History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 33

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

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"Know ye not that there is a Prince and a great man fallen in Israel?" The chosen head of this mighty Nation: the beloved of the people: the hope of the poor and down-trodden; the friend of mankind; the devoted lover of his country, has fallen, stricken down by the hand of an assassin. In the middle of his life and usefulness, while bending all his energies " to gather again into one " the broken fragments of our divided and hostile section: when he hoped very soon to see our distracted and desolated people folding up their banners of war, sheathing the sword of slaughter, and again embracing each other as brothers of a common country, his life is suddenly taken, sac- rificed for his stern unbending fidelity to his duty as the preserver of the Nation's life.

Among the resolutions adopted, expressive of general sorrow was the fol- lowing :

Resolved, That President Lincoln, by his strict adherence to his conceptions of right: his straightforward honesty of purpose; his kindness of heart; his tender and for- giving disposition, shown by his advocacy of all conciliatory and merciful measures

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

toward those who, without cause, rebelled against the mildest and most beneficent gov- ernment. as administered by the mildest and most beneficent rulers, has justly endeared himself, not only to the people of this land, but to the virtuous and enlightened, as well as the oppressed of all elimes; and his name shall live throughout all ages among the highest on the seroll of martyrs in the cause of human freedom. Millions yet unborn will do homage to his memory.

SOLDIERS' MONUMENTS.

Soon after the close of the war and the return to their homes and to the pur- suits of peace of the war-worn defenders of the Union, a monument to the mem- ory of those of their comrades who had fallen in battle, or died in hospitals or in the prisons of the South, was suggested. For lack, however, of organized effort. the matter failed to take a practical form, notwithstanding repeated efforts on the part of patriotic citizens, until September 15, 1892, when at a meeting of sol- diers and citizens, previously called by Col. John M. Sullivan, a board of direc- tors was appointed and steps taken to secure the success of the long-delayed undertaking. In order to give this board the proper authority, it was duly incor- porated as the Butler County Monument Association, and a board of directors elected of which G. D. Swain, of Harmony, was made chairman ; I. J. McCan- dless, secretary, and Charles Duffy, treasurer. This board named committees in every voting district in the county, and the work of securing the funds needed was earnestly carried forward. Reports made to a meeting held in Decentber, 1893, showed that collections had so far advanced that it was deemed safe to advertise for bids and the presentation of designs. This was accordingly done. AAfter the design had been agreed upon, the contract for the erection of the mon- ument was let to Campbell & Harrigan, of Pittsburg, for $3,500. The monu- ment was completed, placed and ready for the dedication by July 4, 1591. The dedicatory ceremonies, which took place on that day, were appropriate and impressive, and were participated in by old soldiers and citizens from all parts of the county. An address, turning over the monument to the old soldiers and to the people of the county, was delivered by G. D. Swain, of Harmony, president of the Butler County Soldiers' Monument Association. The address accepting the monument was delivered by Capt. George W. Fleeger. In the course of his address, Mr. Swain said :

Let me say that in raising this shaft we awaken a deeper interest in the minds of the young of this county in their country's welfare and its free institutions, and as they pass under the shadow of the monument they will be strengthened in their respeet and devotion for the flag and all that it represents, and as they grow to manhood and womanhood they will uphold its principle, perpetuate its glory and hand it down to future generations more bright and more glorious as the centuries grow old. " * * When this generation shall have passed away, and the children of another generation shall ask their parents what means this monument? then will they relate to them the heroic valor, the untold suffering and the true devotion of those which this monument represents. They will also tell them of the bitter anguish, the fervent prayers, the scalding tears of wives and mothers, all endured that the government might live. To the mothers who are present to-day I would say: As you gather your little ones around you and teach them to lisp their infant prayers, as they kneel at your side teach them, too, that next to their religion and their God, they should love their country and the stars

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and stripes, the emblem of our liberties, and as they grow into the love of the God of the universe, so they will also honor the land of their birth and the flag of their country.

In his address accepting the monument, Captain Fleeger said :

This monument which we to-day dedieate is to the memory of all who gave up their lives for our country during the war; it matters not whether they served in a Butler county organization or in an organization outside the county, whether they fell amid the smoke and storm of battle, or whether with fevered brow and parched tongue they gave up their lives in the hospital; this monument is for them, for all who died for our country.

