USA > Pennsylvania > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Pennsylvania : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 68
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Blues, Capt. White ; Fayette Cavalry, Capt. Oliphant : Menon- gahela Cavalry, Capt. Simonson.
"The companies assembled in parade order on Tuesday, at 10 A.M., when Col. W. Redick assumed the command, assisted by Lient .- Col. Phillips, Majs. Merly and Francis, and by Adjt. Brownfield. The troops were marched out of town to the meadow near the bridge, at the west cad of the borough, the property of James Told, politely offered to the military by the proprietor, where the usual military evolutions were performed, when the corps was received by Maj .- Gen. Johns, with bis nides, Majs. Flennikin, Jackson, and Gardner. On the last day of the parade (Thursday ) the visiting troops were escorted out of tuwn by the Union Volunteers ; great good will and harmony characterized the 'three great days.'"
The officers of the company elected Aug. 15, 1842, were: Captain, William McCleary ; First Lieutenant, Francis L. Wilkinson; Second Lieutenant, John Knight.
The following transcript from the company record shows the action taken by the Volunteers at a meeting held at Uniontown, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1846, viz. :
" Whereas a call has been made by the President of the United States for one infantry regiment of volunteers to serve in the Mexican war, and the Union Volunteers being called out to know if they will offer their services,
" We, the subscribers, members of the Union Volunteers and others, hereby agree and do offer our services to the President of the United States to serve as members of the Union Volun- tecr Company, if it shall raise the requisite oumber, and under its present officers, to serve to the end of the Mexican war unless sooner discharged.
" Witness our hands this 24th day of November, 1846 : Capt. Samuel S. Austin, M. S. Stanley, Edmund Beeson, Johe B. Gerley, Robert W. Jones, R. Skiles Austin, Richard Frwia, Amzi S. Fuller, Thomas R. Davidson, George D. Swearingen, Eli M. Gregg, Absalom Gniler, Edmund Rine, W. B. West, Jeba MeCuen, Alfred Howell, John Sturgeon, J. R. Crawford, Joshua B. Howell, John Sutton, C. H. Beeson, R. M. Walker, W. P. Wells, W. W. Smith, R. T. Galloway, Benjamin Desilems, Evan Shriver, Elijah Sader, A. M. Gorley, William Freeciao, Abraham Johosun."
The Union Volunteers did not, as a company, enter the United States service, but many of its members went to Mexico in Capt. Quail's company of Col. William B. Roberts' regiment, as noticed in the gen- eral military history of the county.
In 1855 the company took the name of "Cameron Union Volunteers," in compliment to the IIon. Simon Cameron, from whom, in consequence, it received the gift of a beautiful silk flag, with a fine sword to each of the commissioned officers. The presentation speech was made by Alfred Patterson, in behalf of Mr. Cam- eron, and was responded to by Capt. C. E. Swearingen for the company.
In December, 1857, the Volunteers passed a resolu- tion tendering their services to the President of the United States to serve in Utah against the Mormons. The tender was signed by Capt. C. E. Swearingen and twenty-three other members of the company; but their services were not required.
On the 11th of December, 1858, Andrew Stewart,
298
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
Jr., was elected1 captain of the company, and Peter Heck first lieutenant.
The last record of any business connected with the company, is a return roll dated June 6, 1859. This roll contains the names of fifty-six members, in- cluding Capt. Andrew Stewart, Jr., Peter Heck, first lieutenant, Thomas Brownfield, second lieutenant, Thomas M. Fee, orderly sergeant.
On the back of the last entry (June 6, 1859) in the record-book of the Union Volunteers is written, without date or signature, the following remark :
"Thus ends the career of one of the oldest and best companies ever organized under the militia ordinance. Many of the members have awakened the patriotism of senators and representatives of their country, and left names which gild the history of their country, and some have left their bones to bleach on the bat- tle-grounds of Mexico."
FACTS FROM THE BOROUGH RECORDS.
