USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 85
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FAIRVIEW U. P. CHURCH.
The United Presbyterian Congregation of Fair- view had its origin in the Bear Creek Presbyterian congregation. The pastors, while the church was at Bear Creek, were Revs. Joseph Johnston. James Green, Robert W. Oliver, Riddle. James H. Fife and John A. Campbell. In 1857. the organization changed its place of meeting from Bear Creek to Fairview and became the Fairview Associate Reformed Church, and subsequently the Fairview C. P. Church. Rov. William P. Bradin was then the pastor. Hle was succeeded by Rev. David Dodds, and in 1875 by Rey A. B. C. MeFarland, the present pastor. The congregation is large and flourishing. During the year 1582. a large and elegant church edifice was erected. It is of brick, two stories, and of a very tasteful style of architecture, making it one of the best and most beautiful ehrehes in Butler County.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The first efforts to organize a Presbyterian con- gregation were made in 1872. Rev. Van Eman conducted services for a time at Fairview and Karns. A subscription of over $1.000 was raised for the pur- pose of erecting a church, and a committee was appointed by the Presbytery to forin a congregation. Through some means, the work did not succeed. In 1574, interest in the matter again revived. Rev.
Thorne preached during the winter and spring of 1874. T. S. Nogley, a Princeton student. preached during the summer of IS75. August 12, of that year. he organized a congregation, consisting of twelve members. R. W. McKee and Thomas Hays were elected Elders and were ordained by Rov. J. H. Marshall. August 22, communion was administered. and eleven members were added to the congregation. Rev. D. Decker began his labors at Fairview and Karns, as a licentiate. November 7. 1875 Services were held during the winter and spring in the Ger- man Reformed Church and in the schoolhouse, and thirty eight new members were received. A house was built at Karns during the summer of 1876 at a cost of $3.000, and dedicated on the 6th of August by Rev. W. H. Gill. of Allegheny City. The same season the Fairview people erected a house of worship at a cost of over $5,000. The building was com- pleted in December and dedicated by Rev. Gill on the 17th of the month. It was found that the congrega- tion owed no debt, but had a balance in the treasury.
November 1, 1876, Rev. Decker was installed pastor of the united congregations. but at the same time was authorized to effeet a separate organization at Karns. This organization was effected November 15: C. S. Leslie and W. W. Randolph were appointed Ellers.
In January. 1577, the Karns church agreed to dis pense with the services of Rev. Decker, who. after recovering from serious injuries received in a gas explosion. continued his labors at Fairview. Karus in the meantime received the services of Rov. John Rutherford and Rov. W. D. Patton. October 12. Rev. Decker received and accepted a call for one half of his time at Karns, and was installed pastor on the 30th, since which time both churches have been under his care.
LATHEVIEW REFORMED CHURCH.
The first Gorman church in this vicinity was the White or Sugar Creek German Reformed and Unther- an congregation which met at a log meeting house in the southeastern part of Fairview Township. The first record is of a donation of a lot of land to the congregation in 1513. As far as can be learned, Rev. Henry Koch ( Reformed) was the first minister. The Sugar Creek congregation now worships in Arm- strong County, the third church building on the lot where the graveyard is having been torn down and removed in IS69. The Sugar Creek Church is the parent of St. Peter's Reformed Church, Fairview, and of St. John's in the southern part of this township, near Mitler town. At the latter place, a brick church was erected in 1969. Rov. Koch was pastor of the Sugar Creek Church twenty five years.
In 1832. a log meeting honse, the first church in
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Fairview, was erected. It was built by the Lutherans. but afterward became a mion church, and was occupied by the Lutherans and the Reformed. Rey. Schweitzerbarth and other ministers officiated here. In 1845, Rov. Samuel Miller was pastor of the Sugar Creek congregation, and under his ministry the Fair- view Reformed congregation was organized. The present house of worship was built during Rov. Abner Dale's pastorate, and dedicated May 31, 1857. Fairview formed a part of the Sugar Creek charge until 1872, when it was made a separate appointment. In 1879. Fairview and Millerstown were made to constitute one charge and Sugar Crock another. The pastors have been as follows: Rev. Samuel Miller. 1545-49: L. D. Leberman. 1819-50: Samuel Miller. 1850-52; FL F. Hartman, 1852 56; Abpor Dale, IS56-60; David O Shoemaker. 1860 62; J. S. Shade, 1865 69: Abner Dale, 1969 75: Joseph Hannaberry, 1875-79. Rev. J. W. Alspach, the present pastor, was installed in June. 1879. During Rev. Dale's first ministry services ceased to be condneted in Ger- man, except occasionally; and now for some years the preaching has been wholly in English. The number of communieants in September, 1552, was one hundred and fifty-two
FAIRVIEW METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This is an old organization, but diligent research has failed to reveal its history. There are no early records of the class to be found. The house of wor- ship was erected in 1547, since which time the church has enjoyed various periods of prosperity and adver- sity. The church now numbers about sixty members, and is a part of the Karns City Circuit.
