History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658

USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 13

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The meeting of January 1, 1864, resulted in the election of the old officers. In February a tax of fifteen mills on assessed value of property was authorized ; being four mills for county purposes, three mills for State purposes and eight mills for railroad charges. At the close of this year the auditors-John H. Cratty, W. H. H. Riddle and Simeon Nixon-reported as follows :

We, the undersigned auditors of Butler county, having examined the foregoing account of the commissioners' clerk of Butler, do report that Congress must either make more days in the year, or we shall compel the commissioners to commute his rations.

It is apparent that the auditors did not associate the 312 days' service in 1863 and the 314 days' service in 1864 with the increased work of the times; but the commissioners did ; for, two days after this report was made, Harvey was re-ap- pointed clerk. There were 216 citizens of the county assessed in 1864, five per cent on their incomes, under the law providing for an income tax. Another item appears under date, March 15, 1865, which recalls a tragic national event. It reads as follows :

Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot last night in Washing- ton City by an assassin, and died this morning .- Requi seat in pure.

In the midst of civil and military turmoil, the fight against the railroad com- pany was carried on by Bartley and Leason. In October, William Dick was elected to succeed Abner Bartley.

In January, 1866, the old officers were re-elected. In November the vacancy in the office of treasurer, caused by the death of W. E. Moore, was filled by the appointment of John E. Moore. of Centre township. In January, IS67, George W. Kneiss was appointed to succeed Harvey Colbert as clerk. The tax rate of 1866, which was nine mills lower than that of 1865, was also made eight mills in 1867. In May bids for building the new jail and sheriff's house were received and the contract sealed June 14.

In 1868, the clerk's salary was placed at $700 and the attorney's was still held down to twenty-five dollars; but the bell-ringer now called janitor, had his pay increased to $150. The resignation of George Kneiss in September, 1869, led to the appointment of Thomas B. White as clerk. On November 6, of this year, the board elected a president in the person of Charles Hoffman, he being the first to serve under that title. In other respects, the members of the board were

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TRANSACTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

assuming self-importance; for, not content with the old digest, purchased in 1804 or thereabouts, they now purchased an edition of Purdon for the use of the office. The record, too, shows signs of progress, partaking more of the style of Dougal's ancient minute books. In December, George Miller was paid for making a coffin for one " Hokenboy," who was hanged in this county.

In January, 1870, the tax rate was lowered to seven mills. About this time, John H. Negley was awarded the printing of the auditors report for fifty dollars. In February, the commissioners borrowed from the First National Bank, for ninety days, the sum of $1500, and in March, issued a warrant for $116.795 to Robison, banker, for railroad bonds and coupons. In November, James M. Lawe was chosen president of the board, and at the same session the estimate of expenditures for the current year was placed at $10,000. Before the close of the year, W. H. Black was appointed attorney, and the clerk and janitor were re-appointed.

In April, 1871, Mr. White received the commission of postmaster of Butler, and William L. Spear succeeded him as clerk. In June, the claims of John M. Thompson and Charles McCandless, for defending Butler county in the case of Lawrence county vs. Butler county, growing out of the subscription to the North- Western Railroad Company, were tabled until "equitably adjusted either by law or compromise." In July, whenthe trial was resumed, James Bredin was employed to represent this county, the consideration being $500 and traveling expenses. In October the new iron bridge in Cherry township was completed, and an iron bridge at Harmony, near Enslen's, was also finished.

The threat of the commissioners to proceed, according to law, against col- lectors who neglected " paying off " their duplicates on or before January 1, 1872, characterized the meeting of November 22. On November 29, the following minute was made :

Commissioners all present: had a dispute with Mr. Brown, jury commissioner. Wanted more pay than they were willing to give him. Mr. Brown got very spunky and left without getting anything. Tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day, the board will not be in session.

