History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 31

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Number of Pages: 638

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 31

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COMPANY E.

Tinstman, Samuel, private, e. August 1, Iso1 ; re-eulisted : tr to Company D same regiment : pro. to Sergeant, to Ist Sergeant; m. o. w. e June 2s. 1:55.

SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT.

Anderson, J. L., private, Company H; drafted July 16, 1563; tr. to 1th Pennsylvania Volunteers; dis, January IS, Pois, by reason of' wouls. Brown, Samuel E., private, Company G ; drafted July to, 186; tr. to 15ath Regiment.

Blake, James, private, Company K. e. July 16, 1-633; dis. for disab April 3, 1×6 1.

Campbell. Charles M., private, Company G, e. February 25, ISGt: tr. to both Regiment July 2, 1864: m. o. June 1, 1865.

Christy, Oliver M, private, Company G, drafted July 16, 18633; tr. to 155th Regiment.

Dutt, Robert, private, Company K, e. July 22, 1861 ; dis. for disab, October 2, 1×12; re-enlisted in Company 6, 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry : prisoner in Libby two months; m. n. in May, 1865; died at Fort Scott, Kan., in 1871.

Harper, Jeremiah W., private, Company &, drafted July 16, 188; dis. No- vember 19, 1863.

Kaler, l'eter, private Company D, c. July 24, 1961 ; m. a. w. c. July 15, 184; wol. at Spottsylvania ( . IT., Va., May 12, 1861.

Miller, George E., private, Company G, c. July 16, 1863; tr to 15th Regi- ment.

Ransell, William, Sergeant, Company E. r. July 25, 1861 : m. o. w. c. July 13, 1864; wd. at Gettysburg July 2, 1863.

Smith, Sebastian, said to have been a member of the 6l Regiment ; was killed in action May 12, 1864.

Story, William, private, Company E, drafted JJuly 16, 1864; tr. to 156th Regi- mint Pennsylvania Infantry, July 3, 1864; m. o. at cher of war.

FOURTH CAVALRY. COMPANY G.

02. M Sergt. Enos G. Duncan, e. February 27, 15G}; m. o w. c. July 1, 186; vrt.

Corp. Beriah M. Duncan, e. February 27, 1861; in o. w. e .July 1, Is6, Vet Corp. Isaiah N. Duncan, c. February 27, 1961; m. n. w. e July 1, 1867; Art.

Corp John Duncan, e. February 27, 1851: died April 7, 15, at somals re-

ceived at Dinwiddie C. II., Va,; buried in Cavalry Corps Cemetery, Vas vi.t.

PRIVATES.

Byers, George, e August 23, 1864: dis,; date unknown. Brown, Henry, e. August 23, 1864; m o. July 1, 1865.

Barr, William, e February 27, 18G1: m. o. July 6, 1863.

C'arr, John W., e. February 27, 1864 ; missing on march April, Isna, Donaldson, Joel, e August 23, 1864; m. o. w. r. July 1. 1. Dunbar, William W .. e. February 25, 1861, m. n. w.r. July 1. 1569' Vrl Dunbar, Alphous, e. February 25, 1864: m. o. w. c. July 1, 1867, Dunbar, Alfred, e. February 25, 1861; m. o. w. c. July 1, Isti5; vet. Donaldson, Josiah, e. August 23, 1864: m. o. w. e. Jnly 1, 18657; vet. Fleeger, Eli S., e. August 9, 1864; m. o. w. c. Jnly 1, 1865 ; Vet. Freeman, Francis, e. February 27, 1861; record unknown.

.Inli 1. 1st. . Miller, Which, & February 2rok od m och Splendor , , we. . July 1. 1861; vel

Miller, Henry, e February , Isol m. u w 101 1. 1ah

Miller, Henry M. c. non 12 kel killed in Der mer 1 1.

Miller, Samuel, e. Angust 18, 1861 - defiant. 000 w ., July 1, 1sho Stimmt, Jacob, e. February 27, 1861, dindl Ant Arlington, Val

Walters, John, e. March 25, 1861, tr Lo Vetcim Biserve Como January 10. 1865, dis by general offer JJuly sl, Isb .

Walters, Benjamin F, e, February 27, 1861; killed in action March H, Isto,

COMPANY 1.

Byers, Lewis, private. v. October 17, 1861 . 11 0 October 17, 1861

COMPANY L.

Corp William A. Svatop, . November 1, Isddl; m.o at expiration of term, October 31. 1961.