LODGES.
Knights of Honor. - Liberty Lodge. No. 965, K. of H., was chartered March 19, 1878, with thirty-one charter members. The present membership is about sixty.
Equitable Aid Union. - Baldwin Union. No. 167. E. A. U., was instituted in July. 1882, with about. twenty members.
United Workmen. MeNair Lodge. No. 107. A. O. U. W., was instituted April 5, 1577. with twenty three charter members. The present number of mem- bers is about thirty-five. At one time the lodge numbered sixty-five.
PETROLI.A.
Petroleum built Petrolia. The town is only ten years old, yet it has passed through vicissitudes such as any but an oil town would scarcely experience in half a century. In November, 1871. F. M. Camp bell built the first honse in Argyle -- excepting farmi houses. A few months later. Argyle presented the
appearance of a very lively village, with stores, ma- chine shops, etc. But the cross roads farther to the south seemed a more desirable sito for the future " city." and about this point buildings began to spring up as if by magic. The first house in Petro- lia was erected by W. E. Clark. in February, 1572. It is still standing, having been converted into a meat shop, and is at present occupied by Frank Rief. John Painter, of Brady's Bond, established the first grocery and saloon, on the corner of Main and Jame- son streets. This was quickly followed by a store. 12x18 feet. built by R. W. Cram, and used as a news room and office of the Penny Post. The oil excite. ment was at a high pitch, and in a few weeks Petro lia had grown into a flourishing town. with stores. machine shops, hotels, saloons and shanties. all has tily contrived. George H. Graham made the first survey of lots, and, in an incredibly short time. the Graham farm (thon owned by the Rono Real Estate Company), and the farms of John B. Jameson. James Campbell and James Blaney had been partially ab -- sorbed in the fast- growing town.
The morals of the new settlement were character- istie of oildom. Fully three thousand people had their homes here, and among the population wore many roughs, and men and women of shameless char- acter. Drunkenness, prostitution and other forms of vice became so prevalent that the leading citizens deemed it advisable to secure the corporation of the town, in order that these evils might be checked. During the summer of 1572. measures were taken to form a borough government, and in December of the same year the organization was effected. and George H. Dimick elected Burgess. The borongh was fully incorporated according to law. February 1, 187%. Mr. Dimiek proved a very efficient officer. and. aided by a strong police force, soon was able to main- tain comparativoly good order and establish justice.
Among the first business places opened were Rob ertson's machine shop, built by W E. Clark: Me Bride's drug store, the Central Hotel. by Peter Christie & Co. A man named Ben Hogan erected a large building which he styled the Opera House. Under his management the house gained very unen . viable notoriety, but after it passed into different hands it came to be well patronized, and many men of national reputation came hither in the role of lecturers.
Courtney built one of the first machine shops. In 1574, Ireland and Mr. Canghtry bought it. In 1875. the building was destroyed by fire, but was re- built in the fall of the same year. Mr. L. N. Ire- laud. now in partnership with James E. Hughes, has been connected with the management of the shop since ISTA. 1n 1575 76, from eighteen to twenty. eight men were employed in these works.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Petrolia soon came to be regarded as the very center of the lower oil region, and some of the largest operators accordingly made it their headquarters. It was found that a bank was indispensable, and the result was the establishment of the Argyle Savings Bank, August 22, 1872, with H. L. Taylor, President. This bank still continues to do a solid business H. L. Taylor is still President, and E. A. Taylor is the present cashier.
R. W. Cram was the first Postmaster. The office was established in 1873. Mr. Cram was succeeded in 1882 by William Gibson, the present Postmaster. At one time, the office was a large distributing office. In 1877, it was estimated that at least 5,000 adults received their mail through Petrolia Post Office. It became a third-class office in 1877, and paid a larger salary than any other office in the county.
The population of towns in the oil region is al- ways an unstable quantity. Petrolia in its most pros- perous days was probably the home of at least 6,000 people. The years 1875 -6-7 were by far the best in the history of the town. The rapid rise in the price of oil, in 1876, stimulated the industrial growth of the place to the utmost. In 1879, business activity declined, and there was a consequent exodus of popu- lation, The census of ISSO showed over 1,100 in- habitants in the borough, but the muuber is now con- siderably diminished. Still. Petrolia remains, as it has been for several years. the most important oil town in the lower oil region.
