Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 59

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 59

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concern are shipped to all parts of the United States and to the oil fields of Eu- rope. In addition to the shops in Butler the company carry on a branch shop in Coffeyville, Kansas.

The Evans Manufacturing Company owes its inception to Evan Evans, who first began with a small shop at Chicora, where he made a specialty of brass fittings and valves. The shop was removed to Butler in 1893 and established on Center Avenue, where the business was enlarged and a general line of oil well supplies was manufactured. Mr. Evans was a man of inventive turn of mind and began experi- menting with the clutch pulleys and gas engines, and in 1896 the present building was erected on the corner of South Mc- Kean and East Wayne Streets, where the manufacture of these inventions was com- menced. In 1898 Mr. Evans formed a partnership with C. A. Templeton, under the firm name of the Evans-Templeton Company. This firm continued for about two years, when the present company was organized under the title of the Evans Manufacturing Company. Mr. Evans con- tinued in the active management of the business until his death in 1906, and since that time his son, H. A. Evans, has been the superintendent and manager. The present officers are Daniel Younkins, chair- man; George M. Jacobs, secretary and treasurer, and H. A. Evans, superinten- dent. In addition to the machine shop the company has a brass and metal foundry and manufactures castings of all kinds for the oil well trade. They also manufacture gas and gasolene engines, clutch pulleys, and a general line of oil well supplies, and employ from forty-five to fifty men.

The Masseth Packer and Machine Works on West Wayne Street are the suc- cessors to Benjamin Masseth, who estab- lished the business in Butler in 1889. Mr. Masseth owned the patents for oil and gas well packers and other valuable inventions in use in the oil country and, previous to

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

coming to Butler, had followed the for- tunes of the oil field from Pithole in 1862 to Butler in 1889. Hle established a ma- chine shop on Wayne Street with J. B. Sherman as a partner, and later he took in D. W. Black, who is a practical machin- ist and inventor. Afterwards Mr. Mas- seth purchased the interest of Mr. Sher- man and the firm of Masseth & Black op- erated the machine shop until the death of Mr. Masseth on June 30, 1903. The busi- ness of Mr. Masseth was carried on sep- arate from the machine shops. After his death J. N. Hyle became the owner of Mr. Masseth's interests, and the business is now carried on under the title of the Mas- seth Packer and Machine Works, D. W. Black being the other partner. The com- pany manufactures Masseth's patent self- supporting wall packers and all kinds of machinery for oil, gas, and artesian wells, gas pumps, engines, etc.

The Butler Engine and Foundry Com- pany is the successor of the Butler Man- ufacturing Company, having purchased the plant of the latter concern on Monroe Street in October, 1904. The officers of the company are H. B. Mckinney, presi- dent; John J. Mckinney, secretary; M. M. Mckinney, treasurer; J. C. Thompson, vice-president; and these, with Thos. G. Russell, compose the board of directors. The company is capitalized at $45,000.00, and does an extensive business in steam and gas engines and foundry work. In addition to the machine shops, the com- pany operates an iron and brass foundry.

The Phillips Machine Shops were first located at Great Belt, where their princi- pal work was in the line of repair of oil well machinery for the Thomas W. Phil- lips Oil Company. The shops were moved to Butler about 1897, and engaged in the manufacture of oil well tools and gas en- gines. On April 11, 1907, the T. W. Phil- lips Manufacturing Company was incor- porated with T. W. Phillips, president; Thomas W. Phillips, Jr., H. C. Phillips,

and Clarence Walker. Since that time the company has been extensively engaged in the manufacture of steam and gas engines and oil well tools, and has employed a large force of men night and day operat- ing the extensive plant.

The machine shops of C. W. Heeter & Son are located on Etna Street, and are engaged in the manufacture of drilling tools, fishing tools and oil well packers. The company was incorporated in 1905, and at the present time furnishes employ- ment to thirty to forty men.

The machine shops of George Palm on Kittanning Street, the Campbell Machine Shop on East Wayne Street, and Pool's Brass Foundry on the same street, com- plete the list of shops of this class.

SILK MILL.