Corp. James Gi Hamilton, e November 1 186 ; m. n at exphation of term. Ortuber 31. 1sb1.

FOURTEENTH REGIMENT. (MILITIA OF 1562).

This regiment was organized September 12-16. 1862. It proceeded to the front during the Antietam campaign, and after the dangers which menaced the State were passed, its members were discharged, on the 26th and 28th of the month and year above mentioned. Of its ten full companies, Company G was a Butler County organization, besides this county furnished two of the regimental field and staff officers. For these reasons, therefore, a brief resume of events which transpired during those terrible days, now long ago. is herewith appended.

Lee's rebel army had no sooner achieved its tri- umph in the second battle of Bull Run than it has. tened northward and commenced crossing the Poto. mac. The southern borders of Pounsylvania lay in close proximity, its storehouses and granaries invited invasion, and its heipless condition became a subject of great alarm. Hence, "on the 4th of September. [862, Gov. Curtin issued a proclamation, calling on the people to arm and prepare for defense. He rec- ommended the immediate formation of companies and regiments throughout the State, and for the pur- pose of drill and instruction, that. after 3 P. M. of each day, all business houses be closed. On the 10th, the danger having become imminent. the enemy being al- ready in Maryland, he issned a general order, calling on all able- bodied men to enroll immediately for the defense of the commonwealth, and to hold themselves in readiness to march upon an honr's notice: to select officers; to provide themselves with such arms as could be obtained, with sixty rounds of ammunition to the man, tendering arms to such as had none, and promis ing that they should be held for service, for such tinte only as the pressing oxigeney for Stato defense should continue. On the following day, neting nudler anthor ity of the President of the United States, the GFor

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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

ernor called for 50,000 men, directing them to report by telegraph for orders to move, and adding that far- ther calls should be made as the exigencies should re- quire.

" The people everywhere tlew to arms, and moved promptly to the State capital. One regiment and eight companies were sent forward during the night of the 12th, and others followed as fast as they could be organized. On the 14th, the head of the Army of the Potomac met the enemy at South Mountain, and hurled him back through its passes, and on the even- ing of the 16th and day of the 17th. a fierce battle was fought at Antietam. In the meantime, the militia had rapidly concentrated at Hagerstown and Cham- bersburg, and Gen. John F. Reynolds, who was at the time commanding a corps in the Army of the Poto- mac, had assumed command. Fifteen thousand men were pushed forward to Hagerstown and Boonsboro. and a portion of them stood in line of battle in close proximity to the field, in readiness to advance, while the fierce fighting was in progress. Ten thousand inore were posted in the vicinity of Greencastle and Chambersburg, and about twenty-five thousand ' said Gov. Curtin. in his annual message. were at Harris burg, on their way to Harrisburg, or in readiness and in waiting for transportation to proceed thither .* **

The need of their services having passed. however. by the retreat of Lee to the Virginia side of the Poto. mac, the militia regiments, in accordance with the conditions on which they had entered the service. were. during the latter part of September, 1862. mus tered out and disbanded.

Following are the names, etc .. of the officers and men from Butler County, who, as members of the Fourteenth Regiment. stood in line in Maryland dur- ing the battle of Antietam:

FIELD AND STAFF.

Migjor, Charles Met alulhes Assistant Surgeon, I Newton Med aille .

Captain, Jano 6 Campbell First Lieutenant, Ibenezu Molunkm Second Tarutenant Charles B Puh Litet sergeant, Istate J. J miming-

Thiel Sergeant, Joseph F Chhatt Fourth Scgrant, Samind Shaffin I

Second Corporal, John W. Mitchell. Third Congenial, David II Market. Fourth Corporal, Arnold Busentha Inth Corporal, Joseph Purvis

sventh Corporal. James \ shaner.

Commissary siren: ut Walter L. Graham Fifer, Abrahinn Hlerger.

