USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 60
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Rebecca Carey was an old colored lady who was born a slave and frequently sold by her masters. She was a regular attendant at the services of the Methodist Episcopal church of which she was a consistent member, and this accounts for her having been buried in this graveyard. She is perhaps the only colored person buried in this old graveyard, and is positively
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the last interment here. Aunt Becky, as she was affectionately known, claimed to be over one hundred years of age, and claimed to have witnessed the British soldiers enter Washington city when they burned the capitol.
Rev. Thomas Daughiday was a minister in the Metho- dist Episcopal church. His wife was a daughter of Peter Hook, one of the most prominent citizens of the town in its early his- tory. He lived and died in a small house that stood where the present M. E. church stands.
George Ebert was one of the prominent and most respected citizens of the old town. He owned and carried on the mer- cantile business in property which stood where the Exchange hotel now stands.
Elizabeth Fausett was a descendant of Joseph Fausett whom Gen. Braddock struck down with his sword for fighting from behind a tree, and for which his brother shot Braddock. She lived and carried on the millinery business in this town for many years.
Rev. Thornton Flemming was one of the most widely and favorably known ministers of the Methodist Episcopal church. He owned and occupied property on Morgantown street. He married the grandparents, parents and children of the com- munity. He left many namesakes to perpetuate his name. He was a faithful minister of the gospel for over sixty-one years. His faithful and saintly wife sleeps by his side in this old graveyard.
Abner Greenland was a prominent and useful citizen of the old town. He conducted a pottery, then quite an industry. He was succeeded in the business by his son, Norval. The old Greenland pottery is well remembered by our older citizens.
Capt. Hugh Gorley served his country at Fort Meigs under General Harrison, in the war of 1812, after which he settled in Uniontown and carried on the shoemaking business. His mili- tary ardor never waned, but at all military parades he was al- ways conspicuous with his company of artillery in which he took so much delight. When General Lafayette visited this town in 1825, Captain Gorley was posted on an eminence west of town and well did he announce the approach of the distinguished guest by his thirteen rounds of artillery. His father served in
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the Revolutionary war, and at least two of his sons served in the war of the late rebellion.
Peter Hook was a very prominent citizen of our town. He located here as early as 1781, and purchased from Henry Bee- son lot No. 22, on which the residence of the late Hon. J. K. Ewing now stands. Here he built a frame house in which he carried on the hatting business for many years and became wealthy. The late Benjamin Hellen married his daughter, Dru- silla, and succeeded to the business. From Peter Hook de- scended some of the most respected citizens of our town today.
Benjamin Hellen carried on the hatting business here in the early history of the town and became wealthy. He owned valuable property on West Main street and elsewhere in town as well as an immense tract of valuable land adjoining the southern part of the town. Many of his descendants are still citizens of the town.
Rev. Daniel Limerick was located here as pastor of the M. E. church in 1836.
Ewing McCleary owned and kept a tavern where the Brunswick hotel now stands. His wife was a sister to Na- thaniel Brownfield, and his tavern was favorably known in old stage-coach times.
Thomas H. McCormick served his country in the rebellion as a member of Company K, 112th Penna. Vols.
Noble McCormick was a weaver by trade and carried on his business in our town. He was quite a scholar and taught school for many years. He was the father of the late William B. McCormick.
Nathaniel Mitchell was a manufacturer of cutlery and edged tools, and ran the old " tilt hammer " at the foot of Pitts- burgh street.
Rev. John Phillips owned and carried on the furniture busi- ness where the First Presbyterian church now stands. He was a minister in the Methodist Protestant church.
Benjamin Price was an officer in the war of 1812, and held the office of justice of the peace.
Jonathan Rowland was one of the prominent citizens of the old town. He filled the office of justice of the peace and was one of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church who made deeds for burial permits in this old graveyard.
Colonel William B. Roberts, another prominent and
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useful citizen of the town, erected the large brick building on West Main street, known as the Roberts building and here he carried on the manufacture of furniture. He enlisted a com- pany for the war with Mexico, and was elected colonel of the Second Pennsylvania regiment in that service. He served his country valiantly, but died from hemorrhage of the lungs, and was brought home and buried, much lamented by the com- munity.
Rev. Alfred Sturgis was an itinerant preacher in the Metho- dist Episcopal church for fourteen years.
Alexander Turner was a contractor on the old Cumberland road and did much of the stone work on the large bridges. He became wealthy and owned much property. He owned the land - from near the residence of Frank M. Semans, Jr., to that of J. V. Thompson, and much more besides.
