Pg 495

         In the year 1850, the present site of Mechanicsville was claimed by Joseph Stratton. Subsequently, it became the property of George Weaver, who, in turn, sold his interest to John Onstot. In 1855, the latter gentleman, in company with Daniel A. Comstock, who obtained, and for a short time held, a certain proprietary share in the realty, platted the original village of Mechanicsville. The territory embraced in the survey amounted to sixty acres, and lay to the extreme west of what is now the town. Comstock did not remain long in association with Mr. Onstot, but speedily relinquished his rights and removed to a distant point, leaving Mr. Onstot the sole owner of the village site.

         During the year 1857, David Dorwart became proprietor of a tract of land situated east of the original village, but not immediately adjoining the eastward boundary of the same. An unplatted parcel of about forty rods in width lay between the village and the Dorwart purchase (which was at that time, termed the “Iroquois” tract), and was owned by John Onstot. Mr. Dorwart completed an arrangement with the Chicago & North-Western Railway, shortly after the “Iroquois” land came into his hands, whereby forty acres of the tract were to be platted as a village site, the railroad corporation receiving as its compensation every alternate village lot. In order to unite the two plats and secure the harmonious development of both, Mr. Onstot at once surveyed the strip of land intervening between his own village and the new site, which embraced about twenty acres, thereby extending the general plat so as to include one hundred and twenty acres all told. The railroad company then located the depot on its present site, instead of upon a point suggested originally in the first plan. Thus the village plat was made, and as then made it still remains. Eighty acres of the claim cost the proprietors $6.00 per acre, and the remainder was secured at the government price--$1.25 per acre.

         The name of the town was proposed by Mr. Onstot and was derived from the character of the original settlement made at the west end of the town. The first settlers were artisans, the owner himself being a carpenter by trade, and the character of the occupants of the little cluster of houses was such as to render the name at once appropriate and significant.

         The first buildings erected were, as above stated, upon the Onstot plat, and were built in succession respectively by John F. Cole, A. Keith, Heman Moss, S. C. Wilson and Garrett Onstot in the fall of 1855. The first structure was burned many years later, but the second oldest house still exists and is now occupied, in a thoroughly renovated condition, by the Rev. Father McCabe, of the Roman Catholic Church. Two others of the old landmarks also stand, to mark the work of the pioneers.

         Dr. Pierce was the pioneer physician of the place.

         The first store was opened in the Spring of 1856, by Daniel F. Comstock, who engaged in the usual general merchandise trade, peculiar to a new country.

         Dr. Abger opened the first drug store in 1857.

Pg 496

         The mechanical trades were first represented by John Onstot, as carpenter, and Sam McWade, as blacksmith, in the first year of the existence of the village. The year following, 1856, Mr. Shattuck and his son-in-law, Phil Hyde, began work as shoemakers. In 1860, W. A. Landahl opened a shop of the same kind, and is now in business here, being the oldest shoemaker in continuous residence in the town. T. Patterson was the first tinsmith, and A. H. Bell the first jeweler to open shops of their respective kinds in the village. The first cabinet maker was James Daton; the first harness makers were John and William Ramsey, the first wagon maker was Abner Barnes; all of whom began work soon after the founding of the town, but of the precise date, no record of sufficiently authentic character to warrant quotations now exists.

         The first tavern was opened for the accommodation of the public, in 1855, by J. F. Cole.

         The first religious services ever held in Mechanicsville were conducted by Rev. Geo. D. Porter, of Tipton, a Presbyterian clergyman, who was engaged to deliver one sermon each month in the school house referred to elsewhere.

         While no events of a generally interesting or startling description have ever occurred within the limits of the village proper, owing to the law-abiding character of its citizens and the influence of what some might be pleased to call its “fortunate star,” there have, nevertheless, transpired several occurrences of a calamitous nature to individual residents notable among which are the fires, which have destroyed considerable amounts of property. The first extensive fire within the limits occurred December 23, 1867. A large frame building, on the site of the store now occupied by George A. Eagarty, then owned and occupied by T. C. McClelland & Co., as a general merchandise store, was totally consumed, together with a large stock of goods, and considerable household furniture belonging to the junior member of the firm, George A. Eagarty. Total loss, $41,000; insured for $8,000.

         Another fire occurred in August, 1868, but was merely a tenement house, owned by John Hess, and standing in the west part of the town. The third disaster of this sort was more extended. A frame building owned and occupied by Chapman & Rogers, clothing merchants, located just west of the old Cook tavern, was burned in February, 1870. The flames communicated with the tavern and totally destroyed that wooden structure also, thus removing a landmark. Total loss to Chapman & Rogers of stock of goods, and nearly total loss of building.