Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-02-13
Recoilections OF Butler; or Fifty Years
Ago.
(C0ntiAEed)
GILcHRIsT-BEATTY SQUARE.

e
Ago.
Continued
GILcHRIsr-BEATrY SQUARE
Across Main Street from last described
Potts and Dewolf square is what we will
call the Gilchris;- Beatty square Of so years
ago. John Gilchrist owred two Of its lots
and the late Hon William Beatty the
other one. Mr. Gilchrist built and lived in
what is now the greater part of the
Vogeley House property. He built all Of
the large brick from and including the
present Morrison bakery and grocery up to
and within % or 80 feet of the upper cor
ner. On this upper corner stood one of
the first and Oldest public houses of Butler.
log-frame, which was removed, about
1868, by the late William yegeley, and in
its place erected the brick now attached to
the main brick erected by Mr. Gichrist,
both together composing what is now the
Nogeley House. The old log frame on
corner was said to have been erected by
Mrs. Collins in her day here. Our first
distinct recollection of it commences with
the time the late Michael Zimmerman be-
gan keeping hotel there, about 1s43 Mr..
Zimmerman kept there as a renter until
1S4S, when he bought and removed to what
Is now the Willard House, heretofore
spoken of Mr.. William vogeley succeed
ed him shortly after, probably in lS4S. buy
ing from Mr.. Gilchrist the old log frame
part and keeping hotel in il alone until he
purchased the balance, or larger part
This larger part had been purchased of Mr.
Gilchrist, about 1852, by the late William
Bell, the contractor and builder of the old
Court House that few years ago was de-
stroyed by fire. Mr.. Vogeley came to own
this part through Mr.. Bell Previous to
his sale to Mr.. Bell Mr.. Gilchrist had
himself kept public house there and was
followed in same, 1s46 and lS47, by our
present Mr.. James Borland. Professor
Borland was followed, 1S4S, by the late
Mr.. William B. Lemon, who afterwards
removed to Beaver Falls and died there
some few years ago. Mr.. Bell removed
from the county and is also deceased. He
was the father-in-law of our present L. P.
Walker, Esq. A front room of this larger
part, on street, and where is now the par
lor OF present hotel, was used for years as
an office. one of its present windows being
then a door. Doctors Agnew and Nc
Junkin had their office there, about IS45
and the late General Purviance had his
law office there, 1856, and for number of
years. Mr.. James A. Negley, Mr.. NJ.
Schneideman, and others, bad stores in the
room where now is the bar room of present
Vogeley House, between 1850 and 1870.
Mr.. Vogeley removed the old log hotel
part, 1868, down to Washington Street
where and in which his widow now
resides. The whole of the Hotel Vogeley
is now the property of his widow and heirs.
He died in Oct. 1873, aged so years.
Where present Campbell hardware store
is was part of the Gilchrist lots and pur-
chased of him by the Messrs. Campbell
about 1888, which is still carried on b.,
members of that family in the name of J.
G. d VIM. Campbell, and is now one of
the best and largest hardware stores of our
town. At first it was dry goods and
general store.
Mr.. John Gilchrist, after or about the
time of disposing Of his above property,
removed to Brady's Bend, Pa, where he
kept hotel for some time. He returned to
Butler and shortly afterwards, about 1858.
removed with his family to Wheeling,
West Virginia. His son, John Parker Gill
christ, is said to be very successful bust
ness man in Wheeling. Another son,
Christy, went to California. No other
member OF his family is living that is now
known of by any of our present people.
Mr.. Gilchrist was halter by trade and for
many years had halter shop where now
stands the Campbell hardware store,
spoken of. He was an active and enter
prising man in the business of the town in
his day here, and was its postmaster at
one time. He was rather tall in person,
had hesitancy in his speech, and was
very apt to defend himself with vigor if
occasion required him to do so.
BEATTY LOT.