The oldest volume of borough records now in ex- istence commences with the date Monday, May 16. 1842. It appears that before this time (1842) the borough authorities had decided to build a new mar- ket-house on a site other than that occupied by the old one, which had been in use for many years. It stood on a lot south of and adjoining Thomas Collins' hotel property. It was a frame building, about twenty- five by fifty feet in dimensions, not divided into stalls, but rented by the borough to four occupants. Ever- ard Bierer, Elijah Crossman, Lewis Mabley, and others rented it in this way. When the Council re- solved to build a new market-house in place of this old one the heirs of Thomas Collins regarded this ac- tion as a vacation of the old premises, and accord- ingly claimed the property. In relation to this ques- tion the Council resolved, on the 6th of June, 1842, "That the burgess and Joseph Riley be appointed to wait on A. Stewart, Esq., to see what are his views with respect to the ground on which the market- house now stands, and report at the next meeting." No report of this committee is found, and on the 2d of January, 1843, Messrs. Crawford and Bierer were appointed a committee "to wait on A. Stewart & Co. relative to the market-house, to ascertain what he will give to [ have the borough ?] abandon the present location of the market-house."
The controversy as to the old market-house site appears to have continued for some years, for in
1 The last entry in the company book shows that Andrew Stewart, Jr., was elected captain of the Cameron Union Volunteers Dec. 11, 1858. There seems, however, to be an unexplained discrepancy between this record and the fact that Capt. Thomas M. Fee holds a commission signed by Governor William F. Packer, and dated June 6, 1859, reciting that " Thomas M. Fre, being duly elected and returned, is hereby commis- sioned Captain of the Cameron Umion Volunteers of the Uniformed Militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the Second Brigade of the 17th Division, composed of the uniformed militia of the counties of Westmoreland, Fayette, Washington, and Grecue." At the same time C. E. Swearingen was commissioned brigadier-general.
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April, 1844, F. Bierer was appointed by the Council "to investigate the facts in reference to the suit ex- pected with A. Stewart for the old market-house property." And again, in the records of the Council, Jan. 28, 1851, is found that, in reference to " Andrew Stewart rx. the Burgess and Town Council of Union Borough in case of the Old Market-House," it was ordered that James Veech be paid $15 for services as attorney for the borough. Finally the land in ques- tion became the property of Mr. Stewart.
The matter of the erection of a new market-house came up at a meeting of the Council on the 14th of March, 1843, when, on motion of William B. Roberts, the following preamble and resolution were adopted, viz .: " Whereas, owing to the rapid increase of our Borough, it is believed to be necessary, for the con- venience of our Citizens, that there should be Two Market-houses, and resolved, therefore, that we erect an additional Market-House on the Public Ground deeded to the Citizens of Jacob's First and Second Additions by Jacob Beeson (deceased). Passes unani- mously." It was also " Resolved, that a committee of three be appointed to draft plans for the New Market- House." At a meeting of the Council on the 23d of March it was resolved "That the Draft handed in by W. B. Roberts for a Market-House, to be Sixty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, be adopted." W. B. Roberts, John Bradbury, and James Veech were ap- pointed a committee " to perfect the plan, and with power to contract for building a market-house."
On the 24th of April, the same year, the Council resolved " That the petition of sundry citizens for a delay of confirming and accepting the proposals for building the market-house be laid on the table." At the same meeting it was resolved " that the building committee enter into an agreement with Barry at once to build the market-house." On the 2d of May following, the Council "adjourned to view the public ground where the market-house is to be built, and re- solved that the house be built so as to run from east to west." On a review of the ground "Took a re- consideration of the resolution, and resolved That it be built so as that the northeast corner be six feet from Arch Street and eighteen feet from Market or South Street .??
A contract was made by this committee with Rob- ert L. Barry to build the new house at $1350, and on the 7th of August, 1843, it was ordered by the Council " That Robert L. Barry be paid $350, first payment on the New Market-House," the building being then under roof, according to contract. Later payments were made to him as follows, viz. : Oct. 2, 1843, second payment, 8350; Nov. 10, 1843, $650, in full of the contract. On the 1st of January, 1844, a bill of 8138.60 was allowed to him for extra work. August 7, 1843, it was ordered that A. G. Crusen be paid $40 for materials and work done in repairing the old market-house.