Primumet, Ilony bikes

* From Bates' History of Pennsylvania Volunteer-

wy colbert, John (. Coll Joben II Gfifty, Obeli in Cratty, Theodore Crawl, Suquel !. Solwick, Samuel W. Stewart .. Conrad smith, John Q. L. Sullivan, Herman schweitering, James Spence, Mexander Proutman, Casamer Weis, John War ham, George Walter, Hi Yealter, Michael Zimmerman, Gabriel kizel, Joseph Flick, Jacob Latb 1. Roligt Graham, Alfred G. Gboom, Jantes Hasleft, Richard Hughes Ir. Dannet A Heck. Thomas A. Hutchison, Sam- well Irvin W. Davis Johnston, James W Anker, Gourgr Kniffel, Joseph la aller au de Lans, George P Miller, Gabriel Moser, Hemy ( Master. Nevander Mitchell Harvey ,I Marla II WillenF. Miller, James ( MeCurdy, Sinon , Hechting, Thomas Machine John ( Madre, Samuel Morrison, Janne & Miller, Heury J Miller, I David Melunkin, Anti- A. Medankin, D Hanjeg Me poistion, James T MuInnkin Lbsha C. Me ordy, J. Lynn, Mi Ven, Wi Irun W Moim tion, Bobert Me Juin _. John H. Negley, Alfred 6, Najey, John P Oir. Joseph Pearce, Joseph PorQuan, John N. Purviance, John Potts, Samuel Patton Vener Patton Nelson P. Bred, John C. Reddick, Chirstian Schwalbe, John \ setwick. John Meg Sunth. J. Newton Stewart,

CHAPTER XIN.

BUTLER COUNTY ON. DEVELOPMENT.

The Early History of Petroleum in Pensylvama Outlined-The Be- ymunng m Butler County-The Butler County and Jacobs' on Companus-Pioneer Operations on the Mam or 22 Belt-Rise of Oil Towns-Petroha Karns City and MiJersiown-The Cross Relt or Fourth Sand Excitement-Innense Flowing Wells-Greece City-Area of Greatest Production-Noted Farms-Heavy Opera- bons-Bald Ridge-The Shidemantle Well-Statistics of Present and Total Production in the County-Geology.

"THE earliest well-authenticated mention of petro-

leum in Pennsylvania seems to have been made in a letter written by the commander of Fort Du Quesne. to Gen. Monteahn, in 1750. describing a cere- mony of the Seneca Indians, on Oil Creek, a promi- nont feature of which was a fire made from the oil which oozed to the surface of the ground. Thirty years prior to that time. however. Charlevoix, the French explorer, in his journal of May. 1721, quoting Capt. de Joncaire as authority. mentions a "fountain at the head of the Ohio" (the Allegheny was then called the Ohio) " the water of which is like oil, has a taste of iron and seems to appease all manner of pain."

Along Oil Creek, particularly between Titusville and Oil City, and in other localities in Western Penn- sylvania, circular and square- walled pits. cribbed with timber, have been found, which are supposed to have been the work of Indians; and excavated for the pur- poso of obtaining oil.

The early white settlers gathered oil from the sur- face of the streams by spreading blankets in such a manner as to absorb it, and then wringing them over a kettle, tub, or other receptacle. Occasionally. it was found in salt wells. In one of these, sunk in ISH, near the present home of James Kearns. a mile northeast of Butler, was discovered the first petrole- um in Butler County of which we have any record. The oil was present in a sufficient quantity to render the salt made from the brine unfit to preserve meat in. It was gathered by Mrs. Kearns, the wife of one of the pioneers, and people came from long distances to procure small vials of the liquid for medicinal pur- poses. It was considered very valuable in cases of

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

rheumatism, bruises, flesh wounds and similar ail- tor. The tubing was put down and the well pumped ments, and was kept in store by druggists throughont by hand with a common pump, produce labont twenty barrels per day. Some of the oil sold for $30 por barrel."> the country, bringing a high price. As late as 1559. it was sold as a remedy for the ills of man and beast under the name of Seneca, Rock or British oil, or Naphtha.

As the most prolific and widely known of the nat- ural oil springs were on Oil Creek, Venango County, l'enn., it was natural that the first steps toward sys- tematic and extensive production should be first taken there. In 1858, Messrs. J. E. Eveleth and Goorge H. Bissell, of New York City. having leased from Messrs. Brewer, Watson & Co .. of Titusville, 100 acres of land in Venango County, just south of the village, on which was an oil spring, which had been the source of considerable profit for a number of years, concluded to sink an artesian well for the purpose of tapping the stream or reservoir, which they conject- ured flowed beneath the surface. They engaged for this undertaking Mr. E. L. Drako, of New Haven. Conn., who began with a set of tools which he could almost carry upon his shoulder, to sink the first oil well in this country. or for that matter, npon the globe, and persevered, though contending with many difficulties, until his efforts culminated in snecess.

