USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 26
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In November, 1879, W. P. Smith, of Centre township, was elected president ; E. A. Helmbold, Samuel Bolton and G. J. Cross, vice-presidents ; W. P. Roessing, secretary, and John S. Campbell, treasurer. The success of the fall fair and the election of a farmer as president, abolished the original idea, and, in May. Isso, the association was re-organized.
The Butler Agricultural Association adopted a constitution in May, I>>0, but there is no minute of the election of officers. The fact that W. P. Smith was president, Joseph L. Purvis vice-president, and John S. Campbell, W. H. II. Riddle, J. II. Tebay and W. P. Roessing directors, shows that changes were made in the board of the old association. In September, Joseph L. Purvis was elected superintendent of grounds, and in October, J. D. Anderson and R. I). Stevenson are named among the directors. In December, President Smith was re- elected, with W. P. Roessing, secretary ; John S. Campbell, treasurer; and W. H. H. Riddle and Alexander Hunter, vice-presidents. In December, 1882. W. M. Brown was elected to succeed Alexander Ilunter, while the other officers were re-elected. A. D. Weir replaced Brown in December, 1883, this being the only change in officers.
The election of December, 1884, resulted in the choice of George W. Camp- bell, vice-president, and W. H. II. Riddle, secretary, the other officers being re-elected, and again elected in December, 1885. In 1886 the 'administration of
Marten Reiber
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AGRICULTURE.
affairs was so satisfactory that the oll board and officers were continued. In 1887 Alexander Hunter took A. D. Weir's place as vice-president, George W. Camp- bell being re-elected ; but Mr. Weir was elected to Hunter's place in 1888. In December, 1889, W. P. Smith was elected president ; George W. Campbell and A. D. Weir, vice-presidents ; Joseph L. Purvis, superintendent ; W. P. Roessing, secretary, and John S. Campbell, treasurer. The lease of five acres from Charles Duffy and seven acres from Il. C. Heineman was reported. The lease of five acres from the Thomas Stehle heirs, with the other leases, form the present grounds. The officers named were re-elected in 1890; but in December, 1891, W. H. H. Riddle was chosen president : George W. Campbell and A. D. Weir, vice-presi- dent -; W. A. Clark, Joseph L. Purvis, R. D. Stevenson, D. H. Sutton, J. M. Lieghner, J. Il. Troutman and W. P. Roessing, directors; John S. Campbell. treasurer, and Ira Mc Junkin, secretary. These officers were re-elected in 1892, and again in 1893.
The total amount of premiums paid out in 1880, was $945.70; in 1881, $1, 128.57 ; in 1882, $1,182.06; in 1888. $1.600.50; in 1884, $1,478.87; in 1885, $2,552.89; in 1886, $2.205.67: in 1887. $2,294.32; in 1888, $2,581.29; in 1889, $2,506.22 ; in 1890, $2,211.70. The total fair receipts from 1880 to 1890, inclusive, amounted to $46,548.59, and expenditures to $46, 160.50. The premiums paid in 1891 amounted to $4, 143; in 1892, $3,852, and in November, 1893, there were about $3.700 paid in premiums and a further sum of $2,900 expended in improve- ments.
The officers of 1893 were re-elected for 1894, except Mr. Roessing, whose place was taken by John S. Campbell. The directors are Robert Stevenson. J. S. Campbell. D. H. Sutton, J. H. Troutman, J. L. Purvis. J. M. Lieghner and W. A. Clark ; and the officers of the board, president, W. Il. H. Riddle ; vice-presi- dents, A. D. Weir and George W. Campbell; treasurer. John S. Campbell : super- intendent. J. L. Purvis, and secretary, W. P. Roessing, vice Ira Mc Junkin, whose duties as district attorney made it necessary for him to resign the secretary- ship. The last fair was held in September, 1894, and was fairly successful, though it was handicapped by the general business depression and the remarkable drought which prevailed in western Pennsylvania for several months prior to its open- ing day.
