USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 38
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175
And whereas, it appears that the lien of said judgments on the said lands may obstruct the further sale of the lots laid out thereon, and prevent the permanent establishment of
* In a description accompanying a historical map of Butler, prepared by James Dunlap several years ago, he says in substance . Cunningham and Lowery conveyed originally 176 acres and 79 perches of land in 1505. Of this land 76 acres and 79 perches were taken off the north end of a tract containing 300 acres warranted in the name of John Tressler, patented to Cunningham, and called . Butler ' Lowery reserved a small strip of land between the creek and lots Numbers 70 to 69. This strip is now a part of the borongh, improved and built on, and lies on both sides of Water street. The trustees having laid out the town of Bintler northward beyond the limits of the deed of Cunningham, on the southern end of a tract containing 300 acres, warranted in the name of Adam Rent hett. and patented to Stephen Lowery, and called ' Warren Point, he conveyed it to the commissioners in trust for the town. February 17, 1810 The ' onarty Reserve Jan on this land The borough was first extended by att of 1869, and lastly by act of 1870 Area, 1,254 acres "
303
BUTLER BOROUGH.
the county town of the county of Butler aforesaid on the said lands [Cunningham's], and thereby greatly lessen the value of a large extent of land belonging to the said John Cunningham adjacent to the said tract of 300 acres whereon the town of Butler is laid out, which adjacent land is equally bound by our judgments, in consideration whereof to increase the value of our security or interest in this land, to encourage purchasers of lots within the said 300 acres and promote the permanence of the county town thereon, we do covenant and agree with the said William Elliott, John McBride and John David, trustees for the county of Butler, and their successors, and with each of the purchasers. their heirs, etc., free and unmolested and unincumbered by any judgment or debt.
The deed was executed in Philadelphia, October 5, 1803, and recorded January 23. 1804, in Butler.
1
The first sale of lots in accordance with the provisions of the act, commenced August 10, 1803-nearly two months before the execution of the deed of release- and was continued on August 11. 12 and 13. 1803, and August 11, 15 and 16. 1804. The terms at the first sale were one-third of the price when the lot was struck off, one-third in nine months, and one-third in nine months from date of second payment.
One hundred and thirty lots sold on the 10th, 11th. 12th, and 13th of August, brought $5,409.50, and of this sum $1,803.16; were paid. On the 14th of August, 1801, sixteen outlots were sold ; on the 15th, fourteen lots, including one lot (No. 150) for cemetery purposes ; and on the 16th. twenty-seven lots, including one ( No. 151) for use as a cemetery. The sales on the 14th. 15th and 16th. realized $1.612.25, and so on to the close. From 1800 to 1828, the sales of original lots by the trustees were slow ; but transfers were numerous on account of the owners becoming discouraged and wishing to depart.
The record of the first sale of lots, printed herewith for the first time, took place at the Cunningham, now the Walter mill, on the Connoquenessing. The names of purchasers, number of lots and auction prices, are given in order to show the beginnings of the settlement of the town of Butler :
NAME. August 10, 1803.
NUMBER TRICE.
NAME NI'MEER. PRICE.
William B. Young
54
$ 61
John Elliott
53
75
Ephraim Harris
3 94
William Evans.
5
James Ritchey
75
Henry H. Haslett. 58
47
Joseph McClurg
50
Maj. William Campbell 57
41
Ebenezer McGuffin
41
Francis Kearns
56
51
Joseph McClurg
()
100
Jacob Haffa and W. B. Young 55
44
John Negley.
11
90
William Ayres. 24
130
Abraham Brinker.
13
126
Jeremiah Murray 23
71
Matthew Thompson 15
85
$2,036.00
James Bovard. 16
102
-August 11, 180.3.
William Elliott, Exq 22
$ 70
William Brown
61
72
Joseph Davis
21
Andrew McCollough ..
62
61
63
78
Alexander Hill. 19
43
2
=104
Samuel Ewalt, EM. 52
81
John Elliott. 60
70
Henry H. Haslett 50
45
14
90
William Kearns
18
72
William Ayre 20
FIRST SALE OF LOTS.