RESIDENCE OF A. C.NUTT, UNIONTOWN. PA.
299
UNIONTOWN BOROUGH.
On the 16th of November (1843) the Council in- afterwards placed in its present position in the court- vited proposals " for plastering the whole of the up- house tower. stairs of the Market-House." It was ordered that two chimneys be built and two stoves procured. When finished, the upper part of the new house was used for a Council room. In December of the same year William Ebbert was appointed " to take charge of the Town Hall and Market-House." In 1844 he was appointed market-master at a salary of $65 per annum.
The market stalls were in the south end of the present building. They were eight in number, open- ing from the main passages by arches about six feet wide, and were rented by the year at $15 per year. Jacob Ott was market-master from 1845 to 1847, in- clusive ; John Rutter, weigh-master and market-mas- ter in 1848; and G. D. McClellan in 1849-51. Rutter received for his services as market-master $25, and as weigh-master, two-fifths of the fees of the hay-scales and coal sufficient for his own use."
The old hay-scales were erected in 1835, as appears from the following action taken by the Council March 13, 1844, viz .: "The Committee on Hay Scales re- ported that he could not find that there had been any order issued to L. W. Stockton on account of pay- ments made by him for erecting the same; Therefore Resolved, that whereas the Council having agreed to appropriate the sum of twenty-five dollars in the year 1835 towards erecting the Hay Scales, and no evi- dence appearing that it had been paid over to said Stockton, it was therefore Ordered, that L. W. Stock- ton shall be entitled to a credit of twenty-five dol- lars, with nine years' interest on same np to this date, amounting in all to $38.50."
On the 27th of May, 1842, the Council awarded to David Veech one hundred and fifty dollars, and to C. B. Snyder two hundred and fifty dollars, for damages sustained by the opening of Fayette Street. In 1843 an . election was held to ascertain the minds of the voters on the proposed opening of certain thorough- fares, viz .: Union Street, Brant's Alley, and Turner's Alley. A majority was found to be against such opening.
The placing of the town clock in the court-house tower resulted from the following action of the Coun- cil, July 26, 1847 :
"The petition of two hundred and upwards of the Citizens of the Borough of Uniontown, praying that Council purchase a Town Clock for the Borough, to be placed in the cupola of the .Court- llouse, with other papers relating to the same, was pre- sented. On motion, Resolved, That the sum of five hundred dollars be and same is hereby appropriated to purchase a Town Clock with three faces and hands, to be placed in the new Court- House for the use of the Borough, which resolution was carried unanimously.
"On motion, a committee of three, consisting of Bailey, Bee- son, and Barton, were appointed to carry into effect the above resolution by making all necessary inquiries, purchasing clock, etc."
The clock was accordingly purchased, and soon
In 1859 the Council ordered the widening of a nar- 1 row lane known as Middle Alley to a breadth of forty feet from Main to Penn Street, to form the thorough- fare now known as Broadway. The opening, however, was not then accomplished, and the matter rested until January, 1867, when it was revived. The new plan was to open the street to the width of the Harah lot. In the summer of that year an agreement was made with Mrs. Harah for the purchase of the lot at $1800, and with Jonathan G. Allen for his lot at $200. On the 10th of September, 1867, the commit- tee on streets were authorized " to notify Mrs. Harah to vacate the premises now occupied by her, and to remove the materials on the same by the 20th of Oc- tober, 1867, and that said committee take out an order from court for opening the new street over the same ;" but this order was not carried into effect. In the spring of 1868, Dr. Smith Fuller purchased the lot, the old buildings of Mrs. Harah were demolished, and Broadway was laid out as it exists at the present time.
LIST OF BOROUGH OFFICERS.