Petrolia has a very efficient fire department, con- sisting of two hose companies with a membership of abont fifty each. The United Hose Company No. 1 was organized by A. C. Beeson, in 1873, and consisted solely of employes of the United Pipe Line Company. This was followed by a citizens' company called the Petrolia Hose, which, while it continued. was a large and well-managed company. The Protective Hose Company was organized in 1874, by citizens of the borough, and still continues a most efficient organiza- tion. Both it and the United Hose Company are now incorporated.
For the protection of the borough against losses from tire, an ordinance was enacted April 7, 1871. granting to A. C. Beeson and Murat Compton the full and exclusive right to construct water works. The right was transferred to E. O'Donnell and Frank 1. Masson, who at once proceeded to construet works as a private enterprise. In June, 1550, the property was divided into a capital stock of $1.200, and mostly sold to citizens of the borough. The company or- ganized with the following board of managers: Gner- don Williams, Chairman; D. C. Backns, T. T. Mapes, D. A. Cypher; F. L. Masson, Superintendent: S. W. Harley, Secretary: and E. A. Taylor, Treasurer.
Mr. Masson has been Superintendent from the begin- ning. The works consist of one water pump of twenty- horse power, to supply the town with water; a station- ary pump of forty horse power for use in case of fire; and about tive miles of hose.
Petrolia has four good hotels, and is well supplied with shops and stores of allkinds. The principal in. dustries are now represented as follows: The machine- shop of Ireland & Hughes; the boiler works of J. C. Lyons, and of Frank Quinn & Co .; the cup and valvo manufactory of A. W. Root: and the machine shop of A. C. Price. The United Pipe Line Company formerly had large machine-shops and an extensive foundry in Petrolia. These works were removed in
PERSONAL.
D. C. Backus was engaged in the hardware busi- ness, in connection with machine repairing, for sov eral years. He began business at Argyle, in 1871, his store being one of the first business houses erected. In 1872, the store was removed to Petrolia. At one time the firm of which he was a member were doing a business of $30,000 per month. Mr. Backus closed out his business and removed to Jamestown, N. Y.
S. W. Harley came to Petrolia in March, 1872, and for several years followed the business of con- tractor and operator in oil. August 1, 1877, he was appointed agent of the Standard Oil Company in the purchase of ernde oil, and given charge of their Pe trolia office, He still holds the same position with the Standard Company's snecessors, H. Lewis & Co.
James L. Clark, proprietor of Hotel Brunswick. came to Petrolia during the first excitement, and was omnite largely engaged in the oil business for some years. In ISTS, he bought the property, formerly a restaurant, which has since been known as the Hotel Brunswick.
The principal dry goods stores in Petrolia are those of J. Benedict & Sons and E. P. Chosebro. Benediet & Sons established their business in 1876; they have two large stores and carry a valuable stock of goods. E. P. Chesebro came to Petrolia in 1876, and engaged as clerk for T. B. Brown. In 1879, he bought out the store and began business for himself.
The first clothing store in Petrolia was established in 1873, by Ellis Goodman. Ho was succeeded by Goodman & Marks, and in 1879 hy Freeman & Marks.
N. C. Gifford came to Butler County in 1872, and was among the first to engage in developing the oil territory in the vicinity of Millerstown; he is now Superintendent of the Union Oil Company, a position which he has held two years in Millerstown, and two in Petrolia.
A. A. Anderson, dontist, is a native of Butler, and learned denistry in that town with Lefevre & Moore,
RESIDENCE OF R W. BARNHART.
PHILLIP BARNHART.
MRS. PHILLIP BARNHART.
.
R. W. BARNHART.
MRS. R. W. BARNHART.
RESIDENCE OF A. A. KELTY, M.D.
RESIDENCE OF R. J. MCCULLOUGH.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
He began practice at Harrisville in 1873, and settled at Petrolia in 1SS1.
L. P. Cross, photographer, has been engaged in his business in Fairview and Petrolia. for about ten years.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
Petrolia Borough -- 1873. A. L. Campbell: 1873. J. A. Thompson; 1874, J. H. Lewis: 1871. B. F. Wesson; 1875. B. F. Wesson: 1879, James Buzzard; ISSO, James Buzzard: 1SS1. Francis F. Herr; ESS2, Robert J. Bottner.
A DESTRUCTIVE FLOOD.