Millerstown Fair Association, organized February 29, 1884, was chartered a> " The Millerstown Driving Park and Agricultural Association, Limited," April 7, 1884, with seventy-four members, and a capital stock of $5.000, divided into 500 shares. The permanent organization was effected March 11, 1884, with S. D. Bell, president: Henry Moorhead and W. A. Dennison, vice-presidents; H. J. Myers, acting secretary ; P. A. Bell, permanent secretary ; H. J. Hoyt, treasurer ; C. II. Johnson, J. C. Nevills, Dr. Foster, Owen Brady, J. J. Wester- mann, R. K. Sutton, S. F. Showalter, H. C. Litinger and W. P. Turner. The grounds, fourteen acres, were purchased from Owen Brady and Fetzer & Myers, at forty dollars an acre. The tract was improved at once, and a fair held that fall. The last fair was held in 1890, and the last races in 1891. Dr. Bell pre- sided in 1885, W. P. Turner in 1886, C. Il. Johnson in 1887, and as chairman in 1888, of the reorganized fair association, over which C. F. Pierce presided in 14
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
1889, and J. J. Westermann, from 1890 to 1894. P. A. Bell was secretary in 1885 and 1886, but J. C. Gaisford has filled that position from 1887 to the present day. There are now twenty-four stockholders.
The Farmers' Alliance is a modern association, partaking somewhat of the charge of the Patrons of Husbandry. Its branches are found in a few townships already and organizers are engaged in the work of propagating its principles and establishing new alliances.
FARM STATISTICS.
In 1840 there were in Butler county 7.962 horses and mules ; 26,051 neat cattle ; 51,191 sheep : 40,145 hogs, and poultry valued at $22,759. Of farm pro- ducts there were produced 254,914 bushels of wheat : 2.742 of rye : 629,179 of oats; 91,261 of buckwheat : 125,097 of corn : 286,15s of potatoes ; 22,990 tons of hay : 3.831 pounds of sugar; 76.267 pounds of wool : 2,199 pounds of hops ; 1,10 pounds of wax ; while orchard products were valued at $23.114, and daity products at $76,492.
The statistics of 1870 show 273,128 acres of improved land ; farms valued at $18,230.848 ; productions, betterments and additions to stock, at $3. 125,482 ; value of live stock, $2,467,001; number of horses, 11.521 : 16.078 milch cows ; 262 work- ing oxen; 67,831 sheep, and 23,775 swine. There were 703 bushels of spring wheat : 293,761 of winter wheat; 179,577 of rye; 453,894 of Indian corn ; oats, 1,099,163; barley, 4,637: buckwheat, 113,994, and potatoes, 187,984 bushels. The number of pounds of wool produced were 225,220; of butter 1,447,093, and of cheese, 2,695 pounds.
The statistics for 1880 credit the county with 341.459 acres of improved land, divided into 5,384 farms, valued, with improvements, at $20.644,143. Farm im- plements and machinery were valued at $784,767: live stock at $1,893,307, and farm products at $2.244,838. The estimated cost of fences, built or repaired, was $146,245, and of fertilizers, $9.700. There were produced 192.843 bushels of wheat, 1,095,612 of oats, 773,333 of corn, 150.50- of buckwheat, 612 of barley, 117,627 of rye. 473,513 of potatoes and 223 of sweet potatoes : with 229 pounds of hops, 4,224 pounds of tobacco and 49,623 tons of hay. There were 12,841 horses, 210 mules and asses, seventy-five working oxen, 19,3>> milch cows, 21,038 head of other cattle, 56,669 sheep and 33.123 hogs. The wool produced amounted to 240,897 pounds; of butter, 1.929,790, and of cheese, 1,143 pounds, while the yield of milk was 72,339 gallons.