The first officers of the borough of Uniontown at its incorporation (1796) were Ephraim Douglass, bur- gess; Joseph Huston, Thomas Collins, assistants; Jacob Knapp, high constable. For a period of forty- five years succeeding that time no list can be given, for the reason that all the borough records prior to the year 1842 were destroyed by fire. The following list of borough officers includes those who have been elected and served from that year until the present time, viz .:
BURGESSES.
1842. P. N. Hook.
1843. Samuel McDonald.
1861. James G. Johnson.
1844. John H. Deford.
1862. Armstrong Hadden.
1845. William Bailey.
1863. T. A. Haldeman.
1846. Jonathan D. Springer.
1864. G. W. K. Minor.
1847. Daniel Smith.
1865. G. W. K. Minor.
1848. William Stumph.
1866. James D. Ramsey.
1849-50. M. W. Irwin.
1867-69. Marshall N. Lewis.
1851. William P. Wells.
1870-72. Marshall N. Lewis.
1852. S. Duncan Oliphant.
1853. Daniel Smith.
1854. B. F. Hellen.
1874. Marshall N. Lewis. 1875-76. E. M. Hewitt.
1855. Ethelbert P. Oliphant.
1877. George W. Foulkes.
1856. Benjamin F. Ilellen.
1878. George W. Foulkes.
1857. C. E. Swearingen.
1879. George W. Foulkes.
1880-81. Alexander McClean.
COUNCIL.
1842. W. B. Roberts. Joseph Wiley. Alfred McClelland.
Frederick Bierer. Williamo Crawford.
John Mustard.
D. H. Phillips.
1844. Armstrong Hadden. William Reddick. Smith Fuller.
John Bradbury.
Isaac Wood. 1845. Isaac Beesoo. Samuel T. Lewis. Daniel Eluston. William Wilson.
C. G. Page.
1873. John Holmes.
1858-59. Jesse B. Ramsey.
1860. Jesse B. Ramsey.
1843. James Piper.
300
HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.
1846. Jesse King. W. D. Barelay. George Meason.
1847. Ellis Bailey.
Załmon Luddington. William Ebbert.
1848. William Maquilkin. Levi Downer. William Stone.
1849. J. L. Wylie. E. B. Dawson. John Keffer.
1868. William A. Donaldson.
Thomas King. Charles H. Rush.
1869. William Doran. Daniel Downer. Ellis Bailey. G. W. K. Minor.
IS51. Alfred MeClelland. John W. Phillips. John Cannon. Daniel Dowocr.
IS52. W. W. Stumph. Charles King. Clement Wood.
E. Baily Dawson,
1853. F. C. Robinson. Ellis B. Dawson. John W. Barr.
1854. J. K. Ewing.
Ewing Brownfield. D. M. Springer.
C. H. Livingston.
S. M. Baily.
J. M. Hadden. William Thorndell.
1874. Smith Fuller.
William Beeson. R. Knight.
William Thorndell.
J. M. Oglevee.
J. V. A. Donaldson. Daniel Kane.1
1875. Smith Fuller.
R. Bunting.
J. C. Redburn. J. Skiles, Jr.
1858. J. Skiles, Jr.
F. C. Robinson. John Collins.
James T. Gorley. Daniel Kaine.
1876. Henry Delany.
C. E. Swearingen. 1859. Frederick Bierer. - William Ilunt. J. 1 .. Redburn. John S. Harah. Joho N. Dawson. John K. Beeson. Ellis Bailey. P. MeClure.
J. H. Springer. 1860. Daniel Smith. Ellis Bailey. N. Brownfield. I>61. L. D. Beall.
M. N. Lewis. J. K. Ewing. I>62. William Beeson. Andrew B. Bryson.
D. Downer.
1863. E. B. Wood.
Ellis Bailey. William Doran.
Frank Stevens.
Addison R. Palmer.
1879. Joseph White.
1 Appointed Nov. 24, 1874, to fill vacancy caused by death of William Thorndell.
CLERKS OF COUNCIL.
1796. Samuel King. 1848-49. A. O. Patterson.
1842-45. George W. Rutter.
1850-52. G. T. Greenland.
