History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 86

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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JAMES DUNLAP was born on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets, in Butler, Pennsylvania, April 18, 1807, and was one of the first children born within the borough limits. His grandfather, Rev. James Dunlap, was the second presi- dent of Jefferson College, and his father, James Dunlap, was a pioneer lawyer of the Butler bar, whence he removed to Mississippi and served on the bench a long term of years as United States district judge. The subject of this sketch was reared in Butler, received a good academical education, and early developed a strong taste for the surveyor's profession, which he studied under the able pre- ceptorship of David Dougal, the pioneer surveyor of Butler county. On April 17, 1838, he married Margaret Murdock, a daughter of Samuel and Mary ( Con- nor) Murdock, of Washington county. She became the mother of four children, as follows : Samuel M., of Butler ; Mary L., wife of Robert Henry, of Alle- gheny ; Lydia R., wife of W. J. McKee, of Butler, and James, deceased.

In 1862 he became a partner of W. S. Boyd, and the firm of W. S. Boyd & Company carried on merchandising on the corner of Main and Jefferson streets for many years, and subsequently he and Mr. Boyd engaged in dealing in real estate. Although following mercantile pursuits, Mr. Dunlap did not give up surveying. As years sped by he became an enthusiast in his profession, and was always recognized as an excellent surveyor. He possessed a strong, clear, ana- lytical mind, and was gifted with great energy and a constitution well fitted to bear the hardships of his laborious duties. Through judicious study and practice, he became a high authority on the land titles and surveys of this section of the State, and for years he was a most trusted witness in the establishment of boundary lines. He was celebrated for hisclear, direct and positive statement of facts, supported by accurate and concise field notes and drafts. At the time of his death, July 29, 1892, there were few men in Butler county who had so large a personal acquaintance with its people as James Dunlap. His memory stretched back over a period of more than three-quarters of a century, and his name was a familiar one in nearly every home.

Mr. Dunlap was one of the leading Democrats of the county, and always in line with the advanced thought of his party. Thoroughly familiar with current history, and equally conversant with the maxims of sound political economy, he was a keen and dangerous opponent in debate, and sought rather than avoided political discussion. Aggressive and uncompromising in the assertion and maintenance of his convictions, he was always careful that political differences should not disturb the harmony of personal friendships. In 1860 he was a dele- gate to the National Democratic Convention at Charleston, South Carolina, was county surveyor for several years, always took a decided personal interest in the

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growth and progress of education, and served on the school board for a long period. He was a man of exemplary moral character, unassuming in manner, dignified and courteous in address, chaste in conversation, and upright in all his dealings with his fellowmen. His name and memory deserve a worthy place in the annals of his native town.

JOHN DUFFY, second son of Charles and Ellen Duffy, was born in Ireland, in November, 1784, and immigrated with his parents to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1793, where the family resided until the spring of 1796, and then crossed the Allegheny river into what is now Butler county, with the ad- vanced guard of pioneers. They were among the first settlers of Donegal town- ship, and located on the tract since known as the Duffy farm, where John grew to manhood. In August, 1814, he was appointed, by Governor Snyder, captain of a company in the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, and served in that capacity many years. In 1816 he was elected a justice of the peace, which position he filled until 1823. In that year he removed to the borough of Butler and established a general store, which business he followed until 1840, when he was appointed one of the associate judges of Butler county. Ile served upon the bench until 1850, and then retired from all active business. He was never married, and died in June, 1864, aged eighty years. Judge Duffy was a man of the strictest integrity, and possessed those sterling qualities which charac- terized the lives of the first settlers.