In 1893, there were 5.354 farms in Butler county,-a smaller number than in 1880. . The owners leased their lands to oil operators and betook themselves to the boroughs. The estimate of population, at the close of 1893, does not, appreciably, change the figures of 1-90, but the movement toward the county seat. has been carried on on a larger scale than at any period since 1877. The centralizing power of the principal borough is as manifest in the county as that of New York. Chicago and Philadelphia is in the Nation.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
AN ORIGINAL, PETITION TO REGULATE TAVERNS-FIRST TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES-PIO- NEER TEMPERANCE AGITATION-SONS OF TEMPERANCE-GOOD TEMPLARS-THE WOMAN'S CRUSADE-TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS-THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEM- PERANCE UNION-LOCAL UNIONS-YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION -- WORK ACCOMPLISHED-SECESSION OF 1889-THE WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEM- PERANCE ALLIANCE-NON-PARTISAN UNION-REVIEW OF TEMPERANCE AGITATION.
T HE first movement in Butler county for the regulation of the liquor traffic took place soon after its organization. Among the old documents in the prothonotary's office is an original petition presented to Judge Moore, in Febru- ary, 1804, and endorsed by him : " Continued under advisement to next May sessions. J. Moore." Here is the humble prayer of the petitioners :
To the Honorable Jesse Moore and liis associate judges, now composing a court of general quarter sessions of the peace and common pleas for the County of Butler. The humble petition of us the subscribers, inhabitants of Butler county. Your petitioners conceive it is in the power of the honorable court to set a stipulated price on the provisions for man and horse, and liquors, in the taverns of said county. As they conceive that 25 cents for a meal of victuals and 12 cents for a half pint of whiskey is rather an extortion, as whiskey has been purchased for 40 cents per gallon, pork from 312 to 4 cents per 1b., and flower for two dollars per cwt., and as our county is now organized and will be increas- ing in population we thought it prudent to petition the honorable court to redress the wrongs and advantages we conceive is committed by the tavern keepers in said county. And we, your petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray, &c., &c.
[Signed] Michael Martin, James Leaird, Henry Evans, James Colwell, James McKee, John Mitchell, John Currithers, William Martin, Abner Coats, James Martin, William Pile, James Lloyd, John McLeond, John McDonald, Joseph Evans, John McCandless, John Carson, Henry Montooth, Thomas McGaghy, Joseph Hudson (per order), Matthew Thompson, Joseph Crawford, Charles Maginness, Mordecai McLoud, William McLoud, Colin McDonald, Andrew McGowan, Henry Evans, Robert Kennedy, Henry Kennedy, Martin Kennedy, John Ray, Isaac F. Curry, John Carson, David Moore, Thomas Dickey, W. Evers, John Elliott, Jacob Ross, William Balph, F. McGowan, Wm. McBride, Isaac Evans, James Hughes, John Seali, Johannas Buechile and Peter Buechle.
The beginning of temperence agitation in this county dates back to February 9, 1829, when a county temperance society was organized at Butler with Rev. John Coulter as president. Another was organized the same year at Mt. Nebo, which was presided over by Rev. Reid Bracken, with Robert Walker, secretary, and Matthew McClure treasurer. The committeemen were Alexander Hays, Thomas Cratty, Samnel Riddle and Thomas Bracken, and they with the twenty- four members enrolled on April 28, 1>29, pledged themselves against supporting any man for office who was known to be an habitual drinker of liquor.
An anti-intemperance society was formed in Concord township, August 21,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
1829, with Andrew Christie, president, and John Christie, secretary. The move- ment gained votaries in every township before the close of 1830; while the Theo- bald Mathew idea of temperence, as inculcated in Ireland, spread rapidly through- ont the counties of this Commonwealth.
In 1831-32 William Campbell and Matthew S. Lowrie visited every house in Butler and tendered the pledge, which was generally signed by the women and children. In 1836 another pledge was presented to the people of the borough, at majority of whom signed it. These recurring temperance waves continued throughout many years of hope and disappointment. From 1829 to 1840 tem- perance society succeeded temperance society. Each organization took a share in teaching the wisdom of abstention from strong drink, and each was credited with the accomplishment of much good. The political campaigns of 1840 and 1844 led many to return to the old social ways, and in 1848 the moralists had to resume arms and again attack the evil.
