USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 10
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45
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
In 1870-71, there was considerable disenssion in certain quarters relative to the formation of a now county from parts of Armstrong, Butler, Clarion and Venango, with East Brady or Brady Bend as the connty seat, but the scheme died easily.
BUTLER COUNTY CIVIL LIST,
Following will be found a list of Butler County officials and Representatives in the State and Federal Government :*
CONGRESSIONAL, STATE AND FEDERAL.
Senate --- Walter Lowrie,
House of Representatives-William Beatty, Al. fred Gilmore, Ebenezer MeJunkin. John M. Thomp- son, Samuel A. Purviance.
---
Federal Officers-Alexander W. Crawford, Consul at Antwerp, Belgium; Edwin Lyon, Consul at El Paso, Mexico; Charles MeCandless. Chief Justice Supreme Court of New Mexico: John N. Parviance. Register in Bankrupley: John M. Sullivan, Collector of Internal Revenue; James G. Campbell, Marshal, Western District of Pennsylvania; Robert Linn Max- well. Register in Bankruptcy.
Members Constitutional Convention William Ayres, Samuel A. Purviance, Lewis Z. Mitchell, John N. Purviance.
Miscellaneous State Officers-Moses Sullivan, Ca- nal Commissioner: John Gilmore, State Treasurer; John N. Purviance, Auditor General; John M. Sul- livan, Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth; Ja- cob Zeigler, Transcribing Clerk, House; also Clerk in Senate.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Senate-Walter Lowrie, Moses Sullivan. William Purviance, John Lewis, Charles C. Sullivan, William Haslett, John R. Harris, Charles McCandless. James Kerr, John M. Greer.
House of Representatives-John McBride, Jacob Mechling, Andrew Christy. John Negley, John Potts, Walter Lowrie, John Gilmore, Moses Sullivan, Will- iam Beatty, James McKee, William Purviance, George W. Smith, Samuel Kerr, Samnel A. Gilmore. Joseph Bryson, Samuel A. Purviance, George Potts, Isaac S. Pearson, Jacob Zeigler, D. H. B Brower, John R. Harris, Samuel M. Lane, Joseph Cummins, Robert Hampson, Joseph Cross, William Stewart. Alexander W. Crawford, John M. Thompson, Will- iam W. Dodds, Thomas Robinson, William M. Gra- ham, Hiram C. McCoy, Hamilton Grant. William Haslett, John H. Negley, Henry Pillow, James T. MeJunkin, George W. Fleeger, Alexander Leslie, David Mckee, William Waldron, Joseph S. Lusk, A. L. Campbell, William Irvine. James Humphrey, George H. Graham, Dr. S. D. Bell, William Braham.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
President Jud jes Jesse Moore, Jonathan Rob erts, William Wilkins, Charles Shaler, John Brodin. Daniel Agnew, Lawrence L. MeGuffin.
Appointed 1874 Charles McCandless. 1871-Ebenezer MeJnukin.
1871 James Brodin.
Associate Judges -- Samuel Finley, John Parker. James Bovard, John Duffy. Hiram C. McCoy. Christian Buhl, John McCandless, Jacob Mochling. Jr., Thos. Stephenson, Sammel Marshall, Joseph Cum mins, Jas. Korr. Jas. Mitchell, Thos. Garvey, Daniel Feidler, Robert Story, A. D. Wier, A. MeCandless.
District Attorneys John Gilmore. Charles Wil kins. Robert Moore, John Bredin, W. W. Fettorman, Sammel A. Gilmore, John N. Purviance, Dunlap Me Langhlin, Parker C. Purviance, John Graham, Eben ezer MeJunkin.
1851 -- John H. Negley.
154 -Archibald Blakeley.
1857 Engene Ferrero.
1860-James W. Kirker. 1863-Robert M. MeLure.
1865- W. H. H. Riddle.
1868-John M. Greer.
1871 -- Ferd Reiber.
1874-Lev MeQuestion.
1877 -- W. A. Forquer.
1580-A. M. Cunningham.
Sheriffs. 1803 -- John MeCandless.
1806-Eliakim Anderson.
: 1809 -William Campbell.
1812-Samuel Williamson.
1818-James MeKeo.