On Saturday July 26. 1579. Petrolia was visited by one of the heaviest storms ever known in this re. gion. About 11 o'clock A. M., so much rain had fallen that Bear Creek was converted into a rushing river, and, soon after, in the vicinity of Karns City, fences, small buildings and all other object in the way were swept away and carried down stream. The railroad bridge above Petrolia stayed the onward rush of the debris for a time, but suddenly giving way without warning, Bear Creek and its heavy burden of floating timber was precipitated upon the town. Jame- son Creek had previously broken through buildings on the east side of the railroad track, and when the dam at the railroad bridge broke, it became evident that the business portion of the town was doomed to de- strnetion: the coliseum, a large building sixty by one hundred and seventy feet erected by the pedes- trian association at a cost of $1,400, was washed from its foundations, and floated upon the water like a toy. This huge bulk was driven against other buildings, and they in turn gave way. until along the entire course of the stream, the town was bereft of build. ings. Some fifty buildings were destroyed, and about the same number inundated. The wildest ex- citement prevailed, but fortunately there were no se- rions accidents.
Some very amusing incidents occurred. among others, the following: During the morning. a walk- ing mateh was in progress at the Coliseum. and the champions were still contending when the flood struck the town. One athlete, in his walking snit. and with spectacles upon his nose. was seen on top of the Col iseum as it moved down the stream. When the build. ing came in contact with the hose house, he leaped from the roof to the top of the latter building, and rode onward until his novel conveyance stopped. and he was enabled to land in safety.
The buildings destroyed were generally of little value, and probably would not average over $200 each. But the value of goods and furniture lost was very great. The Record, in its next issue, estimated the entire loss in Karus and Petrolia at $75,000.
Karns was but slightly damaged. Among the largest losses in Petrolia, according to the Record's esti- mates, were the following: (. Barthokl. clothing store. $5,000; R. J. Bottner. jewelry store, $5,500; Foote & Weeks, drug store. $6,000: 31. N. Miles. law office. $1.100: M. C. Bonediet, Jaw office. $1,381. Damaged United Pipe Line, buildings, ete .. $5,000; Central Drug Store, $1,000. An entire solid block of buildings, standing over the creek on Railroad street, were completely destroyed.
CHURCHES.
Petrolia M. E. Church was organized in 1974. on the 1st of September, by Rev. George J. Squire. The house was erected the same year, at a cost of about 82.000. William Alverson was the first class leader. The number of members at the first was fifteen. The present membership is about 200.
St. James' Roman Catholic Church was ereeted in 1874. under the pastorate of Father Tierney. The cost of the house was about $4.000. The membership of this church, once very large. has fallen off greatly.
In 1SS2, a building was purchased and fitted up as a mission chapel of the Episcopal Church. Rev. Edwin Burke, of Butler, began preaching in the opera house in 1881. and still continued his labors till the fall of 1852. The number of communicants is twenty-nine.
LODGES.
Argyle Lodge, No. 540. F. & A. M., of Petrolia. was formed July 15. 1575. with thirty-eight charter members. The membership in September. 1582. was eighty.
Petrolia City Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 903, was in existence several years, but is now extinct.
The Clipper Lodge, No. 59. A. O. U. W., was chartered September 3. 1875, with the following first officer>: H. C. Porterfield, P. M. W .; C. E. Ryder, M. W .: James Harvey. G. F. : William Me. Chpper. O .; S J. Adams. Recorder; J. M. Harri- son, Financier; W. G. Harshaw, Receiver; William Greenwood, G : James Dailey, I. W .; W. G. Wal- ters, O. W.
We learn that Virgil Council. No. 170. R. A .. was formed in September. 1575. The first officers were as follows: M. N. Miles, Regent; C. M. Zinck, Vice Regent : J. R. Bard. Orator; J. A. Lindsey, Past Regent: F. C. Claxton, Secretary: J. F. Campbell. Treasurer: S P. Miles, Chaplain: J. E. Sammel. Gnide: J. N. Weir, Warden: F. E. Hinman. Sentry.
The James Guthrie Campbell. Post No. 107. (. A. R., was organized October 14. 1578. with thirteen charter members. The Post has prospered well, and at present has a membership of about fifty
The Equitable Aid Chion is i- a new fraternal
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IHISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
order. incorporated March 22, 1879, intended as a beneficial aid union. All white persons of either ses who are physically and socially acceptable, are ad- missible to membership between the ages of sixteen and sixty-five. Florence Union. No. 435. Petrolia. was organized April 12. 1552. with thirty-seven char- ter members.
KARNS CITY.
