Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 55

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 55

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The winter of 1803 and 1804 was a dreary one. The only means of communi- cation with the outer world was by means of a bridle path leading straight over the hills to Pittsburg. Among the new resi- dents of the town who came at the begin- ning of 1804 was William Avres, Esq., the first prothonotary of Butler County, and his clerk, Henry M. Brackenridge, son of Judge H. H. Brackenridge, of Pittsburg. The young clerk afterwards became a not- ed lawyer and a distinguished member of the bench of Pennsylvania, and the author of a History of Western Pennsylvania, which bears his name. In his "Recollec- tions of the West," he says of his first

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visit here: "On my arrival at Butler there were a few log houses just raised, but not sufficiently completed to be occu- pied. It was not long before there were two taverns, a store, and a blacksmith shop. It was then a town. The country around was a howling wilderness with the exception of a few scattered settlements as far removed from each other as the kraals in the neighborhood of the Cape of Good Hope."

The first public assembly for social and patriotic purposes was held on the Fourth of July, 1804, when the natal day of American independence was celebrated in an appropriate manner. The meeting was held at the Federal Spring at the foot of Main Street, now on the property of John McQ. Smith, and it is from this circum- stance that the spring was so named. A table about one hundred feet long had been prepared, which was supplied with the best the country afforded, to which all present did ample justice. After the din- ner William Ayres was appointed presi- dent and John McCandless, then sheriff, vice-president. Patriotic toasts suited to the occasion were read by the president at the head of the table, and repeated by the vice-president at the foot. Then followed the drink, the cheers, the firing of mus- ketry, and the music of drum and fife play- ing the old Revolutionary tunes of "Yan- kee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia." The entire population of the town was repre- sented at this meeting as well as represen- tative citizens from the surrounding coun- try.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

It was not until some fifteen years later that the inhabitants of Butler began to think of taking steps towards the forma- tion of a corporate government. The question was finally brought before the leg- islature, on February 6, 1817, by an act entitled "An act to erect a town of Milton in the county of Northumberland, and the town of Butler in the county of Butler,

into boroughs." This act was passed Feb- ruary 26, and the charter was issued May 2, 1817, by Governor Snyder, and Butler at once assumed its new duties as an in- corporated town. The section of the act relating to the incorporation of Butler is given herewith :

"Section 16. And be it further enacted, etc., That the town of Butler in the county of Butler shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough which shall be called the 'Borough of Butler,' and contained within the following metes and bounds: The original plat or draft of the town of Butler, beginning at a black oak on the bank of the mill dam; thence north seventy-eight degrees west seven perches; thence south 52 degrees west eight perches; thence south eleven degrees west seven perches, south three degrees east ten perches, south 36 degrees east eight perches, south 73 degrees west eleven perches, north ten degrees west fourteen perches, north ten degrees east fourteen perches, north 40 degrees west 12 perches, west sixteen perches, south 59 degrees west 23 perches; thence south eleven degrees 13 perches, south 25 degrees east five perches, south twenty degrees west 14 perches; thence south 18 perches; thence south 52 degrees west 26 perches, south 41 degrees west six perches, south sixty-one degrees west 131/2 perches, south 57 degrees west 71% perches to a hickory; thence leaving the dam north 77 degrees west nine perches, thence north 57 degrees west 57 perches to two hickory trees on the banks of the creek; thence north fifteen degrees west 40 perches, north three degrees west 1521/2 perches; thence north 87 degrees east 173 perches; thence south three de- grees east 133.2 perches to the place of beginning."

The part of the city included in the above description is bounded approximately by Monroe Street on the east, Penn Street on the north, Bluff Street on the west, and the Connoquenessing Creek on the south. The population of the town in 1820, two years after the borough was erected, was 250.

It was also provided by the act in sec- tion 17 that the inhabitants of the borough entitled to vote for members of the legis- lature having resided within the limits of the borough at least six months preceding the election, should "on the Friday imme- diately preceding the third Saturday of March next" have power to cast their votes between the hours of one and five in the afternoon for one chief burgess, one assistant burgess, and seven citizens to be a town council, also one high constable.

Under this act the first election for bor- ough officers was held May 30, 1817, at the

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dwelling house of Adam Funk, and for subsequent years the elections were mostly held at the house of Jacob Mechling, who was chosen one of the first councilmen to aid in shaping the destinies of the infant borough.