1845. C. B. Snyder. 1853-77. George W. Rutter.
1846-47. James Piper.
1877-81 .- Thomas Fenn.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1840. James Lindsey.
1S60. Daniel Smith.
Clement Wood. 1861. Jonathan D. Springer.ª
1845. Daniel Smith. 1862. T. A. Haldeman.
William W. Stumph.
1865. Marshall N. Lewis.3
1850. James A. Morris.
IS67. T. A. Haldeman.
Daniel Smith. 1869. John Holmes.3
1855. Juhn L. Means.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The borongh of Uniontown has had fire apparatus and companies for the extinguishment of fires+ for nearly eighty years. The earliest record showing this fact is found in the minutes of the commissioners of Fayette Connty, nnder date of Jan. 28, 1802, viz. : " A committee, Jonathan Rowland, James Allen, and John Stigers, appointed by the Burgesses of Union Town to ascertain what snm the commissioners of the county will contribute for the purchase of a fire- engine for the use of the town, this day made appli- cation to the commissioners."
The commissioners agreed to report their views to the committee at the next meeting of the board, and on the 5th of February they "agreed to contribute for the purchase of a fire-engine for the use of the borough of Union Town one hundred dollars, if a sum sufficient (with the said sum of one hundred do]- lars) is raised from the borough to purchase an engine. The contribution is made expressly upon the condi- tion that if an engine is not purchased and procured for the use of the borough that the burgesses and inhabitants of the borough will be responsible to the county commissioners for that sum."
On the 17th of September, 1802, the record shows : " Order issued in favor of burgesses of the borough of Union Town for one hundred dollars for engine," by which it appears that the engine was purchased. No other official record dating between that time and the year 1842, touching fire department matters, is known to exist, but in the Genius of Liberty of Ang. 15, 1828, is found this notice: "The Union Fire Company will meet at the court-honse, in the borough of Union
" Not acting.
" Holmes and Lewis still in office to date (1881).
4 It is said that a fire company existed in Uniontown as early as 1798, but it had no apparatus other than buckets for several years after that time.
1864. William A. Donaldson.
1865. William D. Barclay.
George L. West.
Ellis B. Snyder.
Addison R. Palmer.
Edward Cronia.
188I. William B. MeCormick. Albert G. Beeson.
1880. Smith Fuller. William B. MeCormick.
Henry Nahors.
Alonzo P. Bowie. J. W. Miller.
Ellis Bailey. Thomas Hadden.
John Manaway.
Charles H. Beeson.
1850. Eleazer Robinson. E. D. Oliphant. Robert Boyle.
Thomas (. King. J. I. Gorley. | 1870. John H. MeClelland. John Jones.
1872. G. W. K. Minor. Smith Fuller. Flavins D. Titlo. Thomas Prentice.
1873. Smith Fuller.
A. E. Willson.
1855. Benjamin F. Hellen. William Doran. J. A. Downer.
1856. Charles H. Beesen. F. C. Robinson. R. G. Hopwood. William Maquilkin.
1857. Daniel Smith.
R. Miller.
Isaac Messmore. Ellis Bailey.
W. H. Wilhelm.
IS77. Alpheus Beall.
William Hunt.
William A. Donaldson. Thomas Iladden.
W. H. Rutter. Thomas Jaquett.
1878. William Hunt.
Thomas Haddeo. B. M. Bailey. Joseph White.
1864. Charles S. Seaton. E. G. Roddy.
James T. Gorley. Eleazer Robiason. 1866. Thomas II. Lewis. Ingh L. Rankin. Thomas King. 1867. Ellis B. Dawson. G. W. K. Minor.
1879. William B. McCormick. 1880. Edward Cronin.
301
UNIONTOWN BOROUGH.
Town, on the last Saturday of August, at two o'clock P.M.," the object of the meeting not being stated. It is recollected by old citizens that at about the time referred to, William Salter was captain of the Union Fire Company.