In December, 1872, Collector Kirker of Lancaster township, asked that a ten dollar counterfeit bill, which he received as taxes, be accepted by the treasurer, but the commissioners could not see it in that light. In the matter of a $10,000 fee. claimed by Attorneys Thompson and McCandless. for legal services, arbitrators were appointed December 22, and on the 28th. Judge Kerr. James F. Robinson and Judge Mitchell met under the appointment, but nothing definite was accomplished. Robert Barron became a member of the board in 1872. On January 8, the record states that every one having business with the office had fault to find with everyone and everything. At this time mention is first made of overseers of the poor. From the entry it appears that the poor people of the county were sent to Dixmont Hospital, in Allegheny county. In March, the treasurer, " having unexpectedly received money from Harrisburg," an overdue note for $600. held by Mrs. S. C. Sullivan, was paid. In June, it appears that one-half the jurors were excused and the commissioners hurried payments to them, saying, " they are no use here-the sooner they are discharged the better for the county." On the 22nd an entry states :

IOS

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Yesterday we had the hardest rain that the oldest citizens remember of. particu- larly in the southwestern part of the county, taking away bridges and destroying fences, grain, etc.

The rains in August damaged bridges and delayed the re-building of bridges in lieu of those swept away in June. The record contains weather and political reports, with references to the courts and other important affairs. This is shown by an entry under date of October 29, which reads as follows: " The witnesses are all from Clearfield, and a hard set of fellows they are to get along with." And again, under date of October 31,-"Court in session. Trying Dutchman for burning a barn near Saxonburg : found him guilty, being out only fifteen min- utes." William L. Spear, to whom credit is given for keeping excellent minutes, died November 24, and on the 25th, John B. McQuistion was appointed to fill the vacancy.

In July, 1873, the sum of $2.448 was borrowed from John Berg & Company, with the understanding that the money was to remain in bank " to be drawn out as needed." In September, a court order to have all books re-bound, and such books as were mutilated, transcribed and bound, was received by the commissioners and an order made in obedience to that of the court. James P. Christley, with Messrs. Barron and Garvin, were the commissioners.

The transactions of 1871, opened with the appointment of E. G. Cratty, clerk, to succeed John B. MeQuistion, and Thomas Robinson, attorney, to suc- ceed W. H1. Black, the new member of the board being John C. Riddle. In Feb- ruary, 1875. 1. S. P. De Wolf was chosen clerk, at a salary of $700 a year, and Clarence Walker, attorney, at forty dollars per annum. In June, the services of the clerk were dispensed with, and George Maxwell, of Centre township, appointed. The blowing-up of the safe in the treasurer's office, October 18, enlivened affairs round the court-house and checked the payment of warrants, as the doors of the safe could not be opened. In January, 1876, under the new law, the three members were Robert Barron, J. C. Donaldson and William A. Christie; Samuel MeClymonds was appointed clerk and J. C. Donaldson succeeded J. C. Riddle as commissioner. In March, the dispute about the treasurer's salary was still in progress, the board offering $2,250, believing that this was the legal inter- pretation of the court's decision in the matter. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and the per centage to be paid the treasurer was fixed. In June, the removal of the old court-house cupola was decided upon and a new one, fitted as a clock tower, ordered to be constructed. The clock for this structure was not to cost more than $900, of which the county was to pay $300 and the borough of Butler, $600. Other work was also authorized on the old building. Later, the arrangement with Venango county, respecting assessment of property on the line, was made, and, during the long term of Barron, Donaldson and Christie's administration, much work was accomplished at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.

In January, 1879, J. C. Donaldson, James Gribben and Jonathan Maybury were sworn in as commissioners; H. W. Nicholas was appointed to succeed the veteran janitor, John McCollough, at one dollar a day; Clarence Walker was re-appointed counsel and Samuel McClymonds, clerk. The commissioners named

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TRANSACTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONERS.

were serving in 1881, when the minute book-1853-82-was closed. Thomas Robinson was appointed counsel in January, 18 2, and the commission of the treasurer, J. II. Miller, was fixed at four per cent for all moneys paid out to the amount of $55,000, and one-half per cent on any sum over that amount.

In March, 1884, a tax of five mills was levied for county purposes and two mills for building purposes. In June, Architect J. P. Bailey was allowed four per cent for plans, specifications and superintendence of proposed court-house, and in August the proceeds of insurance on the old building ($28,500) were set apart for the new building, together with about $19.500 from the duplicate tax lists of 1884, and two mills per cent on duplicate for ensuing six years. The commis- sioners at that time were Charles Cochran, G. W. Hays and James Collins, and the clerk was S. T. Marshall. In December the board authorized the issue of $65,000 in bonds, in blocks of $6,000 annually, the interest not to exceed four per cent. Mr. Collins voted against this resolution. On December 2, the contract for building was awarded to R. B. Taylor ; on the 3rd the sum of $21,933.33 was received from the insurance companies, together with $329 interest, and a new era in the official life of the county was introduced. The order of Judge Hazen to have old record books re-bound was not the smallest spoke in the wheel of progress.