PETER DUFFY, third son of Charles and Ellen Duffy, was born in Donegal township, Butler county, March 30, 1798. He was reared upon the homestead farm until he was eighteen years of age, attended the pioneer subscription schools, and endured the privations and trials incident to pioneer life. In 1516 he came to Butler and took charge of a woolen mill and carding machine attached to the old grist mill, which then stood across the Connoquenessing, above the site of the present Reiber mill. This old mill was erected by William Neyman in 1800, and was one of the first of the kind in Butler county. In 1823 he entered his brother John's store. and afterwards became a partner in the business. In 1827 he engaged in contracting on the l'ennsylvania canal, and continued upon that public improvement until it was completed. Mr. Duffy was appointed post- master of Butler December 10, 1830, and hell the office two years. He was then appointed prothonotary and clerk of the courts of Butler county, and served in that capacity until 1836. In 1833 he married Deborah Dougherty, to whom were born three children, as follows: Mary, who became a Sister of Mercy, and in 1861, when the government established a soldier's hospital at Pittsburg, in which there were, during the greater part of the war, thousands of sick and wounded Union soldiers, she was placed in charge as Sister Superior, held that position until the close of the Rebellion, and died in February, 1870; Charles, who suc- ceeded his father in business in 1873, and has since carried on merchandising at the same place, and James E., now pastor of St. John's Catholic church, East Albany, New York. When the gold excitement broke out in 1849, Mr. Duffy went to California, where he remained until 1853. Returning to Butler he re- sumed merchandising, which business he continued until 1863, and then retired from active business. The great oil development in Butler county embraced his

HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.

farm in Donegal township and brought him a large royalty. Mr. Duffy was one of the pioneer Catholics of Butler, and assisted in the erection of the old stone chapel, as well as both of the present church buildings. Throughout his long resi- dence here he was recognized as one of the most charitable and useful citizens of the community. He was a man of wide information, broad views and great force of character. He died in December, 1883, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years, a veritable patriarch of his native county.

HUGH MCKEE, second son of Thomas and Martha McKee, was born in the Tuscarora valley, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania, in 1783, and died in the borough of Butler in 1835. He came with his parents to this county when about fourteen years old, learned the tanner's trade, and later established a tannery on the site of Berg's bank, which business he followed for many years. This tannery is one of the well remembered industries of early days. Mr. Mckee was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving in a company from Butler county. He was one of the first elders of the United Presbyterian church, and filled that office for more than thirty years. In 1810 he married Margaret Dunbar, a daughter of John Dunbar, of Butler township, to which union were born the following children : Jane, who married George Potts, of Altoona: Thomas; Robert ; Maria, who married Alexander McBride, of Butler; Martha : Margaret; Isaiah J., who died in California in 1861, and James Cooper, a retired surgeon of the United States army, the last being the only survivor of the family. Mrs. MeKee survived her husband more than forty years, and died in 1876.

COL. JAMES COOPER MCKEE, a retired surgeon of the United States army. was born in the borough of Butler, Pennsylvania, May 18. 1830, and received his education in the public schools and at the Butler Academy. He then taught for two winters in Middlesex and Summit townships, and in 1848 attended Duquesne College. Hle commenced the study of medicine with Dr. William C. Thompson, of Indianapolis, attended lectures at the Medical University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institution in 1852. Dr. McKee commenced practice at Altoona, where he continued until 1856, and for the next year was located at Hollidaysburg. In 1857 he was examined by the medical board of the regular army, passed, and was commissioned assistant surgeon in the United States army in 1858. His first duty was in charge of a body of recruits from Fort Leavenworth across the plains to Fort Union, New Mexico, a march of 800 miles. In the winter of 1858 he went to old Fort Massachusetts, Colorado, from where he was ordered into the Navajoe Indian country, New Mexico, during the Indian war, and was there until 1859. He was next stationed at Fort Filmore, New Mexico, then ordered into Arizona, and served in the Apache Indian cam- paign until 1860, when he returned to Fort Filmore and was ordered into a winter campaign under General Canby against the Navajoe Indians. In the spring of 1861 he returned to Fort Filmore, and, the Rebellion having broken out. he was taken prisoner by Major Baylor, who commanded a Texas Militia regi- ment, was paroled and finally returned to Fort Leavenworth, and thence to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. He was soon afterwards ordered to Fort Wayne, and then to Camp Butler, Illinois, where he had charge of the rebel prisoners of war. Here he was relieved from parole by exchange, and went to Chester,

