USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 46
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The Citizens' Building and Loan Association was organized in 1890, with G. Wilson Miller, president ; L. S. McJunkin, vice-president, and C. M. Heine-
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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).
man, secretary. The directory comprised J. D. Jackson, S. D. Purvis, Frank Shephard, L. F. Ganter, Jacob Boos and Peter Schenck. tra Mc Junkin was treasurer, and Williams & Mitchell, solicitors.
The Mechanics' Building and Loan Association was organized in Feb- ruary, 1889, when 1,000 shares were subscribed. The officers were Dr. Samuel Graham, president ; O. M. Russell, vice-president ; C. A. Abrams, secretary, and L. W. Zuver, treasurer. David E. Dale succeeded Dr. Graham as president in 1892, and J. N. Moore succeeded Mr. Abrams as secretary in 1893, when the last named was elected treasurer.
The Workingmens' Building and Loan Association was organized, as successor to the Workingmens' Equitable Association, in February, 1892, with F. M. Renno, president; Jacob Keck, secretary ; Joseph Rockenstein, treasurer, and A. T. Black, solicitor.
Chautauqua National Building and Loan Association was organized Octo- ber 25, 1893, with D. Carmody, president; G. M. Zimmerman, secretary-treasurer; John West, Joseph Niggel and J. W. McDowell, appraisers, who formed the board of directors, with William Kesselman, Jr., William Harkless, Joseph Low and J. F. Jewell. W. C. Findley was chosen solicitor.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Butler County Mutual Insurance Company was organized September 5, 1853, with Samuel A. Purviance, president; John T. Bard, S. M. Lane, J. T. McJunkin, J. G. Campbell, Francis McBride, Emil Maurhoff, William Hlas- lett, A. N. Meylert, Ilerman J. Berg, Ebenezer Mc Junkin, Andrew Carns and John M. Sullivan, managers ; Ebenezer Mc Junkin, secretary ; Andrew Carns, treasurer, and Emil Maurhoff, general agent. The company ceased work prior to 1859.
The Butler County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated by the legislature in April, 1859. In May, Samuel G. Purvis was elected president ; I. J. Cummings, treasurer ; Edwin Lyon, secretary ; William Camp- bell, E. McJunkin, Dr. W. R. Cowden, James Campbell, Abraham Ziegler, Jacob Walter, E. Kingsbury, E. Maurhoff, W. S. Boyd, and John Murrin, directors. Henry C. Heineman was elected secretary in 1860, and has held the position down to the present time. After the death of Samuel G. Purvis, George C. Roessing was elected president, and served until his death, when James Stephenson was elected to fill the vacancy and re-elected annually since that time.
The Farmers' and Breeders' Mutual Live Stock Insurance Association was organized in 1883, with A. D. Weir, of Buffalo township, president ; Thomas Hays, of Fairview, vice-president ; R. D. Stephenson, of Butler, treasurer ; Dr. J. E. Byers, of Butler, secretary : James Stephenson of Bonny Brook, James S. Hays of Butler, John A. Clark of Prospect, Isaac Lefevre of Saxonburg, and Bartholomew Nebel of Herman, unofficial members. This association dissolved within six or seven years without loss to stockholders, although a large sum of money was paid out for injury to cattle.
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
MANUFACTURERS.
The first manufactory in the borough of Butler is what is now known as the " Walter Mill." The original mill was a log building erected in 1802 by the Cunningham brothers, and it may be mentioned as a historical fact that the title can be traced back to Robert Morris, of Revolutionary fame. The Cunninghams sold it in 1806 to John Negley, one of the Butler pioneers, who came here to take charge of the mill. John H. Negley, in his " Recollections of Butler Fifty Years Ago," published in the Citizen in 1891, says that his father owned and carried it on for nearly thirty years. During this time he added to it a large woolen mill, which was operated by his brother-in-law. Malachi Richardson ; also a cabinet making shop. At this time the mill was the center of business for the town. Settlers in different parts of the county, miles away, came here to get their small grists of wheat and corn ground. Between 1816 and 1826, Mr. Negley lived in the house which had been built by the Cunninghams. The primitive mill was rudely equipped, but it served the settlers well in its time. In 1833 Mr. Negley sold the mill and three acres of ground to Robert McNair and brothers, who car- ried it on for twelve or fifteen years. It was torn down and the first steam mill built in 1840. In 1842 it was destroyed by fire, but the flouring part was immediately rebuilt, which is part of the present structure. In 1848 it became the property of William Beatty, who in turn sold it to John McCarnes, who carried it on between 1850 and 1856. In 1857 the interests of McCarnes and Beatty were conveyed to Jacob Walter and John C. Grohman, who carried it on until the death of Mr. Walter, in 1865. It then had a capacity of about forty barrels per day. Mr. Walter was succeeded by his son, George Walter, and the firm became Grohman & Walter. In 1872 Grohman sold his interest to Jacob Boos, and the firm was changed to Walter & Boos, and in 1890 Mr. Walter became the sole owner of this noted mill, which is now operated by George Walter & Sons. The present building is forty-four by sixty-six feet, four stories in height, and steam and water are used, the engine being sixty-five horse power. The roller system is used, and the mill has a capacity of fifty barrels of wheat four per day, 300 bushels of buck wheat and 300 of chop.