Money spent in memorials to valor or devotion to duty and country is not spent in vain. There is something in such a monument that touches the heart, that awakens and 'stirs all the nobler and better qualities of our nature. What teachers of patriotism such monuments are! Who ean look upon them with indifference? Who can estimate what Bunker Hill monument has been to us as a nation? And what it has been to us as a nation, this monument will be to us as a county-a teacher of patriotism for all the future; there all our patriotic impulses can gather, and around it can cling; and should the hour of danger and trial eome, as eome it may; should our sky darken, as darken it may, then this monument will be more eloquent in its voieeless appeal to patriotism and duty than the words of any orator.

The monument is of Barre granite, twelve feet square at the base and forty- eight and one-half feet high. The shaft is surmounted by an infantry soldier in full dress, standing at ease. On the side of the shaft are emblazoned crossed muskets, sabers, cannon and one anchor representating the four branches of the service, and at the base are the words, " Our Silent Defenders. " It is one of the first objects that attract the attention of the visiting stranger and is worthy of the praise and admiration accorded it as a work of art.

The Soldiers' Monument at Evans City, a beautiful and shapely shaft. was dedicated August 29, 1894. It was erected to the memory of the brave men who went into the service from Jackson, Forward, Connoquenessing, Lancaster, Cran- berry, Adams, Middlesex and Penn townships, who sleep in unknown an l unmarked graves. The project was started by Capt. William Stewart Post. Number 578, of Evans City, in [892, and solicitors appointed to collect funds. Sufficient money was obtained to warrant the appointment of a committee, con- sisting of D. B. Douthett, John Rohner, Dr. William Irvine, Edward Dam- bach, Enos Barkey, Capt. J. P. Boggs, H. C. Boggs and George Marburger, who were authorized to let the contract and superintend the erection of a monument. This committee organized by the election of D. B. Douthett, chairman ; Captain Boggs, secretary, and John Rohner, treasurer. On December 6, 1893, the con- tract for the work was let to J. B. Evans, of Evans City, and cost when com- pleted about $1,400.

The monument stands in the center of a plot donated to Stewart Post, G. A. R., by the Evans City Cemetery Association. It is of Quincy granite, is nine- teen feet and three inches high, and is surmounted by the figure of an cagle standing on a globe. On one side is a wreath and crossed swords, and on the four sides of the die are inscribed the names of the dead whose memory the monument is designed to perpetuate. They number forty-five in all. There is also inscribed on one side in plain and enduring letters these appropriate lines :

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

The muffled drum's sad roll has beat The soldier's last tattoo; No more on life's parade shall meet That brave and fallen few. On fame's eternal camping-ground Their silent tents are spread, But glory guards, with solemn round. The bivouac of the dead. -

CONCLUSION.

The record made by Butler county during the war was one of unfaltering patriotism. The first call for troops. found her people absorbed in the pursuits of peace. Her hills and valleys resounded to the song of the husbandman : her fac- tories and workshops were tilled with busy workmen, and her stores and offices with men devoting their energies to business affairs or to professional duties. All, whether laboring with head or hand, were doing their share toward devel- oping her great natural resources and keeping her abreast of the procession of progress. The happiness that follows well-rewarded and prosperous industry reigned in her homes, which were the abodes of content, comfort and culture. The only reminders of wars that had passed. were a few venerable men who had served in the War of 1812, and a few middle-aged men who had served in the Mexican War. The only suggestions of the possibility of wars to come were a few companies of militia, organized to keep alive the military spirit, and to parade on holiday occasions. Few dreamed of the possibility of their ever being called upon for more serious service.

The startling news that Sumter had been fired upon and had fallen, changed all this, and brought the people of the North face to face with the realities of war. The call to arms resounded in every part of the land. Fathers, hus- bands, sons, brother- and lovers, made prompt and patriotic response, and, leav- ing home and kindred behind, marched to the front to do battle for their country's flag and win for themselves imperishable fame on many a hard-fought field. The battles came quick and fast, victories and reverses following each other in rapid succession. There was mourning for fathers, husbands, sons, brothers and lovers slain. There was scarce a family circle in the North from which a loved one was not missing. Every battle also added to the number of maimed and crippled heroes. The crutch and the armless sleeve became familiar sight -. Each wasa sad reminder of the fearful price that was being paid to preserve the Union. Others, wasted by disease or weakened by starvation in southern prisons, came back with pallid features. hollow cheeks and sunken eyes to linger awhile and die. When the last battle had been fought, the last shot had been fired and the last grand review had been held. the bronzed and battle- tired veterans, who had saved the Union from disruption, returned amid patri- otic rejoicing to reste again the duties of citizenship and the pursuits of peace.

