USA > Pennsylvania > Butler County > History of Butler County, Pennsylvania > Part 68
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Three newspapers were published at l'etrolia. The Advertiser was the first, but after a brief existence it gave up the field to the Record, established October 27, 1877, and removed to Butler in June, 18-8. The Producers' Free Press came early in 1875, and lasted only a few months. All of these papers are spoken of in " The Press" chapter, where the reader is referred for fuller information.
The notorious Ben Hogan was a resident here in the seventies, and though now an evangelist, preaching from New York to San Francisco, he then had a very questionable reputation. In 1865 he made the toughest place in the world- Pithole-shake with his profanity, and, with " French Kate," as partner, carried on a resort there. Subsequently, at Babylon, he opened a great dance house. That infamous little place, becoming too narrow tor him, he sought a wider field at Parker's Landing : but the authorities controlling him on land, he launched a vice-armored floating palace on the Allegheny. The craft, 150 x 40 feet in dimen- sions, was originally a Pithole boarding house, but he fitted it up at heavy cost, manned it with fifteen or twenty female mariners and a few desperadoes like himself, took on a cargo of wine and whisky, defied the law and kept the profits. Even then, no one dreamt that this terror would venture into Butler county ; but he did, after the floating palace was wrecked on a faro bank, and opened a house at Petrolia. The " Female Seminary" was one of his institutions. He ran for burgess of the new borough, and received seven more votes than George HI. Dimmick, but the character of the voters was questioned and his attempt to gain official honor failed. Ile erected an $11,000 opera house here, one at Greece City and one at Millerstown, and for a few years ruled as king of sports. His departure brought relief to the old settlers of the county, who were pleased to learn that he had established himself north of the Kinzua ravine and was far away from Bear creek.
The population of Petrolia in 1876 was estimated at 5,000. In 1880, the census enumerators found 1.186 inhabitants, and in 1890, 546 ; but in April, 1894, the estimated population was 400. In June, 1893, there were eighty-five male and fifty-four female pupils of school age in the borough. The total receipts for school purpose- amounted to $1,401.21, of which a sum of $701.36 was appro-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
priated by the State. The assessed value of property in January, 1894, was $11,327 ; the county tax, $165.31, and the State tax, $53.06.
The postoffice was established in IS73, with R. W. Cram postmaster. Four years later 5,000 persons received their mail there, and it was raised to the dig- nity of a third-class office. William Gibson was appointed postmaster in 1882. Thomas Carlin succeeded Mr. Gibson in 1889, and Mrs. Ida O. Ervin was the next incumbent. In February, 1894, W. S. Walcott succeeded Mrs. Ervin.
The present school building was erected shortly after the incorporation of the borough. In June, 1893, there were three school rooms reported, and in Jan- uary, 1894, the following named teachers were presiding : Edward Harper, Maggie Shira and Jennie E-py. The directors were : J. S. Foster, R. E. Eng- lish, Tracy Denholm, Joseph Burkhart, John Byers and Thomas Carlin.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES, ETC.
The first fire, other than that at the Jameson well. occurred in November, 1872. While it destroyed five or six houses and entailed heavy losses on the people of the town, it did not for a moment retard their chase after oil and the almighty dol- lar. The fire of January, 1873, originated at the Wilson well above the town, whence it spread to five wells in the vicinity, destroying the rigs and 5,000 barrels of oil. The oil, which flowed into the creek, was accidentally fired by one of the Dean brothers. The two brothers were severely burned for their carelessness, while the dwellings of Prof. Loomis and Parsons were destroyed and one man killed by the falling of a burning derrick. In April, 1873, the Evans & Jennings well on the Dougherty farm, near Petrolia, took fire, and 900 barrels of oil were destroyed.
On Sunday evening, December 10, 1876, occurred a terrible explosion of dynamite on the outskirts of the town, which broke the windows of many build- ings and blew to atoms David Smith and a teamster, who had just brought the explosive from Titusville. A second dynamite catastrophe took place near Pe- trolia October 2s. 1-78, resulting in the deaths of S. O. Gotham, H. R. French and John W. Fowler.