John Vankirk came here from New Jersey and purchased the triangular piece of ground between South, Arch and Morgantown streets, March 17, 1788, and here established him- self in the furniture business, being a chair maker by trade. He soon became prosperous and owned much other property in the town. His widow, who sleeps by his side, lived to be over ninety years of age and was much beloved by the com- munity.
John Wood was a saddler and harness maker by trade and became quite prosperous. He at one time owned the old " Round Corner " lot, now covered by the magnificent First National Bank building. He also owned a fine farm about one mile south of town, and much other property. He was elected in 1784, as a member of the Supreme Executive Council of the State, which body was the same as our legislature of today. His aged widow sleeps by his side.
James Bunton settled in Uniontown after having served his country in the artillery service in the war of 1812. He owned property and lived on South street and raised quite a family and died at an advanced age.
Suky Young has the distinction of having the oldest tomb- stone in this old graveyard, it being dated September 20, 1790, and although this stone bears this early date, it by no means proves that this was the first interment in this old burying ground. This stone, marking Suky Young's grave, although so
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old, is in a much better state of preservation than many which have been erected at a much later date. Many graves there have never been marked, while many bodies have been removed to other cemeteries, and the tombstones removed.
It is a sad pleasure to visit an old burying ground and hold communion with dear ones who have preceded us to the great beyond.
All peoples, tribes and tongues on the face of the globe have their funeral rites, and hold religiously sacred the burial places of their dead. Indeed the history of some of the tribes who have peopled the earth can be traced only by the funeral rites as revealed by the mounds in which they deposited their dead.
Since this has ceased to be used as a burial ground a move- ment has been made by the official board of the Methodist Episcopal church to remove the bodies to some other location, but the relatives and friends of those buried there remonstrated against the movement, and at a hearing held July 11, 1911, in the matter of a petition for the abandonment of this cemetery the court dismissed the proceedings at the cost of the peti- tioners.
THE PRESBYTERIAN GRAVEYARD.
When one visits the place of his nativity after an absence of many years he finds the old graveyard one of the most in- teresting spots around the old home. Here he finds those who were near and dear to him and with whom he had been pleas- antly associated in years gone by. It is a sad pleasure to pass through the silent city of the dead and recall the names and faces of those who have passed to the great beyond.
When the good Quaker, Henry Beeson, laid out the town of " Union " he set apart a plat of one acre and eight perches of ground which he deeded October 3, 1797, to the inhabitants of the Town of Union and its vicinity to be used as a public burial ground, for the sum of five shillings and for other good causes him thereunto moving. This plat of ground lies some few hun- dred yards east of the court house and has become generally know as the Presbyterian graveyard. This name may perhaps have arisen from the fact that the Methodists had a burial ground near their meeting house and the Baptists had one near their meeting house, and it was natural to attach the name of
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the other leading church to this burial ground, although the Presbyterian church never assumed any special authority over it.
Burial grounds are always contemporary with the estab- lishment of new settlements, but many farms have a private burial ground in which sleep the families of many of the first settlers and owners of the land. It would be difficult if not im- possible to ascertain when this old burial ground received its first interment, but it is known that the first ones to die of the Beeson family were not buried in this burial ground, although many of them rest therein.
Mr. John M. Austin laid off one tier of lots adjoining the south side of this old cemetery, and in 1854, Messrs. Jacob and John Gallagher added five or six acres of most desirable lots on the north side.
It is deplorable that this old burial ground in which rest the remains of those who in the early history of our community were its respected and influential citizens should be so sadly neglected. No one can conceive of the neglected condition of this sacred place. It is a burning shame and disgrace to this enlightened and prosperous community, which points with justi- fiable pride to its stately buildings, its thrifty enterprises and its many citizens of means, to know that the shadow of the tower of our magnificent temple of justice falls upon the spot where repose the bones of our ancestors hidden from the light of the noon day sun by a tangled mass of thorns and briars.
The inscriptions on the old headstones and a brief mention of many of the prominent citizens whose remains rest here. The entrance to this old burial ground is by a short, deserted roadway leading from the old Connellsville road. Passing east- ward we notice the graves of :
Thomas Swan, died April 11, 1845, in the 64th year of his age. He resided on the farm two miles west of town lately the residence of Mr. William Thompson.
Eleanor Swan, died January 31, 1837, aged 44 years, 1 month and 9 days.