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Pennsylvania, where he organized a hospital ; was next ordered to join General Pope's army, at Second Bull Run, and served as assistant medical director of the army. At the battle of Antietam he was made assistant medical purveyor of the army, and stationed at Frederick City, Maryland, after the battle. He after- wards took charge of a hospital at Baltimore, and was next sent to organize a general hospital at Pittsburg. In 1863 Dr. McKee was promoted to the rank of captain, and was placed in charge of Lincoln United States Hospital, Washing- ton, D. C., with a capacity of 3,000 beds, where he remained until the close of the war. During this period 25,000 sick and wounded men passed under his attention. He was next ordered to New Mexico as chief medical officer, with headquarters at Sante Fe, where he met with an accident, was sent to Fort Wadsworth, in New York harbor, and remained there between three and four years. After a visit to Europe he became medical director of the department of Arizona, afterward served in the same capacity at Vancouver Barracks, Wash- ington Territory, department of Columbia, and was finally retired from active service, in 1891, for injuries received in the line of duty, with the rank of lieuten- ant colonel. lle returned to his old home in Butler, which has since been his place of residence. Colonel McKee is a gentleman of fine literary tastes, digni- fied character, broad views and a wide knowledge of men and books. lle is the author of a pamphlet giving the details of the surrender of his command at Fort Filmore, which has run through three editions, and is highly prized by mil- itary men.

MAJ. GEORGE W. REED was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, July 14, 1803. His father, a native of Scotland, died when our subject was five years old, and his mother, who was born in Holland, subsequently married a gen- tleman named Ash. George W. was reared upon his stepfather's farm. At the age of twenty-one he visited his cousin, J. J. Sedwick, who was engaged in the har- ness and saddlery business at Butler, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sedwick induced him to learn the harnessmaker's trade, and after serving his apprenticeship he located at Harmony, Butler county, where he worked at his trade for a few months. Returning to Butler he soon after purchased the saddlery and harness business and property of William Criswell, and carried on that business for some time. HIe next bought the site and built the home where his daughter now resides, also a store building which then stood on the site of Alfred Wick's residence. He con- ducted business here until 1863. Mr. Reed was originally a Whig. but on the formation of the Republican party he joined that organization and was ever after- wards a stanch defender of its principles. In 1841-42 he served in the borough council, in 1845 was elected sheriff, and in 1861 treasurer of Butler county. In 1828 he was one of the viewers appointed by the court to lay out the road from Butler to Kittanning, and in 1845 he was one of the viewers who surveyed the road from Butler to Brady's Bend. Mr. Reed was active in the State Militia, first serving as captain and major, and in 1835 he was elected brigade inspector for Butler and Beaver counties, and in 1842 for Butler county alone. In 1848 he was elected brigadier-general, and subsequently adjutant and major of his battal- ion, which he virtually commanded. Major Reed was among the early oil oper- ators of Butler county, and later in life, while not an active operator, had valu-

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able interests in the Hundred Foot field and in other parts of the county. Though not actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, he owned and operated a farm close to the borough up to the time of his death, which is still in the possession of his family. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, but after his marriage he joined the United Presbyterian church, and was a prominent member of the Butler society.

Major Reed was married in 1832, to Mary A. Potts, whose parents were natives of Glasgow, Scotland, whence they removed to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Nine children blessed this union, as follows : Anne J., widow of J. T. Lane of Davenport, Iowa ; Catharine A., widow of Simpson Walker; Eliza, deceased wife of James A. Balph ; Alfred G., who was mortally wounded at Fredericks- burg ; Nelson P., deceased, for many years a prominent publisher of Pittsburg ; Agnes L., who resides in the old home at Butler; George W., deceased; Mary, wife of Charles A. Sullivan, a member of the Pittsburg bar, and Joseph, a resi- dent of the same city. Mrs. Reed died in Butler, May 8, 1887. Her husband survived her nearly six years, and died in the oldl homestead, February 16, 1893. Their married life extended over a period of fifty-five years, and throughout their long residence in Butler they enjoyed the love and confidence of a large circle of friends. The gentlemanly bearing of Major Reed in all the walks and depart- ments of life, had much to do with winning the admiration and respect of his fel- low citizens. He possessed a most genial and sociable nature, and a rectitude and integritry without a stain. Temperate and moral in all things, an active and useful citizen, he earned the esteem of all, and passed away at the advanced age .of nearly ninety years without leaving an enemy behind.