The fire of August 1, 1879, came to destroy what the flood left undisturbed. Lutzinger's barber shop, the Grand Central Hotel, Newman's candy shop, Har- vey's store, Comerford's saloon, and the postoffice on the upper side, Dr. Mahneke's office and Spence's stable on the lower side, and the old Shirley store buildings across Main street, were burned. The drug store of A. A. West was torn down by the mob under the pretence of preventing the spread of the fire. A notice on an outbuilding of Burgess Stone, with the motto, " Bread or Blood," distinguishable among the heiroglyphics. led to the supposition that incendiarie- were at work.
The fire of April 3, 1886, destroyed the Methodist church, the parsonage and the A. M. Rice building adjoining. The church was erected in 1874 as a Union church for Protestant worship, but was subsequently purchased by the Method- ists, who were the owners when it was destroyed. The society rebuilt on the same ground and worship there to-day. This fire was also credited to incen- diaries. The conflagration of December 22, 1889, was a serious set-back to the
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PETROLIA BOROUGH.
town, but that which occurred in December, 1890, destroyed two-thirds of the business center and entailed great losses on the community.
The fire of February 29, 1893, destroyed buildings owned by the following named citizens : W. G Forcht, S. P. Christy, M. L. Starr, Knights of Pythias and J. B. Kilroy, who owned three buildings. The fire originated in Christy's livery stable. The bravery of the nozzlemen, F. W. Quinn, F. J. Carman, John Byers, Sopha Yeager and John Forquer, who, wrapped in wet blankets, held the hose in the face of the flames, saved a repetition of the terrible fire of December, 22, 1889.
The fire of July 4, 1893. is said to have started in one of the Kilroy build- ings, on the east side of Jameson street. The buildings destroyed were the Masonic Hall, the only brick house in the town, the stores of Toronski Brothers, E. P. Chesebro, Mrs. Lenehan, Vensel & English, J. S. Foster, Mrs. L. George, G. Kilchenstein, Tracy Denholm, M. L. Starr, Mrs. J. A. Foote, J. M. Hawk, John Campbell and George Jones ; the markets of Asa Campbell and II. Crom- ling : the old Argyle Savings Bank, then John Byer's dwelling, formerly the postoffice ; A. W. Root's building, Heckler's barber shop, Avemann's, Hindman's and Beach's dwellings, J. B. Kilroy's Commercial Hotel, grocery store and other buildings, and Mrs. C. M. Bennett's Central House, where the new Central House of Campbell & Byers stands. In rear of the Central, D. C. Burns' oil well, then pumping for eighteen years, lost its equipment.
The present large store of E. P. Chesebro was completed on the site of the old building early in April, 1894. The Central House, the postoffice, built by Mrs. Ida O. Ervin, Mrs. Lenehan's millinery store and dwelling. English & Vensel's hardware store and George Kilchenstein's tailoring house were erected early in the same year.
FIRE COMPANIES AND WATER SUPPLY.
In November, 1872, following the first fire, a fire department was organized and became a celebrated local company. The United Pipe Lines supplied the water and patronized two fire companies-the Citizens' and United Hose Com- panies. United Hose Company, Number 1, was recruited in 1873 by A. C. Bee- son, from the employe- of the United Pipe Line Company. The Petrolia Hose Company followed, and in 1874 another organization known as the Protective Hose Company, of Petrolia, was brought into existence. It was chartered May 19. 1879, with the following named directors : R. J. Bottner, J. II. Sutherland, P. Christie, O. McCarthy, C. Barthold, S. F. O'Grady, A. Adrian, C. Bullock, George Griffin and T. S. McFarland. The United Hose Company also obtained a charter.
In April, 1874, the council passed an ordinance giving to A. C. Beeson and Murat Compton the right to construct water works. This franchise was at once transferred to E. ()'Donnell and F. L. Masson, who constructed the system and carried it on until June, ISSO, when a stock company was organized to assume ownership, Guerdon Williams. D. C. Backus, T. J. Mapes. D. A. Cypher. F. L. Masson, S. W. Harley and E. A. Taylor being the officials. In 1891 it be- came the property of the borough. 35
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
THE GREAT FLOOD.