Karus City was laid out in 1872, by John H. Haines and Samnel Duncan. on the farms of Samuel L. Riddle and Hngh P. MeClymonds. In a very brief space of time a flourishing oil town sprang up and was doing a brisk business in almost every line of trade. In 1576, the population had become nearly 2.000; in 1882, it is less than 400 and is fast dimin. ishing. The causes of this rapid decline and fall are to be found in the same source to which the town owes its existence, namely, the oil business, and need not be detailed here.
Karns City was incorporated as a borough Janu- ary 4. 1575. The limits of the borough were ex- tended July 1, 1575, so that now the MeClymonds farm of 214 acres. and the fourteen acres of the Rid- dle farm, are included. L. D. Akin was the first Bur- gess elected.
Previous to the organization of a borough govern- ment. the usual lawlessness of new oil towns pre- vailed. At one time there were twenty-nine places where liquor were sokl. and drunkenness and fighting were things of every-day occurrence: Sundays. espe- cially. the roughs that infested the town carried their revels to a shameless extent. But all this soon passed away, and in its place law and order were estab. lished.
The dilapidated appearance of the town at pres- ent would not indicate that Karns City was wealthy and prosperous but two or three years ago. A glance at the books of the borough, however, reveals the fact that the sum of $2.913.22, was received in taxes for the year ending June, ISTS, showing that the prop- erty of the town at that time was no inconsiderable amount.
Karns City has water works, of the kind peculiar to oil towns, and a fire department which was for- merly very efficient. The latter consists of the Union Hose Company, organized in 1876.
The town has suffered three very destructive fires; the first occurred on the 2d of December. 1874, and destroyed the heart of the town; the losses were very large, and few business men were so fortunate as not to have their property damaged. Sixty-four build- ings were destroyed: a second fire, in 1576, and a third, in 1979, were also very destructive.
On the 5th of March, 1577, there was a fire which resulted in the loss of eight lives. Early in the
morning, on the day mentioned. the Bateman House. a hotel and boarding-house which stood near the de- pot, was discovered to be on fire: efforts were made to rescue the sleeping inmates from the burning house, but they were unsuccessful. Mrs. Bateman and three of her children perished in the flames, and a gentle- man who was boarding at the house suffered the same horrible death. The proprietor of the house, F. E. Bateman. his son. and a male boarder, were so badly burned that they died after a few hours of terrible agony.
Karns City Post Office was established in 1874. 1 penny post from Petrolia was established in 1972: the Postmasters have been E. S. Harvey. A. N. Ha- mor and Miss MI. B. Morse.
Ralston. MeQuaide & Co .. carried on the banking business in this place from 1872 to ISSO.
Karns City still has a mumber of stores and ho- tels which are doing a good business. but all present indications are that the town has seen its best days.
W. H. Hoffman, a' native of Monroe County, N. Y., came to Butler County in 1570: he had fol- lowed the oil excitement, beginning at Pithole in 1865. He became a large and successful producer of oil in this county, and had one of the largest produc- ing wells- one at Karns City which yieldled twenty hundred barrels per day. Mr. Hoffman was elected Sheriff of Butler County in 1878. and served three years. He was nominated by the Democrats for the Assembly in 1SS2.
LIST OF JUSTICES.
1875. T. P. Brown: 1875. David J. Stewart; 1876, Robert Dunn: 1879. James H. Lewis: 1879, Robert Dann: ISSO. D. J. Stewart.
CHURCHES.
Karns City has two churches Presbyterian and Methodist. The history of the former is treated in connection with the Fairview Presbyterian Church. The Karns City Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by Rev. G. J. Squire in 1574. The church edifice and parsonage wore erected in 1876. The Karns City Virenit is composed of Karns City and Fairview.
LODGES.
Karns City Odd Fellows Lodge. No. 931, was chartered February 25, 1876. The following were the first officers: P. R. Burke. N. G .: A. S. Messi- mer. V. ( .: J. L. Henry, See. : S. H. Pettigrew, Asst. See: J. L. Phillips, Treas.
The Karns City Lodge, No. 106, A. O. U. W., was chartered March 31. 1577. First officers: A. D. Mead. P. M. W .: J. Moorhead, M. W .: A. T. Mead, G. F .: A. J. Rheinhart, O .: F. J. Painter,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY
Recorder; J. L. Henry, Financier: F. S. Houghton, Receiver; J. M. McCandless, G .; J. Wilcox. I. W .; W. H. Phillips. O. W.
Derrick Lodge, No. 456, Knights of Pythias, was chartered May 1, 1877, with eleven charter members. In September 1SS2, the membership was one hundred and forty-five.
Gold Lining Union. No. 163, Equitable Aid Union, was instituted July 7, 1582, with forty charter members.
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