The Butler Silk Mill was first organized in 1900 as an association. Previous to that time parties representing an eastern silk manufacturing company had made a proposition to the local Board of Trade to establish a mill at Butler. The proposi- tion of the eastern people was not satis- factory, and after their departure local parties took up the matter with the result that a company was organized and capi- talized in Butler. The old Institute Build- ing on First Street was secured for the site, and the factory opened the same year. In 1902 the company was incorporated, and in 1908 the following were the officers and managers: Wm. C. Thompson, presi- dent; Alf. M. Reiber, treasurer; Wm. H. Miller, secretary; Alf. M. Reiber, W. J. McDowell, and L. C. Wick, managers. The factory employs from forty to fifty peo- ple and has a daily capacity of five hun- dred yards of broad silk.

PLANING MILLS.

The first planing mill established in the borough of Butler is still in operation. In 1832 Samuel G. Purvis came to Butler and engaged as a carpenter with the local con-

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tractors of that period. In 1834 he com- menced contracting and building, and continued until 1867, when the firm of S. G. Purvis & Company was organized, his son Joseph L. becoming a partner. In 1869 they embarked in the planing-mill and lumber business, which they carried on in connection with contracting and building. In 1876 Levi O. Purvis was taken into the firm as a partner, and in 1879 the firm commenced the manufac- ture of sash, doors, and blinds, since which time they have gradually increased the business to its present capacity. After the death of Samuel G. Purvis in 1879 the business was conducted by the sons under the old firm name until 1907, when the partnership was dissolved, and the business is now conducted by Levi O. Pur- vis. The plant is located on the corner of Franklin and North Streets, and is equipped with machinery of the latest and most improved kind. From 125 to 200 hands are furnished employment.

Bauer's Mill. About 1860 Henry, Ben- jamin and Philip Bauer engaged in the manufacture of farm implements, and had shops on West Jefferson Street at the cor- ner of Bluff Street. They subsequently built a saw-mill on the opposite side of Jefferson Street, which they operated for a number of years, and about 1872 they es- tablished a planing mill in connection with the saw-mill. In the early part of the eighties the business outlook of Butler did not justify two planing-mills, and the Bauer's mill was removed to Allegheny County.

L. C. Wick Lumber Yards. The lumber yards of L. C. Wick, located on Spring Avenue and the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road, Southside, were established in 1882. Subsequently Mr. Wick erected a brick building south of Center Avenue near the creek, and established a planing-mill, which he operated for a number of years, and then sold the building and machinery .to the Daugherty Manufacturing Company.

The latter concern manufactured church furniture for a short time, when the plant again came into the possession of Mr. Wick. The mill has been standing idle for the past year, Mr. Wick giving his sole attention to the lumber business.

W. E. Wick & Co. The lumber yards of W. E. Wick & Company on Monroe Street were established in the early part of the nineties, and are the successors of Hewitt & Company. They deal entirely in builders' supplies, rough and dressed lumber.

The Cornelius Lumber Company was or- ganized in 1902, and opened yards on Kit- tanning Street. Early in 1908 the firm was dissolved, and Raymond S. Cornelius be- came owner and manager of the business, which has continued as the Cornelius Lum- ber Company.

The J. C. Thorn Lumber & Planing Mill Company was incorporated and chartered in 1906, and erected a large brick planing- mill in the island district on Negley Av- enue. The enterprise was not successful and the business was abandoned in 1907. The buildings are now used as a factory by the Butler Concrete Manufacturing Company.

W. H. Miller Planing Mill. William H. Miller, a native of Germany, located in Butler in 1834 and established the furni- ture-making business on North Main Street, on the property now owned by the Masonic Order. He continued in the busi- ness until his death in 1875. In 1870 Wm. F. Miller, who had learned his trade with his father, established a factory on North Washington Street and engaged in the manufacture of scroll work, stair rails and fancy wood work. He conducted a planing-mill in connection with his factory and in 1890 he established a chop and feed mill which was operated for a few years. This mill has not been in operation since 1900.

S. G. Purvis & Co. The lumber yards of S. G. Purvis & Co. were established by

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Samuel G. and Joseph L. Purvis about 1875, and were operated in connection with the planing mill. When the firm of S. G. Purvis & Co. dissolved in 1906, Joseph L. Purvis retained the yards and continued in the lumber business under the firm name of S. G. Purvis & Co., taking into partnership with him his sons, S. H. and Willis Purvis. Since the death of Joseph L. Purvis in 1907 the business has been conducted under the old firm name, with S. H. Purvis as manager.