The flood of July 26, 1879, which destroyed much valuable property at Petrolia, was caused by a heavy local rain storm. At eleven o'clock A. M. the waters inundated Karns City and flowed toward the railroad bridge above Petrolia, and thence poured in on the great oil town. South and north of Main street and west of the railroad, houses were built over Bear creek. Of these, the White Fawn restaurant was the first to move. Following in its wake were Miles' law office and the lumber piles of Nanstiel. The White Fawn kept intact across Main street until it struck Bottner's jewelry store, where it halted for the oncoming houses and debris. Then the strange squadron sailed onward, sweep- ing everything between the railroad and the Central Hotel down to the United Pipe Line Company's shops, where the storm and the wild waters played havoc with the buildings. Meantime, on the other side of the railroad, from the old oil well downward, the waters were not idle, so that the territory from Nesbitt avenue, on the south line, to the United Pipe Line Company's shop-, and east- ward from a line east of Argyle and Fairview streets to Jameson street, was almost cleared of buildings. An entire block standing over the creek on Railroad street was destroyed. The Ilarley dwelling and the hose house were followed by the Coliseum, a large building which stood upon the island and erected at a cost of $1.400 in which to hold walking matches. A match was being held and the building was filled with spectators when the flood came unexpectedly and swept it from its foundation so quickly that many of the audience had difficulty in escaping. It withstood the current until struck by a large oil tank, which practi- cally wrecked the building, and it then swept onward, taking everything in its pathway.
The following list taken from the Record embraces the buildings carried away : 1. H. Otto's shanty, S. W. Harley's dwelling, Charles Gardner's shanty, Mrs. Thompson's dwelling, the Coliseum or rink, P. Murray's boiler shop, the hose house. Major Hawkins' derrick and oil tanks, Yough's blacksmith shop, M. N. Miles' law office, Nesbitt's "White .. Fawn," Dill's candy store, O'Donnell's " Hart building," Foote & Weeks' drug store, Teske's barber shop, Levine's cigar store. Bartholdi's clothing store. M. C. Benedict's law office, Bottner's jewelry store, Dan Smith's and Cole's barber shops, the R. Lecky buildings, vacant and tenanted, West's photograph gallery, Levison's cleaning works, the Worden building, Purcell's vacant house, DeCourcey's barber shop, the Smith and the Miles buildings, the Comerford, the Miles and the Bower- vacant buildings, Burkhart's shoe shop, Jonas Hafele's shanty, Petrolia bath-rooms, Mrs. Beauton's dress making store, D. C. Backus' wareroom, Christie & Cameron's stables, But- ler County Gas Lines stable, Zillifro's, Hand's and MeNell's dwellings and the Harris and lland barn. The Clifton House escaped destruction owing to Lyon's boiler shop above it, which the waters were not able to move. The list of houses inundated is equally extensive, but with the exception of the Central House, the Central drug store, Marks dry goods store, Ireland & McCaughtry's machine shop, and the United Pipe Line's buildings, the losses from flooding were not heavy. Many persons narrowly escaped death in various forms, so
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PETROLIA BOROUGH.
that the reminiscences of the day tell of many stupid acts and a greater number of heroic deeds. The Record estimated the entire loss at $75,000.
CHURCHES.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized September 1. 1873, with D. II. and Jane Taylor, D. N. and Adelia Amey, L. B. and Fannie Anderson, H. E. and Jennie Paine, Isaac and Charlotte Elliott, F. M. and Lydia Small, E. and C. McCall, members. In IST3 a meeting house was erected at a cost of $2,381.50, and a parsonage at a cost of $491.75. Both were burned in the fall of 1884. In 1855 a new church and parsonage were built north of Squire Flem- ing's house, the insurance on the old building enabling the society to rebuild. The pastors in charge. since IS73, are as follows : Revs. George J. Squires, 1-73; A. L. Kellogg, 1875; R. N. Stubbs, ISTS; P. W. Schofield, 1879: Manassas Miller, ISS1 ; William Taylor, 1883; Sylvester Fidler, 1864; William Bunce, 1886; F. M. Small, 1887, and J. H. Clemens, the present pastor, in 1592. Mr. Clemens claims a membership of 214 in the circuit, which includes Bruin or Martinsburg.