The "Madison" engine was purchased about 1841, and a company organized for it, mainly by the efforts of Dr. Hamilton Campbell, Alfred Mcclellan, Ewing Brownfield, and Amos Frisbee. A house was erected for it soon afterwards. The borough records show that on June 11, 1842, the Council " Resolved, that the Madison Engine and Hose, with apparatus, be placed under the control and entire direction of the company ;" and . "Resolved, that D. H. Phillips be added to the committee already appointed for the purpose of ascertaining a location for building an engine-house for Madison Engine and Hose Com- pany ;" and also " Resolved, that this committee wait on the school directors and ascertain whether an engine-house of frame can be built on the public ground belonging to the school directors; and if it can, go on and receive proposals for building the same; and if it cannot, then ascertain where a proper location can be obtained, and report at next meeting
1 an engine-house," and that F. Bierer, P. N. Hook, A. McClellan, and W. Ebbert be added to the build- ing committee. And on the 5th of December it was "Ordered, that the committee appointed to build the engine-house for the Madison Engine have an order for ninety-one dollars and twenty-eight cents, being the amount in full for building the same."
An old engine-house which had been used by the Union Company stood on a lot now belonging to the Downer heirs. This building was sold and removed in 1844 by order of the borough Council.
In 1845, March 20th, it was resolved by the Council " That the sum of $500 be and is hereby appropriated for the purpose of purchasing a suction-engine and seven hundred feet of hose, and if the said sum is not sufficient, that such further sum as may be necessary be and is hereby appropriated." Alfred Mcclellan, James Piper, and William B. Roberts were appointed a committee " to procure a loan and purchase suction- engine, hose, etc." They reported, April 28th, to the Council, exhibiting a list of prices of engines in Phil- adelphia, which prices being much higher than was anticipated, the committee was discharged from fur- ther duty in the matter.
In this year (March 31st) a night-watchman was appointed for the borough. Numerous fires occurred abont this time, and rewards were offered by the officers of the company are : Council for the apprehension of incendiaries.
The available supply of water being insufficient in
case of fire, it was proposed to construct a reservoir of sufficient capacity for that purpose, and on the 17th of May (1845) a committee of the Council was ap- pointed "to ascertain the cost of a cistern of brick to ' hold seven thousand gallons, and the feasibility of filling it from Beeson's race." In October this com mittee was discharged and another appointed to ascer- tain the cost of constructing a cistern of fifteen thou- sand gallons' capacity, to be built of brick laid in hy- draulic cement. Since that time cisterns have been constructed at the court-house, and at Morgantown and Foundry Streets. These and the old mill-race which runs through the town furnish the principal water supply for the engines in case of fire.
In 1851 the Council appointed a committee to con- fer with the school directors, and to build another engine-house. On the 5th of April that committee made a partial report to the effect that they had se- lected a site for the building "on the public ground on which the market-house is situated." The report was accepted, and the committee directed to proceed to build it. On the 25th of the same month a petition of citizens of Uniontown was presented, asking the Council " to change the plan for building the engine- of Council." On the 4th of July the committee re- , house from one story to two stories, so as to enlarge ported that a meeting of the school directors had been the town hall." This petition was laid on the table, held, at which they approved the erection of the and the committee "directed to go on under the orig- engine-house on their grounds. On the 8th of October inal plan."
in the same year the Council resolved "that a com- In June, 1850, a " crab-carriage" was ordered pur- mittee be appointed to select a site for the erection of | chased for the Madison Engine. On the 27th of June, 1857, the " old crab force-pump" was ordered to be sent to Mr. Herbertson for repairs. On the 31st of May, 1859, the fire companies petitioned the Coun- cil " to purchase another crab for the use of the com- panies." Nothing appears of record to show whether the purchase was made or not.
On the 7th of June, 1859, the following-named citi- zens were appointed by the Council to form "bucket lines" at fires : Everard Bierer, Jr., Eleazer Robin- son, A. Hadden, J. K. Ewing, J. B. HIowell, and Alfred Howell. May 4, 1867, the Council ordered that two hundred and fifty feet of hose, with fifty blue and fifty red buckets, be purchased for the engine companies.
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