John Goetz Planing-Mill. John Goetz erected a planing-mill on Spring Avenue in 1883, and conducted a general contract- ing and building business in connection with his mill until about 1895, when he dis- posed of his plant. The site of the mill is now occupied by the L. C. Wick lumber yard.

EARLY BRICK YARDS.

The manufacture of brick was an im- portant industry in the early history of the town and at one time several factories were in existence within the present limits of the borough. As early as 1823 William Borland established a brick yard on the site of the present car wheel foundry of the Standard Steel Car Works on Fair- ground Avenue. The brick used in the erection of the first brick houses in Butler were manufactured at this site, and it is probable that the brick for the first court house came from the same locality.

The second brick yard was opened by the Brackney Brothers on the property of Moses Sullivan. This was about 1827. and the brick used in the erection of the old United Presbyterian Church in that year were manufactured at this yard.

The third yard was opened by John Graham on the corner of North Main and Fulton Streets. This yard finally super- seded the Brackney and Borland yards, and was operated for many years.

The next to embark in the business was David Walker, who opened a yard on

Mifflin Street near the corner of what is now Chestnut. This was one of the larg- est enterprises in the town. Mifflin Street at that time was a twenty-foot alley which ended at the brick yard, and in order to get an outlet for his yard, Mr. Walker opened out Mifflin Street to its present width as far as Main Street, at his per- sonal expense. Mr. Walker was succeeded in the business in 1847 by his brother, Nathaniel Walker, who conducted it for many years. The Walker brick yards were considered the most extensive opera- tions of the kind in the county.

After the establishment of the Walker vards, Franklin Fisher operated a brick yard on West Cunningham Street, and in later years on West Penn Street, the lat- ter yard being in operation about 1880.

J. George Stamm began the manufac- ture of brick in 1881 on the site of the old Borland yard at the corner of Pillow Street and Fairground Avenue, which he continued down until 1902, when he dis- posed of his property to the Standard Steel Car Company. Stamm's vard cov- ered seven and three-quarter acres of ground, and his factory had a capacity of 30,000 bricks per day. Natural gas for burning purposes was used in this yard for the first time in the county.

The brick yards of Shull & Badger on the south side of the creek were estab- lished about 1902. These yards were es- tablished by Reed Brothers, and were sub- sequently sold to the present owners. The concern furnishes employment to about thirty men the year round, and is one of the substantial industries of the town.

The Butler Brick and Tile Company was organized in 1896 as a limited partnership and established a plant at the Transfer on the Bessemer Railroad. The capital of the company was $11,000, which was after- ward increased to $15,000. The concern employs twenty men and has a capacity of about four million brick per year. The

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manager and treasurer of the company is George E. Howard.

George Miller ran a cabinet-maker's shop and furniture factory on the site of the building now occupied by the Pure Milk Company on South Mckean Street, which was an extensive enterprise for its day. Steam power was used and a large number of men employed. Mr. Miller came to Butler about 1826 and soon after established the business that for almost half a century was one of the leading in- dustries of the town.

MISCELLANEOUS ENTERPRISES.

The manufacture of plows furnished employment for a number of shops previ- ous to the civil war. William Balph man- ufactured wagons and plows at a shop on East Wayne Street and Gabriel Moser manufactured plows and farm implements on West North Street. Wooden beams and plow handles were worked out by hand at these shops and the local foun- dries furnished the metal parts.

Sebastian's cooper shop located on the site of Dillon's meat market and Philip Killian's shop on South Washington Street furnished the barrels and kegs for the en- tire county, while Henry Wagner's pottery on North Street supplied the dairymen with crocks and the rest of the community with earthenware. The site of this old pot- tery was recently purchased by the bor- ough for a public building.

The first white lead factory in Butler was established some time prior to 1840, by Campbell E. Purviance. This factory stood on the bank of the Connoquenessing Creek at the foot of West Diamond Street. Mr. Purviance afterwards became asso- ciated with his uncle William Purviance in the manufacture of gun powder in Con- noquenessing Township. The powder fac- tory was located on what is now known as the Reiber farm on Powder-mill Run, and was considered an important industry of

its time. The owners carried on the in- dustry for a number of years when an explosion demolished the plant and it was never rebuilt.