On the afternoon of Saturday, August 28, 1559. the drill of the Drake well dropped into the first erey- ice of oil, at a depth of only seventy-one feet. Thus was born a new industry, and one of the greatest in he world -- an industry of which the rapid growth and colossal proportions may be suggested by the statement that the petroleum production of 2,000 barrels in 1859, was increased to 27.355,000 barrels in the year ISS1.

When the pump was adjusted to the Drake well. it produced about twenty-five barrels per day. .1 sec- ond sand rock was found at the depth of abont two hundred feet, which gave a greater yield.

Another noteworthy pioneer oil well was within the limits of Franklin Borough. It was known as the Evans well, being sunk by a man of that name. He had, a short time prior to the commencement of the "excitement. put down a well to the depth of seventeen feet. and struck a vein of fresh water, which soon hecame covered with a thick seum of oil. render ing it unfit for use. When Mr. Evans heard of the success of the Drake well. he resolved to drill his well down to the sand rock. He had great difficulty in obtaining the necessary implements, but a merchant of Franklin finally sold him the iron, on credit. and he being a blacksmith, constructed the tools. He then erected a derrick and by means of a spring polo, with the assistance of his two sons. bored the well to the depth of seventy-two feet, when he struck a heavy vein of oil, which flowed over the top of the conduc

At the close of the year 1560. over two hundred wells were in successful operation, and the production of that year reached about 500,000 barrels. all of which was brought to the surface by pumping. Up to this time. no flowing wells had been strnek, but, in February. 1561, Mr. Funk found upon the Me Elhony farm on Oil Creek a third sand rock at a depth of abont 400 feet, and his well began flowing at the rate ot about 400 barrels per day. The excitement in the oil region reached a height which cannot be described or imagined. and other wells were drilled as quickly as possible by eager operators. The Phillips well. on the Tur farm. Oil Creek. Howel 3.000 barrels per day. and the Empire, near Mr. Funk's first well. about the same

The consumption of off as an illuminator was not equal to the enormous production which was by this time obtained, and e mspyneatly. the remarkable spec tacle was witnessed of oil selling at 10 cents per bar- rel. It was often given away, or allowed to run upon the ground. Production was paralyzed, and small wells wore abandoned. A vigorous recuperation, however. occurred in 1864. Consumption had stead- ily increased. while the production had declined to less than 4,000 barrels per day, and the price for crude rose to the highest tigure ever known to the trade-$14 per barrel. The average price for the year was 59. The increased demand was met by the developments at Pit Hole and elsewhere, and under the stimulus of high prices, territory was rapidly drilled. Search was made with untiring diligence for new off-producing territory, and the energy and capital of thousands of men were brought to bear upon the great industry, which. however, was still in its infancy. It was discovered that the oil sand rock was not confined to the courses of the streams alone. but extended horizontally under the hills, and could be reached by drilling as much dooper as the height of the hill required. Various theories were prouml gated respecting the nature of the oil sand deposit. its extent and direction. and among them was that of the " oil belt." dodneed from the observation of C. D. Angell. of Franklin. Ponn .. that a number of the oil-producing spots would be intersected by a straight line whose bearing was north about 16 degrees cast. The belt theory thus advanced has in the main been demonstrated. the in et material modi fication being the substitution of a 221 degree line for the original If degren The as indicating the di- rection of the third sand.

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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

The course of the great belt of the Butler and Clarion region, generally conforms to the 223 degree line, and is crossed in Butler County by the great " Fourth Sand Belt." lying below it and extending in a course which may be described as from the northeast to the southwest. The main belt may be said to extend from Triangle City, on Beaver Creek, Clarion County, to a point in Summit Township. in Butler County.

The first paying well in the Butler-Clarion belt was obtained on the Allegheny River, at Parker's Landing, in the fall of 1868, and operations spread ont from that point slowly during the remainder of that year and the whole of the next.