Mary Hague, consort of Reuben Hague, and daughter of Thomas and Eleanor Swan, died July 1, 1836, aged 22 years, 3 months and 19 days.
William Postelwait of Monongalia county, Va., died De- cember 29, 1837, in the 36th year of his age.
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Mary, wife of Moses Shehan, died October 30, 1857, aged 54 years. Mrs. Shehan's grave is in the John M. Austin addi- tion to the old cemetery and is now in the backyard to one of the houses in Green Row. Mr. Shehan, her husband, was a tailor by trade and carried on the tailoring and ready-made clothing business here for many years, and removed some years ago.
Zadoc Walker died March 4, 1831, aged 68 years and 12 days. He built what is now known as the Central hotel, then known as the Walker house, and here he conducted a public house for many years. General Lafayette, President William Henry Harrison and General Santa Anna of Mexican war fame were among the distinguished guests. He left a quite respecta- ble family.
Elizabeth, wife of Zadoc Walker, died 30th March, 1827, aged 51 years, 3 months and 5 days.
Rebecca A. Lewis, consort of Freeman Lewis, born March 29, 1791, died October 24, 1844. Her husband, Freeman Lewis, was, with the exception of Col. McClean, the most widely known surveyor in Fayette county.
Alpheus Lewis, born January 16, 1824, died June 28, 1833.
Stephen McClean died October 3, 1866, aged 80 years and 10 days. He was a son of Col. Alexander McClean, and made his home at what is now Lemont, in North Union township.
William Speer, born May 10, 1786, died February 1, 1857. Mr. Speer served as tipstaff at the court house for many years and owned and resided at what is now known as the late Col. John Collins property on Connellsville street.
Jane C. Ewing died May 12, 1825, aged 22 years and 10 days. Her maiden name was Jane Crigh Kennedy, daughter of Judge John Kennedy, and in 1822 was married to Judge Na- thaniel Ewing. She left one child, the Hon. John Kennedy Ewing.
John Gregg died December 29, 1840, aged 33 years, 11 months and 7 days.
Matthew Irwin, born January 27, 1783, died December 20, 1844. He was a highly respected merchant of the town and served as postmaster during the Van Buren administration. He married a daughter of Zadoc Walker and several of their children died young.
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Harriet Walker Irwin died August 25, 1813, aged 11 months.
Maria Irwin died September 14, 1813, aged 8 months.
Thomas Mifflin Irwin, born May 9, 1816, died August 22, 1817.
Richard Montgomery Irwin, born October 28, 1825, died June 3, 1828.
Ellen Roselma Irwin, born September 11, 1825, died Sep- tember 13, 1828.
Frances Murray Irwin, born January 27, 1817, died April 18, 1825.
James Calhoun died January 11, 1852, aged 70 years.
John Stewart Mckinney died December 30, 1845, aged 13 years, 1 month and 24 days. He was a son of William Mc- Kinney, a shoemaker at one time a resident of the town.
John Foster died October 31, 1815, aged 24 years.
Joseph Gray, died January 8, 1851, aged 42 years, 11 months and 8 days. He was the father of the late Capt. John Gray, the well known passenger conductor on the old Fayette County railroad. He was proprietor of the old Sea- right's tavern stand at the time of his death.
John Collins died November 3, 1813, aged 72 years. He was proprietor of the first tavern stand opened in Uniontown. His tavern was in a log building which stood on the lot now occupied by the Commercial row, now owned by J. Harry Johnston, Dr. Beal and others. He applied for a license at the first session of court held in Fayette county, December, 1783. It was at his tavern a court of appeals was held by Col. Alex- ander McClean, as sub-lieutenant of Westmoreland county, May 8 and June 5, 1782. He was the father of Capt. Thomas Collins, who marched the first company from Fayette county in the war of 1812, and of Joseph Collins, the father-in-law to the late Bazil Brownfield. He purchased of Henry Beeson, the founder of the town, a tract of two acres and 84 perches on the east side of Morgantown street, extending from where the public fountain is now located to the Playford alley, a frontage of 338.25 feet running back 310.2 feet, for the sum of 12 pounds, equal to 32 dollars.
Mary Collins died April 29, 1813, aged 72 years. She was the wife of John Collins, above mentioned.
Michael Walters died August 21, 1818, aged 58 years.
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Susannah Walters died November 12, 1809.
William Orrick Jackson, born September 15, 1837, died June 8, 1838.
