Just around the corner on West Market was the store of Camp Gildersleave, one of the noted abolitionists of that day, who was true to his convictions that he was ridden on a rail for it and lived to see the negro free. Near was Anning Cahoon, who was postmaster in the early forties. A man named Plenton?? Kept a hat store between there and Lamb’s corners.
Continuing dow West Market street below the Eagle Hotel was Abram Thomas, a large, stout old gentleman. Then kept a store by Lewis and Jones. Next came the old White Horsre Hotel kept bt Pettit and Beisel. Next was the Wilkes-Barre Advocate office. Sharp D. Lewis was its editor. Next stood a little building occupied by F. C. Wait as a bakery and candy store. He afterwards built on the opposite side of the street. Col. Tate had a newspaper mill between there and the store on the corner. He was a hostler? and a Democrat. The writer remembers his son Britt??, who was a chip off the old block. On the west side of the street the space was not occupied by buildings from the Hollenback corner to Mrs. Lane’s house.
In the campaign of 1844? Between Henry Clay and James K. Polk the Whigs put up a large spruce pole on the vacant ground opposite the White Horse Hotel. When the pole and flag were raised a Democrat named Sam hay fired a bullet through the flag and the Whigs chased him and he ran through the canal above the Market street bridge near the Baltimore coal chute. From there he ran over the hill and into the woods. They did not succeed in catching him. Politics were much hotter in those days than they are now, Continuing up West Market street above Rutters’s corner first was Edward Taylor’s saddle and harness store. The back shop was a great loafing place for the boys. The old man never kicked or drove us out. Who of the older people don’t remember Genery Dick, Geo. Moore, Tom and Ed Taylor and Charles Fell.
The next was W. S. Wells jeweler and watchmaker. He was very fond of a good horse. But I need not tell you that, as the old man is still with you, and will tell you all about it if you ask him. Next was C. B. Drakes’s store, who was afterwardsa prominent banker. Next was John Brown’s store afterwards Brown’s Bank, then Samuel Bowman’s corner where Isaac Constine kept a store.
J.Bennett Smith