Butler Division, Number 207, Sons of Temperance, was organized in April, 1848, by Robert Carnahan, with the following named officers, in order of rank : William Fowzer, Levi Thorn, Michael Mechling, James Glenn, Philip Bickel, Wilson K. Potts, Samuel Bennett, William II. Johnston, James Campbell, George W. Crozier, P. De P. Taylor and R. J. White. This was followed by the organization of township and borough branches throughout the county, and ultimately by the organization of the youth into temperance companies.
The Boys' Hope Section, Cadets of Temperance, elected officers in April, 1850, as follows : William B. Agnew, W. A .: William Miller, secretary ; M. Rhodes, assistant-secretary ; Joseph Midgely, treasurer, and Curtis Smith, assist- ant-treasurer. The organization died out before the close of the year.
The Independent Order of Good Templars took up the work later and prose- cuted it by secret methods. Several lodges were organized in Butler county and contained a large membership. The Good Templers continued temperance work for many years, and though the society accomplished much good, yet the liquor traffic grew and prospered, from year to year, with little abatement of the evils arising therefrom. Finally many of the earnest women of the county became enlisted in the temperance cause and offered themselves as soldiers of the new crusade, which had its inception at Hillsboro, Ohio, in December, 1873. The "Woman's Crusade" led to the organization of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1874, which spread through Pennsylvania the following year, and six years later invaded Butler county. Since that time the fight against the liquor traffic has been carried on with zeal and unabating vigor.
TEMPERANCE ASSOCIATIONS.
The pioneer branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in Butler county, at Harrisville, was organized July 22, 1880, with eleven members. On November 23, 1881, the Butler County Woman's Christian Temperance Union was organized in the Presbyterian church, of Butler, by Mrs. Frances L. Swift, president, and Mrs. Ellen M. Watson, secretary of the State W. C. T. U., with but seven members. Miss Mary E. Sullivan was elected president and Mrs. Nannie D. Black, secretary, both of Butler ; while a vice-president was named
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THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
for each township in the county. The work of organizing local unions was taken in hand by the pioneer officers of the county union. The local Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Butler borough was organized by Miss Mary E. Sullivan in the United Presbyterian church, February 13, 1882, with fourteen members. Miss Sullivan and Mrs. Black were elected president and secretary of the local union. The women of the county having failed to respond as they should have done to the first call, the county officers, at the close of the first year, requested the state officers to send out a second call for a county W. C. T. U. con- vention, to be held in Butler. In response to this call, about thirty women met in the Presbyterian church, November 6, 18-2, when the state organizer, Miss Narcissa E. White, assisted by Miss Frances L. Swift, re-organized the county auxiliary to the State W. C. T. U. Mrs. Elizabeth R. Dain, of Buffalo town- ship, was elected president, as Miss Mary E. Sullivan declined re-election to that office, but accepted the office of corresponding secretary. Mrs. Nannie D. Black was re-elected recording secretary, Miss Aggie Shaw, of Harrisville, treasurer, and Mrs. A. G. Brown. of Renfrew, vice-president. Butler county was first rep- resented in the State convention held at Oil City, October 11 and 12, 1882, by the following delegates : Mrs. N. A. Bryson and Mrs. Isaiah J. McBride. of the But- ler Union, and Mrs. Chester and Mrs. Webster, of the Harrisville Union.