NELSON P. REED, second son of Maj. George W. Reed, was born in But- ler, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1841, where he also received his education in the public schools and at Witherspoon Institute. When his father was elected county treasurer, Nelson P. entered the office as assistant, and at the same time took charge of the register and recorder's office for C. E. Anderson, the register and recorder, who was in the army as captain of Company C., One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers. In 1863 he was appointed book-keeper for the Pittsburg Dispatch, and subsequently business manager of that paper. He next purchased the Pittsburg Gazette, and later consolidated it with the Pittsburg Commercial, under the title, Commercial-Gazette, and published that paper to the time of his death. Mr. Reed was twice married, his first wife being Miss Lizzie Robb, to whom was born a daughter, Bessie, wife of Alfred G. Reed, of Pittsburg. Ilis second wife was Miss Emma Dunlap, who survives him, and is the mother of one son, Nelson, deceased. The ability of Nelson P. Reed, as publisher of the Commercial-Gazette, is known throughout the State, and his success reflects credit on the place of his birth.

ALFRED G. REED, in whose honor A. G. Reed Post, G. A. R., of Butler, was named, was born July 2, 1839, in Butler borough, son or Maj. George W. Reed. He was educated in the common schools and at Witherspoon Institute, and commenced reading law with John N. Purviance. Before his admission to the bar, at the first call for for troops in 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company HI, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was one of the first regiments to

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cross the Potomac into Virginia. At the expiration of his three months' term. he re-enlisted for three years in Company Il, Seventy-Eighth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and was commissioned second sergeant. His regiment was assigned to General Negley's command, operating in Kentucky and Tennessee. After a brief period he obtained permission from the colonel of his regiment to return to Butler and raise a company of mounted men ; but subsequently joined C. E. Anderson, in recruiting Company C, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsyl- vania Volunteers, for the nine months' service. He was commissioned first lieu- tenant of this company, on August 14, 1862, and was promoted to the rank of adjutant, on October 2, following. He was frequently complimented by General Humphrey on being one of the most efficient drill masters in the division. In that terrible charge at Fredericksburg, December 13. 1862, he was mortally wounded, and died on December 28, following. Ilis remains were brought home and now rest in North Side cemetery. Adjutant Reed married Mary B. Miller, of Allegheny, who still resides in that city. One son was born to this union, Alfred G., now one of the owners of the Commercial-Gazette, of Pittsburg.

HON. JACOB ZIEGLER was born in Gettysburg, Adams county, Pennsylvania. September 19. 1813, the second in a family of nine children born to George and Gertrude Elizabeth Ziegler of that place. He attended the schools of his native town during his boyhood, or until the removal of the family to a farm some three miles from Gettysburg, where he continued to assist his parents in the necessary work. Finally tiring of agricultural pursuits, he concluded to seek his fortune in a more congenial occupation. Leaving home without his parents' knowledge, with a capital of but one dollar and twelve cents in his pocket, he went to Gettysburg, thence proceeded to Pittsburg, and from the latter city came to But- ler, traveling the whole distance afoot and living on the scantiest fare during the journey. He arrived at William Beatty's tavern on the evening of August 21. 1831, with only twelve cents of his capital left. That kind-hearted gentleman, after learning the circumstances, gave him his supper and a night's lodging. Dur- ing the evening he met David Agnew, an old schoolmate, and the following day he took up his abode at Mr. Agnew's home. About a month later he entered the Repository office for the purpose of learning the printer's trade. James Mc- Glaughlin, one of the editors, asked him to take the place just made vacant by the death of a former apprentice, Neil McBride, and he says : " I agreed to do so on condition that I was to eat at the same table with the family. He said, cer- tainly, but I would find the victuals d-n poor." " The agreement," says Mr. Ziegler, " was written with chalk on the inside of the front door of the office, and was about in these words : "

SEPTEMBER, 1831.

