Peter Fagan


 Barber, Fiddler, and Land Owner

Died:May 8, 1829, Huntsville, Alabama

Notes:

•  Peter was the town barber. His shop was on Jefferson Street. - Nilson

•  Peter is found on the 1820 Deed of Trust page. This is before censuses were conducted in our area. This is a list of the earliest settlers for Madison County. - Deed of Trust, 1820

•  In Mrs. Fisk's book, she describes the lots and structures for the early buildings in Huntsville. Through her extensive research, she places Peter Fagan's Barber Shop on Jefferson Street. She has also collected information about Peter's talents and business. According to her, barbers of that day were expected to offer services and facilities beyond the obvious requirements of cuts and shaves. Their shops were the hubs for news reviews and information sharing. Barbers were often called upon to offer the bloodletting procedures commonly thought to be curative. And the barber shop was often where people expected to find bathing facilities. In Peter's case, Mrs. Fisk found that he also had some space for living quarters at the barber shop. - Fisk

•  Mrs. Fisk also quoted a notice published in the Huntsville Republican on October 6, 1817. It spoke of the Peter's fees for musical performances at public balls and parties (75 cents for each man present). - Fisk

•  Fagan Creek runs down the west side of Monte Sano Mountain, through Blossomwood and through the city of Huntsville. Stories of early life in Huntsville often also mentions Fagan Hollow as a picnic site at a spring on Monte Sano. Peter owned land on the side of the mountain. - Nilson

•  "Thomas Fearn sold the lot and building to Pagan in 1823 for $1.00. - Fisk

•  Peter left Huntsville before he died. - Fisk

•  Peter Fagan Died on Friday night, the 8th of this month (May), about 11 o'clock, in this town (Huntsville).
     Peter Fagan, the barber and fiddler, after a protracted illness of several months.
     No more will Peter inspire the dance; no more will his music resound from the hall. He died with perfect composure and apparent Christian resignation. The foul breath of slander never dared to impeach the honest and stern integrity of Peter Fagan. He always kept in mind:
     'Honor and sham from no condition rise;
     Act well your part, there all the honor lies.'" - The Democrat


Related Links:

•  Deed of Trust, 1820 - Deed of Trust, 1820, On the Occasion of the 150th Anniversary of the State of Alabama, by The Tennessee Valley Genealogical Society, Inc., first printing 1969, revised 1972, page 45.

•  Fisk - Civilization Comes to the Big Spring: Huntsville, Alabama 1823, by Sarah Huff Fisk, 1997, page 65.

•  Nilson - Why Is It Named That?, by Dex Nilsson, © 2003, 2005. pages 21 & 22.

•  The Democrat - The Democrat Obituary Friday, May 15, 1829


The Following Pages Link to this Page:
•  Deed of Trust, 1820
•  Nilson