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From: Joan Lyons <>
Subject: Jefferson Twp. Part 6
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2000 19:37:50 -0500


In the bend of the river, JOHN DIXON, a Quaker, was the first
permanent settler.
He came from eastern Pa. in 1770, and bought a tomahawk claim off one
WISEMAN of about four hundred acres, upon which WISEMAN had built a
cabin and set out a few apple trees. Mr. DIXON'S home was on the
present BOWMAN place, where about 1800, he built the stone house still
standing there,. In 1813, he built a woolen factory on his farm and
carried it on for two years, when, the close of the war acting
disastrously upon the business, he gave it up. Mr. DIXON had a
family of ten children, of whom four were sons. NATHAN lived upon the
homestead, and died there in 1829. JOHN DIXON, the father, died in
1840
About 1800, LOUIS MARCHAND, a physician , located in the river bend
upon a four - hundred acre tract., and engaged in the practice of his
profession. Being a bachelor he took JOSHUA WAGONER as a farm tenent
and lived with the WAGONER family. Dr. MARCHAND acquired considerable
fame as a skillful physician, and enjoyed a large and profitable
practice. As the compounder of an anti-hydrophobia pill, his reputation
extended far beyond the confines of Fayette Co., and from far-distant
points, where stories of the marvelous cures effected had penetrated,
came candidates for treatment at the hands of Dr. MARCHAND. That the
doctor did produce a pill of wonderful curative powers, is verified by
the testimony of those who were his neighbors, and from whom we hear
today of his unbounded success. After practicing on the river for
about twenty years, Dr. MARCHAND removed to Uniontown, and during his
residence there married SALLY, daughter of SAMUEL SACKETT, of
Smithfield. From Uniontown, he returned to his Jefferson farm, where
he ended his days, dying in 1864.
The BRECKENRIDGE TAVERN stand spoken of , was on the road between
Perryopolis and Brownsville, near the site of the Mount Vernon Methodist
Church. BRYANT TAYLOR, was perhaps the first landlord there, and after
him , SAMUEL RRACKENRIDGE conducted hospitalities for some years.
BRACKENRIDGE was a favorite resort, and merry reunions there of young
folks were of frequent occurance.. Old Mr. BRACKENRIDGE was peculier
in being easily annoyed , and the michievious ones of the neighborhood
never lost an opportunity to vex or harass him. There was much travel
over the road , for it was by that way sand and other supplies were
conveyed from Perryopolis to the Albany Glass Works. BRACKENRIDGE kept
the tavern until his death in 1840, after which it was closed.
More later, Joan

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