1821 -William Beatty,
1824 --- Abraham Maxwell.
1827-John Welsh,
1830-Jacob Brinker.
1833-Francis McBride.
1836-John Pollock.
1839-John B. MeGlanghlin.
1842-James G. Campbell.
1845-George W. Reed.
1846-Andrew Kearnes,
1851 -- Arthur McGill.
1851-John McKee.
1857-Abraham MeCandless.
1860 -- John Scott.
1863-William O. Brackenridge.
1866-James B. Storey.
1869-Harvey D. Thompson.
1872 -John T. Kelley.
1875 -George Walter.
1877 -- John Mitchell. appointed to fill vacancy one year.
*Compiled from a list published in connection with the centennial address of Gen, John N. Purviance, with alditions making it complete to date.
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
1878 - William H. Hoffman.
1881 .- Thomas Donaghy.
Prothonotaries. - 1803- William Ayres.
1809 Jacob Mechling.
1818 -John Nogley.
1821-William Campbell.
IS24 -- John Noyman.
1827-William Stewarl.
1533-Peter Duffy.
1836-John Sullivan.
1839 -- Jacob Zeigler.
1842-Jacob Mechling, Jr.
1845 -- James McGlaughlin.
1848-Campbell E. Purviance.
1551-John T. Bard.
1854-Matthew F. White.
1857 --- Nathan Brown.
1860-Allen Wilson.
1863-William Stoops.
IS66-James B. Clark.
1869 -- Cyrus E. Anderson.
1872-Eli Conn.
1875-James H. Tebay.
1878-Alex Russel.
1881-M. N. Greer.
Clerks of Court -- 1851-Lewis Z. Mitchell.
1854 -- J. Graham (died), W. K. Potts to fill vacancy. 1857-Emil Manrhoff.
1860-Watson J. Young.
1863-Robert A. Mifflin.
1866-Frank M. Eastman.
1869 -Jefferson Burtner.
1872-John H. Sutton.
1875-Lewis M. Cochran.
1878-W. A. Wright.
1881-W. B. Dodds.
Registers and Recorders 1809-Jacob Mechling.
1803-William Ayres.
1818-Robert Scott.
1832 -Maurice Bredin.
1536-John Welsh.
1838-William W. Brandon.
1839-Joseph MeQuistion.
1845 -William Balph.
1851-James T. MeJunkin.
1854-Isaac S. P. De Wolfe
1857 - Adam Ekis.
1860 -Cyrus E. Anderson.
1863-James S. Kennedy. 1866-Simeon Nixon.
1869-George W Kneiss.
1872 Matthew M. Greer.
1875 -James D. Anderson. 1878 H. H. Gallagher.
1SS1-1I W. Christie.
County Treasurers -John Negley, John Potts. Samuel Williamson, William Campbell, Hugh Me- Kee, John Gilchrist, William Gibson, John Sullivan, Isaiah Niblock, James Sullivan, Francis MeBride,
-
Andrew Spronl, George Miller, John B. MeGlangh-
lin, James Frazier, Jacob Mechling, Jr., William Campbell, Andrew Kearnes, Daniel Coll, Isaac Colbert, Michael Zimmerman, Samuel C. Stewart, John Mar- tin, William B. Lemmon. James Kearnes, Samuel Marks, James Deer, George W. Reed, Nathaniel Walker, William E. Moore, Christy Moore (to fill va- cancy), Hugh Morrison. John Haney. Francis Ander- son, J. F. Campbell. David Cupps, I H. Miller.
County Commissioners aud Clerks-1803 -Mat thew White, James Bovard, Jacob Mechling: Clerk. David Dougal.
1804-James Scott; 1805, Abner Coates: 1806, Jacob Smith: 1907, Abraham Brinker; 1808, John Negley; 1809. Francis Anderson: Clerk, Walter Lowrie.
1809-Thomas Dodds: 1810, James Williams, Walter Lowrie; Clerk, Robert Scott.
1811-William Balph; 1812, Robert Martin, Ephraim Harris; 1513-James McKee; 1814, John Christy; 1815. William Campbell; 1816, Thomas MeCleary; 1817, Francis Freer; 1818, Abraham Brinker; 1819, Robert Lemmon; 1820, Jolm Dodds; 1821, John Brandon; Clerk. Thomas MeCleary.