The work of organizing was continued, and in the course of a few years nearly every part of the county had been reached. Bruin Union was organized in February, 1883, by Miss Narcissa E. White, with nine members. Brownsdale Union was also established by Miss White, March 20, 18 3, with thirty members. Unionville and Myoma Unions were organized in 1883, and Holyoke in 1884. Petrolia Union came into existence in June, 1885, with thirty members, being organized by Mrs. E. R. Dain, and in September following Mrs. Mary W. Douthett organized Connoquenessing Union with five members. In April, 1886, Miss Mary E. Sullivan and Mrs. M. E. Nicholls organized Unions at Millerstown and Karns City : while Mrs. Taggert organized one at Mars in June, 1886. Moni- tean Union was started the same year, also one at Zelienople by Miss Mary E. Sullivan. Fairview Union was organized May 26, 1886, with five members, and that at Eau Claire in May, 1887, by Miss Mary E. Sullivan. Hilliards, Middle- sex and Plains Unions were all organized in the latter year. More than 500 members were enrolled in the Unions of the W. C. T. U. of Butler county in 1887, and a vigorous warfare was waged against the traffic in intoxicants.
The South side branch, at Butler, was organized October 18, 1888, with Mrs. James S. Henry, president : Mrs. J. Il. Negley, vice-president ; Mrs. A. Stewart, corresponding secretary : Mrs. L. 1. Christy, recording secretary : Mrs. D. L. Aiken, treasurer, and Mrs. T. Steen, delegate to county convention.
The Central branch of Butler was organized December 4, ISSS, with Mrs. M. E. Nicholls, president ; Mrs. Lizzie K. Ayres, vice-president ; Mrs. I. J. McBride, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. M. K. Byers, recording secretary, and Mrs. N. D. Fisher, treasurer.
The Young Womens' Christian Temperance Union, an auxiliary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized its first branch in Butler county at Ilarrisville, May 8, 1884, with twelve members. Mrs. Mary B. Reese was
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
the organizer. On March 7, 1885. Mrs. E. R. Dain organized a branch at But- ler containing eighty-two members. The same year a Union was organized at Evans City by Miss Alice Wick, with twenty members ; one at Centreville with forty-two members, and one at Unionville, by Miss Mary E. Sullivan. In 1886 the Concord, Prospect, Bethel, Jacksville, North Hope and Millerstown Unions were organized. The local temperance work was carried on assiduously by these unions in every part of the county, and the object, of those engaged in the agita- tion were partially achieved.
Mrs. M. S. Templeton, a well-known temperance worker of Butler, has furnished us the following account of Union affairs from November, 1887, to November, 1889 :
The sixth annual convention held in Butler, November 2 and 3, 1887, was presided over by Mrs. Frances L. Swift, Mrs. E. R. Dain having died June 11, 1887. Mrs. S. M. McKee, of Butler, was elected president, and Mrs. J. B. Showalter, of Millerstown, corres- pondent, as Miss Mary E. Sullivan declined re-election. Mrs. L. J. MeKinney, of Myo- ma. was chosen recorder, and Mrs. Lizzie K. Ayres, of Harrisville, retained as treasurer. Vacancies in the departments were filled; in all others the superintendents were con- tinued. The following year. another campaign was prosecuted against license with out other result than the accumulation of a debt, the stirring up of local strife and the crippling of the Unions in means and influence. It was then thought better to imitate the course of the Butler Union and relinquish all such attempts for the present.
The Butler County Union, had always, until the last two years, declared itself to be non-partisan, but at the annual convention in November. 1888, a motion to revive such action was defeated, owing to the desire on the part of many in both parties to keep the disturbing question out of the convention, if possible. Mrs. Lucy H. Washington, of Port Jervis, New York, presided at the election of officers, at which time Mrs. J. B. Showalter and Mrs. S. M. McKee changed places, the former becoming president. Mrs. M. J. Earhart was the delegate to the National Convention held at New York, that year.
The vote on the prohibitory amendment was the event of 1889, and the women did all in their power, finding small scope for their efforts, as the campaign fell altogether into the hands of the voters. In several places the Young Women's Unions drilled the Loyal Temperance Legions and marched the children, singing on the streets, and past the polls: while banners and inottoes were placed wherever they were allowed. This agi- tation led to a majority for the amendment in this county.