The commissioners who qualified January 5, 1885, were J. C. Breaden, J. C. Kelly and J. M. Turner. Dr. Linn, appointed as the first county physician in 1879, was re-appointed in 1885, and S. F. Bowser was elected counsel. Gas was introduced as fuel in the offices on trial, and the trustees of the Evangelical church building, which was used as a court-house. failed to convince the commissioners that the rent should be increased. R. N. Emery was appointed clerk ; but was succeeded by F. M. Shira, who was chosen for this position in April. and Emery was appointed court-house watchman. In February, 1886, S. T. Marshall was elected clerk.

The new board-A. J. Hutchison, J. C. Kelly and B. M. Duncan-organized January 2, 1588, with A. J. Hutchison, president ; S. T. Marshall, clerk ; New- ton Black, attorney, and John Graham, jail physician. On January 7, 1889, Enos McDonald was chosen clerk. The appointment of John Humphrey, by the court, to succeed J. C. Kelly, as commissioner, is recorded under date of Jan- uary 10, 1890. On February 2. 1891, the present clerk, Isaac Meals, was elected- the board then comprising Messrs. John Humphrey, S. T. Marshall and J. C. Kiskaddon. They served until January, 1894. when S. W. McCollough and Richard Kelly, Republicans, and G. W. Wilson, Democrat, qualified as their successors. and re-elected Mr. Meals clerk. The administrators of county affairs from February, 1891, to January, 1894, made a good record for their economy, faithful observance of duty, kindness toward one another and courtesy to the people of all classes.

CHAPTER VIII.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

THE FIRST COURT HOUSE-COST OF CONSTRUCTION-PUBLIC BUILDING AGITATION OF 1852 -- COUNTY SEAT REMOVAL SCHEME-OPPOSITION MEETING-LEGISLATIVE AC- TION-CONTRACT FOR NEW BUILDING OF 1853 - THE BUILDING DESCRIBED-IMPROVE- MENTS OF 1877-DESTRUCTION BY FIRE-HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT COURT HOUSE.

F ROM its organization in 1803, until 1807, the business of the county was transacted in rented quarters. In 1807 a brick court-house was erected on the site of the present building. It was plain, but substantial, having gables east and west. The court room was on the first floor, and a high railing separated the court and bar from the space without, which was paved with brick. The upstairs was occupied by county officers. A wooden cupola surmounted the east end or front of the building, in which was hung a bell, which is said to be still doing duty upon one of the churches in Prospect. This building was used for school purposes in its earlier history, until school buildings could be provided. It was also frequently used for holding religious services by congregations without a regular house of worship of their own.

On January 6, 1807, the contract for erecting this building was let to Alex- ander Ilill; and the record shows that from February 7, 1807, to September S, 1809, he was paid the sum of $4,793.31, less $325.27 deducted by the referees or arbitrators, to whom the differences between himself and the commissioners were submitted. A number of disbursements were made in 1824 for doors in the jail and court-house, glazing windows and placing extra irons in and around the jail These items of expenditure would lead to the belief that the prisoners delighted in picking the prison to pieces, and that plaintiffs, defendants, witnesses and jurors devoted much time to whittling doors, sash and benches.

This building answered the purposes of the county until 1851, when the question of erecting new public buildings at Butler was presented to the county. The proposition met with some opposition on the part of the tax payers. On Jan- uary 26, 1852, the opponents of the scheme met at the Associate Reformed church. near West Sunbury, elected John Murrin president ; Thomas C. Thompson, Capt. James Stewart, Robert McCandless, John Pryor, William Carothers. Alexander Gal- lagher, vice-presidents; and George Boyd, J. W. Christy, S. S. Mehard, Allen Wilson and Patrick McBride, secretaries. A series of resolutions were adopted, the gist of which was, that were new buildings to be erected, the center of the county should be selected, and that the commissioners should be empowered to purchase a tract of land in such central position, and plat the area, not required for public purposes, into lots. The friends of this proposition saw in it an easy

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

method of obtaining new buildings without increasing taxation ; but they did not consider the vested interests of the people of Butler.