The Davis White Lead Works were es- tablished in Butler in 1899 through the influence of the local Board of Trade. The officers and principal stockholders of the company were Pittsburg capitalists, and one-fourth of the stock was held by Butler people. The plant was known as the Davis White Lead Works, and consisted of a four-story brick building on Fair- ground Avenue, besides a number of smaller buildings used as power house, ware room, and other purposes. The com- pany employed from fifty to one hundred men until 1906, when the concern was taken over by the White Lead Trust, and the plant closed.

The American Mirror Works on the Southside is one of the growing industries of the town, and at the present time em- ploys from fifteen to twenty people. The plant was established in 1896 by John B. Snell, who is the present manager.

A large distillery was built on the site of the bottle works in the seventies, and during its existence it was one of the most extensive distilleries in western Pennsyl- vania.

One of the first breweries established in the town was erected by Andrew Miller on what is now known as the McClymonds property on Morton Avenue, and east of the South Cemetery. The building used was a log affair, and one of the induce- ments for establishing the plant at that point was the existence of an excellent spring of water. Subsequently Mr. Miller erected a brewery in the rear of the build- ings on South Main Street now owned by his heirs, and conducted the business here at that point for a long time. Part of this old brewery is still in existence, but the plant has not been operated for more than a quarter of a century.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

Another brewery that was well known to the older residents of the town was George Knight's establishment on Race Street, on the banks of the Connoquenessing Creek. This brewery was established about the same time that the Miller brewery was erected south of the creek, and was oper- ated for many years. The plant was closed down about 1880, and the buildings have long since been torn down and the plant dismantled.

The Butler Brewing Company was in- corporated in May, 1902, by H. W. Kline, David Smith, Frank Peffer, George Me- Lean and L. A. Thompson. The present plant was erected on Negley Avenue near the Bessemer Railroad the same year at a cost of about $50,000.00. The company which was composed of Pittsburg and Tarentum capitalists who operated the plant until 1905 as an independent con- cern, but in the latter year it was taken over by the Trust. The plant employs from forty to fifty men and is still in operation.

McDowell & Co. Laundry. The pioneer in the steam laundry business in Butler is W. J. McDowell, who came here from Mercer County and established the busi- ness on Center Avenue in 1891. The com- pany is a limited partnership of which W. J. McDowell and Rev. J. Q. A. Mc- Dowell are the principal owners. In 1896 the plant was moved into the present quarters adjoining the Evans Manufactur- ing Company on South Mckean Street, and since that time has been enlarged un- til it is now one of the best equipped laundries in the country. The company has a large local patronage, and also has an extensive business in the surrounding towns. The present superintendent is W. J. McDowell.

The Butler Steam Laundry was incor- porated in 1899 by N. C. McCollough, A. M. Christley, E. E. Bell, and others, and the business was commenced on West Cunningham Street in the building for-

merly occupied by George C. Roessing's wagon and carriage shops. In 1906 the company erected the present brick build- ing on West Cunningham Street which is equipped with modern machinery and em- ploys about twenty people. The superin- tendent and manager of the laundry since its beginning is George Ketterer.

The Lyndora Land and Improvement Company was incorporated May 26, 1902, with a capital of $200,000. Its officers at that time were J. M. Hansen, president ; A. R. Frasier, vice-president and treas- urer; and A. S. Valentine, secretary. The company purchased the John McElroy farm just outside the borough of Butler and laid out the town of Lyndora. During the summer of 1902, two hundred separate dwelling houses were erected in Lyndora, and eleven blocks of tenements were erected on Pierce Avenue for the use of the employes of the works. Subsequently the tenements were increased to twenty- two, having one hundred and thirty-two dwellings. The individual dwelling houses at Lyndora erected by the company are each supplied with natural gas, hot and cold water, and bath, and are rented to the employes of the works at a nominal figure. The class of houses erected by the company for their employes is the best to be found in the United States. The town of Lyndora has thirty-two business houses, a number of brick business blocks, a bank, two hotels, two churches, and is in every way a flourishing suburb town. The town is not incorporated, although it has the population required for a city of the third class.

PIONEER MERCHANTS.

