to suppress the insurrection. These were placed under the general command of General Henry Lee of Virginia, known as Light Horse Harry of the Revolution. The Virginia and Maryland troops were commanded by Brigadier-General Samuel Smith of Baltimore and General Daniel Morgan of Virginia. These formed the left wing of the army and rendez- voused at Cumberland. The right wing rendezvoused at Car- lisle all under the command of the commander-in-chief, then governor of Virginia.
President Washington with General Henry Knox, Secre- tary of War and General Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury left Philadelphia on October 1, 1794, to visit the headquarters of the right wing of the army at Carlisle and thence to Cumberland where the president reviewed the left wing, after which he proceeded to Bedford to which place General Lee had removed his headquarters, where he arrived on the 19th, and where he remained three days, and returned east, arriving at Philadelphia on the 28th.
A committee from Pittsburgh composed of William Findley, David Redick, Ephraim Douglass and Thomas Morton, had been appointed to wait upon the president at Carlisle and in- form him that the people had signed the papers of submission, and that the law would be enforced, and that the advance of the army would be entirely unnecessary. The president in- formed the committee that as the army had advanced so far, he would not countermand the orders he had given until a more substantial assurance be obtained that the laws would be respected and submission to them be assured. The papers were given to Secretary Hamilton who stated that they would be given to the commander-in-chief.
The left wing of the army moved from Cumberland on October 22nd and arrived at Uniontown on the 31st and went into camp. The same committee that was to have met the president met General Lee at Uniontown, where Secretary Hamilton was present and made the request that the army be withdrawn, but the committee were informed that the army would not be withdrawn until the civil government was fully
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