Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 36

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 36

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Harry L. Graham is a native of Con- cord Township, and a son of Thomas Graham. He was educated at North Washington Academy and at the Uni- versity of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, read law in the office of S. F. Bowser, of Butler, and was admitted to the bar December 11, 1895. Mr. Graham is a Republican in politics, and has taken an active part in local affairs. He was elected school direc- tor of his ward and was secretary of the board in 1907 and 1908.

William C. Thompson is the son of the late Col. John M. Thompson, of Butler, and was admitted to the bar June 29, 1883. He was associated with his father in the practice of law until the latter's

death, but since then has devoted most of his time to manufacturing interests.

Everett L. Ralston is a native of Slip- pery Rock Township, Butler County, and the eldest son of John and Hannah (Mc- Coy) Ralston. He received his primary education in the common schools of his native township and subsequently at- tended Mount Union College and Grove City College, graduating from the latter school in 1881. He read law with the late Judge Charles McCandless, was ad- mitted to the bar in 1883, since which time he has been actively engaged in the duties of his profession. In 1887 he formed a law partnership with Hon. John M. Greer under the firm name of Greer & Ralston, which continued until Judge Greer took his seat on the bench in January, 1893. Soon after the election of Judge Greer to the bench, his son John B. Greer became a member of the firm under the firm name of Ralston & Greer. Politically Mr. Ral- ston is a Democrat and one of the active members of his party. He was promi- nently mentioned as a candidate for judge in 1902, but was defeated for the nomina- tion by Levingston McQuistion. Since 1902 Mr. Ralston has been practicing alone and has a large clientele.

J. M. Painter is a native of Clay Town- ship, Butler County, and a son of Simon P. Painter. After receiving a good pre- liminary education he followed school teaching for several terms and later took up the study of law in the office of Col. John M. Thompson. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, and in 1895 formed a part- nership with William Z. Murrin, which continued until 1902. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1898 was elected district attorney, filling that office for one term, and in 1894 he was appointed attorney for the county commissioners for three years. Mr. Painter has associated with him in his office his brother, Howard I. Painter, but he is practicing by himself, and has built up a large clientele.

263

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

Howard I. Painter is the son of Simon P. Painter, of Clay Township, and was admitted to the bar in 1894. He had pre- viously obtained a good education and was engaged in school teaching in Butler County for a number of years after his admission to the bar. He was elected county superintendent of the public schools in 1898, and reëlected in 1901. Since his retirement from the county superin- tendent's office, he has devoted his time to the practice of law, and is taking a leading rank among the younger members of the bar.

George E. Robinson is a son of the late Thomas Robinson, of Butler Borough, and was admitted to the bar in 1895. He has also been admitted to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and has qualified to prac- tice in the Department of Interior, at Washington, D. C. He inherits a taste for politics from his father, and takes an active interest in the organization of the Republican party in the borough and in the county.

Parker C. Purviance, who was admitted to the Butler bar in 1835, was afterward appointed deputy attorney-general for Butler County.

Stephen Cummings is a native of But- ler borough, and a nephew of the late Judge James Bredin. He was admitted to the bar May 31, 1880, and has built up a large office practice. Mr. Cummings takes an active interest in the Democratic party, but has never aspired to any political preferment.

Samuel Atwell is a native of Butler County and a son of David Atwell, of Marion Township. He read law under Hon. James M. Galbreath and was ad- mitted to the bar May 23, 1903, and Mr. Atwell is a Republican in politics, and was the choice of his party as district attorney in 1907, but was defeated in the political upheavel that occurred that year.

Frank H. Murphy is the son of Francis

Murphy and was born in Chicora, Penn- sylvania. He was educated in the common schools of his district and at Allegheny College, Meadville, read law in the office of W. A. Forquer, and was admitted to the bar June 13, 1893. He has since taken a leading rank as a counselor and enjoys a large practice.

William B. Purvis is a native of Butler Borough, and is the son of the late Joseph L. Purvis. He was educated in the com- mon schools of the city, at Washington and Jefferson College, and subsequently entered the office of Hon. James M. Gal- breath as a student of law. He was ad- mitted to the bar July 13, 1901. He has been secretary of the Butler Driving Park and Fair Association since 1906, and is rapidly building up a paying practice.

