Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 18

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > Butler > Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th > Part 18

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The South Side Branch of Butler was organized October 18, 1888, with Mrs. James S. Henry, president; Mrs. J. H. Negley, vice-president; Mrs. A. Stewart, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. L. L. Christy, recording secretary; Mrs. D. L. Aiken, treasurer; and Mrs. T. Steen, dele- gate to the county convention.

The Central Branch of Butler was or- ganized December 4, 1888, with Mrs. M. E. Nicholls, president; Mrs. Lizzie K. Ayres, vice-president; Mrs. I. J. McBride, cor- responding secretary; Mrs. M. K. Byers, recording secretary ; and Mrs. U. D. Fisher, treasurer.

The Young Woman's Christian Temper- ance Union, an auxiliary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized its first branch in Butler County at Har- risville, May 8, 1884, Mrs. Mary B. Reese being the organizer. On March 7, 1885, a branch at Butler was organized contain- ing eighty-two members. In the same year unions were organized at Evans City, Centerville, and Unionville, and during the

following year at Concord, Prospect, Bethel, Jacksville, North Hope, and Mil- lerstown. Local temperance work was carried on by these unions in every part of the county, and the object of those en- gaged in the agitation was partially achieved but the membership of the organ- ization was finally absorbed by the older unions, after the division of 1889.

The sixth annual convention of the But- ler County Union was held at Butler November 2-3, 1887, and was presided over by Mrs. Frances L. Swift, Mrs. E. R. Dain having died June 11, 1887. Mrs. S. M. McKee, of Butler, was elected president, and Mrs. J. B. Showalter, of Millerstown, corresponding secretary. Mrs. L. J. Me- Kinney, of Myoma, was chosen recorder, and Mrs. Lizzie K. Ayres, of Harrisville, retained as treasurer. The following year a campaign was prosecuted against the granting of license, but without other re- sult than the accumulation of a debt, the stirring up of local strife, and the crip- pling of the unions in means and influence. Previous to 1888 the Butler County Union had always declared itself to be non- partisan, but in the annual convention in November of that year, a motion to revive such action was defeated, owing to the de- sire on the part of many and both parties to keep the disturbing element of politics out of the convention, if possible. Mrs. Lucy H. Washington, of Port Jearvis, New York, presided at the election of officers at this convention, at which time Mrs. J. B. Showalter was elected presi- dent and Mrs. S. M. McKee corresponding secretary. Mrs. M. J. Earhart, of Petro- lia, was elected delegate to the national convention held at New York City that year. The event of the year 1889 was the vote on the prohibitory amendment, and the campaign that preceded it. The county union took an active part in this campaign, and in several places the Young Women's Unions drilled the Loyal Temperance Legions, and marched the children singing

132

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

on the streets and past the polls, while banners and mottoes were placed wherever they were allowed. This agitation led to a majority for the amendment in this county, but it was defeated in the State.

Nine delegates were sent from Butler County to the State convention in Phila- . delphia, in October, 1889, and Mrs. N. C. Core, of Butler, was the delegate to the national convention at Chicago held in November of that year. The event of the State convention in October was the re- fusal of Mrs. Frances L. Swift, Mrs. Ellen M. Watson and Mrs. J. D. Weeks to accept reelection to offices in the State union, and the subsequent passing of that organization into the hands of those identi- fied with Miss Frances Willard's policy of endorsing prohibition wherever it might be found. This event and the subsequent adherence of the National Union to its position induced Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, the leader of the opposition to withdraw from the convention in Chicago, along with thir- teen delegates from Iowa.

The position taken by the National Union at Chicago was the subject of much difference of opinion among the women of the Butler County Union, and the County Convention held at Butler November 21, 1889, was marked by the secession of thir- teen members who did not agree with the position taken by the National Union. Prior to this disagreement the condition of the Butler County Union is shown by the following figures: Number of unions, 37; paying members, 487; moneys raised, $1,607.30; juvenile unions, 14; member- ship, 604. The results of the disagree- ment in the convention of 1889 were noted in the reports of the convention held in 1890. The number of unions in that year reported was twenty-five, and the member- ship 435, a loss of twelve local unions and fifty-two members; nine juvenile organ- izations were reported with a membership of 315, while $1,349.83 were raised for temperance purposes.