Alexander Hill.
304
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
NAM
NUMBER. PRICE.
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
John McBride .108
$ 76
John Fisher 133
$ 20
Ephraim Harris
25
78
John Musser, Sr. 134
37
William Neyman. 110
70
James McKee. 123
53
George Armstrong, Esq. 27
70
Thomas MeCleary
124
41
James Fryer.
26
66
James Carson.
116
47
David Dougal
109
53
Alexander Hamilton 115
31
Samuel A. Rippey, Esq
128
65
Francis Kearns
122
52
Jolin Negley
111
75
William Kearns 117
63
David Sutton
67
44
Samuel Murphy 88
17
George Brown.
68
38
..
89
19
Alexander Logan, Esq
69
44
90
14
David Sutton, Sr :
49
43
James Moore. 91
11
James Scott, Jr
92
11
Samuel Murphy.
51
26
Robert Lemmon
121
26
Archibald St. Clair
36
28
Robert Scott.
120
25
John Clowes.
37
30
Thomas Humphrey
135
39
Joseph McClelland
112
55
John Elliott. 136
30
William Bradley 113
61
George Scott. 137
26
Francis Boyle
127
42
David Dougal.
98
20
Peter Fryer.
126
45
William Elliott, Sr. 143
3912
James Thompson
125
18
John McCurdy 31
30
David Dick.
114
41
John Cunningham
142
26
Robert Stewart, D. Dougal .. 79
33
..
44
21
John Elliott. .105
30
Jolın Turk 99
24
John Elliott. 106
25
John Elliott 141
35
William Hutchison
28
31
David Scott. 140
26
Samuel Murphy .129
29
William Elliott, Esq 139
27
William Hall 29
20
Francis Kearns 109
3512
James Patterson . 30
24
James Scott, Jr
4.8
2913
William Bradley 107
30
Samuel Scott 47
17
John McBride, Esq 104
36
Jolin Boyd 40
28
John Cunningham 86
22
Joseph Evans 93
2012
John McCleary 102
16
S. Williamson. 45
11
$1,239.00
August 13. 1803.
Robert Irwin. 38
$ 28
George Dougherty 39
43
12
John McGowan 40
11
William McDonald. 41
19
John IIuey
72
26
James Ferguson 42
20
66
70 24
Samuel Dunbar
103
32
James Fryer. 101
24
James Ferguson
74
26
Joshua McElfish. 100
211
William McDonald 97
18
Jolin Carson. 94
14
John Cunninghan
78
22
Abraham Brinker. 95
10 44
John Elliott ..
85
20
Robert Scott. 118
21
130
20
Benjamin Rimbey 81
2115
James Moore. 131
20
James McCurdy 132
23
$297.50
87
24
John Rea (weaver) 66
43
John McGinnis
64
40
John McLure
65
31
Joseph Thorn 35
31
Philip Empy 34
21
$1,837.00
August 12, 18033.
John Fowler, Esq 73
$ 22
Henry Evans, Esq 71 23
James Carson 75
22
William Thompson 77
22
..
.. 50
30
..
21
Sur le Quisticas.
305
BUTLER BOROUGH.
On August 14, 1804, the trustees made the terms of sale more liberal, giving one year for second payment, and two years for third payment. Under this rule fifty-seven lots were sold August 14, 15, and 16, 1804, the total sum realized being $1,612.25.
The record of outlots sold August 14 and 15, 1804, is as follows :
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
George Bowers.
1 $40 00
Joseph Davis
13
$44 00
..
James Thompson. 14 40 00
Abraham Brinker
3 43 00
William B. Young
15 52 00
..
4 42 00
Jolın David.
16
47 00
Robert Campbell.
6 28 50
Alexander Addison
18
41 00
Maj. William Campbell
7 23 50
George Bowers
19
52 00
Samuel A. Rippey
8 65 50
John McLure.
20
31 00
James Thompson
9
32 00
31
22 00
..
