David Furnier

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Husband David Furnier ¹

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           Born:  - France
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         Father: [Father] Furnier (      -      )
         Mother: 

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Wife

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           Born: 
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Children

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General Notes: Husband - David Furnier

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He was a native of France, from which country he fled in the days of religious persecution. He first located near Hagerstown, Maryland, afterward coming to Washington County, Pennsylvania, and making a settlement near Speers run some time prior to 1772. In 1798 he purchased of Henry Speers a tract of ninety-four acres of land near the stream just mentioned, having a riverfront of 100 rods. A log house was erected on this land either by Speers or Furnier, probably the latter. In addition to this tract David Furnier also owned a large portion of the land that was later in the possession of the heirs of Levi Johnson, the title of which was long disputed. In 1823 this land was deeded by the heirs of Furnier to Solomon Speers, who, in turn, sold it to L. M. Speers, and it later was the property of S. F. and William Jones. A log flouring-mill was erected on this land in early years, just below the stone house of Samuel McKean. The original owners of this mill are not certainly known, but it is supposed that Elliott and Williams erected on a lease of several years' duration. At all events David Furnier was the sole proprietor of both mill and store in 1790, and also conducted a distillery-the entire business being known as the "Barter Mills," the name having been characteristic of the enterprise. This was the first store opened in that locality, and at the same time David Furnier owned an establishment at Devore's Ferry, opposite Monongahela City, and one at Pittsburgh. He did an immense business, keeping all kinds of goods, including groceries, etc., and of the vast quantities of grain brought in from the surrounding country the rye was transformed into whiskey, while the wheat sold in adjacent cities. This was perhaps the largest business existing at that time in the Valley. The old distillery was situated above the log mill, and was afterward supplanted by the stone still-house, which was near the greenhouse of Samuel McKean. In 1803 a large brick mill was erected near the site of a stone bridge that was later crossing Speers run, but it was torn down in 1837, part of the brick being later in use in the old schoolhouse in Gould's hollow. A sawmill was afterward erected by Solomon Speers, near the site of the old brick mill.

1 Editor, Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893), Pg 1093.