The pioneer merchant of the town was John Potts, who established a store on the southeast corner of Main and Cunningham Streets, in 1804, and continued the busi- ness until his death in 1838. This store building occupied the present site of the Odd Fellows Temple.

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Maurice and John Bredin kept a store on the south side of the Diamond about 1820. Subsequently Maurice Bredin con- ducted the business in the building now occupied by the Park Hotel on the north side of the Diamond.

David Dougal, who was the pioneer sur- veyor of the county, conducted a small store for many years on the northeast cor- ner of the Diamond, on the site of Boyd's drug store.

The public square appears to have been the center of business during the first fifty years of the town's existence. William Purviance and Samuel Hill conducted a store on the south side of the Diamond. Adam Funk, who appears to have been an early hotel keeper, also had a store. Wal- ter Lowrie conducted a store at the west end of the square. He was succeeded by John Sullivan in 1827, who carried on the business until 1831, when Clark McPherrin succeeded him.

Robert and James Cunningham came on the scene about 1832, and conducted a store at the corner now occupied by the Butler County National Bank.

John and Peter Duffy commenced busi- ness on the Diamond as early as 1823. John Duffy retired in 1840, when he be- came associate judge of the county. The store was carried on by his brother, Peter Duffy, until 1863, when he was succeeded by his son Charles, who is still a prominent merchant of the town. Subsequent to 1863 the business was removed to the present location on North Main Street. The Duffy store is the oldest mercantile etsablishment in the town.

Oliver David opened a store on the Dia- mond about 1828, and subsequently re- moved it to South Main Street near the corner of Jefferson. It was continued in succession through the terms of David & Lane, David & Campbell and others, when it ceased.

Daniel Coll was another old-time store keeper who was in business on the corner

of Cunningham and Main Streets as early as 1830. William Haggerty was an early merchant on Main Street, as were also Harry Mitchell and Parker & Donley. The location of the latter store was on the present site of Stein's dry-goods store. James Frazier and Jonathan Plummer conducted a general store opposite the Hotel Lowry at an early date.

The present firm of J. G. & W. Campbell, dealers in hardware, dates back to 1835, when William Campbell, Esq., engaged in general merchandise, taking into partner- ship with him his sons James Gilmore and William, under the firm name of William Campbell & Sons. The father retired at the end of ten years, leaving the sons in control of the business. They continued as J. G. & W. Campbell for a number of years, when they changed the general character of the business, in 1877, to farm imple- ments and hardware. About 1882 oil well supplies were added, but this branch of the business has since been discontinued. James Gilmore Campbell died in 1885, and his brother William in 1893. Subsequently the business was conducted by William Campbell, Jr., and John S. Campbell, sons of William Campbell, Sr., under the old firm name. William Campbell, Jr., died in 1906. The store is still carried on under the firm name of J. G. & W. Campbell, the manager being John S. Campbell.

James Campbell, who married a daugh- ter of Oliver David, was one of the old time merchants of the town. He became the partner of Oliver David in the mer- cantile business, and when the latter re- tired the firm was changed to Campbell & Yetter. Mr. Campbell finally retired from the firm and went to Allegheny City, where he engaged in business for a number of years. Subsequently he returned to But- ler and died here.

The hatting business was regarded as very important in pioneer days. Paul Bratton was the pioneer in this business, who set up a shop in Butler Township, just

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

south of the town. John Gilchrist and 'Robert Gilchrist were engaged in the busi- ness on Main Street in 1820. Isaac Col- bert began the manufacture of hats in But- ler Township in 1835, and the following year moved into the borough. He carried on the business until his death in 1872, and since that time the business has been car- ried on by his son, Harvey Colbert, who now conducts a hat store on South Main Street.

John Berg, Sr., was one of the early merchants of the town, coming here in 1835. He was engaged in the mercantile business for years at the corner of Main and Cunningham Streets, and in 1872 he engaged in the hardware business with George A. Cypher as a partner, in the Berg block on South Main Street. He con- tinued this business until his death in 1884. He was also the founder of the banking house of John Berg & Company, which in later years was conducted by John Berg, Jr., and is now conducted by Henry and Louis Berg.

Herman J. Berg, a brother of John Berg, Sr., was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness with his brother for a number of years, and in later years was identified with a number of manufacturing and mer- cantile interests of the town.

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Century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and representative citizens 20th, Part 59

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