USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > Uniontown > A history of Uniontown : the county seat of Fayette County, Pennsylvania > Part 9
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Mrs. Bunton formerly owned a lot immediately east of what was since known as the Moran Hotel which she disposed of and purchased this. She lived in a small one-and-a-half story frame
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house on the rear of this lot, which stood a little way back from Peter street. It had a small front yard with shade trees. Mrs. Bunton lived to such an age that she was familiarly known as Granny Bunton. She died in Pittsburgh over ninety years of age.
Much of this lot was absorbed by the opening of North Gallatin avenue in 1883, when by condemnation proceedings the borough took the western part of this lot for that purpose.
William Thorndell, Sr., became owner of part of lot No. 38 on which the frame building is still standing and lining on the eastern side of North Gallatin avenue. Here he conducted a confectionery and bakery and also manufactured shoes. He came here from Gloucester, England, in 1843, having landed in America that same year. This property remained in the Thorn- dell family for many years and was finally sold to Edgar S. Hackney, J. V. Thompson and J. D. Ruby. In the spring of 1907, the Executive Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association of Uniontown purchased this old Thorndell prop- erty and the old Ewing property on the east for the purpose of erecting a Young Men's Christian Association building.
George Roth, having obtained a lease on the northern part of this lot, erected a three-story brick building thereon which was rented for business purposes on the first floor and flats on the second and a public hall on the third.
On the front end of this lot stood three small frame build- ings which were occupied at various times by different tenants for business purposes. A small alley-way separated the build- ings on this lot from the Gregg tavern on the east. Isaac Car- ter made Windsor chairs here in 1815, and J. S. Williams opened a bake shop here in 1820. Edward Gavin came here in 1824, and being a baker by occupation, he purchased about thirty- three feet frontage of the middle part of this lot and here he conducted a thriving business for many years. He was a man of considerable business capacity and soon became successful in business. ` It was his annual custom to prepare a treat for the children of the town, and on Christmas day he would blow a horn from an upper window and collect the children to his place of business, then he would throw cakes, candies and nuts into the street and have the children scrabble for them.
John McCleary, a silversmith, came to Uniontown in 1824, and later located in one of the small buildings on this lot, where
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he conducted his business for many years. He was a familiar figure on our streets and was known by all. He served at least one term as burgess of the town. He was a brother to Mrs. Johnze Dicus.
Daniel Huston advertised that he had commenced the tailor- ing business in Edward Gavin's new shop, August 2, 1830. Judge John Dawson was his first customer upon commencing business in Uniontown, and Mr. Huston often related that he spent his last half dollar in erecting his tailoring bench in this shop. He remained in this room until March 1, 1837, when he sold out to Johnson and Loore, who continued the business in the same room, and they in turn were succeeded by John L. Means in the same business.
William W. Stumph, Esquire, came into ownership of the Gavin lot, running back 80 feet to the part owned by Elijah Crossland. Mr. Stumph erected a two-story brick building on the front, which was known as the Stumph Law Building, and here he held his office as justice of the peace for many years. Other parts of the building were used as attorney's offices. Joseph R. Marshall purchased the Stumph Law Building and occupied as a residence and marble shop for some time until 1879, after which it was used again for law offices. In 1883, this property was condemned with that on the west and torn away to open North Gallatin avenue.
Jonathan Downer purchased the western part of this lot, No. 38, being 15 feet frontage on East Main street, and bounded on the west by a ten-foot alley, known as Downer's alley from the fact that it led to Downer's residence and tan yard, To the front of this lot Mr. Downer removed the original old Beeson mill building, which had formerly stood on a lot north of Peter street, and in what is now the roadway of North Gallatin avenue. This old mill, erected by Henry Beeson in 1772, was the first mill erected in this section of the country, but after ten years of operation, was dismantled, and the building, as stated, removed to this lot on Main street. Its odd appearance, with its end to the street, and its curb roof attracted attention. Mr. Downer occupied this as a residence for a short while until he removed to Wharton township, in 1813, where he kept a tavern on the old Braddock road, until the construction of the National road, when he built the Chalk Hill house in 1818 or
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1823, which he conducted until his death in 1833, at the age of 79 years.