But the sacrifices were not all on the side of the men who dared and died for the flag. Their mothers and wives, daughters, sisters and sweethearts exhibited a devoted, unselfish and unfaltering patriotism. They endured with fortitude tearful parting> from loved ones ; mourned for those who fell, glorying

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THE BUTLER OIL FIELD.

in their valor and their bravery ; encouraged those in camp and field by messages breathing love and patriotism ; sewed for the sick and wounded, and tenderly nursed them back to life and health ; looked after the widows and orphans, and in more ways than can be enumerated exhibited a patience, fortitude and patriot- ism such as entitles them to share in the honor, the fame and the glory won in the field by Butler county's valorous sons.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE BUTLER OIL FIELD.

DISCOVERY AND EARLY USES OF PETROLEUM-ANCIENT OIL VATS-FIRST SHIPMENT OF CRUDE OIL-DISTILLED PETROLEUM-COAL OIL, LAMP INVENTED-AN EXCA- VATED WELL-FIRST DRILLED WELL-FIRST PRODUCING WELL -- BUTLER OIL, COM- PANY ORGANIZED-EARLY WELLS IN BUTLER COUNTY-FORM OF OIL LEASES- EARLY CONSIGNMENT OF OIL TO EUROPE- BEGINNING OF OIL PRODUCTION IN BUT- LER COUNTY-RAPID DEVELOPMENT -- DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOURTH SAND-PHENOMENAL WELLS-PHILLIPS AND ARMSTRONG GUSHERS-ARMSTRONG NUMBER TWO DESCRIBED --- STATISTICS OF ONI. PRODUCTION-AVERAGE PRICE OF PIPE LINE CERTIFICATES-PIPE LINE COMPANIES-HOW FORTUNES WERE MISSED -THE PUMPER AND HIS SIGNALS-TORPEDO INVENTED-OIL POOLING -- COST OF DRILLING WELLS-MYSTERIES AND SURPRISES-DISCREDITED PROPHETS.

T HE discovery of petroleum within the present boundaries of the United States, dates back to 1627 or 1629, when the Franciscan, Pere Joseph de la Roche D'Allion, described la fontaine de bitume, at Cuba, in Allegheny county, New York. Almost a century later, Charlevoix wrote an account of an oil spring in the Allegheny valley, from particulars received of Captain Joncaire : while during the advance of Brodhead's division of General Sullivan's army against the Senecas in 1779, signs of oil were reported in many localities, as stated in Moore's diary of the Revolution. Nor were notices of the existence of oil wanting between the discovery of the Franciscan, and that of the soldier; for, in 1691. Eele Hancock and Portloch made "oyle " out of peculiar rock and obtained patents for their methods; while Lewis, in his Materia Medica, of 1761. states that oils were distilled from bituminous shale for medical purposes.

The existence of oil in the Butler-Armstrong-Venango field is first officially noticed by the French officer, Contrecoeur, in despatches to Montcalm, about the year 1750. Let his reference thereto form the introduction to the story of the development of the Butler field :

I would desire to assure you that this is a most delightful land. Some of the most astonishing natural wonders have been discovered by our people. While descending the Allegheny, fifteen leagues below the mouth of the Conewango and three above the

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

Venango (French creek) we were invited by the chief of the Senecas to attend a religious ceremony of his tribe. We landed, and drew up our canoes on a point where a small stream entered the river. The tribe appeared unusually solemn. We marched up the stream about a half league, where the company, a band it appeared, had arrived some days before us. Gigantic hills begirt us on every side. The scene was really sub- lime. The great chief then recited the conquests and heroism of their ancestors. The surface of the stream was covered with a thick scum, which, upon applying a torch at a given signal, burst into a complete conflagration. At the site of the flames. the Indians gave forth a triumphant shout that made the hills and valleys re-echo again. Here, then, is revived the ancient fire-worship of the East; here then, are the Children of the Sun.