The Reiber Grist Mill was built in 1842 by Archibald McCall, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant and land agent. fle sold it to Thomas Frazier, who ran it a short period, and the property then passed into the hands of Clymer & Meylert. In 1856 it was purchased by George Reiber, who has since owned it. He has remodeled and improved it three times, and besides the buhr system, it contains the full roller process, and has a daily capacity of 100 barrels of flour. The mill is now operated by George Reiber & Sons. Mr. Reiber also carried on a distillery near the mill a few years, and later erected a distillery closer to the railroad, which he operated until 1873.
The Oriental Mills are the successors of the mill erected on Mifflin street in 1867, by I1. J. Klingler, and known as Klingler's Mills until remodeled in 1883-84, when the present title was adopted. The capacity of the first mill was sixty barrels per day. Since that time the mills have been rebuilt and remodeled several times, and in 1884 the entire roller system was introduced. The present
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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).
building is forty by forty five feet, three stories, with cupola and iron roof, and an annex twenty-eight by eighty feet. An engine of 125 horse-power drives the machinery, and the capacity of the mill is 150 barrels per day. In 1886 the firm became H. J. Klingler & Company, Harry S. and Fred J. Klingler becoming partners. The same firm built the Specialty Roller Mills in 1889, near the West l'enn depot, and have since carried on both mills very successfully.
The tanning business was one of the early and leading industries of Butler. The pioneer tannery was located on the corner of East Jefferson and Franklin, and was started soon after the town was laid out. The second tannery was established by Hugh McKee on the site of Berg's bank. It was quite an extensive plant for those days, and the largest manufacturing institution in the town for many years. Conrad Roessing opened a tanyard on North Washington street in 1841, which he conducted forty-five years. William McQuistion operated a tan- nery for many years on the same street near the corner of Jefferson. About the same period Abdiel Martin carried on the tanning business, and continued it up to the Civil war ; while William Mardorf commenced the same business in the seventies, on Cunningham street, where he ran a large tanyard for several years.
More than sixty years ago (). G. Croy and George W. Smith operated a woolen, fulling and carding mill on the north side of Jefferson street between Main and McKean. It was the first of the kind in the borough, and the power was furnished by a horse treadmill.
In 1842 William John Ayres erected what was long known as the Union Woolen Mill. After conducting it a few years he sold it to William P. Mackey who utilized a part of the building for a grist mill. John H. Thompson was the next owner. In 1861 the plant was purchased by Hugh Fullerton, and the busi- ness was carried on by him until his death in 1892. ITis son continued to operate the mill for about a year after Mr. Fullerton's death, and finally sold the building to J. B. Sherman in the summer of 1894. The latter converted it into a machine shop.
The pioneer foundery was established by John and Alfred MeCarnes, as early as 1840-41, who carried it on until 1847, when J. G. & W. Campbell pur- chased an interest, and five years later became sole owners of the plant. It is still owned and operated by the Campbells, and is located on the Connoquenessing, near the foot of Main street.
Carns & Mc Junkin started a foundry some years later, which was pur- chased in 1859 by H. J. Klingler and Martin Reiber. It passed through several ownerships until it finally ceased operations early in the seventies.
A white lead factory was established by Campbell E. Purviance, prior to 1840, at the foot of West Diamond street, on the bank of the Connoquenessing. He afterwards became associated with his uncle, William Purviance, in the man- ufacture of powder in Connoquenessing township.