10
41 50
William B. Young
32
12 00
Ephraim Harris
11
42 00
John McCandless. 33
43 00
The town lots sold on August 15, are recorded as follows :
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
James Findley No. 144
$21 50
James Brown.
149
$13 00
John McCandless
145
22 00
John Cunningham, A
66
146 22 00
Brinker and others
Valentine Preamer.
147
16 00
for the use of a grave yard. 150
10 00
The outlots sold on August, 16, 1804, were as follows :
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
NAME.
NUMBER.
PRICE.
John McCandless No. 24
$41 00
William Fulyard.
25
$37 00
Joseph Davis
26
56 00
David Dongal.
34
46 00
William Campbell
27 49 50
..
35
24 00
..
28 61 00
29
33 00
James Blashford.
23
15 25
22
20 50
Andrew Allsworth.
30
20 25
Samuel J. Cunningham
21
34 00
The town lots sold on that day were purchased by the following named per- sons :
NAME. NUMBER. PRICE.
NAME.
NUMBER. PRICE.
James Martin.
159
$15 75
John Thompson
160
8 25
Phillip Sutton ..
161
12 00
James Brown.
152
13 25
William Clark.
153 12 50
Samuel J. Cunningham
162
9 00
George Bowers
154 16 00
Ambrose Kennedy . .
164
9 25
Samuel J. Cunningham
155
16 00
Joseph Robbins.
158 5 75
Lawrence King
45
10 25
:
157
13 50
Lot Number 152, purchased August 11, 1804, by James Brown, for $13.25, was not paid for by him-his note for $1.113, and cash per Negley, $8.833, being credited; a deed was made to Jolin Negley, April 18, 1811.
20
..
5 33 00
William Elliott. 17
30 00
John Negley
12
39 00
Valentine Preamer.
148
14 00
John Cunningham, A.
. Brinker and others for cemetery
No. 151
$10 00
James Thompson ..
163 9 25
156
12 00
37 00
306
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
After the excitment attendant on the first sale of lots was over, a calm followed. and the work of building the town was not prosecuted with much vigor. The coun- try was new and sparsely settled, improvements were few and the outlook was neither encouraging nor bright. A few log houses or cabins were hastily erected on the new town site, small shops were opened and an attempt made " to do busi- ness on a small scale." To James Thompson belongs the credit of erecting the first blacksmith shop, which stood near the Diamond. William Young built the second, William Neyman the third, Abraham Brinker the fourth, and Jacob Funk the fifth, on a lot which was long afterwards occupied by Hon. Jacob Ziegler. Other houses, all of a very primitive character, were built soon after by John Empy, George Powers, Stephen Crawford and John Potts. These men were the first settlers within the original limits of the borough of Butler. John Neg- ley had settled in 1800 south of the creek, opposite the Cunningham mill. There the Cunninghams had lived, or in that vicinity, since 1797. So also had Robert Graham on his warrant near the northern limits of the town. His son, William Graham, born in 1803, was the first child to see the light of day within the pres- ent limits of Butler. The next birth was Sarah, daughter of John and Jane Potts, born in March, 1805, who afterwards became the wife of Robert Carnahan. Campbell E. Purviance, born in 1806, was the third, and James Dunlap, born April 18, 1807, the fourth child born on the site of Butler.
The early settlers were patriotic, however, if their comforts were few and the times hard. This is shown by the names they gave the original streets in the village. Main street was the central or meridian line running north and south. On the east side and parallel therewith was Mckean street, so named in honor of Governor Mckean: on the west side came Washington street, named after the illustrious "Father of his Country." Running east and west, and crossing the others at right angles, were : Mifflin, in honor of the Governor ; Jefferson fol- lowed next, because he was a prominent man at that time ; then came Cunning- ham, out of respect to the founders of the town, and lastly Wayne, as a mark of respect to Gen. Anthony Wayne, a hero of the Revolution and the avenger of St. Clair's defeat. These were the original streets-there are many more now- and whilst their names were prompted by patriotism, they were also appropriate.
