Mercer County PAGenWeb Project |
| Greenville | |||
| REMINISCENCES EARLY SETTLERS OF MERCER COUNTY As before stated, but little attention was paid to this quiet little settlement until about the year 1815 when William Scott, assisted by Messr. Walker and Lodge proceeded to plot a portion of what is now West Ward into lots, which were sold by selling lottery tickets, to be drawn for. These gentlemen were also successors of Mr. Shank in his small store, which was kept in a log house that stood near the present residence of Mr. Reiss. About the year 1817 the old house was repaired and converted into a tavern, and kept by William Bean, afterwards by his son, Col. Thomas W. Bean. In the bar-room of this house the Rev. Daniel McLane frequently preached during inclement weather. Meanwhile, upon the cast side, we find a log grist mill erected by Jacob Loutzenheiser, father of David Loutzenheiser, of this place. This mill stood very near the present site of the one now occupied by Mathers & Son. The only house was a small log one, built for the use of the miller; it stood in the rear of the present residence of Dr. Donaldson. Some time after, Mr. L. disposed of his mill and a portion of the land to Joseph Keck, father of John and Henry Keck, of Greenville. In a short time Mr. K. proceeded to lay out a portion of what is now the most central business part of Greenville. After disposing of a portion, by private sale, Mr. Keck finding lots in Middle Ward below par, proposed selling them at auction. The first public sale of lots, as near as can be ascertained, was in the spring of 1826. Joseph Loutzenhiser purchased the lot on the south side of the street, opposite the mill; Dr. Coselt purchased the two corner lots east of the mill, and in a few years erected Packard’s Hotel and the present resident of Dr. Donaldson. The lot now occupied by Turner, L. L. Keck, and Samuel West, was bid off by Thomas Mossman for the sum of fifty dollars. The one intersected by the old canal bed, and occupied by Paden and Ramsey, was sold to john Nelson for forty-five dollars; while the one now occupied by Commercial Block, was disposed of to Isaac Bearce for the running hears of a wagon. Upon reaching the diamond, the sale was discontinued on account of the bids for a single lot not exceeding ten dollars. The now now occupied by Shrom, Buck, Whiteman & Co. was sold to Wm. Woods. MILITIA At this period we find the act of 1792 still in force, which required the enrollment of every “free able-bodied white male citizen who is of the age of eighteen years or under the age of forty-five, except such as may be exempted by special law of the several States, or of the United States.” Among those exempted in the State of Pennsylvania, we find professors and students of colleges. There were two company parades, and one regimental, in each year. The fines for non-attendance were five dollars for field officers, three for staff officers, and one for all others, at each parade. In the First regiment, in the northern part of Mercer county, we find Andrew Christy Colonel, and William H. Mossman Captain of the West Salem Company; Gohn Gilleland, Captain and John Ferguson, Lieutenant of the Green tp. Company. The last two named also served as officers during the war of 1812. HOLIDAYS The principal holidays of Greenville and the surrounding country, were the annual and semi-annual military review and muster days, and the yearly elections. The polls at this time being held in an old house on the Loutzenhizer place, (now Robert Dickey’s) and to this place congregated the voters of what is now Salem, Sugar Grove, Hempfield, West Salem, and the town of Greenville. Into this house had been conveyed a small grocery, by Arthur G. Long, who afterward removed to West Side, to a house on the lot occupied by Robert hulling, near where Mr. Hulling’s tannery now stands, and supplied by the same spring, he built a small distillery. He is reported to have had about a wheelbarrow load of groceries, while the whiskey, though not as pure, was as free as the water in the crystal stream that passed his door, over which hung the sign painted in uncouth letters, “Entertainment for man and beast.” PHYSICIANS The first physicians that settled in Greenville was Dr. Hardscrabble in the year 1819, Dr. Lane in 1822, Dr. Obediah Hull 1824, Dr. W. D. La Cossil in 1825, Dr. Wylie in 1826, Dr. Seriah Magoffin 1829. Dr. H. D. LaCossil, one of the pioneers of the town, as well as one of the most eminent physicians, with a practice of over half a century, still holds forth in his profession, and in 1874 he erected a brick medical office on Main street, (among the best in the State) which is now occupied by Dr. B. E. Mossman and himself. GREENVILLE FIRSTS The first church was the Seceders, built in 1828 or 1829, where the U. P. Church now stands. The first lawyer was Moore, who located in 1828. The first distillery was built in 1812, by Luther Calvin, on the ground now occupied by the cemetery. COURTS OF JUSTICE Previous to the election by a vote of the people, the office of Justice of the Peace was filled by appointment by the Governor and his council. The first appointment for this office in the town of Greenville, was Mr. William Scott. (the term of office being for life or during good behaviour). Mr. S. held forth in a small store-room on High Street, near the present residence of Josiah Kughler. The manner of conducting court at that day differed from this, in as much as the laying of penalties was mostly devolved on the justice. For instance: A countryman was one day brought before the court for some misdemeanor, and using profane language on the street. His punishment was to dig three stumps out of Main Street, on the hill west of the U. P. church. Whether this was the method in which the street was finally cleared of this nuisance we know not, but if so, we would recommend it to the Burgess and Council as the best method of grading and paving the streets at the present day. As at the same ration of penalty quite a fund of labor might be accumulated. In West Salem, we find the first commissioned justice to be Francis Mossman, who held the office until old age compelled a resignment of it. GREENVILLE STREETS Main street was for many years in an impassable condition, and the road marked by the Indian trail was the one principally traveled. This road, at that time also constituted Mercer street, crossing the creek to the East from where the bridge now stands to Canal street, thence south to Clinton street, thence cast in front of the M. E. Church thence obliquely crossing the present site of the Lutheran Church and lots of Vaughn Block, and others to the residence of Mrs. S. P. Johnson, thence East to Wm. Achres, thence south and east in an angling direction passing through the hollow in the Fair Grounds, and emerging near the present residence of Allen Saul. The portion of Main Street in a passable condition for many years, was from the mill to Commercial Block. This was almost entirely constructed of round logs so you perceive, there were corduroy pavements under the snow when the burgess of Greenville wore buckskin and tow. S. G. McM Source: The Record-Argus, Greenville, PA, 8 Apr 1876, pg. 8
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