The Petrolia Presbyterian Church was organized July 10, 1877, by Revs. R. W. McCaslin, James Coulter and W. D. Patton, with the following named members : John Andrews and wife, Mrs. M. C. Benedict, D. W. Bailey, Nancy J. Black, John G. Brandon, Laura Brandon, A. M. Bricker and wife, Jane C. Hart. Mrs. R. E. Foster, Sarepta E. Foster, Mrs. Elizabeth Stand, Alfred L. Jury and wife, Susan Jewell, Mrs. E. Kirschartz, Mary E. Thompson, Thomas G. and Martha Schick. Levi Grand, Florence Wilson. Elizabeth Linn and one other whose name is not given on the record. Mr. Rutherford was stated sup- ply from the beginning of the organization and preached here prior to July, 1877. In November, 1878, Mr. Decker was called as stated supply and regularly appointed in April, 1879. John Andrews and A. L. Jury were ordained elders at the organization : Charles D. Backus, J. G. Brandon and L. G. Wilson in 1878 : David Quigley in 1881, and E. P. Chesebro in 1884. The society was incor- porated November 15, 1886, with the following members or subscribers : David Quigley, E. P. Chesebro, H. A. Klingensmith, J. H. Chatham, W. G. Russell and their wives, A. C. Byers and Mrs. W. II. Daugherty, R. E. Foster, L. Ostrander and Miss Louisa M. Ness. A church was then erected, but of the original congregation W. II. Daugherty, E. P. Chesebro, Mrs. Chesebro and Mrs. Ostrander are now the only resident members. Rev. W. L. McClure is pastor. this church, with that at Fairview and the church at Martinsburg, forming his charge. There are eighty-one members.
St. James' Catholic Chapel. a mission of the Bradys Bend parish, dates back to 1874, when a large number of Catholics petitioned the bishop of P'itts- burg to have a church erected here. Father Tierney was appointed pastor, and under his administration a building was erected at a cost of over $4,000. The pastors at Brady's Bend have attended to this chapel from its beginning, Father Callahan being the present one.
The Church of Christ was incorporated March 1, 1880, under authority of court given on that date. The members of the association at that time were G.
548
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
B. Herbert, W. P. Johnson, H. E. Paine, J. II. Norton and A. Kelly. A building was erected and used for worship for a year or two, until the organiza- tion disbanded, when the building was moved to Sandy Lake.
St. Peter's Mission Chapel was completed in April. 18 2, through the efforts of Rev. Edmund Burke, of the Protestant Episcopal church of Butler. On May 29, 1882, he transferred the building to the local society. It was burned in 1889, since which time no services have been held.
BOROUGH COUNCILS AND JUSTICES.
The first election for Petrolia borough took place in February, 1873, when the following named officers were chosen : George II. Dimmick, burgess; J. Satterfield, assistant-burgess ; A. L. Campbell and J. A. Thompson, justices of the peace ; J. B. Brown. R. S. Rowley, A. L. Campbell, W. F. Jordan and William Gibson, councilmen ; P. Christie, night constable ; D. Spence and R. Elliott, borough constable -; J. B. Jameson, W. Gibson, R. S. Rowley, D. Tubbs, Andrew Campbell and R. W. Amey, school director> ; E. E. Scudder and F. F. A. Wilson, inspector -; H. Millichamp, judge of election ; F. M. Camp- bell, D. C. Backus and Samuel McBride, auditors ; William Gibson, assessor, and J. H. Lewis clerk.
1874-G. II. Dimmick, burgess ; O. W. Fletcher, clerk ; Rowley, Raver, Sheffield, Tupper and Sachen.
1875-Frank L. Masson, burgess ; M. N. Miles, clerk : Owen Mccarthy, J. W. Harlan, Hatch, Adrian, Ireland and R. J. Bottner.
1876-Frank L. Masson, burgess ; M. N. Miles, clerk : C. Barthold. C. Tem- pleton, J. C. Lyon, P. Christie and W. H. Green.
1877-D. W. Bailey, burgess ; Thomas S. McFarland, J. H. Sutherland. W. Gibson, A. C. Beeson, F. L. Masson and J. C. Lyon.
1875-W. H. Green, burgess : A. C. Beeson, S. G. Coffin, R. J. Bottner. R. S. Raver, Thomas Carlin and Owen McCarthy.
1$79-W. H. Green, barges. ; A. C. Beeson. W. Gibson, W. Robertson, L. N. Ireland, R. S. Raver and Owen McCarthy.