On February 19, 1852, an anti-removal meeting was held at Butler, presided over by John White, of Franklin township, at which the removal of the county seat was seriously considered. Township committees were appointed to obtain signatures to a petition, which was to be presented to the legislature on the sub- ject. The men appointed for this purpose were Daniel Shanor and John Negley, South Butler ; William Jack and Robert McKee, North Butler; Matthew Greer and Patrick Kelly, Buffalo : Doctor Lusk and John Levis, West Connoquenessing ; Robert Graham and J. B. Anderson, East Connoquenessing : John Irvine, Jr., and Thomas W. Boggs, Cranberry ; John Gallagher and Joseph Henry, Clearfield ; George Boyd and Sylvanus Aggas, Centre : Washington Bovard and Charles Stewart, Cherry ; Elisha Wick and John O'Donnell, Donegal; John White and Jacob Phipps, Franklin ; John Scott and John S. White, Fair- view ; John Riddle and Robert Thompson, Muddy Creek ; James Carr and Will- iam Gilmore, Mercer ; W. C. Wallace and George Cooper. Middlesex ; J. P. Wick and Archibald Kelly, Parker; Samuel Kelly and Jesse Kiester, Slippery Rock ; John Pollock and Henry Kohlmyer, Venango ; Robert Campbell and James Stew- art. Washington: E. Maurhoff and T. II. Tolly, Saxonburg.

The petition duly signed by numerous citizens of the county, was presented to the legislature. It seems to have had its intended effect on that body, which in May following passed a bill authorizing the commissioners of Butler county to borrow $20,000 at six per cent for a period of twenty year- ( the lenders not to be subject to taxation for that sum). to be expended in the erection of public build- ings. This action of the legislature put a quietus on the county seat removal project, and insured the erection of a new court-house at Butler.

Immediately after the passage of this bill by the legislature and its approval by the Governor, the board of commissioners, consisting of Thomas Welsh, James Mitchell and Thomas Kelly, took steps to secure the early erection of the pro- posed building. In order to inform themselves as to the character of the building best adapted to the needs of the county, they first consulted with Architect Barr, and afterwards, in their official capacity. spent twelve days visiting the county seats of Lawrence, Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Blair, and Indiana counties, and examining their public buildings. The result of this trip was that they decided to build a more imposing and costly edifice than was at first contemplated, a measure which met with much opposition and more grumbling on the part. of those who had favored the county seat removal scheme, and who thought a cheaper building would answer just as well. Nevertheless, on July 16, 1852, bids having been previously invited, the contract for the new building was awarded to William Bell for $37,000. This amount was increased by extras to $40,000 After its completion the new court-house was regarded as one of the largest and best public buildings in Western Pennsylvania, and became and remained the pride of the county for more than a third of a century.

"It was built," says a recent writer in the Butler Eagle, "of excellent material-, native sand-stone and brick. the stone-work being cut in a substantial manner, and of a style of architecture which possessed great dignity and beauty.

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The Goddess of Liberty, with the scales so delicately balanced in her right hand and the sword of Justice in the other, so ingeniously carved on the front gable, was suggestive, and the statue of Gen. Richard Butler, who fell at St. Clair's defeat, in 1791, and after whom the town and county were named, was admired by all who viewed the structure. So much was this statue prized that when it became necessary to remodel the building somewhat it was carefully lowered, and finally placed on the comb of the roof in front of the improved court-house of 1877. This improvement was made in the fall of 1577, under the supervision of the then board of commissioners, J. C. Donaldson, Robert Barron and W. A. Christie. The improvement cost about $10,000. It consisted of a new roof and a change in the shape of the ceiling, re-plastering, frescoing and a modification of the cupola, with the addition of a clock. It was much improved in appearance, but was still not large enough for present uses. Malcolm Graham. then of Butler, had the contract. With the purchase of additional building> for some of the offices it would have answered the needs of the county for perhaps fifty years. This idea would have been probably carried out had the building not been des- troyed by fire, December 11, 1883.'