The manufacture of wagons was commenced in 1848 by John Lawall. Sr., on West Cunningham street. In later years he removed to the corner of Wash . ington and Cunningham, and in 1872, began the manufacture of carriages and buggies on quite a large scale. He died in 1877. His sons succeeded him in the business, which they conducted until 1883. The Thompson Brothers were also
368
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
pioneers in the same line, opening a factory on West Cunningham street in 1857. The plant was purchased by George C. Roessing, in 1860, who continued the man- ufacture of all kinds of buggies, etc., for many years. The growth of great carriage factories, supplied with the most improved machinery, rendered the manufacture of wagons and carriages by the old process an unprofitable business, and destroyed the industry in the smaller towns.
The manufacture of brick was a pioneer industry and at one time a very important one. As early as 1823 William Borland established a brickyard on the site of the present Stamm yard, and made the brick used in the erection of the first brick houses in Butler.
The second yard was opened by the Brackneys on the property of Moses Sul- livan. The brick used in the old United Presbyterian church, erected in 1827, as well as in several other early buildings, was made in this yard.
The third yard was opened by John Graham, on the corner of North Main and Fulton streets, and finally superseded the Borland and Brackney yards. It was carried on quite extensively for many years, and supplied the necessary brick material for Butler and vicinity.
David Walker was the next to embark in the buisness. His yard was on Mitlin street, and was a very large and successful one. Mr. Walker conducted the business for a long period, and was succeeded by his brother, Nathaniel Walker, in 1847, who continued the industry down to recent times. The Walker vard was the most extensive one in Butler county.
The Fishers carried on brick-making, first on Cunningham street and later on Penn, for some years, and was the next in order of time.
J. George Stamm began the manufacture of brick in ISSf, on the site of the old Borland yard, at the corner of Pillow and Willow streets. His yard covers seven and three-fourths acres of ground, and four kilns are operated. One brick machine, with a capacity of 30,000 brick per day, is in use; two dry houses with a daily capacity of 20,000, and the heat is furnished by natural gas. The machinery is driven by a forty-horse power engine ; the pits are connected with the building by a railway run by steam. Eighteen men are employed.
S. G. Purvis & Company operate one of the largest manufacturing indus- tries in Butler. The planing mill was established in 1867, and two years later the lumber business was added. In 1879 they commenced the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, since which time they have gradually increased their business to its present capacity. The plant is located on the corner of Franklin and North streets, and the buildings are in harmony with the large business carried on. The machinery is of the latest and most improved kind, while 125 hands are fur- nished employment.
The Hamilton Bottle Works had their beginning in the fall of 1882, when Dominick Ihmsen established an eight-pot furnace on the site of the present plant. About a year later the Butler Flint Bottle Company, Limited, was organized, embracing ten glass workers, and the Ihmsen plant purchased. The company was composed of the following persons : O). Ihmsen, president ; W. J. McKee, secretary and treasurer ; Conrad Smith, John Smith, John Farrel, James J. Hayes, John W. Vogel and A. P. McKee. In June, 1888, the works were
JSTEO. Stammen
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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).
burned, and on August 30 following, the Butler Glass Company, Limited, was organized. Charles Duffy was president and Thomas II. Gallagher, secretary. They, with John W. Vogel, James J. Hayes, Peter Vogel, John F. Lowry, Jacob Faller, Michael Buechle, Mrs. E. Grieb, William Aland, Albert Hannen, Frank Zimper, John Kiehn, Peter Kiehn, John Kappler and J. H. Troutman, were the stockholders. A building was erected on the original site and the works were carried on about one year and then sold to the Hamilton Brothers, who have since operated the plant very successfully. In October, 1893, the buildings were partially burned, but they have since been rebuilt and equipped in first class order. The works contain one twelve and one eight-pot furnace, and all kinds of flint prescription bottles are manufactured. The fuel used is natural gas, sup- plied by the firm's wells in Centre township, whence the fluid is piped to the works.
The Standard Plate Glass Works were opened July 30, 1857, when the first pot was taken from the furnace and cast into the molds. Ten plates, each nine-sixteenths of an inch thick, twelve feet long and six feet wide, were cast and tempered ; and, within the ensuing week, twenty pots were rolled and temp- ered daily, a force of 140 men being then employed. The first large plate pro- duced here was purchased by D. H. Wuller, for the window of his store.