After Mr. Downer's removal to Wharton township this old mill property was occupied by various tenants, among the most prominent were the following: James Lindsey, who was widely known as a justice of the peace, occupied this building as an office and residence for many years. His son, James, and son- in-law, Samuel Clevenger, conducted a store here for many years. James Lindsey was a resident of Uniontown for 50 years and a justice of the peace for 40 years. He died in this old building February 22, 1846, in the 74th year of his age.
Thomas Patton became owner of the Genius of Liberty printing office in 1820, and removed the office into the old mill property, a part of which he occupied as a residence. The paper was issued from this place for eight years, almost the entire time of Mr. Patton's ownership.
Johnze Dicus was the last occupant of this property. Here he conducted a grocery and provision store from 1868 until the building was torn away for the opening of North Gallatin ave- nue. Much of the material in this old mill was used in the con- struction of a dwelling house on Stewart avenue.
Johnze Dicus was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, and located in Dunbar township in 1825. In 1838, he came to Union- town, where he was at once elected constable, which office, to- gether with that of deputy sheriff, he filled for many years. He was a member of the volunteer company that paraded in honor of Lafayette's visit to Uniontown in 1825.
An anecdote told of Mr. Dicus is, that at one time he was engaged in buying horses and droving them to Baltimore for the eastern markets. A colored fellow known as Dark's Jim was in the habit of accompanying the drovers over the moun- tains, and he conceived the idea that if he would allow the owner of the drove to sell him along with the horses and then escape and join the drover and divide the money received for him, it would be a good business stroke. This was risky business for Jim, but it was said that he had been successful more than once of eluding the slave buyer, but this time proved one too many. Mr. Dicus returned, but Jim's familiar face was never more seen in Uniontown. Mr. Dicus died February 9, 1885.
A frame building stood in the rear of the old mill building
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which was used for residence purposes, by various tenants. On the Peter street end of this lot stood a small brick house which was occupied by Samuel Starns, a tanner by trade. The prop- erty belonged to Greenberry Crossland, a brother-in-law to Mr. Starns.
William McFarlin bought from Henry Beeson a part of lot No. 38, next to No. 39, fronting 26 feet on Elbow or East Main street, west of the ten-foot alley before mentioned, and running back 100 feet to a small lot belonging to John Bostick.
Elijah Crossland, who had carried on the butchering busi- ness in Connellsville for some time, came to Uniontown in 1822, and purchased this lot on which then stood a small frame house. Mr. Crossland occupied this house for some time and then tore it away and erected a brick dwelling in which he lived for some time. Mr. Crossland, in conjunction with his son, Greenberry, carried on the butchering business here for many years. Elijah Crossland died October 3, 1860, over 78 years of age.
Greenberry Crossland became the owner of this property in 1838, and occupied it for some time as a residence. He was born in 1813, and came to this town when but nine years of age. He used to relate that he started in the butchering business for himself in 1833 with a capital of only twenty-three dollars, ten of which he had borrowed from his wife. He wheeled his meat from the slaughter house to the market house on a wheel- barrow, not having a team with which to haul it, but by in- dustry and frugality he prospered and became one of the wealthy men of the town.
Mr. Crossland became an extensive cattle dealer and for many years droved cattle to the eastern markets. He purchased the farm of Charles Brown, just one mile east of town in 1848, to which he moved and spent the remainder of his active days. Mr. Crossland died May 16, 1897, by whose death the com- munity lost one of its most respected citizens and the Metho- dist Episcopal church one of its most devoted members.
Dr. R. M. Walker became a tenant of this property after Mr. Crossland moved to his farm. He was succeeded by Dr. George C. Ewing, a very promising young physician who died here of diphtheria, January 26, 1866. .
Greenberry Crossland sold this property to William Ma- quilken and William Swan who sold it to John S. Harah, who
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transferred it to Myers Hollander, an enterprising Jewish clothier of the town, who greatly improved it and occupied it as a resi- dence. Mr. Hollander carried on a successful business here for several years.
Dr. David Porter purchased this property from Myers Hol- lander in 1868, and occupied it as a residence until his death, which occurred September 22, 1875, and his widow continued to occupy it until her death, July 29, 1899, at the age of 79 years.