Albert C. Troutman was born in Butler Borough and is the youngest son of Adam Troutman, a well-known business man. He was educated in the public schools of the town, Washington and Jefferson Col- lege, and the law department of the Uni- versity of Pennsylvania, and was admitted to practice at the Butler bar June 1, 1901. He at once took a leading rank among the younger members at the bar, and in 1907 was elected district attorney, on the Democratic ticket.

William H. Martin was born in Penn Township, Butler County, and is the son of John Martin, deceased, who was a well known resident of the county. He read law in the office of Frank M. Eastman, was admitted to the bar September 22, 1882, and practiced in Beaver and Westmore- land Counties and in West Virginia. Mr. Martin was a Democrat in politics until 1906, when he became affiliated with the Prohibition party of Butler County, and was chairman of the county committee in 1908.

Newton C. McCollough is a son of Peter McCollough and a native of Chicora, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar November 5, 1896, having previously

264

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

served two terms as county superin- tendent of public schools, and taught in the schools of the county. In addition to his law practice Mr. McCollough is en- gaged in the real estate and insurance business with Leslie P. Hazlett, Esq., as a partner. He is also actively engaged in the oil business, and is one of the success- ful operators in the local oil fields.

Hunter E. Coulter is a native of Butler County and was admitted to practice at the Butler bar, January 21, 1888. Mr. Coulter is a Democrat in politics and for the past fifteen years has filled the office of secretary to the town council.

John W. Coulter is a native of Scrub- grass, Venango County, and the son of Rev. John R. Coulter, deceased, who was a well-known Presbyterian minister. He was admitted to the bar September 8, 1891, and has continued to practice since that time. He is a Republican in politics and has been a candidate for district attorney on several occasions, and run a large vote.

Samuel Walker is a native of Butler Borough and a son of the late Capt. Sam- uel Walker. He was educated in the com- mon schools of the borough, at State Col- lege, and the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar July 15, 1899. He at once took a leading rank among the younger members of the bar, and in 1904 was the choice of the Republican party for district attorney. His election at the fall election was a mark of his popularity and the esteem in which he is held by the citizens of the com- munity.

Levi M. Wise was born in Jackson Town- ship, Butler County, and is the son of Jacob F. and Sarah (Moyer) Wise. He was educated in the public schools and at Edinborough State Normal School and was admitted to the bar September 5, 1888, since when he has continued in the active duties of his profession. In 1903 Mr. Wise embarked in the newspaper en- terprise and became part owner of the

daily and weekly Eagle, of Butler, and since has obtained entire control of that publication. He is first of all a lawyer, however, and gives nearly all of his time to his practice. He is one of the active Republicans of the county and has taken a leading part in the party organization for the last fifteen years.

John H. Wilson is a native of Harmony, and was admitted to the bar June 1, 1894. He has been associated with Livingston McQuistion and J. C. Vanderlin since that time, and in 1907 and 1908 was chosen city solicitor by the town council of Butler. He is a Democrat in politics and has been the choice of his party for district attorney and for the legislature, but was defeated with the rest of his party ticket.

Theodore C. H. Keck was born in But- ler, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Jacob Keck, Esq. He was admitted to the bar February 26, 1900, and has taken a lead- ing rank among the younger members of the bar.

John H. Jackson is a native of Butler Borough, and was educated at the public schools and at Washington and Jefferson College. He subsequently read law with Williams & Mitchell, of Butler, and was admitted to practice February 26, 1900.

John C. Graham was born in Butler Borough and is the son of the late Walter L. Graham. He was educated in the pub- lic schools and at Lafayette College, and was admitted to practice March 11, 1892. Mr. Graham has devoted most of his at- tention to real estate, and in 1908 was secretary of the Butler Board of Trade.

William McDowell was born in 1858 at Kirkmuirhill, Parish of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He came to this country with his parents when a young man, attended State College, Pennsyl- vania, and afterward the State University of Columbus, Ohio, and began life as a civil and mining engineer. Later he pur- sued his course of studies at the Normal University, Ada, Ohio, and in the law de-

---- --------- -- - -- ! i

- -

265

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

partment of the University of Indiana, and was admitted to practice in the vari- ous courts of Indiana, June 20, 1900. Sub- sequently he pursued the study of law in the office of John L. Mccutcheon, of Pitts- burg, and took a post-graduate course at the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia. He was admitted to the Butler bar July 28, 1903, and has since taken a leading rank among the younger members of the bar.