On the west side of Oil creek, near Titusville, are many reminders of ancient oil operators. Hundreds of pits have been found there in the flats within an area of 500 acres One would think at first sight, that the place was once a great tan-yard. the vats being about seven feet long by six deep, and four in width, the clay excavated. making a mound near each. The pits were clay bottomed. and were walled with logs, halved and closely fitted. Modern explorers learned that when these catch-basins were cleared of the debris which filled them, water entered, and on top of the water gathered a thin coat of oil. Who the operators were has not been ascertained. They were there beyond Cornplanter's knowl- edge of the location; Frazier never mentioned them, though he lived on the site of Franklin, and the French officers, in their reports, so far as searched, do not refer to them.

In the American Universal Geography, published at Charlestown, Massa- chusetts, in 1789, by Jedediah Morse, there is a description of Oil creek given and reference made to the oil found there in the following words :-

Oil creek. in Allegheny county. 100 miles above Pittsburg, issues from a remark- able spring, which boils like the waters of Hell Gate near New York. On the top of the water floats an oil similar to that called Barbadoes tar. Several gallons may be gathered in a day. It is found very serviceable in rheumatism, in restoring weakness in the stomach, and in curing bruises and sore breast». When drank, the water of the spring operates as a gentle cathartic. . It is gathered by the country people and Indians, boiled, and brought to market in bottles, and is deemed a most valuable family medicine.

In 1806, Nat. Carey found oil on Oil creek, on which he bestowed the title- .. Seneca Oil," and sold it on the reputation given to it by Red Jacket, a Seneca chief. Subsequently. General Hays, of Franklin, shipped three barrels of this oil, by wagon, to Baltimore ; but the consignment was so odd, the ignorant mer- chant had the oil emptied into the Chesapeake.

From 1810 to 1817, Hecker & Mitis, of Truscovitch, Austria, distilled petro- leum, and as late a- 1838, the oils of Starunia were claimed by the government as mineral products. In 1853 one Schrenier used it first for illuminating purposes, but Toch, the Austrian, who built the refinery at Tarentum for Peterson & Dale. was the first to teach the Austrians the method of refining. The offer of S. Kier of $1,000 for the discovery of a lamp which would burn the obnoxious oil and the enterprise of Nevin and Mckeown, in 1857. had much to do in making it an article of commerce ; for ultimately, the oil from the Irvin & Peterson well was successfully used as an illuminator. In 1858, the J. M. Williams well in Canada was excavated. by pick and shovel, to oil sand, and, the same year. T. W. Nevin

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THE BUTLER OIL FIELD.

& Company drilled 400 feet at Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Their failure kept the honor of being the pioneer producer for Colonel Drake, who in 1859 drilled the first well on Oil creek, in Venango county. Williams was the first man on this continent within the historic period to dig down to the petroleum, T. W. Nevins was the first to drill expressely for it, and Colonel Drake the first to drill for it with success. John Smith, who assisted his brother in drilling the Drake well on Oil creek, resides in Winfield township, Butler county, and has in his possession the temper screw used on that occasion.

The success of the Drake well and the extraordinary activity in the neigh- boring county of Venango, bred up a spirit of enterprise here ; for if there were oil fountains in Venango, why not in Butler? On February 11. 1860, the Butler Oil Company was organized to drill for oil in the vicinity of Butler. The mem- bers of this organization, as well as the veteran editor of the Herald. kept the project very quiet, for they did not wish to sink their money in anything uncer- tain or to bring upon themselves the ridicule which would certainly follow their discovery of a dry hole. The oil spirit was not, however, confined to them. Every day an alarm of Butler oil was carried to the county seat and each gained some credence, until John O. Jack announced that there was oil on his farm in Centre township. That settled matters, so that no one cared to carry news of local discoveries to Butler, until August, 1860, when John Gallagher informed his friends that there was oil on his Clearfield township farm. His seriousness won some respect, as did the report of September 7 that oil was discovered on the Archi- bald Mc Millen land, four miles southwest of Portersville, at a depth of eight feet below the creek level. By that time the developments on Oil creek had won the attention of the world, and Butler men had determined to pry into the sandsand rocks far beneath their town.

