Stockert Building 1904

Stockert Building 1904. . Trading much of the southern portion of Staten Island for 3,500 acres of land in western Virginia, Daniel Farnsworth moved west and in the summer of 1821 settled on the banks of the Buckhannon River with his wife and five sons. Leonard Farnsworth, born in 1830 to Nathaniel and Susanna Farnsworth, was the grandson of Daniel Farnsworth. In 1849, Leonard set off for California during the early days of the Gold Rush to make his fortune. Upon returning to Upshur County, Leonard S. became a prosperous businessman, buying half of this block on which he built a 2-story house and two retail store buildings, one of which was used as a shoemakers shop and the other as a Confectionary. In 1901, Leonard sold this property to Gustav F. and John M. Stockert. These brothers were the sons of a German immigrant, Julius F. Stockert, who had come to West Virginia in 1871. In 1904, the Stockert Brothers tore down the L.S. Farnsworth building and erected this fine structure. The 1st and 2nd floors were used as a Dry Goods Store, the third floor had 2 offices and an Assembly Hall. In 1908, the basement was operated as a Bowling Alley. In 1940, an out of town grocery store, Kroger's took over the 1st floor and basement, while the second floor and mezzanine were converted to office space. In 1949, G.C. Murphy's 5 and 10 took over the first and mezzanine, allowing them to expand to this building from the adjacent three buildings to west where they had been operating since the 1930's. In 1998 Clifford J. and Jeannie Rylands acquired the building and converted it into a restaurant, C.J. Maggie's American Grill.