However plucky the people may have been, they were forced to endure many hardships. The winter after the town was laid out ( 1803-4) was a long, cold and dreary one. The only road communicating with the outer world was a bridle path leading straight over the hills to Pittsburg, whence they were com- pelled to go for their scanty groceries. The mill, originally erected by the Cun- ninghams on the creek near by, furnished flour, but for their meat they largely depended on game, which abounded in the forest.
In his " Recollections of the West," Henry M. Brackenridge, son of Judge Il. II. Brackenridge, who was appointed clerk to William Ayres, the first pro- thonotary of Butler county, says that he passed the winter in this " new outpost of civilization." Ile notes his coming from Pittsburg in these words :
On my arrival at Butler there were a few log houses just raised, but not sufficiently completed to be occupied. It was not long before there were two taverns, a store and a
307
BUTLER BOROUGH.
blacksmith shop. It was then a town. The country around was a howling wilderness. with the exception of a few scattered settlements as far removed from each other as the kraals in the neighborhood of the Cape of Good Hope.
If the winter had been hard, the people were determined to have some pleasure and social enjoyment when the spring and summer came. The first social and festive assemblage was held on the 4th of July, 1804, when the natal day of American independence was celebrated in a very patriotic manner. The meeting was held at the Federal spring, and a preserved account of the affair informs us that "a long table, say 100 feet, supplied with the best the country afforded, accommodated the eating and drinking part of the occasion. After dinner William Ayres was appointed president and John McCandless (then sheriff) vice-president. Patriotic toasts, general and volunteer, suited to the occasion, were read by the president at the head of the table, and repeated by the vice-president at the foot. Then followed the drink, the huzzas and firing of musketry, and music of drum and fife playing-playing the old Revolutionary tunes of . Yankee Doodle' and . Hail Columbia.'"
THE TOWN INCORPORATED.
Almost a decade and a half elapsed before the inhabitants began to think of taking a step forward by aspiring to a corporate government. Finally the ques- tion was brought before the legislature, and Butler was incorporated as a borough by an act entitled " An act to erect the town of Milton, in the county of North- umberland, and the town of Butler, in the county of Butler, into boroughs," which was read February 6, 1817, and passed February 26 of the same month. The charter was issued May 2, 1817, by Governor Snyder, and Butler laid aside its >waddling clothes as soon as a new outfit could be procured. The section of the act relating to the incorporation of Butler is given herewith :
SECTION 16. And be it further enacted, etc., That the town of Butler in the county of Butler, shall be and the same is hereby erected into a borough, which shall be called the " Borough of Butler," and contained within the following metes and bounds: The origi- nal plat or draft of the town of Butler, beginning at a black oak on the bank of the inill dam; thence north seventy-eight degrees west seven perches; thence south fifty-two degrees west eight perches; thence south eleven degrees west seven perches south, three degrees east ten perches south, thirty-six degrees east eight perches south seventy-three degrees west eleven perches north ten degrees west fourteen perches north, ten degrees east fourteen perches north forty degrees west twelve perches west sixteen perches south fifty-nine degrees, west twenty-three perches; thence south eleven degrees west thirteen perches south twenty-five degrees east five perches south twenty degrees west fourteen perches; thence south eighteen perches; thence south fifty-two degrees west twenty-six perches south forty-one degrees west six perches south sixty-one degrees west thirteen and one-half perches south fifty-seven degrees west seven and one-half perches to a hickory; thence leaving the dam north seventy-seven degrees west nine perches; thence fifty-seven degrees west fifty-nine perches to two hickories on the bank of the creek: thence north fifteen degrees west forty perches north three degrees west 152 perches and five-tenths; thence north eighty-seven degrees east 173 perches, and thence south three degrees east 133 perches and two-tenths to the place of beginning.
Thus was the borough brought into corporate existence, and as such it has continued for a period of over seventy-seven year -. Under the act of April 3.
308
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
1851, it was re-incorporated by order of the court of quarter sessions, issued January 15, 1853.
