Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-04-20
Origin Of land Titles.

EprroR CITrzEs--Recently friend made
the following inquiry of us by letter, to
wit: "How did Mrs. Collins and the Nc.
Calls get to own so much laud in Butler
County"
This is no doubt q natural inquiry to
many from the fact that the only history
we have of this county so far does not
state how Mrs. Collins came to own all the
lands she did in the county. Stephen
Lowry is spoken of as owning many tracts
of land in the county, and il 1t had just
been added that Stephen Lowry was the
father of Mrs. Sarah Collins then it might
have been inferred how she got her lands.
These lands all belonged to Robert Morris
before they become the property OF StepL-
en- Lowry. Robert Morris, az most sll
school boys know, was distinguished pa
triot of the Revolutionary war. He was a
wealthy merchant residing in Philadelphia.
He was the friend of Washington and aid
ed the cause of the Revolution and its
soldiers in every way he could. About the
close of that war the soldiers we're in much
distress, and the then Legislature OF this
State, in order to pay them for their
services, provided for the survey and sit
ting apart Of lands in the western part OF
the state for that purpose. BY an act Of
1883 all the lands embraced from where
river (now Beaver County,, up that river,
north side TO the Allegheny river and up
the Allegheny to the mouth of the Mahon-
ing creek now dividing Armstrong and
Clarion counties, thence due west TO state
line again (now Lawrence county, aud
thence south TO the Ohio river where started
were surveyed into districts, known as
Elders, Cunninghams. Jones, Nicholson
and Alexander districts of depreciation
lands. These lands were not really
deprecated or poor lands. But the GER
tifcates granted to the soldiers for these
lands did become much deprecated in
value. And here is displayed the patriot
ism of Robert Morris. He lifted and paid
the needy soldiers for some 311 of these
tracts Of land. LOT of these tracts were in
this county in the Cunningham survey or
district In 1907 Robert Morris, TO the
great regret of all then patriots, failed in
business and all his lands were sold.
Stephen Lowry "a merchant of Baltimore,
became the purchaser at the sale Of the
Morris lands in Butler County. Mr.. Lowry
in his will gave them to his daughter
Sarah, who married Thomas Collins, Esq
and hence became the expression Of the
collins land" The Collins lands all lay
from line about four miles north OF
Butler down to and embracing most or
part Of Centre, Oakland Summit, Butler,
Penn, Middlesex, Clinton, Buffalo, Win
field, Clearfield and Donegal townships,
and including where Butler town now
stands.
AS to the lands of Archibald Mccall,
Chew and others, in this county, tn ese par
ties were spectators or what were known
as land jVbbers and bought or get their
lands in that way. Mr.. Mccall was also a
Philadelphia merchant and probably in
herited his land, much Of which lay in
what Is known as the donation District"
North Of the Depreciation" districts and
which was also donated to soldiers Of the
Revolution.
The above Is as full an answer to the in
curry Of our friend as we are able TO give
at present, and hope is satisfactory.
J. III. Is.