At the County Convention held at Mars in 1891 two new local unions were re- ported, while the Loyal Temperance Legion contained 569 members. In 1892 twenty-five unions were reported, and the principal work done was the circulation of petitions for the anti-narcotic bill, for the signing of the Brussels Treaty, and for the closing of the World's Fair on Sun- day. In 1893, twenty-two active unions were reported, petitions were circulated for the closing of saloons on Memorial Day, for the local option bill against the repeal of local prohibitory laws, and for the Pennsylvania Sunday law. Mrs. A. M. Rice, of Petrolia, was sent as a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago this year. The County Convention of 1903 was held in St. John's Reformed Church, Butler, and the following officers were elected: Mrs. M. D. Dodds, president; Mrs. J. W. Orr, of Bruin, vice-president; Mrs. M. S. Templeton, of Butler, corre- sponding secretary; Mrs. L. C. Wick, of Butler, recording secretary; and Mrs. A. M. Rice, of Petrolia, treasurer. The presentation of banners to unions showing a certain increase in membership was one of the features of this convention.

The convention of 1894 reelected the old officers with the exception of vice-presi- dent. A department of railroad work was established this year, and Mrs. T. J. Steen, of Butler, was elected superintendent of the department. At the convention held in 1895 the only change made in the officers was in vice-president, Mrs. Harry M. Greenlee, of Butler, being elected to that position.

In 1896 the convention was held at Petrolia, at which Mrs. A. M. Rice, of Petrolia, was elected president; Mrs. M. D. Dodds, vice-president; Mrs. M. S. Templeton, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. Florence Wick, recording secretary.

At the convention held at Butler in 1897 Mrs. Rice was continued as president, Mrs. Eli Miller, of Butler, was chosen vice-

133

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

president, Mrs. Templeton was continued as corresponding secretary, Mrs. M. M. Sutton was elected treasurer, and Miss Bertha A. Bottner, of Petrolia, was elected corresponding secretary.

In 1898 the convention was held at Mars, and the old officers were continued. The following year the convention was held at Slippery Rock, at which Mrs. Mar- garet Dunwoody was elected correspond- ing secretary, in the place of Mrs. M. S. Templeton. The County Convention in 1900 was held at Zelienople at which four Loyal Temperance Legions were reported organized in the county with a total mem- bership of 200. Butler County was re- ported third in Loyal Temperance Legion work in the State for that year. The officers elected in 1900 were Mrs. C. E. Mc- Intire, of Butler, president; Mrs. Eli Miller, vice-president; Mrs. R. M. Moone, corresponding secretary; Miss Maud Mc- Clymonds, of Slippery Rock, recording secretary; and Mrs. M. M. Sutton, treas- urer.

At the convention held in Butler in 1901, Mrs. C. E. McIntire was continued as president, Mrs. C. D. Greenlee was chosen vice-president, Mrs. R. M. Moone corre- sponding secretary, and Mrs. J. W. Mc- Kee, of Butler, treasurer, a position which she still holds.

In 1902 Miss Maud McClymonds was elected president, Mrs. C. E. McIntire vice-president, Mrs. E. E. Bell, of Butler, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. O. M. Russell, of Butler, recording secretary.

In 1903 the superintendent of foreign work in the county reported a mission started among the foreigners at Lyndora. This department has continued to circu- late temperance literature among the for- eign-speaking element in the county, con- sisting of tracts and pamphlets published in foreign languages. The officers elected for the ensuing year were Miss Maud Mc- Clymonds, president; Mrs. J. H. Heiner, of Butler, vice-president; Mrs. E. N. Mc-

Adoo, of Butler, recording secretary ; Miss Adelaide Robinson, of Butler, corre- sponding secretary.

The officers of the county society elected in 1904 were Miss Bertha A. Bottner, of Petrolia, president; Mrs. Ethel Coulter, vice-president; Miss Cora E. White, re- cording secretary; Miss Adelaide Robin- son, corresponding secretary; and Mrs. J. W. McKee continued as treasurer.

The officers elected in 1905 were Miss Bertha A. Bottner, continued as president ; Mrs. C. E. McIntire, vice-president; Mrs. L. C. Wick, recording secretary; Miss Maud McClymonds, corresponding secre- tary; and Mrs. J. W. McKee continued as treasurer.

