James Weir Began First Store in 1799 in G'ville; Shipped to New Orleans
Widower's Courtship and “Salted” Salt Well Played Their Part in City's Business History
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Greenville - The early history of Greenville business begins with the first settlement of the town, when all of Greenville was no more than two streets and a few alleys around the square.
The first store in Muhlenberg County was that of pioneer James Weir, who opened in partnership with James Craig in 1799. The log store was located on Main, south of the square. Opposite the store was the Weir tobacco and storage house.
The Weir-Craig partnership was soon dissolved, and Weir operated the business with Oliver C. Vanlandingham. Their partnership was dissolved, and Weir took over entire management. [part of the text is missing from image]…[orig]inal log store and on the west side of Main.
Most of the merchandise for sale at Weir's was bought in exchange for wild pork, rawhides, produce and tobacco. These commodities Weir shipped by flatboat to New Orleans, where he sold them for cash. Goods for sale and exchange were purchased in Philadelphia.
A Weir ledger for 1813-15 lists purchases in English pounds, shillings and pence. After that date, the U.S. dollar and cent were in general circulation. The store ledger lists these prices for purchases, ½ gal. whiskey, 3 shillings (45c); wool hat, 7 shillings sixpence ($1.11); paper of pins, 3 shillings; “skillit,” 12 shillings ($1.80); “Esop's Fables,” 2 shillings tuppence (32c). The price paid for tobacco at Weir's varied from 12 to 15 shillings per 100 pounds - $1.80 to $2.25.
Corn was the first crop of Muhlenberg farmers, and grist mills were early businesses. Cooksey's Mill, erected in 1810, on Clifty Creek, is generally believed to be the first. In 1848, Edward R. Weir set up the first steam mill on Caney Creek.
Another early Greenville business was a wool-carding factory, on the west side of Main, north of the home of Dr. Thomas Pollard.
The tobacco business in the county was largely a family affair. In 1840, Dabney A. and Ellington W. Martin, sons of pioneer William martin, established a plant on North Main for the making of the brand called “Greenville Tobacco.” The business was run for more than half a century. The Martins loaded the manufactured product on six-mule wagons holding 4,000 pounds each, and delivered the goods throughout the South on consignment. Before the end of the business, “Greenville” had a [part of text left off image]…
Other early tobacco men in Greenville were George W. Short, Hugh N. Martin, Ezekiel Rice, Charles E. Martin, William Irvin, D.A. Martin and T.M. Morgan.
A curious story surrounds the construction of the First National Bank building. In 1870 the corner lot was owned by a wealthy widower, who decided to tear down the old log house and erect a brick building. When he began construction, the story goes, he was courting a handsome young Greenville widow. After he had finished the basement, he proposed and was coldly refused. After the first floor was finished, he proposed again and was again refused, but this time not so emphatically. [missing text]…second story, he tried again and was turned down, but this time with enough hesitation to give him more hope. He boldly added the third story, which then made a most imposing building. After drawing his plans for the fourth story, he again proposed to the widow. She now feared that if she continued to decline, the building were grow taller and become unsafe, so she accepted. While the carpenters were finishing the roof, the wedding took place, and the couple lived happily ever after.
Perhaps the most fascinating story in all the history of Muhlenberg County is that of the iron industry which for a time created a “little Scotland” in Kentucky. The two projects, The Stack of Aylette H. Bucknew [sic], father of the general, and Airdrie, failed after short operations but their pioneering paved the way for more successful mining operations.
The Stack, as the Buckner works were called, was erected in 1837 five miles south of [missing text from image]…new town, new business.
Most of the sa… [missing text] prized commodity in those days, came from one small spring near The Stack. A group of enterprising men decided that wells should yield more salt than mere springs, drilled three shafts. To their great disappointment, it was no saltier than the spring. Accordingly, they evaporated the water for several days, then dumping the accumulated salt into the well. A Greenville capitalist was called in, analyzed the water, and immediately bought the property. Too late, he learned that there is such [a] thing as “salting” a salt well.
The coal business was slow in starting in Muhlenberg County. Tradition has it that either pioneer Alney McLean or his son, Willian D., accidentally discovered that the “black rock” on the McLean farm would burn. About 1820, William D. opened the first mine, the McLean drift bank below Paradise. Coal was laboriously dug and hauled for sale to Russellville.
Little by little, the industry grew, as new methods of mining were introduced and the coming of the railroads and steam brought a hungry market. In 1890, the county's production was 231,080 tons; in 1911, 2,225,662 tons. New and richer seams further expanded the industry to today's record production of 5,999,532 tons.
From the files of Mary Lynn Weir. Courtesy of Charlene Gillespie Deutsch