Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-03-06
Recollections of Butler; or Fifty Years
Ago.
(Condnued.)

Continued.
OLIVER vID-SCoTT-McKEE SQUARE.
The middle lot of this square is first rec
objected by us as that OF the late Robert
Scott, Esq. Upon it at present stand the
fine store buildings of Mr.. Al Ruff, Mr.. d.
H. Wuller and Mr.. F. p Baldauf. Where
they stand fifty years ago stood small frame
or brick buildings. The late Mr.. Philip
Bickel became owner of the one where Mr..
Ruff has his shoe store and had his shoe
making shop there, near fifty years ago.
He was followed 10y Bickel and Schenck in
same business Mr.. Adam Schenck was
father to present Schenck enterprising cit
liens. Mr.. Adam Schneider followed
Bickel and Schenck in the same business.
So it will be seen that this particular place
has been occupied from the time of Mr..
Philip Biekel down to the present by men
enga ged in the shoe trade or business, Mr.. Al
Ruff being the present one with his fine
boot and shoe store, composing part OF
the Union Block, erected since the fire of
1873 that burned the old buildings there.
Where Mr.. d. H. Wuller's fine drug
store stands the late Mr.. William Criswel
had his saddlery shop fifty years ago. Mr..
Criswell was prominent citizen OF our
town for many years. He was one OF the
earliest and best saddlers in the place. In
his latter days he had connected with him
in business the late Mr.. Curtis Smith, and
Mr. Smith probably carried on the saddle
ry business there himself for time. Da-
vid II. Mackey had his marble shop there
at one time. VIM. S. Zegler, Esq. had
his tin shop there at one time. Present
Drs. Graham ard Zimmerman had q drug
store there for a time and we believe sold
ont same to present Mr.. Daniel H. Wuller.
His building is part of Union Block erect
ed to replace those burned down by the fire
there in 1873.
Fifty years ago where now stands MI
Baldauf's s shoe shop and store stood a
small building, which has had many occu-
pants. ''too numerous to mention" as they
say in vendue bills 1t is longer ago than
that since our present Gen. George w.
Reed had we think his first saddlery shop
there. Present William S. Zeigler, Esq.
afterwards had his Justice Of the Peace
office there. This part of lot finally be-
came the property of Mr.. John Greer OF
Prospect, from whom we believe Mr. Bal
dauf obtained it and upon which he has
erected the fine brick now standing there,
in upper rooms of which is the office of the
Western Uuion Telegraph Co.
Robert Scott, Esq. who owned above lot
of this square was in his day one OF But
ler's prominent citizens and an active and
influential man in its political affairs. We
have but faint recollection of him. He
was the principal Justice of the Peace OF
the town fer many years, and was at one
time a Commissioner of the county, and
also its Register and Recorder for a num-
Der of years He was the father OF ex-
Sheriff John Scott, whose widow is still
living here, and the grandfather of our
present Robert PRESLEY Scott, Esq. of the
Butler Bar. He died in the latter part OF
1880.
MCKEE LOT.
The late Hugh Mckee, Esq. was the
owner, fifty years ago, of the lot on which
now stands the Savings Bank, the Schneid-
eman clothing store and the former Nation
al Bank, now Berg Bank Building. Where
Savings Bank is formerly stood small
brick. generally used for butchers shop.
Our present Mr.. Christian Otto had his
meat shop there and probably owned the
| property for some time. When Nicholas
and Lewis Miller first came here they had
their meat shop there. The late James
Glenn had his tailor shop there in former
wears. and the present Mr.. Nelson McCand-
less had his tailor shop there for some
time.
Where store of Mr.. Herman Schneide-
| man now is was frame which was part OF
/ the residence of the late Mr.. Mckee. Mr..
| John A. Sedwick, about 1860, had a sad
dlerv shop there. Present Mr. Joseph
| Roekepstein followed him with his sad
dIerv sbop there. 1t finally became the
| property of present Hon. Charles McCand
| less and Mr.. Charles Duffey, from whom
| Mr.. Schneideman purchased same.
! The corner, where present Berg Bank
stands. was also part of the Mckee
residence. or used rather by him as the
| driving part of his tanning shops. After
| Mr. McKee's death. and about 1916, :his
| whole lot became TIE property of his son,
| Doctor j. Cooper Mckee, now Of the
| United States Army. About 1871 the part
where stands Berg Bank was purchased hy
| Col John NJ. Thompson for banking pur-
poses. paying $l2, 200, for same, soon after
/ which. 1872 the construction of what was
| known as the National Bank building was
commenced, and completed III sadDe year
! Ii did busiGcss there To the time Of It's
failure or being closed up by the Govern
meut, 1880.
The late Mr.. Hugh Mckee was one ol
the early and enterprising ci5izens OF
| Butler. Our recollection of him is slight,
| Int he was always spoken of as q most
worthy. man and excellent citizen. 1t is
said that the present prosperous U. T.
| Church of this place owes more to Mr.. Nc
Kee than to any other of its early members
! for its origin and success. He was regard
ed by all as a good man. In person he
was tall, quiet in manner, cool OF head and
collected il speech He was a tanner by
trade and his tannery was the most e1-
tensive one in town for many years HIS
shops and business extended down Jetei-
son street, from Main, and the tan bark
after being used was thrown upon Jefier-
son. This tan bark deposit and place was
favorite one for exercise to the small
boys of the town, particularly in the
exercise of jumping, and many were the
contests there in running jumps" in the
chop, step and jump" and all the then
other kinds of jumps. The leaps that We're
claimed to be made there lar excecoo, the
one made by the celebrated Sam. Brady
when pursued by the Indians. The springy
nature of the tan bark and the soft places
it afforded Tor leaping and landing were
however better than Brady had But
none who ever exercised on Mr.. Mckee's
waste tan bark yards will forget the ex-
citement and fuu of the running. leaping
and jumping done there
In connection with his tanning business
Mr.. Mckee also had that of a meat market
which was a great convenience to the
people of the town at that day. he acted
as a Justice of the Peace for some years and
filled other places of trust. His family
although large became scattered and no
child ufhiS is now living in or about Butler.
Doctor j. Cooper Mckee, surgeon i'll the
Uuited States Army, is probably his only
chi,l living He visits Butler occasionally
and was last here two or three summers
ago. Some grandchildren of Mr.. Mckee
however are still here, beng the children
of his daughter, the late Mrs. Alexander
Mcbride.
KEARNs-STEIN-CARN SQUARE.
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