The new borough officers were prompt to organize and discharge their functions, as is shown by the fact that they entered upon their duties the very day that they were elected. The first minute book of the borough council under date of May 30, 1817, noted the fact that William Ayres, Esq., had been duly elected chief burgess, and John Gilmore, Esq., assistant burgess. William Campbell, John Potts, Dr. George Miller, Hugh McKee, David Dougal, and James Stephenson, duly elected members of the town council for the borough of But- ler, met at the house of Adam Funk and took the oath of office before Robert Scott, Esq., a justice of the peace, as directed by the act of Assembly passed the 26th day of February, A. D. 1817, creating the town of Butler in the county of Butler, into a borough. At this meeting John Potts was duly elected president of council, John Bredin was appointed clerk, James Hill was appointed borough treasurer, and Maurice Bredin was elected collector of the borough taxes.

Jacob Mechling qualified as councilman at the meeting held July 7, 1817, and voted with the other members for levying a bor- ough tax as well as for the adoption of the seal of the Circuit Court as the seal of the borough.

In 1819 an ordinance was adopted estab- lishing a regular market day, and also rules were adopted for preventing sheep and swine from running at large, and per- sons from galloping on the streets. In 1820 a tax levy of four mills was made for the borough expenses, which was consid- ered sufficient to justify the borough offi- cials in fitting up a pound or pen on Will- iam Beatty's lot for hogs and a place in Eli Skeer's stable for the keeping of sheep,

and thereafter all stray animals of this kind found roaming on the streets were taken into custody by the high council.

In 1820 the building used as a market house appears to have served its purpose, and in September its sale was reported and $18.00 for brick paid into the treasury.

In 1821 street improvements were de- cided on and in December the street com- missioners were ordered "to cut the Dia- mond as much as may be necessary, the side walks on the Diamond level or nearly so, with the turn-pike (Main Street), and that West Street be dug and filled, so that the ascent thereof would not exceed seven degrees of a horizontal line."

During this year the extension of Mc- Kean Street as far as the inlots extended was ordered.

The first vote recorded by the borough of Butler for state and county officers was that of October 14, 1817. For governor William Findley received twenty and Jo- seph Heister, sixteen votes. For State Senate John Gilmore received twenty-nine and Walter Lowrie, eight votes. For rep- resentative to the State legislature, Sam- uel Douglass received twenty-seven, Will- iam Marks, twenty-seven, John Wilson, ten, Andrew Christy, twenty-one, William Ayres, twenty-nine, William Wilkins, six- teen, John Robinson, nine, and John Ross, nine votes. For county commissioner Francis Fryer received twelve votes, Ab- raham Brinker, fourteen, David Dougal, eight, and Mosen Hanlen, three. For audi- tor, John Bredin received thirty-six votes, and David Dougal two. For trustees of the Butler Academy Jacob Mechling re- ceived twenty-three votes, John Galbraith, thirty-six, and Thomas Lyon, thirteen. Samuel Glass was elected inspector, Rob- ert Scott, judge, and Moses Sullivan and J. Williamson, clerks of the election of the borough. The total vote polled at this elec- tion would indicate a population of about two hundred.

The assessment list of 1821 shows that

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there were but thirty-four houses in the borough not including the county, school and church buildings. There were forty- nine owners of lots that had improvements on them, and twenty-five vacant lots were assessed against their reputed owners.

More importance was attached to the of- fice of high constable than at the present day. At a meeting of council held March 16, 1822, it was resolved that Samuel John- son, the newly elected high constable, should give security in the sum of $400.00 for the faithful performance of his duty. Adam Funk became his bondsman. With the duties of this office and the responsi- bilities increased two hundred fold, all the security demanded' now is $200.00.

John McQuistion was appointed bor- ough treasurer, in 1822, and an ordinance was passed directing that the owners of property on Main Street who desired to build side-walks in front of their property should construct such side-walks nine feet wide.

In 1823 John Reed was elected high con- stable, John Welsh was appointed clerk, and Samuel Johnson, collector. One of the important items of business this year was the opening of Franklin Street, paralleling McKean.

