Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-03-11
Butler 5 Boom.

Butler cOuutyb iundOiIdnuo nave
many blessings to. be thankful for.
The ! soil is productive, minerals
abound, limestone and building stone
can be had for the quarrying. and
lastly, natural gas and oil, has tended
toward making it one of the richest
counties in Western Pennsylvania.
It is not the editors intention to
give . detailed history of the county
since the settlement of the whites,
although the most interesting events
win find place in this sketch. Our
object is to show up the advantages to
be gained by manufacturers, by locat-
ing in Butler. Hence this large edi-
tion is to advertise the advantages of
the place, morezthan to give history
Of the past.
Butler county covers an area OF S14
square miles, or $40, $50 acres. The
population has increased in less than a
century from few souls to 81, ,33s. ac-
cording to the census of 1890, and
there is every reason to believe that
the nineteenth century will close with
o showing of over go, 600 inhabitants.
Butler county is bounded on the
north by Mercer and Venango coun-
ties, east by Clarion and Armstrong,
ON the south by Allegheny, and the
west by Beaver, Lawrence and Mercer
counties. The Delaware Indians lived
unmolested in Butler county until the
close of the eighteenth century.
The Indians and the first white set
tlers as rule sought homes along the
banks Of navigable streams, hence this
county was not settled as early as
neighboring counties. Several noted
Indian trails lay through Butler coun-
ty, which proved that the territory
was well travelled by Indians as well
N by hunters and trappers.
The English and French war, which
was.such an important factor in shap-
ing the destiny of the country, did not
disturb the stiffness of Butler county.
George Washington, I'm company
with a surveyor and trapper, Christie
pher Gist; passed through the county
in the year 1888. Major Washington
was only % years old
II was on the Connoquenessing, in
Forward township, that an Indian
lying in ambush, fired at Washington,
but luckily missed fire. Had the shot
fired in the Butler county wilds
reached its mark, the history of this
nation might have been entirely
changed.
The intrepid Captain Brady also had
several adventures with redskins in
the county.
The county and the town were
named after Major General Richard
Butler, who fell at st. Clair's defeat in
Western Ohio, November 4, 1891. 1t
was not until 1895 that the first white
man, James Glover, man Of Holland
Dutch descent, settled in Adams town.
ship. 1t Is said, however, that two
young trappers, David Studebaker and
Abraham Schneider, took up squat
ter's claims in Worth township in
1898, and Peter Mckinney in Forward
township, on Connoquenessing creek
in 1892.
In the year 1910 there were 7,346
people in the county. The pioneers
were principally of Scotch, Irish or
German descent. who had come from
the eastern part of the State, or direct
from Europe. Defects in the land
titles caused considerable trouble for
years, and kept many from locating
in the county. The trouble ended in
. man being shot in 1915, and a halt
was called on the ejectments of the
landowners, which caused such dis
ruptures. It is said that one Of the
Oldest citizens Of Butler borough was
. witness to the affair.
The hardy pioneers, who endured 30
much to gain liberty and homes, were
- fully contented as we and lived to
ripe old ages.
The farmers at first had to construct
their own roads.
In 1904 a petition for the appoint
ment Of viewers to build road from
Butler to Freeport was granted. and
the same road is traversed today.
Bridges and roadswere soon extending
In all directions, followed by turn
pixies upon which the first coach and
four travelled In 1922.
The first mail was carried in 1925 by
w. w. Bell, between Ebensburg and
Butler, by way of Indiana and Kittan-
ming.
The first plank road, completed in
1853, between Butler and Pittsburg,
cost s1l6, 900.
In 1885 survey was made from
Freeport to New Castle via Butler,
with the intention of constructing a
railroad. This was not realized until
1871, January ~, when the road was
completed by the Pennsylvania Com
pany. The opening of the road was a
day Of great rejoicing long to be re-
membered In Butler. Excursions were
Organized from Butler to Pittsburg
and back again, with banquets, speech
making and fireworks.
A telegraph line extended through
the county just ten years before from
Pittsburg to Franklin and was called
the Oil Valley Telegraph line. In 1852
IN office was opened at the Lowry
House, presided over by David Potts,
Of Butler borough. To-day we enjoy
all the comforts our forefathers
worked 10 hard to obtain, and the
question arises, are we any happier?
pryrI,ER BOROUGH.
Robert Morris, the revolutionary
patriot, was the original owner of the