Meadville in 1805

Meadville in 1805.

Comparatively few of the citizens of Meadville of to-day. know anything of the old time history of the place and its early settlers. Our venerable and esteemed townsman, Jno. Reynolds, Esq., has kindly furnished us with the names of those who were here in 1805. Mr. Reynolds was then going to school to Rev. Jos. Stockton, who, in addition to his pastoral labors, kept a school for boys.

WATER STREET, WEST SIDE.

General David Mead was the Associate Judge of the Courts of Crawford County, and his residence at the head of Water St.; H. Reichard lived where Thomas Braggins now resides, opposite Eagle Hotel; Jos. Hackney resided on the lot now Mr. Benford’s. His store was the red building next north from Jno. McFarland’s store. David Compton kept a tavern, known as the Washington House; Dr. Thomas R. Kennedy was Prothonotary, and his residence was on the property now occupied by Jno. Reynolds, Esq.; Bartholomew White, Tavern; Samuel B. Magaw, Merchant; John Garber kept the Bear Tavern.

WATER STREET, EAST SIDE.

Andrew Work, Merchant; Frederick Haymaker, Justice of the Peace; James Herriotts, Merchant; Henry Hurst, Sheriff; also Public House; Eliphalet Betts, Tailor; Wm. Dick, Carpenter; James Gibson, Tavern; Nicholas Conrad, Bakery; Jno. Davis.

DOCK STREET.

Patrick Davis, Tanner; A. W. Foster. Att’y at Law.

CHESTNUT STREET, SOUTH SIDE.

Richard Patch, Boat Captain; George Davis, Private Residence.

NORTH SIDE.

Andrew Graff, Private Dwelling; James Quigley, Sheriff.

CENTER STREET, NORTH SIDE.

Samuel Torbett, Nail Manufacturer; Wm. McFaddan, Teamster.
Wm. Shannon, Saddler; Wm. Burnside, Blacksmith; Thomas Atkinson,. Publisher Crawford Messenger; Hugh Allen, Deputy Sheriff.

WALNUT STREET, SOUTH SIDE.

Jno. Brooks, Justice of the Peace; Wm. Moore, Private Residence; H. J. Huidekoper, Agent Holland Land Company; Joseph Hackney, Merchant; Jno. Patterson, Treasurer County.

NORTH SIDE.

Dan’l Holton, Teamster; Lawrence Clency, Blacksmith.

LIBERTY STREET.

Rev. Jas. Stockton—where C. Cullum now resides.

SECOND STREET, EAST SIDE.

Maj. R. Alden; J. W. Hunter, Att’y at Law; Martha Fisher; James Douglass, Schoolmaster.

The single men who boarded at the various taverns were
Hon. Jesse Moore, P. J. of the Courts; Patrick Farrelly, Att’y; Sam’l Withrow, Hatter; Sampson & Joshua Hamilton, Cabinet Makers; George McGunnigle, Tailor ; Edward Work, Postmaster ; Peter Huidekoper, Clerk in the office of the Holland Land Company; Ralph Martin, Att’y; Jabez Colt, Land Agent.

The Courts were held in Wm. Dick’s House, opposite the Corinthian Block. The Prothonotary’s Office was in time upper story of a house opposite the Rupp House, and the Post Office was on the first floor of the same building.

The Jail was a log building on the ground of Thomas Braggins’s residence, opposite the Eagle Hotel.

Most of the land on which the City stands was, in 1805, covered with a heavy growth of forest trees, or but recently cleared. Mr. Reynolds had in his possession until recently, a hand-bill signed by the real estate owners of the village, setting fort in the advantages of Meadville as a point, and holding out inducements to persons at a distance to locate here.
The lots were offered at six dollars each, and were chiefly located on those portions of Water, Chestnut, Center, Walnut, and Dock Streets, which are now most densely populated.

Directory of Crawford County, PA for 1871-72