. 1522-John Coovert: 1823. John MeQuistion: 1821. Hugh MeKre: Clerk, William Gibson.
1825-Robert Scott: 1826. David Dougal; Clerk, Samuel A. Purviance.
1827-John MeNees: 1828, Alexander Graham: 1829. Joseph McQuistion; Clerk, John N. Purvi- ance.
1830 -- John McCandless: 1831, William Pillow: 1832, Robert Graham; 1833, John Vanderlin; Clerk. William Campbell.
1831 -Joseph Graham: 1835, Hugh Stephenson; 1836. Nathan Skeer; Clerk, Jacob Zeigler.
1837 -William Criswell: 1838, William Shaner; 1839, Thomas R. McMillen; Clerk, George W. Zeig- ler.
1810 -George Miller; 1841, John Ray; Clerk Alex S. Mc Bride.
1842 -- Abraham Moyer: 1811, William W. Dodds; Clerk, William Timblin.
1845-Thomas 11. Bracken; Clerk, John Bredin, Jr.
1846 -- David Douthett: 1847. Joseph Douthett; Clerk, George W. Crozier.
1815- - Andrew Simpson; 1549. Thomas Kelly; 1850. Thomas Welsh: 1851. James Mitchell: Clerk, James A. McNair.
1852 -- John Miller: Clerk, John Sullivan.
17
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
1853 - William C. Campbell: 1551, John Ken- nedy: Clerk, Thomas Robinson.
1855 -- Andrew Boggs; Clerk, Sammel Marks.
1856 Phillip Hilliard; 1857, Isaac Robb; 1858, William Harbison; Clerk, Samnel P. Irvine.
1859 Charles MeClung; 1860. Thomas MeNees: Clerk, Samuel Marks.
1861 -- Matthew Greer; Clerks, William L. Jaek. John H. Niblock.
IS62 -Abner Bartley; Clerk, Harvey Colbert.
1863 Samuel Leason; 1864, A. C. Christie: 1865, William Dick; 1866. John W. Brandon: 1867. Charles Hoffman; Clerk, George W. Kneiss.
1868-James MI. Lowe; 1569, John S. Campbell; Clerk. Thomas B. White.
1870-William L. Bartley; 1871, Benjamin F. Garvin; 1872, Robert Barron; Clerk, William Spear.
1873-James P. Christley; 1874, J. C. Riddle; Clerk, Eli J. Cratly; I. B. Story, Clerk.
1875-Robert Barron; Clerks, J. C. Donaldson and W. A. Christie.
ISTS-J. C. Donaldson, James Gribben and Jona- than Maybery; Clerk, Samuel MeClymonds.
1881- Charles Cochran, George W. Hays and T. I. Wilson; Clerk, S. MeClymonds ( Wilson died be- fore the time for being sworn in, and James Collins was appointed by the court to fill his term -- three years.
County Surreyors-James Irvine. Thomas Gra- ham, Hugh Conway, James I. Hogue, Thomas H. Lyon. Peter Murrin, Hugh McKee, William Purvi. ance, James Dunlap. David Scott, J. Dixon McCand- less, Nathan M. Slator: 1874, F. Wilt (died); N. M. Slator (appointed to fill vacancy); 1877, James M. Denny; 1880, N. M. Slator.
Jury Commissioners -- 1867 -William Christy. Charles MeChung.
1870-I. W. Brown, Peter Emery.
1873-T. Wilson Kennedy. John M. McCandless.
1876 -- Samuel Belfour, Thomas Jamison.
1879-Hugh McCrea, I. W. Monks.
1882-Daniel Wallett, Robert McCluirg.