On January 19, 1861. a meeting was held at Zimmerman's hotel. Butler, to organize a company to develop the oil sand in the Butler neighborhood, William Campbell presided, and J. G. Muntz acted as secretary. A committee to draft articles of association and one to select and secure the site for beginning work, were appointed. John II. Negley, E. MeJunkin, R. C. McAboy, Capt. Jacob Walter and John Berg were members of the first, and Christian Otto, John C. Coll and Patton Kearns of the second. On February 5, 1861, operations were begun on a lot near the brewery, southwest of the borough, by the Butler Pioneer Oil Company, and a depth of >00 feet reached without striking oil.

The following lease. one of the very first in this county, was made on that occasion :

Articles of agreement made thiis 25th day of January, A. D., 1861, between John Negley of the first part and Christian Otto, W. S. Boyd, Jacob Walter, E. McJunkin and J. G. Muntz. acting for and as board of managers of the Butler Pioneer Oil Company, as party of the second part. Said party of the first part agrees to let and lease to said party of the second part as aforesaid, a lot of ground partly in the borough of Butler and partly in Butler township, Butler county, Pennsylvania, and adjoining property of Walter & Grohman on the south, the Connoquenessing creek on the west, other property of said Negley on the north and Water street on the east, running on and along said Water street fifty feet and thence west in a parallel line with said Walter & Grohman's lot to the Connoquenessing creek, said lease to be for the period of two years if neces-

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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

sary to said company, for the purpose of boring for oil, salt, etc., and in event of said , company being successful in their enterprise and experiment, to sell and deed said lot to them on their securing to him, the said Negley, his heirs or assigns, at least two shares of the stock of said company, free of all cost or charge-and, in case said company are unsuccessful, then said lot to revert and this lease to expire and be of no effect and the said parties of the second part to have the privilege of removing their fixtures, etc., as witness our hands and seals date above written.

John Negley, C. Otto, J. G. Muntz, W. S. Boyd, Jacob Walter and E. McJunkin.

The Enterprise Oil Company was organized in 1862 at Prospect, with Rev. A. H. Waters president, and A. W. McCollough secretary ; the unofficial stock- holders being J. K. Kennedy, John W. Forrester, D. C. Roth, G. B. Warren and Mrs. Ann Bredin, all of the Prospect neighborhood, with E. Me Junkin, Jacob Ziegler and James T. Mc Junkin, of Butler. This company drilled three wells at Harris' ford, on Slippery Rock creek, one of which had a good showing of heavy oil, but as they were drilled " wet." they failed to pan out and were abandoned.

In 1863, 11. Julius Klingler and John Berg shipped 1,000 barrels of crude oil to Pittsburg, thence to Piladelphia by rail and by clipper to Liverpool. This was one of the first shipments of American petroleum to Europe. The consign- ment was made to Boult, English & Brandon, of Liverpool, who bought the oil by the ton.

The first oil well remembered by George H. Graham, in the upper field, was that drilled on the Joseph Meals farm in Washington township, now the Dr. Hoover farm. It was drilled by hand to a depth of about 300 feet. when a flow of artesian water was encountered, which put a stop to further operations. Within seventy-five feet of the old well is a producer, drilled about 1859 for Dr. Hoover, of Butler, and not far away are the new wells of 1893-91 on the Shira, Clark, Bell, Miller and other farms.

The pioneer oil well in the Millerstown field was "put down" in 1561. by a number of residents, to a depth of 250 feet ; but like the Butler companies, they were from 900 to 1100 feet short in their calculations and of course missed the object.

Under date, November 30, 1864, The American Citizen referred to the But- ler oil field for the first time. The editor was pleased to learn that the oil busi- ness, which languished for a while, was revived. While not at liberty to men- tion names, he was assured that many of the pioneer oil operators of Butler " were in a fair way to get back the large sums expended in experimenting in this risky business."

The oil discoveries on Slippery Rock creek in January, 1865, where Dr. Egbert, the oil operator of Franklin, leased thousands of acres, caused immense excitement. On February 2, the well on the Butler county line, near Harlans- burg, was completed, and yielded a barrel of oil every thirty minutes. This led men to think that in Butler county the greatest oil field in the country was yet to be developed, and dreams of wealth, railroads and pipe lines took possession of the people. In March, the Campbell well on Slippery Rock creek was a sort of mystery, some claiming it to be a 100 barrel producer, others a 200 barrel well. This was known for a while as the . Smith and Collins well." A heavy pro-

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 33

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