Daniel W. Canon died May 26, 1854, aged 30 years and 6 months. He was employed as a clerk in the drug store of Dr. Hugh Campbell in the old round corner and subsequently went into the business with Dr. Andrew Patrick, as Patrick & Canon. He married Miss Ann, daughter of William Beggs.
Lizzie, J., daughter of D. and A. Canon, aged 17 months. Mary Jane Canon died October 31, 1835, aged 21 days.
John Canon, born April 3, 1827, died March 1, 1833. Sarah Canon, born March 29, 1829, died February 25, 1833. Elizabeth Canon, born March 10, 1831, died March 9, 1833. M. E. Black born June 17, 1822, died October 30, 1831.
M. A. Black, born October 11, 1830, died 29th of Septem- ber, 1831.
F. M. Black, born 4th of November 1828, died May 5, 1831.
Jane K. Black, born October 31, 1826, died December 21, 1828.
William Brown died June 15, 1826, aged 17 years and 8 months.
Ann Brown died November 17, 1814, aged 39 years.
William Kibler, born January 10, died September 26, 1819.
George Burton Kibler died September 4, 1831, aged 2 years, 2 months and 10 days.
Margaret Allen died May 22, 1810, aged 75 years. Mrs. Allen was familiarly known as Granny Allen and owned two pieces of property near the eastern bridge, East Main street. She conducted a tavern in a log building which stood on the high ground now occupied by the residence of the late William Shipley. Her tavern stand was known as the Pinnacle or Granny Allen's Hill on account of its high location. She also at one time owned the lot, on which stood a tavern stand, now occupied by the residence of Alexander D. Ewing. She was a busy, money-making woman in her day.
William Whiteside died January 27, 1815, aged 73 years. Mr. Whiteside and his wife, known as Dad and Mam White- side, were related to and made their home with Granny Allen.
Mary Ann Collins died September 25, 1816, in the 19th year of her age.
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Hannah Collins died June 18, 1844, aged 68 years. She was the wife of Capt. Thomas Collins.
Thomas Collins died November 7, 1828, aged 55 years. Capt. Collins filled the office of sheriff of Fayette county from 1796 to 1799, and was postmaster from 1802 to 1807. He owned and kept a tavern on what is now known as the Tremont corner. He raised and commanded the first company, known as the Madison Rowdies, which marched from Fayette county to serve in the war of 1812. His company performed service at Oswego, Sackett's Harbor and other points along the lake frontier under Major General Herkimer.
Benjamin Barton died July 19, 1830, aged 1 year, 2 months and 17 days.
Joseph Pryor died April 13, 1837, aged 73 years. He was a fine old bachelor gentleman and a tailor by trade. He at one time owned considerable property in the town, one lot being now covered with the big First National bank building. He served in Capt. Thomas Collins's company in the war of 1812, and made his last home with Capt. Collins's widow, one mile west of town, at whose home he died.
Thomas Barton died May 2, 1845, aged 18 years, 9 months and 2 days.
Jane Vance died October 13, 1840, aged 78 years.
Sabina K. Shelcutt died October 27, 1841, aged 19 years. She was the daughter of Ezekiel Shelcut who will be remem- bered as keeping a confectionery in a log building on lot now oc- cupied by the William E. Hogg law building.
Jane Penkney Sands died June 14, 1840, aged 55 years and 8 months. The Sands family once kept a tavern on south side of Main street east of Redstone creek.
James .A. Smith died June 20, 1845, in the 2nd year of his age.
John E. Smith died September 12, 1843, in the 5th year of his age.
Nancy, consort of Jesse King, died September 17, 1844, aged 55 years, 8 months and 4 days. She was a daughter of James Winder, an old time tavern keeper of this town, and a sister to Col. John Winder of Detroit, Mich.
Jesse King, born March 24, 1810, died March 2, 1854. He with William Gaddis carried on coach building on Peter street for many years. He owned and lived on lot now occupied by
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the Presbyterian parsonage on Morgantown street, and was a highly respected citizen.
Lewis Clemmer, a soldier of the War of 1812, died June 6, 1867, aged 73 years. In 1861 Mr. Clemmer worked on artillery harness for Amzi S. Fuller and E. B. Wood, and while here employed was married to Miss Polly Lewis of Morgantown street.
Lewis Lewis died March 8, 1829, in the 93d year of his age. He had served in the Revolutionary war under the com- mand of General Lafayette and when the latter visited this town in 1825, Mr. Lewis, with other veterans of that war, took dinner at the same table with the distinguished visitor. The general complimented Mr. Lewis as one of his boys.