Continuing, the same writer says : " Immediately after the fire, the com- missioners, George W. Hays, of Middlesex township: Charles Cochran, of Con- cord township, and James Collins, of Fairview township, set about to get tem- porary quarters for the court and county officers. The basement of the Methodist Episcopal church was secured for the holding of court, and it was so used for the balance of the December term of quarter sessions, which was in session at the time of the fire. The county officers established offices in different parts of town for the time being, or until the commissioners could provide places for them. After some discussion and examination the English Lutheran church building- formerly Witherspoon Institute-was leased for a term of two years, and was occupied by the court and county officers.

" The first legal step taken toward the erection of a new building was in March, 1884. During the session of the regular term of court the commissioners presented a paper to the court, announcing the destruction of the court-house by fire, accompanied with a statemert of the financial condition of the county. The court-Judge Bredin-submitted the question to the grand jury-James D. Anderson, of Penn township, foreman-for their action, amplifying his remarks on the subject by suggesting the wisdom of erecting a commodious and substan- tial building. The grand jury made report, advising the county commissioners to proceed with the re-building of the court-house with whatever enlargements might be found necessary for the accommodation of the public business, and recommending that they avail themselves of the services of experienced architects. The jury expressed the belief in their presentment that such a building could be erected at a cost of $85,000. Thus matters stood until the convening of the June court, when the question was again submitted to the grand jury by the court- Judge McJunkin presiding-accompanied by remarks discouraging the proposi- tion to erect an expensive building. This grand jury-N. M. Slater, of Butler. foreman-reported in favor of a new building, but placed the probable cost at $50,000. Nothing further was done until the September court, some question

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PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

having been raised in the meantime as to the regularity of the drawing of the juries for the March and June sessions. It was again referred to the grand jury, of which Henry Buhl, of Forward township, was foreman. This jury said : 'We recommend that it be built of such material, stone or brick, as the commissioners of the county, after diligent search, and inquiry of good mechanics and master workmen, think best. And further, we recommend that the commissioners use all the economy possible in the construction of a durable and sufficient building.' In the meantime James P'. Bailey, of Pittsburg, had been selected as archi- tect, and the general plan of the building agreed upon. Three months were occupied in preparing the plans and specifications.

"Sealed bids were invited by publication for the erection of the building, which were opened by S. T. Marshall, clerk of the commissioners, on the 13th day of September, 1884, in the court room, and in the presence of the judges of the court and a goodly number of citizens. Jacob Ziegler, of the Herald, read the bids in stentorian tones, and they were transcribed on the commissioners' minute book by clerk of courts, W. B. Dodds. The bids were as follows :

Graham & Nicholdson, Fairview $ 182,000

Orr & Williamson

161,500

Robert McCann, Allegheny

156,082

T. T. Sunderland, Philadelphia

153,334

J. R. Cochran, Allegheny .

149,000

J. P. & R. H. Knox, Allegheny .

189,974

Henry Schenck

139,800

Mc Williams & Beatty, Allegheny.

139,590

Frazier Bros., Allegheny

136,300

P. H. Melvin, Clarion

129,899

W. A. Davis & Company.

125,685

Simeon Harold

124.753

P. B. Carpenter, Conneautville .

122,000

William Feigle, Butler.

119,900

R. B. Taylor, Reynoldsville

117,700

"Matters remained in statu quo for some time after the bids were opened, the commissioners deeming it proper to leave the matter open for discussion. They finally awarded the contract to R. B. Taylor, the lowest bidder, and notified him of the fact, and invited him to enter into a contract. His bid of $117,700 included all the work, except that of frescoing, heating apparatus and the furni. ture for the bench and bar. Nothing was done by the commissioners until the meeting of the December court, when a bill in equity was filed-being George Walter, H. J. Klingler, Adam Troutman, John Berg, Jr., Chas. Duffy and Ferd Reiber, plaintiffs, versus George W. Hays, Charles Cochran and James Col- lins, commissioners of Butler county, defendants. This bill charged that the plan of the court-house, especially the tower, was weak, and would be unsafe, if erected ; that the building was too expensive, and prayed the court to restrain the commissioners from entering into a contract with Taylor for the erection of the same. The court-Judge Me Junkin presiding-granted the preliminary 8

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 13

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown Number of Pages: 1658

Author: Brown, Robert C., ed; Leeson, M. A. (Michael A.); Meagher, John, jt. comp; Meginness, John Franklin, 1827-1899, jt. comp
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago : R. C. Brown
Number of Pages: 1658