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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 163
The first merchants were (in addition to Air. Farwell for Z. Wildman)
Messrs. Jennings & Darling, Avhose business was in dry goods.
They came from Connecticut and opened about 1818, the same year
building themselves a brick store on the corner of Columbus Avenue
and Water Street, where IIOAV stands the Hubbard Block. Mr. Townsend,
also in dry goods, commenced in 1819 a small frame store opposite
the present NCAV Lawrence Hotel. He died in 1849 of cholera, and the
lot whereon stood his store Avas purchased as a site for the C. S. & C.
passenger depot. David AIcAIurray and AVilliam Kelly were also wholesale
merchants, the former .commencing the first drug store in the fall
of 1817 on the lot AA'here IIOAV stands the Register office.
THE OLD CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL BEHIND
IT, AA'HICH WAS USED AS,A HOSPITAL IN 1849, AND STOOD WHERE TIIE
PRESENT COURT HOUSE STANDS.
Of the first jeAveler, one Cohen, of JeAvish descent, AVIIO Avas in business
on AVater Street as far back as 1819, Ave have been unable to ascertain
any facts. The second Avas Air. John N. Sloane, who came here
about 1823-4 and first occupied a small shop on AVater Street. He
afterward erected more convenient premises AA'here the Graham drug
store IIOAV stand, at the corner of Columbus Avenue. He Avas a shreAvd
business man and ahvays alive to the interests of the city, having served
it four successive years as mayor.
The first tavern Avas erected by Air. C. AV. Alarsh in 1817 AVIIO came
here from Greenfield, Connecticut. He Avas very successful as a livery
man and coachcr in olden times. He closed out someAvhere betAA'een
1830 and 1832. Colonel Root also kept Avhat was knoAvn as the Portland
House, the second tavern in the city, the lot now occupied by the
Register office on Water Street. Subsequently the house Avas sold to