Sarah Lewis died July 8, 1845, in the 86th year of her age. Mrs. Lewis and her husband, Lewis Lewis, conducted a small cake shop and bakery at their home on Morgantown street. They left this property to their daughter Polly, who subse- quently married Lewis Clemmer, as above mentioned.
John McCleary died January 11, 1861, in the 60th year of his age. He came to this town in 1824 from Pittsburgh, and established himself in the watch and clock business in the prop- erty of David Ewing, on the lot now occupied by L. Kuth. He served one term as burgess of the town. He was a brother of Mrs. Catharine Dicus and was well respected in the community.
Ann McCleary died August 31, 1843, aged 79 years. She was the mother of John McCleary, above mentioned, and of Mrs. Catharine Dicus.
Mary Winder died July 21, 1858, aged 56 years and 18 days.
James Winders died November 25, 1859, in the 68th year of his age.
Jane Means Woods, daughter of Nathan and Jane Woods, died August 28, 1844, in the 26th year of her age.
Elalia Ann Hart, daughter of G. W. and M. L. Hart, died October 24, 1851, aged 12 years, 9 months and 23 days.
Dr. George W. Hart died April 5, 1840, aged 26 years.
Maria Louisa Hart, wife of Dr. Geo. W. Hart, died May 31, 1840, aged 24 years, 11 months and 10 days.
John Irons died July 30, 1850, in the 46th year of his age. Mr. Irons was editor and proprietor of the Genius of Liberty at the time of his death and for several years previous and was a prominent member of the order of Free Masons. When the
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cholera visited our town in 1850 he fell a victim to that terrible scourge. The Masonic lodge of which he was an influential member erected the monument that marks his grave in token of the esteem in which he was held.
Albert G., son of Lucien and Margaret Bowie, died July 26, 1851, aged 19 months.
Jonathan Brown died of lockjaw, aged 11 years, 2 months and 17 days.
Mrs. Nancy, consort of Charles Brown, died December 11, 1835, in the 37th year of her age. Mr. Brown owned and occu- pied what is now the Greenberry Crossland farm one mile east of town.
Priscilla Coulter, consort and relict of John Lyon, died August 20, 1855. She was the widow of John Lyon, Esq., and was familiarly known as Aunt Lyon.
John Lyon, born in Carlisle, Pa., October 13, 1771, died in Uniontown 27th of April, 1837. Mr. Lyon first came to Union- town as a soldier to suppress the whisky insurrection of 1794, and returned east with the troops. He returned here and was admitted to the bar of Fayette county, June 26, 1797, and re- mained here the rest of his life. He was an able lawyer and a gentleman of the highest type. He was married to Miss Pris- cilla Coulter, a lady of one of the first families of Greensburg, Pa. Their home was in a frame building on lot now occupied by the C. H. Seaton building. The bar of Fayette county erected the monument at his grave in token of the high regard in which he was held, and unless some kindly hand soon interposes the last resting place of these two estimable citizens will be effaced.
Mary Retz Byerly, daughter of Andrew and Susan Byerly of Philadelphia, and wife of William P. Wells, died January 25, 1845, in the 25th year of her age. She was a most excellent lady and her early death was much lamented by the whole com- munity.
William P. Wells, born December 22, 1811, died April 2, 1859, aged 47 years. William Pope Wells, familiarly known as " Prince " Wells, was of a distinguished family and settled in Uniontown, where his uncle, John Lyon, Esq., was practicing law. He was admitted to the bar in 1831, and his genial dis- position and scholarly attainments soon drew to him a host of admirers. By this first wife he had two children, of whom Andrew B., of Philadelphia is still living. His second wife was
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Miss Martha Tibbs of Hopwood, by this marriage he had one daughter, Mrs. Lucinda Cottom of Uniontown.
The remains of Mr. and Mrs. Wells were removed recently to the cemetery at Hopwood by his children.
Robert C. Pendleton, son of Edward Pendleton of Caroline City, Va., died the 27th of March, 1836, in the 23rd year of his age, on his return home from Mississippi.
William Cole, merchant of Baltimore, was born at North- ampton, Devonshire, England, the 17th of May, 1761, died at Chalk Hill the 10th of September, 1822.
Jane M. Redick died September 26, 1841, aged 2 months and 8 days. This was doubtless a child of Col. William Redick, a prominent citizen of our town at that time.
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