Auditors -- The first were Thomas Graham. Will- iam Martin and Eliakim Anderson. Since their time, the following have served (in trios), but we are unable to give the dates of their occupancy of office: Matthew White, Isaac Covert, Henry Kennedy. John Christy, William Campbell, Robert Lemmon, Moses Sullivan, Francis Freer, Barnet Gilleland, William Beatty, John Bredin, John Brandon, Hugh Conway, Jacob Mechling, William Purviance, John Glenn, Maurice Bredin, Robert Martin. Joseph Bryson, John Lewis, Hugh Stevenson, David Dougal, William Moore, James Covert. John Neil, Jr., William Camp- bell, Jr .. James Fenniston, John Dodds, John Ran dolph, George Emrich, Thomas MeIlvain, Thomas
Dodds, D. II. Jack, John Seth, T. M. Forester, J. W MeCandless, Alex Ramsey, S. D. Christy, George S. Jamison. John M. Bracking, G. S. Ramsey. Samnel Hilliard, Isaac Hill. Donwady McCullongh, Will iam H. Conway, John Martin, A. D. Weir, William Swithye, Thomas Balph, William S. Waldron, Obediah Cratty, Nelson McCallister, William Red, Thomas B. White, Simeon Nixon. J. HI. Cratty, Alex Purviance. A. J. Evans. W. H. H. Riddle, J. C. Kelley. H Gamper, J. C Glenn, W. H. Black, Peter Fennel, H. A. Wise, E. Robb, A. G. Duncan, Isaac Meals. William Burton. P. J. Kelley. P. C. Templeton, Will iam McCoy, J. D. Kamerer, B L. Heckenberg, J F. Cashdollar, G. W. Crow, J. H. Shannon, John M. London.
County School Superintendents -- 1854 - Isaac Black.
1857 -- Thomas Balph.
1860- Eugene Ferrero.
1863-Asa H. Waters.
1866-John Cratty.
1869- Samuel Glenn.
1872 -- Robert H. Young.
1875 -- James B. Matthews.
1875- D. F. McKee.
1881-J. H. Murtland.
EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
As has already been stated in this chapter. the county was originally divided into six election dis- tricts. Justices of the Peace were elected in and for these districts for many years, instead of in the sepa- rate townships. We append herewith a list of the Justices elected in these districts and those elected later in the several townships and boroughs will be found in the chapters respectively relating to them.
District No. 1. 1804. Melzer Tannehill. Jacob Smith, Ephraim Harris.
District No. 1, 1805, William Adams.
District No. 1. 1806, Thomas Elder.
District No. 1, 1808, Hugh Lee.
District No. 1, 1809, Hugh Henderson.
District No. 1, 1812, James MeKee.
District No. 1. composed of Mercer and Slippery Rock, 1820. Robert Reed.
District No. 1, same, 1824. William M. Michael.
District No. 1, same, 1824, Andrew Donaldson.
District No. I, same, 1826, John Reynolds.
District No. 1. same, 1525, Samuel E. Harris.
Distriet No. 1, same. 1830, Samuel Kerr.
District No. 1. same. 1834, John Marrin.
District No. I. same. 1835, Jolm Neal. Thomas Stephenson.
District No. 1, same, 1536. Joseph Justice, Will iam H. McGill, Alexander McBride.
IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Distriet No. 1. same, 1837. William Jack.
Distriet No. 1. same. 1838, John Black, Henry (. Linn.
District No. 2. 1801, Jacob Mechling. Name, 1505, Washington Parker, John Stewart. Same, 1SOS, Alexander Young. District No. 2. Venango, 1812, Matthew B. Low- rie. Samme, ISI3, Matthew B. Lowrie. District No. 2. Venango and Parker. 1815, Jomm Christy.
Name, 1917, Joseph Kerr. Same, 1823, John Murrin. Same. 1827. Andrew Donaldson. Ben Fletcher. Same, 1528, William Turner. Same, 1534, David Kelly. Same, 1835. Levi Duchess, John Anderson. Same, 1836, Jacob Hilliard Same. 1538, Josiah Fletcher. District No. 3, 1804. James Bovard. James Scott. Same, 1805. Thomas Gilchrist. Same, 1505, Samuel Kinkead Same. 1508, Renben Avres. Same, 150S. Patrick Haggarty. Same, 1809, Walter Lowrie. District No. 3, Butler, 1812, Joseph Williamson. Same, 1813, William Hutcheson. Same, 1813, William Campbell. Distriet No. 3, Butler. Centre, Donegal, Clearfield. 1815. Robert Scott. Samo. 1816, Samuel Kinkead. Same, 1516. John Noyman. Same, 1816. John Duffy. Same, 1517. Abraham Brinker. Same. ISIS, William Robb. Same, 1821. Maurice Bredin. Same. 1525. Thomas MeLeary. Same. 1825. Francis McBride. Same. 1826, James McCurdy. Same, 1826, John Sweeny. Samo, 1827. Daniel MeLaughlin. Same, 1828, Moses Hanlin. Same. 1829, James Cunningham. Samo, 1830, Huch MeKee. Same. 1532. David MeCandless. Same, 1834. John McClelland. Same. 1835, Robert Carnahan. Same. 1836, Bennet Dobbs. Same. 1837. Parker C. Purviance. District No. 4. 1504, Robert Galbraith. Same. 1504, Francis Anderson. Same, 1806. John David. District No. 4, composed of Buffalo, Clearfield, Butter and Middlesex, 1822, William Campbell. Samme. 1825. Isaac Lefevre.