The twenty-fifth Annual Convention of the County Union was held in the First Presbyterian Church of Butler, September 20, 1906, on the anniversary of the organ- ization of the Butler County Union. A special program had been prepared and the event was celebrated in an appropriate manner. The officers elected for the en- suing year were Miss Bertha A. Bottner, president; Mrs. F. B. Denman, vice-presi- dent; Miss Maud McClymonds, corre- sponding secretary; Mrs. W. L. Kelley, recording secretary; and Mrs. J. W. Mc- Kee, treasurer.

The officers elected in 1907 were Miss Maud McClymonds, president; Mrs. Will- iam Cooper, vice-president; Miss Bertha A. Bottner, corresponding secretary; Mrs. F. D. Denman, recording secretary; Mrs. J. W. McKee, treasurer.

The officers in 1908 are Miss Virginia Cookson, of Evans City, president; Mrs. J. C. Toy, of Mars, vice-president; Mrs. E. H. Cronenwett, recording secretary ; Miss Bertha Bottner, corresponding secre- tary; and Mrs. J. W. McKee, treasurer. The department superintendents are as follows: Foreign work, Miss Mary Mc- kee, of Butler; Sabbath observance, Mrs. M. P. Forsythe, of Butler; flower mis- sions, Mrs. E. H. Cronenwett, of Butler;

134

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

scientific temperance and narcotics, Mrs. Frank Miller, of Slippery Rock; prison and jail work, Mrs. Harriet Cooper, of Butler; literature and press, Miss Bertha Bottner, of Petrolia.

The work accomplished by the temper- ance women of the county in the past twenty-seven years is to be admired for the wonderful persistence with which they pursued their object. The Butler County Union materially assisted the State Union in 1885 in having the "Temperance Edu- cation Law" passed and by their zeal in- duced the court to close every drinking- place in the county. They have waged in- cessant warfare on narcotics and have been the means of procuring legislation preventing the sale of cigarettes and to- bacco to minors under the age of eighteen. In 1881 there were forty-five saloons in the county. In 1885 there were none, and in 1894 there were none, and chiefly through the influence of the temperance workers the number of drinking places in the county in 1908 was limited to half the number there were twenty-five years ago.

The great Murphy meetings of 1886 and 1887 were manifestations of the power of the movement at that time, while the grad- ual moulding of public opinion in opposi- tion to the liquor traffic has been princi- pally due to the untiring agitation of the temperance unions. The battle for the prohibitory amendment in 1889 was lost to the state, but in Butler County a majority of 2,423 votes in favor of the amendment was given. The vote by districts in the county is given in a table in the political chapter.

The County Union has accomplished much good through its departmental work and is carrying on a campaign of education with unabated vigor. One department of this work is the circulating of temperance literature among the foreign speaking resi- dents of the county and the establishing of night schools among the foreigners for the teaching of the English language, temper-

ance, and good citizenship. Through the efforts of this department assisted by the Y. M. C. A., the night school for foreigners was established at Lyndora in 1906, which is now supported by the citizens of Butler and the Standard Steel Car Company.

In 1908 there were fourteen local unions in the county as follows: Bethel, Browns- dale, Bruin, Butler, Connoquenessing, Mars, Chicora, Myoma, Petrolia, Slippery Rock, Springdale, Unionville, Zelienople, and Harmony. The total membership was about five hundred. .

W. C. T. A.

When the thirteen members of the County W. C. T. U. seceded, and left the convention of November 21, 1889, held at Butler, the seceders held a convention the same day at which a declaration was read in the meeting by Mrs. N. C. Core, in which the following leading points were set forth : That while the society held a neutral posi- tion between Church and State, its mem- bers were a unit in opposing intemperance. That for some years the original central idea was being undermined by a political idea, and that since the convention appears to adhere to views which cannot be other- wise than damaging to the best interests of the cause, it is necessary to organize a non-sectarian and a non-political associa- tion. The document as read was signed by Madames N. C. Core, Isaiah J. McBride, M. K. Byers, M. E. Nicholls, F. Bailey, R. I. Boggs, D. Garrett, K. H. Miller, J. R. Miller, Cynthia Gilmore, L. K. Ayres, and Patton Kearns, with the Misses Mary E. Sullivan, Celia Cubbison, and Margaret Wick. After the reading Madames J. L. Henry, M. J. Fay, E. S. Bartley, and Miss L. E. Young signed the declaration. That evening Mrs. M. E. Nicholls presided over a meeting of twenty-seven non-partisan workers who organized a bureau of corre- spondence with Mrs. Nicholls president, Miss Young, secretary, and Mrs. Byers, treasurer. The actual organization of the