The local stockholders and originators of this great industry were J. 11. Shields, Il. J. Klingler, Rev. William A. Nolan, W. A. Stein, J. 11. Troutman, William Campbell, Jr., and John Kirkpatrick ; while R. C. Schmertz, W. A. Schmertz, A. F. Chandler, James A. Chambers, II. S. McKee, Simon Cameron, Morton McMichael, and B. K. Jamison, were the non-resident stockholders in April, 1889. J. H. Shields, who introduced the industry to the notice of the Butler people, and A. C. Boyd, the former manager, were also stockholders. The officers were H. J. Klingler, president ; R. C. Schmertz, vice-president, and Dr. A. F. Chandler, secretary and treasurer. R. Brockman, whose father introduced glass grinding machinery in France, was manager, and under his direction there were 400 workers from France, Belgium and Germany.
Since the inauguration of this industry many changes have been made in the official board. James A. Chambers succeeded Mr. Klingler as president, within a year, while J. T. Hamilton was elected in January, 1893, and re-elected in 1894. One change has been effected in the secretary's office, E. J. Howard, the present secretary, succeeding A. F. Chandler in 1890. Mr. Chandler was the first treasurer, and served until succeeded by W. A. Schmertz, the latter being succeeded by J. H. Troutman. Prior to the division of the dual office of secretary and treasurer, in 1888, Mr. Chandler filled both positions. The office of manager was, at first, filled by A. C. Boyd, next by R. Brockman, and subsequently by D. E. Wheeler, Edmund Brown and II. A. Tilton in succession, the last mentioned being the present general manager. In 1891 the office of superintendent was abolished, being merged into that of general manager.
The machinery includes twenty-six polishers, fourteen grinders, thirty-six brick ovens, between 300 and 400 pots. three furnaces, one 1,700 horse power engine, used in running eighteen English polishers, fourteen engines for the grinders, and a complete electric light plant, with a capacity of 300 incandes- cent, four arc, and 200 mogul incandescent lights. In addition, the company 24
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
operates eight pumping engines, having a capacity of 800,000 gallons of water a day, and two engines at the works near Hilliard's station. At Hilliard's are two sand plants, known as the Beatty & Holland, where the sand rock is ground suitable for grinding the glass. About thirty-five men are employed there, and the sand thus obtained is shipped to the works to take its part in the process of glass manufacture.
The railroad privileges enjoyed by the company are all that can be desired. Tracks lead to every large building, where machinery for handling and delivery of raw material and loading the finished product is of the most modern design. Fourteen gas wells are owned by the company, some of which were drilled by themselves, and some purchased. One of the deep explorations in the neighbor- hood of Butler was drilled under the company's direction. Some of their wells show a pressure of 800 pounds. All of the wells are piped to the works, insur- ing an abundance of fuel, all of which is natural gas, except where slack is required for the bottom of pots.
At the beginning of the industry the fire clay for the manufacture of the pots was obtained from Missouri, while the melting sand was taken from Maple- ton, Pennsylvania. To-day all the melting >and is procured in this State. The pot clay, brought from near St. Louis, averages about 600 tons annually : emery brought from Turkey, about forty tons; gypsum or plaster, from Ohio and Michigan, 4,000 tons ; while soda ash, salt cake or sulphate of soda, are princi- pally procured at Syracuse, New York, and seventy-two tons of arsenic are annually imported from England. When the works were first operated the buildings covered three and one-half acres. To-day the plant covers a much larger area. The number of men employed ranges from 400 to 500. The expert glass workers are three-quarters foreigners, from Belgium, France, England and Germany. The importance of this great industry in the development and pros- perity of Butler cannot be overestimated.
A large distillery was built on the site of the bottle works in the seventies, and during its existence it was one of the most extensive distilleries in Western Pennsylvania.
William Kesselman & Company, established business here in 1881, for the manufacture of drilling and fishing tools, heavy forging and the repairing of engines. Their main building is thirty-one by eighty-seven feet, with a machine shop twenty-eight by forty-eight feet. An engine of fifteen horse power is used, and twenty-two men are employed. The pay roll aggregates $300 per week.
Larkin & Company .- This establishment, now grown to be one of the lead- ing industries of Butler, was founded in 1885 by Thomas and W. G. Hays. Their business consisted of the manufacture of drilling and fishing tools, as well as dealing in oil well supplies. In 1887 the Hays Brothers sold their interest to Larkin, Warhus & Company. Mr. Warhus disposed of his interest to his part- ners in 1890. The firm of Larkin & Company is now composed of W. II. Lar- kin and John Feigle. A general manufacturing business is carried on. The capi- tal invested is $30,000, and twenty-two men are employed. The manufactory is located in Springdale, has excellent rallroad facilities, and is a valuable industrial acquisition to that ward.
