Mike McKenzie provided the 2009 photo that is shown below. It shows the Moser Store in Wellersburg, Southampton Township, Somerset County, PA. This store is identified on the 1876 Beers map of Wellersburg. It is located on the triangular lot that is located just below (south) of the brick Reformed & Lutheran Church building. That church can be seen in the background, just beyond the right-hand side of the store. Note the "snow birds" on the roof of the Moser store; they are to to prevent snow and ice on the roof from sliding off and injuring people.
The following information on the Moser store is from a section on Wellersburg on page 579 of the 1884 book "History of Bedford, Somerset and Fulton Counties, Pennsylvania": John Moser, a native of Germany, came to America in 1833 and settled in Franklin county. In 1856 he removed to Southampton township, where he died in 1861. Henry Moser, his son, came to America in 1833, and to Somerset county in 1855. He is now engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Moser purchased his store from Isaac Augustine. The latter bought from Jacob Cook, who erected it.".
The following deed transcript was provided by M. Gagliardi. Even though the compass directions match reality, this deed appears to pertain to the Moser store, which is located between the brick church and the brick house of John R. Brinham.
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Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Deed Book 37, Page 65
Dated 26 Mar 1866, Recorded 23 Apr 1866
JOHN COOK & MARYANN his wife to ISAAC AUGUSTINE
This indenture made the twenty sixth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six Between JOHN COOK and MARYANN his wife of Londonderry township Bedford County and state of Pennsylvania of the one part and ISAAC AUGUSTINE of Southampton township Somerset County state aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said JOHN COOK and MARYANN his wife for and in consideration of the sum of six hundred and sixty dollars lawful money of the United States of American unto them well and truly paid by the said ISAAC AUGUSTINE at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted, bargained, sold, aliened enfeoffed, released, and confirmed unto the said ISAAC AUGUSTINE his heirs and assigns, All that certain lot of ground situate in the Borough of Wellersburg in Southampton township Somerset County Pa, Known as lot number one on the plan of said town on the South side of the Somerset and Cumberland turnpike and adjoining lot number two on the east deeded to JOHN R. BRINHAM, and the meeting house lot on the west being a lot of ground conveyed by deed to ISAAC HARDEN Dec'd by GEORGE COOK and wife dated the 25th day of _ 1843 and taken at the appraisement of the estate of ISAAC HARDEN Dec'd (Reference to unto the records of Somerset County had will more fully appear containing forty rods or one quarter of an acres. Together with all and singular the houses, Barnes, Stables, out houses, ways, water, water courses, rights, liberties, privileges, hereditaments, and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in anywise appertaining and the revisions and remainders, rents, issues, and rights thereof and all the estate, right title, interest, property claim and demand whatsoever of them the said JOHN COOK and MARYANN his wife, in law equity or otherwise, howsoever of, in, and to the same and every part thereof. To have and to hold the said described lot of one quarter of an acre of ground with the hereditaments and premises hereby granted or mentioned and intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the said ISAAC AUGUSTINE his heirs and assigns to and for the only purpose and behoof of the said ISAAC AUGUSTINE his heirs and assigns forever. And the said JOHN COOK and MARYANN his wife their heirs all and singular the hereditaments and premises hereinabove described and granted or mentioned and intended so to be with the appurtenances unto the said ISAAC AUGUSTINE his heirs and assigns against them the said JOHN COOK and MARYANN his wife & their heirs and against all and every other person or person whomsoever lawfully claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof shall warrant and forever defend. In witness whereof the said parties to these presents have hereunto interchangeably set their hands and seals dated the day and year first above written. JOHN COOK, MARYAN COOK
Sealed and delivered in the presence of us, JAMES C. DEVORE, SAMUEL M. WILHELM
Received the day of the date of the within or aforegoing indenture of the within ISAAC AUGUSTINE the sum of Six hundred and sixty dollars the within consideration in full rec'd by.
Bedford County SS.
On the twenty sixth day of Mary Anno Domini 1866 before me JAMES C. DEVORE one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county of Bedford personally appeared the within named JOHN COOK & MARY ANN his wife and in due form of law acknowledge the within or aforegoing indenture to be their act and deed and desired the same might be recorded as such. She the said MARYANN COOK being of full age and being by me privately examined Separate and apart from her said husband and the full contents of the within indenture first made known unto her whereupon she did declare and say that she did of her own free will and accord sign and seal and as her act and deed deliver the same without any coercion or compulsion of her said husband. Witness my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid. JAMES C. DEVORE
Recorded 23rd Apr A.D. 1866. JNO H. BOYTS, Recorder
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That sure seems like a bad time to be buying a store, since the Wellersburg iron furnace went belly-up that same year, then Wellersburg went into decline. The image below is from the 1876 Beers map of Wellersburg. It shows the Moser store location, between the brick Brinham house and the brick church. Mike McKenzie reports that the witness Samuel Wilhelm is one of his ancestors.
L. Dietle.
September, 2009
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