Early Growth

Early Growth. Settled 1852. , Despite competition of Pleasant Run, Lancaster had a substantial growth during the 1850's. The first store on the square was operated by, James H. Holloway with Pleasant Taylor and later Myron P. Everts as partners. In 1860 Taylor and Everts sold to N.K. Grove who operated the business until it burned in the 1880's. The first post office in Lancaster was opened in this store in 1860 with Dr. S.T. Bledsoe as postmaster., Another pre-war merchant of prominence was Dr. H.J. Moffett who operated a dry goods and drug store until after the Civil War. His brother, W.R. (Billy) Moffet bought a tavern erected in 1856 by Elder Lewis Jacobs and enlarged it into the Moffett Hotel., In 1858 Crill Miller and Moses Bledsoe opened a livery stable on the south side of the square which, under various owners, endured until the coming of the automobile put it out of business. J.H. Sherrard and James Carey ran a blacksmith shop on the northeast corner until they became involved in the Tucker, Sherrard and Company during the Civil War. Josiah and Thomas Porter made saddle and harness on North First Street until after the war. In 1860 W. R. Moffett and O. B. Nance built a carding mill at the intersection of what is now North Dallas and West Main, which later became a flour mill operated by Dr. H.J. Moffett., William L. White opened a general merchandise store on the west side in 1860 and was postmaster during the war. John Green made cabinets and furniture just north of the square., By 1889 Lancaster had 1200 residents, 26 business houses (none saloons), a flour mill, a lumber yard, 3 cotton gins, 6 churches, a school, and 3 hotels. The longest operated business was Head's Department Store, established in 1889 by F.M. Hammond and continuously open under Mr. Hammond, C.H. Head and Raymond Head until 1989.