Dr. David Porter was born March 17, 1794, and was the son of William Porter who died when David was quite young. Captain William Woolsey, who commanded a privateer during the revolutionary war, took the lad and gave him a liberal edu- cation and sent him to Jefferson medical college, He married Lucinda, a daughter of Rev. Obediah Jennings of Washington, Pa., and became the first resident physician of Cookstown. His second wife was Rebecca Miller a daughter of John Miller a former prominent resident of this town. Dr. Porter was a man of most excellent parts, and his council and advice were much sought after by the other physicians of the town.
After the death of Mrs. Porter the property was sold to William and Richard Barton and rented for a dwelling and of- fices, William H. Miller, a half-brother to Mrs. Porter, had his office as a justice of the peace in this building and was its last tenant before it was torn away.
Robert F. Sample and Ewing B. Marshall purchased this property and tore away the old buildings and erected the build- ing known as the Gallatin Hotel. This hotel was first opened to the public September 15, 1905, and dinner was first served September 19th when every department was opened to the public.
This hotel is a five-story brick building facing on East Main street and North Gallatin avenue. Ewing B. Marshall sold his interest to R. F. Sample April 20, 1910.
Empson Brownfield was the first purchaser of lot No. 39, March 7, 1780, and kept both a store and a tavern until 1790. His was one of the first stores started in the town and he brought his goods over the mountains on packhorses. He was . one of the eight sons of settler Charles Brownfield of Georges township. He was unfortunate in business and removed to Kentucky.
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This property came into the possession of Joseph Huston, who came to Union township in 1790, and was appointed to the office of sheriff November 14th of the same year. He subse- quently engaged in the mercantile business for several years. He purchased some land in North Union township and built a forge on Redstone creek, which was operated for some years. In 1803, he bought of Jeremiah Pears the Redstone furnace and continued business at these places until near the time of his death in 1824, at the age of 61 years. His nephew, John Huston, subsequently owned and operated the old Redstone furnace.
James Lindsey, Esq., bought 38 feet of the eastern part of this lot, on which was a log house and kitchen, and here lived for many years. It was sold from Esquire Lindsey by the sheriff in 1824, and subsequently became the property of Alonzo L. Littell in 1834, and from this property he issued the Genius of Liberty for some time while owner of that paper.
Many and varied were the tenants of this property. John L. Means, a justice of the peace and a tailor by trade, carried on both branches of business here. Daniel Canon and W. H. Bennet as partners, ran an extensive shoe manufacturing busi- ness in this property, having the sales-room on the first floor and workshop above, and employed a number of workmen. They brought David Clark here from Pittsburgh to be the cutter and fitter in the shop. Mr. Clark purchased the business and stock about 1849, and continued the business in his own name. He was one of the finest workmen ever located in the town. He could make a better fit without measurement than most shoe- makers could after measuring the foot.
Maj. John Irons was an occupant here after purchasing the Genius of Liberty. Dr. Alfred Creigh succeeded Mr. Irons. Dr. H. F. Roberts came from Bellevernon and located in this property for the practice of medicine, in 1842. It was with Dr. Roberts that the late Dr. F. C. Robinson read medicine. George Rine and his brother-in-law carried on the furniture business here. Jonathan Springer, as burgess of the town, kept his of- fice here.
William K. Cooper became owner of this property and here lived and carried on his business as a photographer for many years. After the death of Mr. Cooper the family tore away the old frame front of this property and erected a good two-story brick residence, which they continued to occupy for some time.
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The Bryson Brothers purchased this property and con- verted it into a large furniture room, extending back to Peter street. They closed out their business in 1900.
Messrs. O. P. Markle, R. F. Hopwood and John T. Darby purchased this property and vastly improved the building, fit- ting it up for business rooms and offices. One part was fitted up expressly for a home for the Genius of Liberty printing of- fice to which location that office was removed April 1, 1903, thus the Genius of Liberty returned to the same lot it had oc- cupied over sixty years before.
A new daily paper called the Morning Herald was issued from the same office as the Genius of Liberty, the first issue of which bears the date of January 8, 1907.