135

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance was not effected until September 18, 1890, when Mrs. Ellen J. Phinney, president of the National Alliance, came to Butler and organized the Butler County Alliance. The officers then elected were: Mrs. Margaret J. Earhart, of Petrolia, president; Mrs. J. B. Showalter, of Chicora, vice-president; Mrs. M. E. Nicholls, of Butler, correspond- ing secretary; Miss May Hopkins, record- ing secretary; and Miss L. E. Young, treasurer. The title then adopted for the new association of temperance workers was Woman's Christian Temperance Al- liance.

The second conference was held Novem- ber 6, 1891, and resulted in the choice of Mrs. J. B. Showalter, for president; Mrs. M. J. Earhart, vice-president; Mrs. Emily Robinson, of Butler, corresponding secre- tary; Mrs. E. J. Calvert, recording secre- tary; and Miss L. E. Young, treasurer. The third conference held at Millerstown in 1892 resulted in the re-election of the old officers, with the exception of recording secretary, Mrs. U. D. Fisher, of Butler, being chosen for that position.

The fourth conference was held at But- ler in September, 1893, when the following named officers were chosen: President, Mrs. Isaiah J. McBride, of Butler; vice- president, Mrs. N. C. Core, of Butler; cor- responding secretary, Mrs. J. E. Byers, of Butler; recording secretary, Mrs. U. D. Fisher; and treasurer, Miss L. E. Young.

NON-PARTISAN TEMPERANCE UNION.

The Non-Partisan Temperance Union of Butler, which appears to have been organ- ized September 19, 1890, was the Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance under a new name. The officers chosen by the Non- Partisan Union were Miss L. E. Young, of Butler, president; Mrs. J. E. Byers, of Butler, secretary; and Mrs. U. D. Fisher, treasurer. The organization was extended during the next few years to other parts of the county, and local unions were estab-

lished at Chicora, Karns City and in Fair- view Township. These unions eventually died out, and on account of the removal and deaths of a number of the leaders of the County Union, the latter organization was finally abandoned. The last officers elected by the Non-Partisan Union in 1899 were Miss L. E. Young, president; Mrs. J E. Byers, secretary ; and Mrs. D. L. Clee- land, of Butler, treasurer.

LOYAL TEMPERANCE LEGION.

The Loyal Temperance Legion, which was an auxiliary of the W. C. T. U., was organized for juvenile work, and at the County Convention of the W. C. T. U. held at Mars in 1898, the County Loyal Temper- ance Legion was organized with the fol- lowing officers: President, G. A. Bailey ; vice-president, Harry Flowers; recording secretary, Newton Eppinger; correspond- ing secretary, Artemesia Goddard; treas- urer, Bert Little. At the same time the fol- lowing superintendents of departments were appointed: literature, Annie Sander- son ; flower mission, Maud Staples; mercy, Della Elliott; railroad, Jessie L. Otterman; county superintendent, Mrs. A. G. Otter- man. At the convention held May 17, 1899, Harry Flowers was elected president; Ray Goddard, vice-president; Bertha Weigle, corresponding secretary; and Bert Little, treasurer. Jessie Otterman was continued as superintendent of railroad work; Agnes Staples was appointed superintendent of flower mission; Luella Baker, superintend- ent of the department of mercy; and Miss Jennie E. Dean, music director. While the Butler County Legion was third in the state in 1899, the organization was aban- doned in a few years, and its work was taken up by one of the departments of the County W. C. T. U.

STATISTICS OF POPULATION.

The following table exhibits the popula- tion of the county by townships and bor- oughs at each decennial census since its organization :

136

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

STATISTICS OF POPULATION.

1810.

1820.

1830.

1840.

1850.

1860.