Edgar H. Negley was born in Butler and is a son of the late John H. Negley, Esq. He was educated in the public schools, read law in the office of his father and was admitted to the bar in March, 1899. Pre- vious to this he spent one year in the serv- ice of the United States in the Spanish- American War. Mr. Negley is one of the active Republicans of the borough and has served as a member of the school board from the Third Ward.

Lewis P. Litzinger is a native of Chi- cora, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar December 24, 1902. He received a preliminary education in the common schools and later attended the Georgetown

University in the District of Columbia, graduating from the law department in 1902. The same year he was admitted to practice in the supreme court and the court of appeals in the District of Colum- bia, of which Washington City is a part.

The following attorneys have practiced at various times outside of Butler Bor- ough: At Parker City, J. P. Coulter in 1872, Wallace Martin in 1874; Slippery Rock, Charles C. McCarns in 1890, Clar- ence G. McGee in 1900; at Greece City, during the oil excitement, J. K. Wallace in 1873; at Chicora, J. H. Bowman in 1878, Joseph H. Cunningham in 1874, Ezra Crossman in 1878, M. B. McBride in 1871, J. S. Mckay in 1873, G. B. McCalmont in 1873, Mark G. McCaslin in 1873, Joseph M. McCracken in 1873, George J. Wolfe in 1877; at Harrisville, D. J. Kyle in 1878.

There have also been a few others ad- mitted to the Butler County bar who have never practiced in the county, either re- moving soon after their admission to other localities, or entering into other businesses or professions, whose names may not be here mentioned.

CHAPTER VIII

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES

The first mention of public roads in con- nection with this county is found in the transactions of the county commissioners of Allegheny County under date of No- vember 6, 1802. In December of the same year mention is made of a road that had been viewed and opened from Voris' cabin in Deer Township, Allegheny County, to Findley's cabin in the original township of Middlesex in Butler County. The sec- ond road mentioned is that built from Isaac Voris' house in Deer Township, Allegheny County, to Robert Galbreath's house on Big Buffalo Creek, in Butler County. This road was viewed in June, 1803. In November of the same year David Gilliland and four others were paid for laying out twelve miles of road from the east line of Butler County to the county seat.

From February, 1804, to May 1812, ninety-five petitions for roads were con- sidered by the commissioners of Butler County. The first was for a road from Butler to Freeport on the Allegheny River and the last for a road from the point where the Pittsburg and Freeport Road crossed the Butler-Allegheny line to the line between Butler and Armstrong Coun- ties near the mouth of Buffalo Creek. All of the ninety-five petitions were not granted, but a sufficient number of roads

were opened to connect the principal set- tlements with the county seat.

A strong plea for additional roads was made in 1805 by Dr. Detmar Basse Muller, the founder of Zelienople, who, it seems, had already gone to some expense on his own account in the matter. His petition to the commissioners, though published in a previous history of the county, is of in- terest, both as showing the attention that was then being given to this subject and also because of the improvements intro- duced or proposed at that early date by Dr. Muller-in particular his importation of fine cattle and sheep, said to have been the first of the kind in the county. The petition reads as follows :

"WOULD HUMBLY show, that your petitioner labors under great disadvantage for want of good roads to and from the town of Zelienople. I would further state that I have been at great expense in cutting roads and mak- ing large improvements for the best to this settlement. That I procured for this country with great difficulties Spanish sheep, which cost 100 dollars per head 700 miles from this place, also, the best breed of English cattle in the United States, and that it would be necessary to have roads for me to accomplish my enterprises as well as for the public in general as a people in this settle- ment, which is now increasing very fast and probably will soon be a town of very considerable circumstance. I have now a good sawmill built, and in case the road from Pittsburgh to Mercertown can be laid out, opened and made through Zelienople, I shall proceed to build a merchant mill and furnace. A furnace will be of great utility to this country, as it costs as much to transport the iron to this country as it cost to purchase the iron where it is made. Now it will not be possible to build

266

267

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

these works without roads. I am still willing to do myself more for the establishment of the road, by build- ing a good and substantial bridge across the Connoque- nessing Creek, opposite the town of Zelienople, at my own expense in case the road shall be laid out and made from Pittsburgh to Mercertown through Zelienople. Now that the court will confirm this road or appoint some proper persons to lay it out as the law directs, for this your petitioner will ever pray."