At a meeting held the 8th of April, 1824, a resolution was introduced by Mr. Bredin directing that a committee of three be ap- pointed to draft an ordinance and employ an artist to fix the corners of lots, streets and alleys. Under the authority of this ordinance David Dougal, the famous sur- veyor, was employed, and he resurveyed the town and reestablished the corners and lot lines.

The subject of fire protection was dis- cussed by council in 1825, and a motion that the sum of $25.00 be appropriated towards the erection of an engine house on the public square, and toward furnish- ing it with engine, hooks and ladders, was voted down. The fire-fighting apparatus was purchased two years later by the sub-

scription of private citizens and was the inception of the present volunteer fire de- partment. In July, 1827, the county com- missioners agreed to assign to the borough council a judgment to be applied on the purchase of an engine and other fire ap- paratus, and on the 28th of that month Mr. Gilmore reported that he had pur- chased an engine for $400.00, of which half was to be paid within six months, and half in twelve months. This report was accepted by council, and a resolution was passed ordering the erection of an engine- house in the rear of the court house. This building was erected by R. Strain for the contract price of $60.00.

In January, 1828, N. Foltz transferred lot No. 152 to the borough for cemetery purposes, and the council adopted meas- ures for fencing in this lot with the old cemetery.

In the same year Samuel Gilmore, the clerk, was paid $8.00 for his services. In 1835 the salary of this official had been ad- vanced to $15.00 per year, in 1895 it was $250.00, and in 1908 it was $750.00.

FIRST QUARTER CENTURY.

The population of Butler in 1828, twen- ty-five years after the founding of the town, numbered between four and five hundred, and the village had begun to as- sume the airs of prosperity. The streets had been graded and side-walks laid, and the primitive log cabins were gradually giving way to the more substantial brick dwellings. The most pretentious mansion of that time was the dwelling of William Ayres on the corner of South Main and Wayne Streets, opposite the Hotel Wil- lard. It was built of logs, and was three stories high. Brick houses were built in the town as early as 1812, and the old Sul- livan residence in the rear of the court house is the only one of these structures that is now in existence. The whole num- ber of dwellings in 1828 was about seventy, of which twenty-one were brick.

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In May, 1829, the borough contained three blacksmiths, four shoemakers, three tailors, two tanners, two saddlers, two pot- ters, two plasterers, two brick layers, three cabinet makers, four carpenters, two farmers, two hatters, one wagon maker, one painter, one cooper, and one chair- maker. The professions were represented by seven lawyers, two physicians, two resi- dent clergymen, four school teachers, and two or more editors. There were also four- teen merchants, and two printing houses. The public and semi-public buildings com- prised the court house and jail, the Butler Academy, while there were two stone churches owned respectively by the Catho- lies and the Presbyterians.

August 14, 1828, it was resolved by the council that the court house bell be rung from the 1st of April to the 1st of October on the Lord's day at the hours of nine and eleven A. M., and one P. M., and at no other hour on that day. Also from the 1st of October to the 1st of April to be rung at the hours of 10 A. M. and 12 M., and at no other time.

In 1830 Dr. DeWolf, Francis McBride, and Hugh McKee were appointed a com- mittee to inquire into the water supply and examine the springs adjacent to the bor- ough. The paving of side-walks, grading of streets and removal of fences off the streets and public grounds also occupied the attention of the council during this year.

THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL TAX.

In the meanwhile the question of educa- tion was not neglected, and at a public meeting held June 29, 1835, it was resolved that the sum of $250.00 be levied on the borough of Butler for school purposes in addition to the sum already levied for that year, the money to be applied by the di- rectors according to the act of Assembly. General William Ayres presided at this meeting, and William Stewart acted as secretary. After some months of discus-

sion the action of the meeting was officially laid before the council March 9, 1836, and at a subsequent meeting held on the 11th, the clerk was ordered to add $250.00 to the duplicate. This was the practical begin- ning of the public school system in Butler borough.

In March, 1838, the citizens of the town exercised their right of petition against the erection of blacksmith shops within sixty feet of High Street, or the Diamond. This petition was referred to a committee, who, after due consideration and investi- gation of the subject, reported that they were decidedly of the opinion that the citi- zens had a right to construct on their own property any building they may deem proper, being responsible to any persons they may annoy in the enjoyment of their property.