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BUTLER BOROUGH (CONTINUED).
The Butler Boiler Works, situated on Etna street, were first established by a Mr. Kane several years ago and were afterwards operated by James Mechan. In 1891 they were purchased by the Hughes Brothers, and their plant is now one of the most valuable industries of the borough. It is supplied with the requisite machinery for the work in which they are engaged. They manufacture boilers, stills, and oil tanks. About twenty-six men are employed.
The Butler Manufacturing Company, Limited, was established in June, 1888. The capital stock was placed at $20,000. The plant is located on Look- out avenue, and the present officers are : J. W. McKce, president ; , HI. S. Gib- son, secretary and treasurer ; directors, D. W. Younkin- and J. E. Russell. They manufacture engines and boilers, and do general machine and foundry work. Their buildings are ample in size, and two steam engines furnish power to drive the machinery. The blacksmith shop is equipped with steam hammers. Some years ago the plant was removed here from Bradford. Its capacity is two engines per day.
Masseth & Black, manufactures of oil well supply tools of all kinds, com- menced business here in 1889. Their shops are located on West Wayne street, and are provided with all necessary machinery in their line of business. They are also the sole owners and manufacturers of the Gordon and Masseth gas well packers ; also fishing tools, steam and gas pumps. They employ twenty men. Benjamin Masseth, the senior member of the firm, has followed the fortunes of the oil fields from Pithole in 1862, to Butler in 1889. D. W. Black, the junior member, is a practical machinist and inventor, and bids fair to beco ne a leader in mechanical pursuits.
F. H. Bole, established in 1884, corner of Mckean and Quarry streets, man- ufactures drilling and fishing tools, and does all kinds of repairing. Mr. Bole, besides being an expert machinist, is a pattern and model maker, and personally looks carefully after the quality of work turned out of his shop.
The Star Iron Works are carried on by Sherman & Johnson, who purchased the old woolen mill building in 1894, moved their machinery from Karns City and placed it in position therein. They have three floors, sixty-six by thirty-five feet, with an addition of forty by thirty-five feet. An elevator capable of lifting four tons is one of the equipments of their shops. They manufacture brass goods, engines, pumps, casing cutters, fishing tools and engine fittings of all kinds, and employ from five to ten men as occasion demands.
John Goetz erected a planing mill on Spring avenue in 1883, and has since carried on a general contracting and building business.
RAILROADS.
The railroad system of the county will be found fully described in the chap- ter on internal improvements. The first railroad to enter the borough was the branch from Freeport, which was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and formally opened for travel January 12, 1871, by an excursion to Pittsburg. The occasion was a memorable one for Butler, as it placed the town in quick communication with the outer world. Some 300 persons participated in the excursion. At the Union Station, in Pittsburg, a repast was served and a number
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
of speeches made in response to toasts. Hon. Ebenezer Mc Junkin responded to the toast-" Railways ; the bonds of civilization "; Gen. John N. Purviance to "Old Butler awakened to new life, and made a citizen of the world"; Thomas M. Marshall to " The old stage coach-it could not long survive Arthur McGill"; Samuel A. Purviance to " The old circuit court-Butler, Clarion and Armstrong. The court now travels by rail, but justice prefers the mud road." Other toasts were drunk and responded to.
Early in the afternoon the excursionist> started on their return to Butler, accompanied by a number of Pittsburgers. The people turned out at the various stations to greet them ; at some places cannon were fired, and the joy evinced amounted almost to an ovation. When the party arrived at Butler station it was met by a great throng, which was present to welcome the incoming train. Here again a substantial repast was served, toasts were drunk, responses made, and everybody shouted and rejoiced.
During the evening occurred the mock funeral of the old stage coach, which had so long rattled in and out of Butler, but which had now been superseded by the iron horse. One of these cumbrous vehicles was draped in black and hauled by horses decorated with crape to the cemetery, where a travesty of the funeral service was gone through with, for the purpose of illustrating that its days of usefulness had ended. When the ceremony was over the jovial throng, accom- panied by D. S. Walker, the old stage proprietor, and a number of Pittsburgers, returned to town, and further evinced their joy by marching through the streets blowing trumpets and whistles, and shouting. It was a great evening in Butler, and marked the beginning of an era of improvement which is still going on.
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