Section seventeen of the act cited above provided that the inhabitants of the borough entitled to vote for members of the legislature, having resided within the limits of the borough at least six months preceding the election, should, " on the Friday immediately preceding the third Saturday of March next," have power to cast their votes between the hours of one and five in the afternoon, for one chief burgess, one assistant burgess and seven citizens to be a town council ; also one high constable.
The records inform us that the first election of borough officer- was held May 30, 1817, at the primitive dwelling of Adam Funk-long since disappeared- but subsequent elections for years were mostly held at the house of Jacob Mech- ling, who himself was chosen one of the first councilmen to aid in shaping the des- tinies of the infant borough, and who for many years afterwards, from time to time, was locally honored by his fellow citizens.
That the new borough officers were prompt to organize and discharge their functions, is shown by the fact that they entered upon their duties the very day they were elected. The first minute upon the first book of the borough council, still in a good state of preservation, opens under date of May 30. 1817. with the following words :
William Ayres, Esq., duly elected chief burgess, and John Gitinore, Esq., duly elected assistant burgess,-William Campbell, John Potts, Dr. George Miller, Hugh McKee, David Dougat and James Stephenson, duly elected members of the town conucit for the borough of Butler, met at the house of Adam Funk and severally took and sub- scribed the oath of office before Robert Scott, Esq., a justice of the peace, as directed by the Act of Assembly, passed 20th of February, A. D. 1817, creating the town of Butter. in the county of Butter, into a borough. John Potts was, on motion, duly elected presi- dent; John Bredin was appointed town clerk; James Hill was appointed borough treas- urer; Maurice Bredin was appointed collector of the borough taxes.
Jacob Mechling qualified as councilman on July 7, and voted with the others for levying a borough tax co-extensive with the road tax assessed by the town- ship supervisors, as well as for the adoption of the seal of the circuit court as the seal of the borough.
In April, 1818, repair- on the market house, such as " boarding-in " below the benches, were ordered, and five dollars granted to Potts " for the bridge made by him." At the annual meeting of 1819, Hugh McKee was appointed treasurer , and Joseph McQuistion. collector. An ordinance establishing market days was adopted and rules for preventing sheep and swine from running at large and persons from galloping on the streets ordered to be enforced. In 1820 William Gibson succeeded Bredin as clerk, James Stephenson was appointed treasurer and William Campbell, collector. David Scott was then high constable and MeCleary's house was the place of meeting. The tax levy wa- four mills on the dollar,- enough to meet the expenditure for fitting up a " pound or pen " on William Beatty's lot for hogs, and a place in Eli Skeer's stable for keeping sheep. The alley between West and Cunningham streets was ordered to be cleared and repaired and a stone bridge over the run below the graveyard was authorized.
309
BUTLER BOROUGH.
The report of the sale of the market house was made in September, when eighteen dollars for brick were paid into the treasury.
Jacob Mechling, Jr., was appointed clerk in 1821, Simon Mechling, collector, and William Beatty, treasurer. In December the street commissioners, William Hagerty and Joseph McQuistion, were ordered
To cut the Diamond as much as may be neccessary to render the side-walks and diamond level or nearly so with the turnpike, and that West street be dug and filled, so that the ascent thereof will not exceed seven degrees with a horizontal line.
In September the meeting was held at Jacob Mechling's house, when an order to sell the market house was issued. In October an attempt to rescind this order was made only to fail. and the same month McKean street was author- ized to be opened as far as the inlots extended.
The first vote recorded by the borough of Butler for State and county officers was that of October 14, 1817. William Findley received twenty and Joseph Hliester sixteen votes for governor ; John Gilmore twenty-nine and Walter Low- rie, eight for senator ; Samuel Douglass twenty-seven, William Marks twenty- seven, John Wilson ten, Andrew Christy twenty-one, William Ayres twenty- nine, William Wilkins sixteen, John Robison nine, and John Ross nine, for representatives in legislature ; Francis Fryer twelve, Abraham Brinker fourteen, David Dougal eight, and Moses Hanlen three, for county commissioners ; John Bredin thirty-six and David Dougal two for auditor ; Jacob Mechling twenty- three, John Galbraith thirty-six and Thomas Lyon thirteen, for trustees. Samuel Glass was inspector, Robert Scott judge, and Moses Sullivan and J. Williamson clerks of election in the borough.