Robert Morris also, prior to 1803, in- structed his agent at Butler to give finan- cial aid to road construction whenever possible. This led to the establishment, in 1805, of the state and county road leading by Cemetery Hill and known as the Graded Road. In 1821 the road passed into the control of the Butler and Pittsburg Turn- pike Company. An easier route was selected and the state aided in the con- struction of the road from Butler to Erie, making it one of the great highways be- tween the forks of the Ohio and the Great Lakes.

THE PITTSBURG AND MERCER ROAD.

The original Pittsburg and Mercer Road, called the Pittsburg and Mercer- town Road, as shown by the Muller peti- tion, was established in 1805. It passed through the western portion of the county through Zelienople and Harmony, and is the present Franklin Road. It was a favorite route with travelers going to the northwest from Pittsburg.

THE EBENSBURG STAGE LINE.

The Ebensburg and Butler Stage Line was established in May, 1825. W. W. Bell contracted to carry the mails between the two points by way of Indiana and Kittan- ning in eighteen hours, and guaranteed passengers close connection at Ebensburg with the Pittsburg and Alexandria Stage. In his advertisement, published in Decem- ber, he assured prospective passengers that the clay turnpike over which his route lay was very much superior to the stone roads of the southern route. He made the trip between the two points once a week,

leaving Butler on Sunday and arriving the following Wednesday.

A CANAL PROJECT.

A canal convention was held at New Castle in May, 1826, which had under con- sideration the construction of a canal from Pittsburg to Erie. Butler County was represented in this convention by William Ayres and Jacob Mechling.

THE ALLEGHENY AND SUSQUEHANNA CANAL.

The question of connecting the Alle- gheny and Susquehanna Rivers by a canal came up in 1825, and on January 29 of that year a meeting was held at Neyman's Hotel in Butler at which John Potts pre- sided, with Jacob Mechling secretary. The meeting appointed as a committee to draft a memorial to the legislature John Bredin, John Gilmore, John Neyman, John Gil- christ and William Beatty. This commit- tee prepared a lengthy address to the legislature then in session, but there was nothing definite in its character. In March of the same year John Gilmore, Jacob Mechling, Hugh McKee, William Gibson and John Bredin were constituted a local committee for the purpose of ap- pointing delegates to the state convention of internal improvement. John Gilmore and John Bredin were appointed and at- tended the canal convention held at Har- risburg in August of that year. This movement resulted in nothing so far as Butler County was concerned, and is re- ferred to merely to show the thought of the time upon the important subject of internal improvements and upon means of communication with the great cen- ters of commerce.

THE PITTSBURG AND ERIE MAIL ROUTE.

In 1827 A. McGill & Company operated a line of mail stages between Pittsburg and Erie, the route passing through But- ler. The fare from Pittsburg to Butler

268

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

was $1.50, from Pittsburg to Meadville $4, and from Pittsburg to Erie $6.50. The stage left Pittsburg every morning, arriv- ing in Butler the same evening; it left Butler for Meadville the next morning at four o'clock, arrived at Meadville the sec- ond evening, and at four o'clock A. M. on the third day left Meadville for Erie, ar- riving at its destination about noon. The return trip was made on the same sched- ule, thus avoiding the dangers of night travel. These old stages were drawn by four and sometimes six horses, and their arrivals and departures were watched with as much interest as is displayed by the youngsters of the present day over the arrival of the steam cars.

The Butler and Kittanning Turnpike Road was completed in 1828, and opened a large territory for Butler's trade. The officers of this company were John Gil- more, president, and William Hagerty, secretary.

THE BUTLER AND FREEPORT PIKE.

A new era to the pioneers of Butler County was announced in 1828, when the first steamboat, which ascended the Alle- gheny River, landed at Franklin in Venango County and discharged its cargo of 150 passengers and thirty tons of freight. This boat was known as the "William B. Duncan" and was of eighty tons measurement. It touched Butler County only at Freeport and at Parker's Landing, but its arrival on the waters of the Allegheny was soon after followed by the establishing of a post route from Free- port to Butler. The Freeport and Butler route was established in May, 1828, and during the same year a route was estab- lished from Anderson's Creek to Kittan- ning, one from Lawrenceburg to Mercer, and one from Harrisville to Whitestown.