On the western part of lot No. 39 stood a brick residence immediately west of the before described property. Silas Baily located in Uniontown in 1812 or '14 and resided in this brick building and kept a store in a frame adjoining on the east. He also filled the office of a justice of the peace. He was the father of William, Milton, Ellis, Milkah, who married William H. Barclay, Phebe and Maria Lucretia, who married Hugh Thompson, Jr.
Silas Baily died in January, 1820, and his widow continued the store after his death. It appears that their son, Milton, succeeded the widow in business, as in 1830, he was licensed to sell foreign goods. The law then required that all merchants selling foreign goods should do so under a license, thus discour- aging the importation of foreign goods and encouraging home manufactories. He removed to Sidney, Ohio, in 1836, and died there July 30, 1857, at the age of 36 years. His widow who lived to be over ninety years of age, witnessed William H. Carroll, the last survivor of the signers of the declaration of independence, throw the first shovel of dirt in the building of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad. She heard the cannonading in the battle fought September 13, 1814, between the British and the Mary- land militia at North Point, and the bombardment of Fort Mc- Henry at the same time.
Other occupants of this property were Hardesty Walker with a silversmith shop, Samuel T. Lewis with a tailor shop, Ellis Baily with a store, Daniel Smith with an iron store, Wil-
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liam McCleary and William Swearingen with a store and Simon Snyder with a bakery and confectionery.
Ellis Baily, Jr., became owner of this part of the lot and tore away the old buildings, about 1868, and erected a new two- story brick dwelling house. He had occupied the old brick as a dwelling and the store room as a dry goods and grocery store for some time before tearing them away. This he occupied while building the business rooms and dwelling now known as the Lafayette Hotel, upon the completion of which he moved his family and jewelry store to that place. Upon the removal of Ellis Baily to his new building his brother, William, whose wife had recently died on Pittsburgh street, moved his family into this property.
Ellis Baily subsequently tore away this old property and erected a brick dwelling into which he moved his family, and here ended his days.
Ellis Baily was one of the best known business men of the town. He was born June 1, 1813, and carried on the silver- smith business for 50 years, and died on the lot on which he was born, December 14, 1883.
Samuel N. Long bought this property for his daughter, Catharine, wife of Paoli S. Morrow, Esq .; had doors cut in the front and fitted up for law offices and the rear was occupied as a dwelling.
Joseph E. Barnes purchased this property in 1906, paying therefor $1,200 per foot frontage, the highest price ever paid for property in the town up to that time. During 1907, the Ellis Baily building was torn away and a one-story brick building was erected by J. H. Rubin of Mckeesport, for an amusement hall and here was established a place for amuse- ment called the Lyric Theater.
John Collins, a native of Ireland, purchased lots Nos. 40 and 41, and they were already in his possession before March 7, 1780, and he had thereon his tavern, which had the record of being the first house of public entertainment in Uniontown. He applied for a license at the first session of court held in Fay- ette county, December, 1783, and for several years thereafter.
John Collins' tavern was very popular in his day. It is mentioned as the meeting place for the military court of appeals held by Col. Alexander McClean, May 8, 1782.
The log building in which John Collins kept his tavern
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stood on the eastern part of lot No. 40, and the remainder of the lot, together with lot No. 41, was used as a large wagon and stable-yard. A high, tight board fence enclosed the large lot on Main street, while two large gates afforded a driveway through from the front. This large yard afforded ample room for the accommodation of small traveling shows that visited the town in early days. John Collins was the father of Capt. Thomas Collins who commanded a company from this town in the war of 1812-14, and of Joseph Collins. He acquired con- siderable property about the town and died at his home on Morgantown street where Church street now enters that street. His death occurred November 3, 1813, aged 72 years, his wife, Mary, having died April 27, previous.
The old tavern was subsequently run by Jimmie McClean and by Samuel Salters. Cuthbert Wiggins came to Uniontown in 1817, and conducted a tavern here for about four years, when he moved to Wharton township and there kept a public house until his death. He had formerly kept a public house near Brownsville, known as the Red Horse tavern, for some seven years before coming to Uniontown. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and witnessed the launching of Perry's fleet on Lake Erie which swept from that lake the British fleet, September 10, 1813.