Same, 1829, James Potts, Same, IS29. John Dodds. Same. 1829, William Walker Same, 1829, James Brow !.. Same, 1530, William R Elliott. Same. 1835, William Dickson. Same. 1835, Johnston White, Same, 1838, Emil Maurhoft. District No. 5, ISO1. Robert Hays. Same, 1806, Stephen Stone.
District No. 5, composed of Cranberry, 1810. Joshua Stoobior.
District No. 5, composed of Cranberry and Con noquenessing. 1813, Christian Buhl,
District No. 5. composed of Cranberry, Middlesex, Butler. Connoquenessing, 1820, Robert Boggs.
Same, 1522. John Okely. Same, 1823. Daniel Beltzhoover. Same, 1523, Robert Brown. Same, 1821. William Me Lean, resigned in 1836. Same. 1824. Jacob Grossenor. Same, 1525. William Simpson. Same, 1525, Baltzer G. Goll. Same, 1827. Andrew White. Same, 1832, Samuel Kirk. Same, 1833, James Frazier. Same, 1836, Daniel Graham. Same, 1836, John Henry. Same, 1837, David Spear.
Same, 1838, William Cunningham, Same, 1838, Henry Umpstead. Same. 1839. Thomas Fletcher. District No. 6. 1804, Eliakim Anderson.
Same, 1805, John Brackney. Same. 1508, Alexander Brysou. Same. 1SOS, Thomas Christy. Same, 1812, William Dodds. District No. 6. composed of Muddy Creek, Conno- quenessing, Butler and Center Townships, 1815 Robert Martin.
Same, 1819. Thomas Sullivan. Same, 1820, Thomas Christy. Same, 1827. John Thompson. Same, 1830, Henry Duffert. Same. 1531. Robert Hamson. Same, 1832, George A. Kirkpatrick. Same, 1835, Thomas Stewart.
JUSTICE
COURT HOUSE. BUTLER, BUTLER CO, PA.
19
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
CHAPTER VILL.
THE BAR OF BUTLER COUNTY .*
Biographies of Pioneer and Prominent Later- Pay Attorneys Geu. Williams Ayres-Jolm Gilmore John Parviance Judge John Bredin-George W Smith-John Galbreath S. A. Purviance S. A. Gilmore Charles (' Sullivan-John N. Piuviance Edward M. Bredin -John Graham-Judge E. MeJunkin-1. 7. Mitchell-John I. Negley -Franklin Mechling-James Bredin-John M. Thomp- son-Thomas Robinson-Walter Graham Judge Charles Mecand- less-J. D. VeJunkin and others - Notes upon Younger Members of the Bar.
H AVING presented a chapter upon the civil his- tory of the county, including the courts and a list of the Judges and other officials, we come now to that of the bar-a bar long ocenpying a well-earned reputation for distinguished ability. For some time after the opening of the several courts in this county, distinguished gentlemen from neighboring counties, especially from Pittsburgh, attended the sittings of the courts. But it was not long before local talent sprang up and asserted itself. To-day, the names of Ayres, Thompson (the Judge) Galbreath. Gilmore, Purviance, Sullivan and Smith-all now passed away --- embellish the reputation of the " Butler Bar." Doubtless, many of those now active members of the profession here will in due time, add to its fair re- nown, as a new generation takes their places.