In March, 1830, the "Allegheny," the first stern-wheeler, steamed up the river to Franklin, where she arrived on the 18th of that month.

In March, 1849, McElwain & Company established a stage line between Butler and Freeport, placing two four-horse coaches on the route. The schedule of arrivals and departures at Freeport was arranged in accordance with that of the Pittsburg packet-boats.

In October, 1859, J. W. McKee estab- lished a line of coaches from Butler to Freeport, making connections at Freeport with the Allegheny Valley Railroad, and reducing the time of travel to Pittsburg to six hours.

The Butler and Freeport Turnpike was constructed in 1833, and in 1845 a turnpike was constructed from Butler to Brady's Bend (then called the Great Western), the commissioners being David Dougal and George W. Reed of Butler County and William Hart of Armstrong County.

THE NATIONAL ROAD CONVENTION.

The National Road Convention which favored the construction of macadamized roads from Cumberland west and south to the Pacific and Gulf coasts, was held at Butler January 21, 1844, and was attended by 500 delegates. Gen. John N. Purviance of Butler was chosen president. Conven- tions were also held at Butler in 1845 and 1846, but nothing of importance appears to have been transacted.

THE BUTLER AND ALLEGHENY PLANK ROAD.

The question of building a plank road from Butler to Allegheny was discussed as early as 1848, but not until February, 1849, was any definite action taken. At that time a meeting was held in Butler at which John Negley presided, with John Duffy and John McKee vice-presidents, and James Campbell and Louis Z. Mitchell secretaries. This meeting appointed a committee to provide for a charter for a company authorizing the building of a plank road from Butler to Allegheny. John Bredin, C. C. Sullivan, J. G. Camp-

269

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

bell, R. McNair, and George Miller were chosen members of this committee.

On April 5, 1849, the legislature passed an act authorizing the governor to incor- porate the Allegheny City and Butler Plank Road Company. In May, 1850, the commissioners of Butler and Allegheny Counties at a meeting held at Bakerstown considered the matter under this act and ordered books to be opened at several points for receiving subscriptions for stock. In February, 1851, the citizens of Tarentum, Saxonburg and Butler worked for the enterprise and by the close of the month the Allegheny and Butler Plank Road Company was organized with S. M. Lane, president; William Campbell, David Walker, T. H. Lyon of Butler, Charles F. Spang and T. W. Shaw, of Allegheny, managers, and James Jones, of Allegheny, treasurer. Ground was broken June 16, 1851, by contractor Walker of Butler, and the era of plank roads was introduced. John N. Purviance was elected president of the company in 1852 to succeed Mr. Lane, and Col. A. N. Mylert to succeed David Walker as manager. In November of the same year Dunlap Mclaughlin of Butler was chosen treasurer and since that time the management of the road has been practically in the hands of Butler people.

The report of the commissioners ap- pointed by the governor to inspect the road was filed July 7, 1856, and on the same date a charter was issued by Gover- nor James Pollock and signed by John McPherrin Sullivan, Secretary of State. The commission that inspected the road was composed of John Duffy, Robert Car- nahan, and Matthew White. The name of James Bredin first appears as secretary of the company in 1856, and he continued to hold that position until his death in 1906. During the last thirty years of his life he was treasurer and general manager of the company as well as secretary. The presi- dents that succeeded Mr. Purviance were William Campbell, Sr., R. M. Gibson, and

William Campbell, Jr. Upon the death of the latter in 1907, W. D. Brandon of But- ler was chosen president and D. H. Sutton of Butler was elected secretary and man- ager to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Bredin. The Butler Savings and Trust Company is the present treasurer.

In the early days of the road about ten miles in Butler County was constructed of stone and about the same number of miles in Allegheny County was constructed of heavy flag stone similar to a pavement, while the plank part of the road was con- structed of split logs that had been dressed with a hand axe. About 1880 the entire length of the road was rebuilt with sawed plank and placed in an excellent condi- tion. The Allegheny and Butler Plank Road proved a success from its first year and has paid its stockholders a neat profit on their investment. It is now probably the oldest plank road in operation in the state. In 1905 the commissioners of Al- legheny County purchased that part of the road from Etna to the Butler County line for $65,000.00 and converted it into a ma- cadamized county road. About the same time an effort was made to have the com- missioners of Butler County purchase the road from Butler to the Allegheny County line, but this movement failed and the company still operates the division of the road in Butler County.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 36

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