ISSO-W. Il. Green, burge>>: William Robertson. J. H. Sutherland. J. C. Lyon, L. N. Ireland, Edward O'Donnell and William Gibson.
1881-Jame- Buzzard, burgess; W. Gibson. J. C. Lyon, J. L. Clark, N. C. Gifford and D. A. Cypher.
1842-M. C. Benedict, burgess : W. C. Gifford. J. C. Lyon and F. H. Cauley.
1883-M. C. Benedict, burgess ; H. A. Klingen-mith. W. H. King and J. E. Ilughes.
1891-J. W. Riddie, burgess ; A. L. Campbell, L. N. Ireland, Thomas Car- lin, W. II. King. Charles E. Herr and William Il. Jellison.
1885-J. W. Riddle. burgess; Charle, E. Herr, J. H. Chitham and A. W. Root.
1886-J. W. Riddle, burgeĀ»; Joseph Burkhart and J. C. Lyon. 1887-William Gibson, burgess; W. S. Wolcott and W. C. Foster.
1838-Robert J. Bottner, burgess; J. A. Foote and G. Kilchenstein. 1880-A. L. Campbell, burgess; J. C. Lyon and F. M. Campbell.
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PETROLIA BOROUGH.
1890-A. L. Campbell, burgess ; W. C. Foster and W. S. Wolcott.
1891-W. G. Forcht, burgess; Sopha Yeager, W. J. Van Norman and Thomas Carlin.
1892-W. A. Fleming, burgess ; J. M. Hawk and 1I. A. Klingensmith.
1893-W. A. Fleming, burgess ; Adam Heckler and R. B. Stevenson.
189-1-James C. Lyon, burgess ; E. A. Totten. Eugene Gilmore, J. M. Hawk, D. B. Stevenson, John Byers and Adam Heckler.
The following is a list of the names of the justices of the peace elected since 1873 : A. L. Campbell, 1873; J. A. Thompson. 1873; J. H. Lewis, 1874; B. F. Wesson, 1874 and 1875; James Buzzard, 1878 and 1880; Francis F. Herr, 1881; Robert J. Bottner, 1882; J. W. Riddle, 1884; William Gibson, 1887; J. W. Riddle, 1889; A. L. Campbell, 1890; W. G. Forcht and W. A. Fleming, 1891.
BANKS AND BUSINESS COMPANIES.
The Argyle Savings Bank, established August 22, 1872, completed an office building at Petrolia in February, 1873. H. A. Taylor being then president, and E. A. Taylor, cashier. The firm transferred its interests to a new company, under whose management the institution suspended.
The Oil Exchange was a veritable Chicago Board of Trade in Centennial year, controlling the oil market of the world, and giving and taking away for- tunes, its members being sometimes very rich and sometimes very poor. In May, 1877, work on the new Oil Exchange was begun. It occupied the site of the old exchange of Geo. II. Dimmick, was seventy-three by twenty-four feet, and three stories high, with a hall twenty-three by twenty-four feet. It was burned, rebuilt, purchased by E. P. Chesebro, and finally destroyed in the fire of 1889.
The Washington Building and Loan Association wasorganized in January. 1894, with O. E. Gilmore, president ; J. D. Smith, secretary and treasurer, and R. C. Whitford, counsel. There are now six members holding fifty-five shares.
The Machine Shops of the United Pipe Lines Company formed the leading manufacturing industry down to 1880, when they were removed. For some time after, the machine shops of Ireland & Hughes, and A. C. Price ; the boiler works of Frank W. Quinn & Company and J. C. Lyon, and A. W. Root's cup and valve factory were carried on here. Of all, only Frank W. Quinn and J. C. Lyon's boiler shops remain. The work is now generally repairs.
The Petrolia Refining Company was organized in 1892, by F. J. Carman and George Sonwrecker, for the conversion of petroleum products into commer- cial commodities. Refined petroleum is made more refined in these works, while lubricating oil is also produced. The specialty of the industry is petrolatum, a product of the crude oil, which is the basis of the salves now on the market, and equal in itself to the salve sold under the name of vaseline. F. W. Quinn is in- terested in this industry, the firm name being Quinn & Sonwrecker. Mr. Quinn purchased the Carman interests April 6, 1893.