It is necessary to go several years back of the date last mentioned to get at the beginning of Butler County oil history. Soon after the first developments were made in the upper field, various citizens of But- ler County speculated and theorized upon the proba- bility of finding petroleum nearer home. Previous to 1864, however, no organized effort was made to dovel- op the territory which many firmly believed to con- tain oil deposits. In the autumn of that year and spring of 1865, Capt. JJacob Zeigler, Dr. Stephen Bredin, Judge James Bredin. John M. Thompson, Esq .. Alexander Lowry, Lewis Z. Mitchell, Esq. H. J. Klinger, William Campbell, James Campbell, John Berg and others, all of the borough of Butler. organized the Butler County Oil Company, and leased a large body of land extending from the vicinity of Martinsburg, on Bear Creek. nearly as far sonth as Millerstown. The leases of the company covered what in after years proved to be the very best oil ter- ritory in the whole lower region, and for that matter. perhaps, the richest that was ever drifted. The com pany owned the oil privileges of the Gibson and Fletcher farms, the Campbell farm, the Sheakley, Me- Clymonds, Wilson, MeDonnell farms -in fact. almost all of the best territory in what came to be known as the great Butler Belt. extending to Robert Thomp son's, at Carbon, and Herman Smith's, at Summit. They also had the Renfrew farm and a large body of other land at Bald Ridge On the bases of these leases, capital was solieited. and abont $29,000 was secured through Mr. W. Hughes, of Pottsville, which, with considerable more, was disbursed by the com- pany. Unfortunately, it was expended under the di- rection of an exeentive committee, the members of which knew practically nothing about the business in which they were engaged, and the result was what might have been expected under such a condition of circumstances Locations were made for five wells. machinery purchased and drilling commenced. The wells were all " wild cats" of the most pronounced type. sunk with the hope of finding somewhere in

Butler County the extension of the Clarion belt. Martinsburg, Buffalo Creek. Buhl's Mill and Butler were the locations chosen. Not one of the wells was drilled even to the second sand rock, the dip of the strata toward the southwest, which made it necessary to drill deeper in Butler than in the upper region, not being understood. Had the Martinsburg well. the first one located, been drilled deep onongh, it would have been a success. The money of the Butler Conu- ty Oil Company was exhausted without obtaining demonstration of the presence of oil in the county, and the organization was practically disbanded. A new company, organized in 1868, by Jacob Ziegler and named after him, the Jacob's Oil Company, took up a portion of the leases beld by the old company, among them those covering the Thomas Fletcher and Robert Black farms in Parker Township. Following are the names of the stockholders of the Jacob's Oit Company, viz., Herman JI. Berg, William Vogeley, R. L. Black, James Brodin, William Campbell, Mrs. Judge Bredin. J. C. Redick. A. M. Neyman, Rev. Laughlin, Robert Black, Sr .. Mrs. L. Z. Mitchell, Edwin Lyon. I. J. Cummings. Jacob Ziegler. J. Q. A. Kennedy, N. S. Thompson, J. B. Storey. Milton Henry. Mrs. Elvira Lyon. The company began to drill the Martinsburg well in the autumn of 1868. and. in February. 1869, had signs of oil. The well was then sunk one hundred feet deeper, and pumping comneneed, but the production was very small. Mr. John Q. A. Kennedy then examined the well and found it too deep. The pump being re- adjusted. the well produced three barrels per day. and after being " shot " with a torpedo, produced sixty barrels. This well. known as the Jacobs well. the first successful one in Butler County, was pumped for eleven years. but never was a large producer. The well was sold in 1872, together with the company's lease of the farm on which it was situated, to Robert Black, the considera- tion being $4,000.

The striking of the Jacobs well produced quite a stir among oil men. and eager speculators flocked to the Parker Township region, and leased all of the available territory which in their judgment was worth drilling. Strangers came in from the upper region, from Buffalo, Erie. Cleveland and New York. Opera- tions extended toward Parker, along Bear Creek, and in a few months many rigs were up and many drills going down toward the sand. In the fall of 1870. a portion of the Stonehouse farm, northeast of Martins- burg. then owned by John M. Thompson, Esq., and Judge Bredin, of Butler, was leased by John Q. A. Kennedy to E. Bennett, who drilled a well upon it, which proved to be good for fifteen barrels of oil per day. This well stimulated operations in all directions. A nundwer of wells were located in the remainder of

133

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY

the Stonehouse farm by D. C. Karus and Charles Badger. John H. Heiner began drilling on the Ste- venson farm; operations were began on the Thomas Donelly farm of 1,100 acres, and upon the John Say farm by John Cornwall. The " Pine Tree " well, on this property, struck in the spring of 1871. started with a production of eighty barrels per day, and gave a fresh fillip of energy to the operators. One of the earliest wells between Parker and Martinsburg was drilled on the Simeon Leonard farm, at the forks of Bear Creek. by Shields Adams. It proved to be a remarkably good well. and is still producing teu bar- rels per day. Adams sold it to George H. Graham. and he transferred it to the present owner. William Morgan. The operations which we have briefly out. lined were carried on in 1869. 1870 and 1871. Up to this time, but little had been done toward the de- velopment of the belt southward.

