Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-04-03
Recollections of Butler; or Fifty Years
Ago.
(ConfiHued)
JOHN McauIsTIoS-ARcHIBALD MCCALL AND
OTHERS

(C0RfiHHedl
JOHN RCHIBALD MCCALL AND
OTHERS.
Fifty years ago there were some promi-
neut men living near to the town. but seen
so frequently in it that they might be con
sidered part Of II. and therefore worthy /
Of mention Among these was the late /
Mr. John MeQpistion, senior, Of Butler TIP. |
who lived in the large stone house on the /
old Ffeeport road, on the hill mile south |
east Of town The present owners and oe-
cupants Of this house, aud the large old
McQuistion farm there. are the widow and
heirs of tae late John Duerr, who became
owner of same. Mr. McQuistion in his day
also owned several other tracts of land
adjoining where he lived, being Of the
Morris Lowrey depreciation lands,
already spoken Of He also owned several
of the lots in the Boro of Butler, and was
considered a quite wealthy man. His farm
was noted Tor its large amount Of fruit
trees, particularly Of the apple, upon which
the boys of the town made frequent raids,
sometimes by night. Hedefended his fruit
Oh sach occasions by some large dogs ne
had Besides his extensive farm he car
ried on tanning and shoe making and many
of the people OF the town went to his shop,
mile OF nearly uphill travel, to have
their shoes made or mended with him. de
was one of the early Commissioners of the
couutv and for years one of its principal
citizens Nearly all of that name now lly-
ing in or about here arc grand children of
his. He died in 1s41, at the age Of "a years.
james Mcouistion, ore of his sons, who
lived c M D., this way and almost due
SOFT ..l -..e1. Is also as well known in
Butler 80 san as iflrving in it. He
also had L..se laIm noted for its good
fruit. His son, Hindman, lives in the brick
hoase there bailt by his father. Two of
his sons in law, Joseph B. Meehling, ESQ.
and Thomas 3. White, Esq. have their
I fine residences on part of this farm. James
MeQuistion was known as good citizen
and personally was very kind hearted and
benevolent man. One illustration of his
humanity is worthy of mention.
I A NOTED PAUPER.
4 queer character by the name Of Ross
Gattley become a charge on Butler town
ship, as pauper, and was cared for by
James MeQuistion and his family for many
years. Ross Gattley was man of very
peculiar make up, both mentally and
physically. In body he was tall and very
| slim. being of about the same thickness
from head to foot. 1t by no means could
be said of him taat he was tas broad as he
was long, being all long He was said to
have been part Indian, and by some means
the toes of his feet had been frozen oil,
making him walk lame. He was great
reader however and always could be seen
carving a book Of some kind. He was
cross ard surly in disposition and few
cared about keeping him. But paupers
had to be sold, under the law, in that day
i to The lowest bidder who would agree to
keep them. Rofs would be put up yearly
for sale and Mr James MeQuistion would
be the lowest bidder 10 keep him, and he
and his family did keep him until he died,
about 1869. They were the only family
that could manage Boss, bear with him OF
induce him to do any kind of labor
Mr. James McQuistion died in 1851, at
the age Of 45 years.
ARCHIBALD McALL--oRPHANS' HOME
Mr.. Archibald Mccall was Philadel
mia merchant and man Of wealth. He
became owner at an early day of a large
! body Of land in this county, some of it lay
ing near Butler. To look after his pos
sessions here brought him frequently to
our town, between 1880 and lS43 ana prob
ablv before and after those dates. On
bis visits here. always in the summer time,
| he would be accompanied by his famliy-
This family consisted, as far as We can
reeolIeet. of two or three daughters and a
eon They would stay at the then old
| Mechling Hotel on the Diamond. They
we're very renteel well dressed, well be-
haved and cultured people, and great at
tention was paid to them by our people on
their SIMMER visits here. Mr.. Mccall took
nuite an interest in the welfare of the town,
bringing or sending here at times some
improved animal stock and perhaps other
things valuable TO our citizens or farmers.
! lie built the mill up the creek from town,
I now KNOWN rs LNG htOiE AkI4'Nl NM
Ha desired also to have summer residence
for himself aud family when they came
here. end for this purpose erected what
is now the Orphans Home building on
the hill northeast of town When It
was built. about 1885, it was the wonder
and admiration of our people. lie and his
family inhabited it on several OF their
visits here. II has been enlarged by more
recent owners, but the large and broad
noriicos around it and other of its features
are the same as put there by Mr.. Mccall.
: After several changes III ownership this
property became that OF the Reformed
Church, the present owners, and was turn
ed into an Orphans Home, now success
fully carried on by Rev. PIugh. The late
Nj A. n Meylert and family lived in il
about 1850. Mr.. Meylert. with a Mr..
CIymer of the eastern part of the State,
became the purchasers of all the Mccall
| lands in this county, which included the
farm upon which this house, low Orphans
! Home. stands. These parties are all we
think deceased. Mr Mccall died in Phia-
delphia. but in what year we cannot now
state. 1t was however after lo43, as IN
that year his son, General George a. Nc
| Call, was in Butler with the iamiiy. The
summer of that year, 1e43, was the one IN
which the attempt was made to take the
Indian Mohawk from the Jail, and General
| Mccall being here and being distinguish
ed soldier in the Regular Army, he was
consulted By the Sheriff and citizens as TO
| how to best defend The jail IN case oi an
attack upon It. Gen. Mccall made sag
geslions. or gave the Sheriff pointers, as
| to proper military defence, which sug-
gestions we're acted upon, but he declined
| to take any open part in the suppression of
that rebellion lie however was brave
! soldier and afterwards bore conspicuous
part on the battle field Of Gettysburg aud
through the late civil war.
REV. WHITE RESIDENCE.
Near to the Orphans Home, and on the
hill to the east little beyond, is The
residence Of our present worthy Rev. VIII
lam White and family This residence
shonld he mentioned for two reasons first
as being Que Of the Oldest built ON any OF
the bills around the toxin, and, second, for
lie peculiar shape and the person who Is
said 10 have built H. We do not know the
date. but that house is one Of our earliest
recollections and was built not later than
abont 1880. The late Evan X. Evans, Esq.
is saia 10 have erected t. Evan II. Evans
was lawyer, practicing at the Butler Bar
about that time He was son in Jaw of
the late Mrs Sarah Collins, who then
owned that and adjoining lands. This
may account for Mr.. Evans coming toI
Butler. The unique structure of this house
has ALWAYS been subject Of remark and
would indicate that its builder intended
adding more or other buildings 70 II. Mr..
Evans, however, left here about that time,