While the committee found that the question of removing the blacksmith shops was one over which council had no control, they respectfully recommended to the citi- zens generally "not to construct shops or other improvements so as to disturb their neighbors or retard the improvement of the place."

In 1838 the water supply question was revived, when council authorized the clean- ing out and walling up of Federal Spring at the foot of Main Street. In January, 1839, the original quarry reservation ly- ing between Wayne Street and the creek was vacated and the survey of the ground into town lots was authorized; the pro- ceeds of sale of such lots between Wash- ington and McKean Streets to be appro- priated to the aid of the female seminary in Butler, should the legislature agree to such proposition.

An ordinance was passed in 1846 to pre- vent the quarrying of stone on the reserva- tion, but in January of the following year permission was granted to the building committee of St. Peter's Catholic church and Samuel Lane, the contractor, to take out the stone for the new church and paro-

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chial residence, on the condition that the committee should fill up the space between Duffy's and the opposite property.

FIRE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED.

During the ensuing twenty years the care of the streets and alleys appears to have been the principal business of the council. The organization of a fire depart- ment was considered in 1859, and in Feb- ruary, 1862, a joint celebration was held of Washington's birthday and the fall of Fort Donaldson.

In 1864 the present system of council committees was adopted, and the appoint- ments made.

EXTENSION OF BOROUGH AND STREET LIGHTS.

An important transaction in 1869 was the extension of the limits of the borough to take in annexed territory, and a new survey of the town which was made by James Dunlap. The question of street lights also came up in 1869 and in October a petition was presented to council de- manding the erection of street lamps along Main Street. The council appointed Ga- briel Etzel and Jacob Keck a committee to ascertain the cost of lighting the streets. Previous to this time the only street lights provided were those of the merchants, in their store windows, and the inhabitants of the back streets were obliged to carry a lantern when they left their homes after night-fall. Some propositions by Colonel Sirwell were considered, but when it was found that the cost of the street lights would exceed the whole tax levy for bor- ough purposes, the subject was summarily disposed of, and the borough remained in darkness for another decade. In Novem- ber, 1877, the proposition of Henry C. Heineman, manager of the Butler Gas Company, to place burners on lamp posts and keep them lighted each evening as the council determined, at a cost of $3.50 per lamp, was accepted, and on December 8th of that year the streets of the town were lighted. Natural gas was substituted for

the manufactured product in 1885, and in 1890 the present system of lighting by elec- tricity was adopted.

In 1890 council considered a sewerage system for the town and after some con- sideration adopted the Waring plan. Work on the construction of the trunk sewers was commenced that year, and the plant has been extended from time to time as the necessities of the town demanded. The same year a petition was presented for the paving of Main Street with brick. This work was commenced in the summer of 1890, and completed in 1891. Jefferson Street was paved in 1891 and other streets have followed, until the town at the pres- ent time has about fifteen miles of paved streets, including Pierce Avenue, which connects the main town with Lyndora.

H. E. Coulter, the present secretary of council, was elected in 1893, succeeding T. M. Baker, and has served continuously since that time.

The treasurer of council in 1890 was Peter Schenck and he has been succeeded in turn by Harry Grieb, John Lawall, and W. F. Rumberger, the latter being the in- cumbent in 1908.

The borough officials in 1908 were Elmer E. Bell, burgess; Ellsworth Miller, presi- dent of council; William F. Rumberger, treasurer; H. E. Coulter, secretary of council; Jno. H. Wilson, solicitor; Archie Davidson, tax collector; Ed. Kramer, high constable; Jasper Ritzert, street commis- sioner; H. B. Graves, borough engineer ; John W. Vogel, sewer inspector; and the following auditors: V. W. Parker, Harry Forcht, T. James Dodds.

The members of council were from the First Ward: John C. Clark, Thos. H. Brown, Joseph E. Schnitzer. Second Ward, Geo. Mellinger, Saml. L. Irvine, Geo. E. Sherman. Third ward, John G. Dunn, Lewis E. Ruby, A. C. Moxie. Fourth Ward, Ellsworth Miller, Jos. Ball, Geo. H. Limberg. Fifth Ward, A. M. Aiken, Geo. Armbuster, E. R. Maxwell.