LOT OWNERS IN 1821.
The assessment list of 1821 shows that the following persons were owners of improved or unimproved lots within the borough limits in that year : William Ayres, Maurice Bredin, John Bredin, Kennedy Beatty, Mary Barnhart, William Beatty, Patrick Briceland, John Cully, William Criswell, William Campbell, Owen Callan, Robert Carnahan, Henry Duffy, John Dunbar, David Dougal, John Devine, Henry Evans, John Empy, Norbert Foltz, Adam Funk, Patrick and William Hagerty, Samuel Johnston, Stephen Lowrey, Robert McQuistion, Joseph McQuistion, Christopher Meyers, Jacob Mechling, Hugh McKee, Hugh Mclaughlin, Thomas McCleary, John Miller, Bernard McGirr, Patrick Mc- Farlin, Thomas and Patrick McHenet, George Mechling. James McPherson, Isaiah Niblock. John Potts, James Reed, John Reed. Thomas M. Sedwick. James Thompson, James White, John Sheridan, Moses Sullivan, Alexander Scott, John Sullivan, Eli Skeer, David Scott and Robert Scott.
The vacant in-lots of the borough were assessed against the following reputed owners : Robert Campbell, John Cunningham, Samuel Cunningham, John Elliott, William Elliott, Abraham Fryer, Neal Gillespie, Ephraim Har- ris, W. M. Hutchison, Alexander Hill, William Kearns, Alexander Logan, Andrew McCollough, William McDonald, Samuel Murphy, John Negley. Samuel ()'Nuth, James Patterson, James Robbins, Samuel Scott, Philip Sut-
310
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ton. David Sutton, John Scott, John Turk and James Will. Out-lots were assessed against Robert Campbell. Ephraim and John Weigle. The assessment list also showed that there were but thirty-four houses in the borough in that year, not including the county. school and church buildings.
In early times more importance was attached to the office of high constable than at the present day. At a meeting of council March 16, 1822, "it was resolved that Samuel Johnston, high constable, give security in $100 for the faithful performance of his duty." Adam Funk became his bondsman. With the duties and responsibilities of the office increased a hundred fold, all the security demanded now is $200!
At the same time Joseph MeQuistion was appointed treasurer, and the own- ers of homes on Main street, who desired to construct sidewalks in front of their property, were ordered to make such walks nine feet wide. In 1828, John Reed was elected high constable,-John Negley signing his bond-John Welsh was appointed clerk and Samuel Johnston, collector. The cutting of a street paral- leling Mckean street, the building of a bridge at Gibson's lot, repairing a bridge on the road to Scott Lick and leveling the Diamond and sidewalks formed the principal work of the council.
At a meeting held April 8, 1824, a resolution was introduced by Mr. Bredin directing that "a committee of three be appointed to draft an ordinance to employ an artist to fix the corners of lots, streets, and alleys." David Dougal. the famous surveyor, evidently was employed as the " artist," for a later entry on the minutes informs us that during that year he re-surveyed the town, re-estab- lishing corners and lot lines.
In 1825 a motion that the sum of twenty dollars be appropriated toward the erection of an engine house on the public square, and toward furnishing it with engine, hooks, ladders and buckets, was voted down, the precociousness of the proposition being too much for the borough fathers.
In July, 1825, the commissioners advertised that the outlots in the northern and eastern additions to the borough of Butler would be sold at public vendue August 16, 1825. Early in 1826 an ordinance regulating the sale of coal and one relating to the sinking of well- were passed, and with this work the borough council rested.
In July, 1827, the county commissioners agreed to assign to the borough council a "judgment" to be applied on the purchase of an engine and other fire apparatus. On the 28th of that month Mr. Gilmore reported that he pur- chased an engine for $400, of which half was to be paid in six months and half in twelve months. The report was agreed to and an order to build an engine house in the rear of the court-house, was entered. This building was erected by R. Strain for the contract price-$60.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.