William Flinn succeeded Cuthbert Wiggins and conducted a tavern here from about 1823 to 1826 at least.
Andrew Byers succeeded Flinn as proprietor of this tavern, and the following advertisements will give a clear idea of the kind of shows that were exhibited on this lot in the early history of the town :
" Grand carnival of living animals will be exhibited at the house of Andrew Byers in Uniontown, in the place lately oc- cupied by the circus, on Monday and Tuesday, the 17th and 18th inst. The African lion which was imported from the river Senegal in Africa in March, 1825, and is the largest ever ex- hibited in the United States ; a South American panther ; a camel or llama from Peru or Chili; a South American cougar and a brown tiger and a Shetland pony. Hours of exhibition from 9:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. Good music during the performance. Ad- mission 1212 cents, children under 10 years half price. August 12, 1829.
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Another show announced its coming as follows :
" Grand caravan of living animals will exhibit at the house of Andrew Byers the 26th September, 1829, from 12:00 m. tili 5:00 p. m. A full-grown lion and lioness, both in one cage ; two panthers, male and female, both in one cage; a Missouri bear; a cougar from Brazil; a full-grown African leopard a Shetland pony and his rider, Dandy Jack; Col. Pluck; Saucy Jack; Lady Jane; ichneumon, ant eater, etc. Admission 121/2 cents.
Also a thousand bladed penknife ; a grand musical instru- ment, lately imported from Germany ; a troop of horses, a com- pany of soldiers, dancers and mechanics in full operation with the music; equal to life, wax figures of tragic scene of J. O. Beauchamp and his wife."
While Byers kept this tavern the following incident took place. There was an old colored man by the name of Tony, em- ployed about the place as chore boy, hostler and all-around hand. One day while hoeing in a lot in the rear of the tavern he so ir- ritated one of the Byers family that he snatched the hoe and struck Tony on the head. Upon examination it was found that the injury would prove fatal, and upon this being communicated to Tony, he began to dispose of his personal effects which con- sisted solely of his person. This he negotiated for a quart of whisky which he drank, and having made peace with his physi- cian and all the rest of mankind, he bade a final adieu to earth.
Tony died and was tenderly prepared for burial. A few of his friends gathered in a small room at the tavern at the wake. At midnight supper was announced for the watchers and the white folks kindly volunteered to guard Tony while his friends would regale themselves over the repast spread for them in the kitchen. The colored friends found no occasion to be anxious · about the welfare of Tony, so they enjoyed themselves at leisure with the eatables and drinkables, with the latter of which they were well supplied. Upon returning to the room, the watchers found the coffin securely fastened and were assured that Tony would keep better if closed from the air, and that all danger from any other source would be avoided.
At the hour arranged for the funeral the colored folks of the town turned out enmasse to pay the last sad rites to poor old Tony who had come to such an untimely end. As the solemn funeral procession moved slowly up the hill to the old
₹
are
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graveyard, one of the pall-bearers felt something slip in the coffin and made the remark, " Dars no Tony thar." When the place of burial was reached, as was sometimes the case, the bier was placed upon the ground while the grave was being finished, and while thus awaiting the finishing of the grave, which con- sumed considerable time on account of the stony nature of the ground, someone ventured to remove the lid of the coffin when, to the chagrin of all, it was found that Tony was not "thar," but in his stead a pair of old pants tied at the bottom and filled with sand. The empty coffin was set up against the fence, the pants were thrown astride the fence, the burial of poor Tony was declared off and the friends disbanded.
It soon leaked out that while Tony's friends were at supper the body was removed and the pants filled with sand substituted. The body was taken up Lick Hollow, three miles east of town, where salt kettles were in place at the old salt works, where amid orgies, the flesh was boiled from the bones.
Mr. Isaac Beeson purchased this lot in 1838 or '39, and tore away the old Collins tavern-stand and erected on its site what was known as Commercial Row. Commercial Row con- sisted of a fine two-story brick block, divided into four compart- ments, with two arched alley-ways leading through to the rear of the houses. There were originally three store rooms and four dwelling apartments. The most eastern store room was desig- nated as No. 1, and among the many tenants of this room may be mentioned the following :
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