W. H. Daugherty & Sons, up the creek, have carried on an oil refinery for many years. They manufacture petroleum, illuminating and other oils on the same principle as the Petrolia Refining Company.
550
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
The Petrolia Creamery is the latest industrial addition. It was opened February 28. 1894. by the local association. It- capacity is 500 pounds of butter a day.
SECRET SOCIETIES.
Clipper Lodge, Number 59, A. O. C. W .. was organized under charter September 3, 1873, at Martinsburg, but was transferred to Petrolia in, 1875. HI. C. Porterfield, C. E. Ryder, James Ilarvey, William McClupper, S. J. Adams, J. M. Harrison, W. G. Harshaw, William Greenwood, James Daily and W. G. Walters were the first officers.
Argyle Lodge, Number 540, F. & A. M., was organized at Petrolia, July 15. 1875, and removed to Millerstown in 1893. In the chapter on Millerstown a sketch of the lodge will be found, to which the reader is referred.
Petrolia City Lodge, Number 903. 1. O. O. F., was a contemporary of the Masonic lodge until 1879 or 1880, when it disbanded.
Dura Lodge. Number 398. K. of P .. was instituted May 15, 1884, with forty-six members. Among the past chancellors may be named the following charter members : J. W. Riddle, R. F. Ruch, W. G. Forcht, M. H. Smith, B. D. Tillinghast, 11. W. Daugherty, W. 11. King and J. F. Miller. The chair has also been filled by the following new members : W. F. Alexander, Alexander Ilazlett, Christ Garing, Thomas Given. W. P. Jameson, W. K. Shreckengost, Harry Williams, J. A. Gibson and John Campbell. William G. Forcht has been the keeper of records and seals for many terms. The membership in May, 1894, was twenty-nine, including seven past chancellors.
James Guthrie Campbell Post, Number 107. G. A. R., was organized Octo- ber 14. 1878, with thirteen members, namely: George S. Akley, Thomas J. Hanna, J. J. Baker. J. S. Bratton, Lewis Stoner, John S. Altman. D. W. Bailey. J. D. Lewis. W. T. Campbell, R. W. Cram. Michael Long, J. S. Morrison and William T. Raver. The past commanders are D. W. Bailey, 1878-79: J. J. Baker, ISSO, and R. F. Ruch, who has been repeatedly elected, and was still serving at the beginning of 1894. with A. L. Campbell, adjutant, and William Gibson. quartermaster. Among the member- at present. are the officers named. with R. C. Whitford. George 11. Grabam. W. A. Jellison. B L. Rankin, Thomas Hays. Thomas Banks and John Duffy. At one time the membership was eighty- four ; at another only six : it is now nineteen.
Virgil Council, Number 170, R. A., was permanently organized in October, 1878, with M. N. Miles, C. M. Zirck. J. R. Bard, J. A. Lindsey, F. C. Clux- ton. J. F. Campbell, S. P. Miles, J. E. Samuel, J. N. Weir and F. E. Hinman, officers in council rank.
Petrolia Tent, Number 95, K. O. T. M., was chartered April 10, 1889, with W. 11. Daugherty, M. P. Cullinan, J. D. Smith, E. R. Whitford, J. (. Baird, 11. 11. Burns, Dr. Michael Cullinan, M. Fitzgerald, Izy Toronski, J. II. Hender- son and Albert Kilchenstein officers in rank. In December, 1893, D. Keefe was elected commander, and J. D. Smith, record and finance keeper; while W. Il. Daugherty, W. J. Van Norman and J. D. Smith are the past commanders. The strength of the lodge is thirty-one. In the four years there have been four deaths, the claims paid amounting to $7,000.
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KAARNS CITY BOROUGH.
Petrolia Lodge, Number 197, O. of T., was instituted February 16, 1888, under charter of January 8, that year. Among the past presidents are R. C. Whitford, C. R. Taylor, E. P. Chesebro and J. D. Smith, who is now president, Mr. Chesebro being secretary, and J. M. Hawk, treasurer.
Petrolia Assembly, Number 7,920, K. of L., was chartered September 25, 1886, the charter being signed by T. V. Powderly, grand master workman, and Frederick Turner, secretary and treasurer. The Assembly holds the charter, but is practically defunct.
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