In giving a biographical sketch of its members. we instinctively begin with that of Gen. Ayres. Ho came West. we are informed, with Washington's army in 1794, during the whisky troubles generally known as "The Whisky Insurrection." Ho came with the soldiers in the capacity of a tailor. Of his early edn- cation, little is known. That he had acquired a lib- eral amount of knowledge, and that he had a thirst for more, is quite evident from his after pursuits. He read law in the office of that celebrated jurist. Judge Brackenridge, in Pittsburgh, and came to But- ler in 1804, as Prothonotary, a position he got by ap- pointment from the Governor. It seems he appointed Henry M. Brackenridge (son of his preceptor. him- self afterward a United States Judge and man of let- ters) his deputy. Young Brackenridge attended to the duties of the office, allowing Ayres time to pursue his professional business.
Commencing his local career with the organiza- tion of the county, he availed himself of the oppor- tunities offered by giving a strict attention to busi- ness, and by discharging every trust most serupulous- ly; he thus gained and held the confidence of the people through life.
He was a Whig in politics, and had the confidence of his party, and was chosen by it, in 1837. to a seat in the convention then chosen to revise and reframe
the constitution of his State, and was one of the mi mority of that body who voted against the word " white " being placed in that instrument, as a quali fication for suffrage. The country has since como np to his views on this subject.
The following notice of Gen. Ayres we take from the pen of Josiah Copely, Esq., who was a cotempo rary and a close observer: it may therefore be deemed reliable. He says, in speaking of his first visit to Butler:
"When I was first there, Gen. William Ayres was a leading member of the Butler bar. How long he had been there prior to 1818. I am unable to say, but he was then in the prime of life, a portly man, tidy in his dress, and as fine-looking a man as lover met. His hair was beautifully silvered, and well and sern- pulously kept in order. Although a bachelor -- which he continued to be all his life -he had a handsome frame dwelling on the west side of Main street, where, judging from appearances, he lived like a prince. He evidently aimed to be a gentleman of the old school, and kept within the sovere proprieties of life, never to my knowledge indulging in dissipation. From the fact that he gradually became wealthy for those days, I infer he was a man of considerable ability in his profession. As a speaker, he was em- phatic and precise, keeping prominent all the dignity that was in him, which was not a little. He had a snit once about a tract of land which lay on Slippery- rock Creek. Henry Baldwin, of Pittsburgh, was the opposing counsel. The General in his argument to the jury had often occasion to name Slipperyrock. Baldwin, who sat near him, in a distinct but sup pressed voice, pretending to correct him. cried. . No, Slippery Creek." . O. yes.' Ayres would rejoin. . Slip pery Creek.' Then after two or three 'Slippery Creeks' would be uttered, Baldwin, with well sinm. lated solicitude, would exclaim. . No. Slipperyrock Creek.' Then Ayres, as if blaming himself for the misnomer, would say, . Well. well, Slipperyrock; yos. that's right,' and so would go on correctly for awhile until Baldwin, in all apparent seriousness. would again interject. . Slippery Creek.' The poor man be came so confused at length that he did not know what was the correct name. Of course, his argument was sadly crippled. Gen. Ayres lived to a pretty ad- vanced age, an eminent member of the bar and a use- fal and honored citizen. John Gilmore was, I think. nearly the same age as Gen. Ayres, and ranked his oqual at the time I first knew him. He had a family. In personal appearance. Mr. Gilmore was the egnal of his friend and rival. but was loss fastidious. Hp represented his district in Congress in later years. He, too, was a good and highly honored citizen. 1 did not know him as intimately as I did the other.
. The credit for the authorship of this valuable chapter in which the men- ory of many eminent men of Butler County is preserved, belongs almost en- tirely to Hon. Thomas Robinson.
50
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
but I do know that I always regarded him with pro- found respect."
John Gilmore was of Scotch-Irish descent. He was born in Bedford (how Somerset; County, Penn .. near Stony Creek, in March. 1750. llis father, James Gilmore, had emigrated a few years earlier from Newton Lomyada, County Londonderry, in the North of Ireland. His grandfather had emigrated to Ireland from near Glasgow. Scotland. Soon after the birth of John, his father removed to Washington County, Penn. Here he purchased a large farm. overlooking the town of Washington, which is still holl by some members of the family. The subject of this notice was educated at Washington and studied law there with Col. Bradford.