1870. 873

1880. 1,156

1890. 1,817

1,610

1,455

291

Allegheny Township

881

890

2,287

1,224

1,004

1,080

216

Brady Township.

375

582

1,012 580

1,820 861

2,751 1,148

1,205 1,399

1,495 1,935

3,163

8,734

2,597

4.075

815

Butler, 2nd Ward ..

2,548

4,215

843

Butler, 3rd Ward.

2,031

4,845

969

Butler, 4th Ward.

1,781

3,175

635

Butler, 5th Ward.

1,896

5,495

1,099

Butler Township.

453

472

768

1,389

2,622

1,198

984

1,007

1,297

1,591

2,850

570

Bruin Borough. .

742

972

1,322

1,834

1,495

829

843

980

1,005

889

1,045

Centerville .Borough.

448

993

1,075

215

Cherry Township.

625

970

907

903

1,161

1,433

1,021

1,190

238

Clay Township.

1,039

1,062

1,036

1,076

1,134

1,620

324

Clearfield Township.

515

617

1,103

1,924

869

847

1,056

841

813

1,025

205

Clinton Township.

1,021

1,132

1,048

918

900

1,065

213

Concord Township.

855

926

1,654

1,138

1,086

1,440

288

Connoquenessing Borough.

977

1,944

2,692

2,518

1,098

1,051

1,190

1,593

960

1,080

216

Cranberry Township.

543

765

1,046

1,822

2,236

931

945

983

909

981

1,065

213

Donegal Township

671

960

1,085

1,615

1,174

999

852

2,156

1,617

1,204

1,520

304

Eau Claire Borough.

450

Evans City Borough

299

Fairview Borough.

1,078

1,101

1,078

3,930

1,996

1,437

1,630

326

Forward Township.

1,020

1,025

1,133

1,724

1,515

1,235

247

Franklin Township

....

1.119

860

1,047

990

924

1,055

231

Harmony Borough.

414

497

585

645

945

169

Harrisville Borough.

352

386

319

555

111

Jackson Township.

1,117

1,137

1,267

1,154

1,406

1,505

301

Jefferson Township.

1,457

1,234

1,214

1,600

1,422

1,405

281

Karns City Borough.

.....

1,130

1,053

1,070

946

834

1,035

207

Marion Township.

789

850

1,086

965

878

1,215

243

Middlesex Township.

538

1,010

1,231

1,692

2,259

1,034

1,010

1.100

1,078

1,541

1,500

300

Millerstown Borough.

868

1,317

1,998

1,142

1,094

972

790

785

799

945

189

Oakland Township.

659

945

1,364

769

1,170

1,309

2,516

1,710

1,317

910

182

Penn Township ..

1,712

1,945

389

Petrolia Borough.

1,186

546

350

475

Portersville Borough

216

190

196

270

Prospect Borough.

. .

658

865

1,541

1,507

1,490

993

879

1.007

1,247

1,260

1,740

348

Summit Township.

939

1,304

1,266

1,287

1,260

1,840

368

Valencia Borough ..

377

353

499

822

1,473

836

902

1,322

1,147

1,342

1,385

277

Washington Township.

West Liberty Borough.

216

243

238

254

305

Winfield Township. Worth Township.

928

893

1,076

939

837

1,090

218

Zelienople Borough

387

497

639

963

1,650

330

7,346

10,193

14,683

22,371

- 30,346

35,594

36,510

52,536

55,339

56,962

79,920

15,984

. .

The total population of the county in 1800 was 3,916. The figures given in the column 1908 are estimated on the basis of five of a population for each registered voter. The number of registered voters in the county as returned by the registry assessors in June, 1908, is given in the last column.

Centerville Borough given in the above table is now Slip- pery Rock Borough, and it will be noticed that Butler Borough is dropped in the last three columns and Butler, 1st, 2d. 3d, 4th and 5th Wards substituted. The popula- tion of Butler Borough in 1900 was 10,853, and the esti- mated population in 1908, 21,305. These figures do not include the population of Lyndora in Butler Township nor the foreign population of Red Row. The total number of voters registered in the borough in 1908 was 4,361.

The statistics of population of 1900 gives the number of white males in the county as 26,492, and the white females as 27,361. The foreign population was 3,109, and the colored population 119. The estimates of the foreign

population in 1908 vary from 12,000 to 15,000, about 60 per cent of which are in the district surrounding Butler Borough.