Jacob Ziegler came to learn the printing business with McGlanghlin & McClelland. He agrees to stay two years and six months, when he will be free. During that time we agree to furnish him with victuals, clothing and lodging.

MCGLAUGHLIN & MCCLELLAND.

JACOB ZIEGLER.

He remained faithful to this agreement, served his full time, and continued to. work in the office as a journeyman. Some time later his parents, learning of his whereabouts, came to see him, and were so well pleased with his progress and

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good record that his father purchased him an interest in the office. In May. 1842, he became one of the proprietors of the Herald, with which he was connected a few years at that period. His name is inseparably linked with that paper, which in later years was known far and wide as . Ziegler's Herald."

In the meantime he became quite prominent in public affairs, and began to wield a great influence in the councils of the Democratic party. From 1835 to 1838 he served as clerk of the board of county commissioners, and in the latter year he was appointed prothonotary of Butler county by Governor Porter. In October, 1838, he was elected as his own successor, and served three years. Dur- ing this period he had studied law under Hon. John Bredin, was admitted to the bar April 18, 1836, and practiced his profession a few years. In 1843 he was chosen transcribing clerk in the State Senate, served in that capacity for two sessions, and afterwards as assistant clerk of the same body one year. In 1847 he was elected a member of the legislature, served one term, and was then appointed a clerk in the pension department at Washington, D. C. When General Taylor became president. the heads of many Democratic clerks fell under the official ax. and Mr. Ziegler's was one of them. In 1849 he went to California and spent fourteen months in the mines of the Golden State. Returning to Pennsylvania, he was appointed chief clerk in the office of the secretary of the Commonwealth, and served in that capacity during Governor Bigler's administration. He was an assistant clerk in the House in 1857, and chief clerk from 1858 to 1860. In 1861 he was elected chief clerk of the Senate, and served during one session. While acting as chief clerk of the House, Mr. Ziegler wrote a book on parliamentary law, which embraced the rules and laws governing the General Assembly, and various other matters of interest. This work, known as " Ziegler's Manual," was the foundation of what is now " Smull's Legislative Hand Book." He was a recognized authority on parliamentary law, and few men of his time possessed so thorough a knowledge of the rules governing legislative bodies. It may not be generally known that Mr. Ziegler was the originator of the Credit Mobilier, and that from his fertile brain sprung that great plan to raise funds for the con- struction of the Union Pacific railroad. He, however, made little out of it, while millions were made by other prominent public men who utilized this product of his brain. So wide was his reputation for some years succeeding the Rebellion, that the New York Herald once mentioned his name among the prospective presidential candidates. In 1852 he was again elected to the legislature by the people of Butler county, and was a recognized leader of the Demo- cratic party in the House. Captain Ziegler was a fluent and forcible speaker and a ready and vigorous writer. His speeches were full of pith and point, permeated with a vein of humor, and illustrated by appropriate anecdotes, which he seemed to have always ready for the occasion. He was celebrated as a story teller, and the life of every social gathering.

His title of captain was derived from his connection with the DeKalb Greys, the crack military company of Butler county prior to the Rebellion. He organ- ized, equipped and drilled this command, and was its leading spirit during its existence. When Sumter was fired on and the flag insulted, Captain Ziegler,

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seeing no hope of an honorable peace, took a firm stand in defence of the Union. He became a voluntary recruiting officer in raising men for the service, and did all in his power to assist the government during those four long years of civil strife. He served as burgess of Butler several terms, and also in the borough ouneil. In 1867 he again became the owner of the Herald, took his son, Alfred G .. into partnership, and continued as an editor and publisher to the time of his death, which occurred at his home in Butler, June 19. 1888, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. As a distinguished mark of respect, all places of business in Butler were closed during the funeral, and the whole town assumed the appear- ance of mourning. Honest. kind, generous, helpful, charitable. he died without an enemy. Both in his public career and in his home life, he had won the warmest esteem and friendship of the community. His sterling character endeared him most to those who knew him best. while the affectionate and familiar title of " Uncle Jake," given to him by young and old alike, was but another tribute to his kindness of heart and fatherly bearing from the people among whom he had lived for more than half a century.

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History of Butler County, Pennsylvania, Part 86

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