The Colonel wa involved in the whisky insurrec- tion. It is related that one morning while young Gilmore was sitting in the office, a fine, soldierly look- ing gentleman, dressed in full hunting-shirt uniform, entered. He was Col. Morgan, who had been ordered to arrest Bradford. He said, "Young man, where is Col. Bradford?" to which Gilmore replied that he had not seen Mr. Bradford that morning. The fact was that Col. Bradford had got word of the intended arrest, and had gone Sonth. Gilmore was admitted to the bar in 1801, but soon removed to Pittsburgh. But when Butler County was organized, he was ap. pointed Deputy States Attorney, and, early in 1803. removed to Butler. The same year, he was married to Miss Elena Spence Anderson, of Washington, Penn .. daughter of Rev. Samuel Anderson (Mr. Anderson belonged to the Presbyterian denomination). About the year 1816. Gilmore was elected to the Legisla- ture, being re-elected several successive years. Dur- ing this time, he was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1828, he was elected to Congress (this year Gen. Jackson was elected President). He remained in «lose relations with Jackson's administration. He was re-elected in 1830. Later in life. he was elected State Treasurer. In brief. it may be said of him that he filled the full measure of a liberal-minded and highly esteemed citizen.
He had acquired a considerable quantity of land, which he parted with to those of limited means on easy terms, never oppressing any one. He died in Butler on the 11th of May. 1845, aged sixty-five years.
John Purviance, Esq., was one of the attorneys who first settled in the county. He studied law with Parker Campbell, Esq., of Washington, Penn., and was admitted to the first court held in Butler, and con- tinned the practice of his profession until the war of 1812 with Great Britain. Soon after the war began, he was elected Colonel of the Second Regiment of Infantry, which he commanded until mustered out of service, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment.
Col. Purvianee was born in Washington, Penn .. on the 25th day of December, 1781. Some few years after his return from the army, he moved back to Washington, where he resumed the practice of the law until his death, which occurred on the 28th of December, 1820, leaving a widow (who was the daughter of Rev. Samuel Anderson, a Presbyterian minister of the city of Baltimore) and seven children, all of whom yet survive, except the Hon, Samuel A. Purviance and Mrs. Harriet Haslet.
The records of this county show that Mr. Purvi- ance had a large practice, and attest the confidence of the people in his ability and integrity. During his residence in this county, he was the attorney of the Rapp Society, at Harmony, and continued as such until the society removed to Posey County, Ind. Af- ter his death, the family removed baek to Butler, where. with the exception of his son, the late Samnel 1. Purviance, and Mrs. Eleanor Bryden, of Frank- lin, they have resided ever since.
His associate members of the bar were Henry Baldwin, William Wilkins, Steele Sample. Alexander W. Noster. John Gilmore, William Ayres. Henry M. Branckenridge, Thomas Collins and David C. Cun ningham, distinguished lawyers, jurists and states- .ביום
Judge John Bredin, one of the most prominent of the early members of the bar, and for a period of twenty years, President Judge, was the son of James and Jane (Dunlap) Bredin, and was born in the town of Stranorlar, Connty of Donegal, Ireland, in the year 1794. The family came to this country in 1502. and settled in Donegal Township. Butler County, where they obtained 200 acres of land by " settlers' right." but John Bredin, in 1812, bought land two miles southeast of Butler, in the present township of Sunnit, to which his parents removed. The young lad, who was to become one of the foremost citizens of the county, had only such limited advantages of edu- eation as were afforded in the sparsely settled country, but he made the best of them in the later years of his boyhood, and the early years of his manhood, although actively engaged in sustaining himself by honorable. if humble, employment, found time and means for self-culture. At sixteen years of age. he was a elerk in a Pittsburgh store, and was after- ward clerk to Prothonotary Mechling in Butler. He studied law under Gen. William Ayres, and was ad- mitted to practice in 1817. A little circumstance connected with his preparation for the profession he had chosen, serves to illustrate the character of the young man. He desired to study Coke on Littleton, which was in his time a standard text book, though now gone ont of favor, but he could only obtain a copy of the Norman French edition. The fact, how-
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