In 1880 the vilage of Eldorado had a population of 53; Modoc, 127; Greece City, 142; Forestville, 233; Hilliard, 116; Mechanicsburg, 52; Middletown, 94; Martinsburg, 287 ; North Washington, 147; Petersville, 90; Sarversville, 37; Troutman, 320; Unionville, 44; West Liberty, 63; and Whitestown, 90. In 1900 many of these villages had dis- appeared and others had been converted into boroughs. The population of Evans City, originally called Evansburg, jumped from 68 in 1880 to 637 in 1890, and to 1,200 in 1900. Forestville has decreased in population, while the villages of Eldorado, Greece City, and Modoc have almost entirely disappeared. The population of these villages is included in the census of their respective townships. Mar- tinsburg has been converted into a borough and the name changed to Bruin, and its population has increased from 287 in 1880 to about 750. Petersville has been changed to

Registry of Vot- ers for

Esti- mated 1908.

1900.

1908.

Adams Township ..

866

701

600

772

729

: 721

655

131

Buffalo Township.

1,131

1,121

1,525

305

Butler Borough.

Butler, 1st Ward.

735

147

Center Township.

209

366

418

343

435

333

303

235

265

Fairview Township.

....

1,233

1,296

545

478

985

697

684

760

152

Mercer Township.

588

641

771

777

1,125

245

Muddy Creek Township.

926

1,039

1,198

940

1,195

239

Parker Township

Saxonburg Borough.

295

319

258

307

500

100

Slippery Rock Borough.

. .

1,003

993

996

1,287

1,351

1,508

1,800

360

280

West Sunbury Borough ...

1,134

1,121

1,092

1,087

1,395

1,680

336

271

362

343

361

510

102

Lancaster Township.

.. .

....

914

837

1,131

1,814

950

1,452

285

407

1,108

1,162

265

365

Mars Borough.

.. .

...

. . . .

...

....

.... .

.....

701

427

149

270

Venango Township ..

637

1,200

1,495

Connoquenessing Towns'p. 1,284

288

. .

...

1,263

. .

Slippery Rock Township. .

395

399

919

198

137

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Connoquenessing Borough, and has increased in population from 90 in 1880 to 435. West Liberty Borough has been created since the census of 1900, and its population is now 305. Other boroughs that have been created since 1890 are Mars, with a population of about 1,200, Valencia with a population of 270, Eau Claire with a population of 450, and West Liberty with 280.

Callery Borough was created under a charter granted June 6, 1905, and is not included in the above table. The population in 1900 was included in Adams Township, and the estimated population in 1908 is 300. No return was made by the registry assessor of the voters for 1908, and the number of taxables for that year were 111.

SOME NOTABLE PIONEERS.

DAVID DOUGAL was one of the best known citizens in Butler County throughout his long and eventful career, and his name is inseparably linked with its history for a period surpassing the allotted life of man. He was a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, born near Fannetsburg, September 23, 1778, and was the son of a Presbyterian minister. He obtained a good English education, and in early man- hood left home and went to Huntingdon, where he clerked in the prothonotary's office. Here he studied the art of survey- ing, afterwards went to Pittsburg, and- later to Kentucky, where he acquired a taste for adventure and free outdoor life. He next went to Detroit and acted as clerk in a trading post, meeting hundreds of In- dians there, and subsequently spent some time among the Indian tribes of Ohio. These associations had a marked influence on his character that remained with him to the day of his death. He finally returned to Huntingdon, whence, about the year 1800, he came to Butler County. Upon the organization of this county he was ap- pointed the first clerk of the board of county commissioners, and later served one term in that body. At the first sales of lots in Butler borough, Mr. Dougal proved his faith in the new county seat by purchas- ing several lots, some of which he owned until he died. He was one of the pioneer merchants of the town for a short time, but soon abandoned merchandising to pursue the more congenial vocation of a surveyor, which profession he followed until the in- firmities of old age compelled him to retire from active life. He loved nothing so well as to roam through the primitive forest, running lines, establishing corners and blazing trees to mark boundaries. He did

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 18

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1526

Author: McKee, James A., 1865- ed. and comp
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, Richmond-Arnold Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1526