The Martinsburg wells had been generally regard- ed as " pointers " as to the direction of the belt from Parker. Among the first to take practical action in accordance with the theory of a southerly extension of the oil sand rock was A. L. Campbell. He began leasing "at the front " in May, 1871. He secured thirty-five acres of the Robert Campbell farm. on the south line of Parker Township, and leases of mimer- ons other farms, subject to developments on the Camp- bell property. John A. Lambing took these leases and organized a company to sink a " wild-cat " well on the farm named. This organization, known as the Robert Campbell Oil Company, was composed of Messrs. H. L. Taylor, C. D. Angel, B. B. Campbell. James E. and R. L. Brown and James M. and John A. Tambing. They began drilling in the summer, and, on the 19th of November, the " Robert Camp- bell" well, as it was named. struck the third sand. The rig caught fire and burned to the ground. but was reconstructed within twenty-four hours, and the well was found to produce eighty barrels per day.

The striking of the Robert Campbell (which was just north of the spot on which the village of Argyle was afterward laid out) caused a great rush to the front. A large amount of territory was leased south of the new well, including the site of Petrolia and several farms surrounding it. A number of operators sunk " wild-cat" wells, which proved to be dry. but Messrs. George H. Nesbitt. William Lardin and George H. Dimmick, who had leased the Blaney and Jamison farms, were snee essful in striking the oil do- posit. Their well was located upon the line between the two farms which divides the present town of Pe- trofia. north and south, and was named the " Fanny Jane." after Fanny Blaney and Jane Jamison. The well was struck on or about the Ist of April, 1872. and started off with a flow of about two hundred and

fifty to three hundred barrels per day. cansing great excitement among oil men and the farmers in the re- gion, who began to see visions of large wealth acern- ing from their hitherto poor lands. People flocked from all parts of the country to see the now " gusher, " and an immense influx of capital set hundreds of drills at work during the summer. The few experienced op. erators. who had been the pioneers in the region, were crowded by others who were anxious to secure a share in what all now believed would prove an enormously prolific fiokl. Two other wells were in process of drilling within the present limits of Petrolia Borough when the " Fanny Jane " began to flow, and they both proved to be fairly good pro lucers. These were the Hatch and Dresser wells. The " Lightfoot." put down by M. S. Adams, and others soon came in with a production of about two hundred barrels, and the "Ivanhoe." on the A. 1 .. Campbell farm (between Ar- gyle and Petrolia) reached the sand in May, 1872, and began to flow at the rate of about three hundred barrels. This well averaged 225 barrels per day for the first month, and exceeded in production any of its predecessors. It was drilled by Angus McPherson & Co., but soll to Parker Thompson & Co. before the sand was reached. In the meantime, the Argyles, Nos. 1. 2. 3 and 4, had been struck upon the A. L. Campbell farm, and the owner had laid out the vil- lage of Argyle, named appropriately after the ancient family home in Scotland. Argyle became quite a flourishing village, and had a population at one time of several hundred. The wells were not large, aver- aging only about seventy-five barrels per day. but were protitable, and they increased the value of Mr. Campbell's farm from about $50 to $1.000 per acre. Operations were now fast extended toward the south on a line running about 223 degrees west. Cooper Bros. and D. C. Karns were the pioneers who first obtained successful results in advance of Petrolia. They be gan drilling a test well on the MeClymond farm, at the site of the future Karns City. in December, 1871. and reached the sand in June, 1872. less than three months after the " Fanny Jane " was struck at Po- trolia. The Karns well produced 120 barrels daily. The belt thus defined as far south as Karns City, was about this time shown to extend a half mile farther west than had been generally supposed by the striking of a well upon the Me Aleer farm the Me Aleer No. 1- put down by Tack Bros. &C>. (A. L. Campbell and others). It was not a large producer, but valuable as a factor in ontlining the territory. The extension of the belt to the westward as originally indicated by the Me Ateer No. 1. was confirmed in the fall of 1572 by the striking of a very successful well on the Alexander Storey farm, southwest of Karns City. This well. which was owned by William Kern, had quite a

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 31

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co. Number of Pages: 638

Author: Waterman, Watkins & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, Waterman, Watkins & Co.
Number of Pages: 638