In 1889, nine delegates were sent to the State Convention in Philadelphia, and Mrs. N. C. Core was the delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, in November. At the State Convention, in October, Mrs. F. L. Swift, Mrs. Ellen M. Watson and Mrs. J. D. Weeks declined re-election, and the State Union by a large majority, passed into the hands of those identified with Miss Willard's policy of endorsing prohibition wherever it might be found. This event and the subsequent adherence of the National Union to its position. induced Mrs. J. Ellen Foster. the leader of the opposition, to withdraw from the convention in Chicago, with thirteen Iowa women.
The convention held November 21, 1889, at Butler, was marked by the secession of thirteen members, who did not agree with the position taken by the National Union. The condition of the Butler County Union, prior to this dis- agreement, is shown by the following figures : Number of Unions, thirty-seven ; paying members, 487 ; moneys raised, $1,607.37, and fourteen Juvenile Unions organized with 604 members. The officers elected at the convention were Mrs. Lillie J. Mckinney, president : Mrs. J. H. Sutton, vice-president : Mrs. S. M.
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THE TEMPERANCE CAUSE.
McKee, correspondent ; Mrs. O. M. Phillips, recorder, and Mrs. A. M. Rice, treasurer.
Mrs. Templeton says that in 1890 the county reported twenty-five Unions, with 135 paying members, and nine juvenile organizations, with 315 members ; while $1.349.83 were raised for temperance purposes, 40,000 pages of literature distributed, and all the freight trains on one line of railroad furnished with read- . ing matter.
In 1891 there were twenty-seven Unions reported, $963.81 raised, 30,000 pages of literature distributed, seventy-three public meetings held and seven dele- gates sent to the State Convention at Bradford ; while the Loyal Temperance Legion contained 569 members. The county convention was held at Mars, and Mrs. M. M. Sutton was chosen president; Mrs. L. W. Zuver, recorder ; Mrs. M. S. Templeton, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. A. M. Rice, treasurer.
In 1892 twenty-five Unions were reported, twenty-three public meetings held. six delegates attended the State Convention at New Castle, and numerous petitions were circulated for the anti-narcotic bill, for the signing of the Brussels treaty, and for the closing of the World's Fair on Sundays.
In 1893 there were twenty-two active Unions in the county, $876.92 raised for the temperance cause, and twenty-nine public meetings held. Petitions were circulated for closing saloons on Memorial Day, for the local option bill, against the repeal of local prohibitory laws, and for the Pennsylvania Sunday law. The president and four delegates attended the State Convention at Lancaster, and Mrs. A. M. Rice was sent as a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago.
The convention of September, 1893, was held in the Reformed church at Springdale, and the following officers elected : Mrs. M. D. Dodds, president ; Mrs. J. W. Orr. vice-president ; Mrs. M. S. Templeton, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. L. C. Wick, recording secretary ; and Mrs. A. M. Rice, treasurer. The presenta- tion of banners to Unions showing a certain increase in membership was one of the interesting features of this convention.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance of Butler county had its inception November 21, 1889, when a declaration of secession and principles was signed by thirteen delegates of the Womans' Christian Temperance Union Con- vention, then in session at Butler, and by six other women. This declaration was read in convention by Mrs. N. C. Core, and, from it, the following leading points are taken : That while the society held a neutral position between Church and State, its members were a unit in opposing intemperance. That for some years, the original, central idea was being undermined by a political idea and that since the convention appears to adhere to views which cannot be otherwise than dam- aging to the best interests of the cause, it is necessary to organize a non-sectarian and non-political association. The document, as read, was signed by Madamns N. C. Core, I. J. McBride, M. K. Byers, M. E. Nicholls, F. Bailey, R. I. Boggs, D. Garrett. K. H. Miller. J. R. Miller, Cynthia Gilmore, L. K. Avres, and Patton Kearns, with the Misses Mary E. Sullivan, Celia Cubbison and Margaret Wick. After the reading Madams J. L. Henry, M. J. Fay, E. S. Barclay and Miss L. E. Young signed the declaration. That evening Mrs. M. E. Nicholls presided over a meeting of twenty-seven non-partisan workers who organized a bureau of
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