Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-01-16
Recollections of Butler; or Fifty Years
Ago.
(COatinWed.)
BREDIN SQUARE.


Across Main street from the Mechling is
the square of the late Hon. John Bredln,
which retains the same name as fifty years
ago, and is, we believe, the only square in
the town that does so, or that remains IN
the possession of children or descendants
of the original owner. Two of its lots are
now owned by two of the daughters of the
late Judge Bredin, Mrs. Nancy Cummings
and Mrs. Elvira Lyon, and the other one
by granddaughter, Mrs. Clarence
Walker. A small part of Mrs. Lyons lot,
being the front one, on Main ST., was, how
ever, owned until but recently by her
brother, Joseph b. Bredin, Esq. who sold
same to Mr.. II. w. Koonce, of Mercer
county. who is about to erect there fine
store bouSe. She has also recently sold
some parts of the lot. Mrs. Cummings
and Mrs. Lyon live in the house on the
corner of this lot, erected by their father
aud lived in by him during his lifetime.
Parts of it since his death, May 1851, have
also been occupied for law and other
Offices The first bank of any kind in But
Ter was located in the room now used as an
office by James +. Britain, Esq, and per-
haps others. This bank was established
about 1858, by Ex. Judge James Bredin,
oldest son of the late Judge John Bredin,
and with whom was connected, perhaps in
its origin, the late Mr.. James Campbell
Mr.. Isaac Cummings, deceased, was its
cashier. The house used as an Office by
the late Judge Bredin was frame one,
attached on south end of his dwelling, in
which he had his library and law books,
and in which the writer studied when read
ing law with him. This building has long
since disappeared On the middle lot, of
Mrs. Cummings, facing on Diamond Park,
now vacant, is where once stood one OF the
very early public houses of the town,
known as the Funk Hotel, being kept by
Mr.. Adam Funk. In this hotel or house 1t
is said some of the early Courts of the
county were held. 1t was large log
building and was torn away near fifty
ago. A low frame store house also stood
which was also used as dwelling, among
those living there, remembered by the
writer, was widow Miller, mother of the
present Hon. George W. Miller, of Wash
ington, Pa, who but recently was United
States Marshal for the Western District of
Pennsylvania. On the remaining east lot
Is the fine residence and office of Clarence
Walker, Esq, the main house OF which
was built by Hon. E. McJunkin in the fall
of 1851 He sold same shortly after to
Hon. James Bredin, who lived there until
he sold to Mr.. William G. Stoughton, who
lived there until again purchased by Mr..
McJunkiu. and is now owned and resided
in by Mr.. Walker.
The late John Bredin became Judge of
our courts in 1881, appointed, AS the Judges
then were by the Governor of the State.
He reuained Judge until his death, which
happened, as we state, in May 1851. sud
denly, and during week in which he was
holding Court here. His district was
Beaver Mercer and Butler counties. When
Lawrence county was erected out of Mer-
Ger and Beaver counties, 1850, it was at
tached to or rather remained in his dis
trict The writer accompanied him, in
sleigh and with deep snow on the ground,
to the first Court he held at New Castle.
All the incidents to the opening of that
first Court were very plain in style and are
remembered with much pleasure. Judge
Bredin however, if not good sleighiDg,
always travelled his circuit on horse back.
This was his favorite mode of travelling.
The lawyers of that day also generally
went to the Courts of neighboring counties
IN horse back. Buggies were but little in
use then. Judge Bredin used large pair
of saddle bags on his journeys, in which he
carried all the legal papers, decisions, etc,
necessary for him to take. He was an
able lawyer and laborious Judge, perform
ing an immense amount of work while act
ing as such. Although but self-educated
he was man OF much literary taste and
culture. His library contained books upon