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On account of the records of the trans- actions of the town council being de- stroyed by fire, on the night of November 20, 1903, the organization of the council from 1894 to 1908 is omitted. Under the new division of the borough into five wards, the council is composed of fifteen members, one being elected from each ward every year. The names are given in the numerical order of the wards and are only of the members elected for that year.

LIGHT AND FUEL COMPANIES.

As early as 1865 a movement was start- ed in Butler to light the town with manu- factured gas. A stock company was or- ganized and a gas plant was erected on ground now occupied by the Bottle Glass Works near the West Penn Depot. But little is known about the organization of this company. The plant appears to have been erected by John Goetz, who also erected a plant at Freeport, and was man- ager of both concerns until 1875, when he came to Butler and gave his time to the local plant until 1883, when he engaged in the planing-mill and lumber business. The streets of the town were piped and the product of this plant was used for lighting the houses and the streets. About 1883 or 1884 the plant came into the hands of David Kirk, who organized the Home Mu- tual Gas & Fuel Company and supplied the town with natural gas. Subsequently the old gas plant was dismantled and the Bot- tle Works were erected on the site.

Charles Duffy, who is a life-long resi- dent of the town, has some interesting rec- ollections concerning the organization of the first gas company and the use of nat- ural gas as a fuel. In the early part of the eighties David Kirk, who was then a young man operating in the oil fields of Butler County, was talking to Mr. Duffy about utilizing the gas at the Burns Well on the Duffy Farm in Clearfield township, when the latter suggested that the fuel of the future was natural gas, if the manufac-

turers and business men of Pittsburg and the large cities could be made to see its value. At that time the Burns well on the Duffy farm was wasting millions of feet daily, and the owners were getting nothing in return for the money expended in drill- ing the well. Mr. Kirk was a man of ac- tion, and he at once proceeded to Pittsburg where he interested the Chalfants, Dil- worth, Joseph Over and others in the Burns Well, and made arrangements to have them come to Butler and visit this natural gas wonder. The trip was ar- ranged so the visitors arrived here on the evening train, where they were met with carriages and driven to the well. It was very dark when they reached the Duffy farm, and Mr. Kirk had planned an orig- inal surprise for them. In the woods near the well a large sign had been erected and gas pipe bearing the words "Gas, the fuel of the future." The well was under con- trol by this time, and the sign was so ar- ranged that it could be lighted with the opening of a throttle and the touch of a torch. When the Pittsburg parties alighted from the carriages, the place was so dark they could scarcely see each other's faces. In an instant the woods were aflame with a bright light, and the immense sign could be seen with the words illuminated as above quoted. The originality of the sur- prise delighted the Pittsburg party, and upon their return to Butler that night a banquet was spread at one of the hotels at which the principal topic of conversation was the possibilities of natural gas as a fuel for domestic and manufacturing pur- poses. The piping of gas from the Burns Well to Freeport soon followed, and may be said to have been the beginning of an in- dustry in the county that is only second to the production of petroleum.

Incidentally it may be said here that the famous Burns gas well is still producing gas, and pays the owner of the farm a roy- alty of $40,000 a year. Originally the own- ers of the well allowed the gas to go to

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waste because they did not know how to ler, and have since operated it. They also handle it or did not know its value.

The Home Natural Gas Company was first organized by David Kirk in 1885 as the Home Mutual Gas & Fuel Company. This company supplied the town with nat- ural gas until 1888, when dissatisfaction arose among the consumers over a pro- posed raise in the price. This led to a pub- lic meeting held in the old skating-rink on South Mckean Street, and the subsequent organization of a new company, which ob- tained a charter under the name of Home Natural Gas Company. The officers of the company at that time were H. J. Klingler, president; J. Henry Troutman, William Campbell, Ferd Reiber and H. H. Clark, directors. The new company purchased the interests of David Kirk & Company, and operated the plant until the fall of 1891, when it was sold to the Eastern Oil Company, of which George V. Foreman was president. John F. Anderson then be- came secretary and local manager of the company, and continued in that position until the fall of 1894, when the plant was sold back to the Butler Company. The officers of the new company were John S. Campbell, president; A. E. Reiber, treas- urer; John F. Anderson, secretary; and these with J. H. Troutman and V. K. Phil- lips composed the board of directors. In 1904 the plant was again sold to the T. W. Phillips Gas & Oil Company, the present owners.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 55

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