History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1895

Transcribed by: Cindy Baughman. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.

Surnames in this chapter are:

ACHRE, ADAMS, AGGAS, ALLEN, ANDERSON, ART, AYRES, BARD, BARNHART, BASTIAN, BELL, BERG, BIERS, BIGHAM, BLACK, BLAKELEY, BOLTON, BOOK, BOSTON, BOVARD, BOYD, BRACKEN, BRADY, BREADEN, BRECKENRIDGE, BREDIN, BRYSON, BRYERS, BULH, CAMPBELL, CHRISTY, CLARK, CLAY, COCHRAN, CRAIG, CROSS, CROZIER, CUMMINS, CUMMINGS, CUTHBERT, DENNISON, DICUS, DODDS, DOUTHETT, DUFFY, DUNN, EICHOLTZ, ELLIOT, ENDRES, ENSLEN, FAWCETT, FERRERO, FETTER, FETZER, FLEEGER, FLICK, FORESTER, FOSTER, FRAZIER, GAISFORD, GALLAGHER, GILCHRIST, GILLILAND, GLENN, GRAHAM, GRANT, GROSSMAN, HAGERTY, HALDERMAN, HARRIS, HARTLEY, HAZLETT, HEINEMAN, HELMBOLD, HENRY, HILLIARD, HOVER, HOYT, HUMPHREY, HUNTER, HUTCHISON, HYLE, JACK, JOHNSON, KENNEDY, KERR, KOHLMEYER, LANE, LAYTON, LEASON, LIEGHNER, LITINGER, LOWE, LOWRY, LYON, LYTLE, LUSK, MARSHALL, MARTIN, MAURHOFF, MAXWELL, MECHLILNG, MELLINGER, MILFORD, MCABOY, MCCAFFERTY, MCCONNELL, MCCOY, MCBRIDE, MCGILL, MCJUNKIN, MCKEE, MCLAUGHLIN, MCMAHON, MCMURRY, MCNEES, MCQUISTION, MEALS, MILLER, MITCHELL, MOORE, MOORHEAD, MORRISON, MOYER, MULLER, MURRIN, MYERS, NEGLEY, NEVILLS, NEYMAN, NIBLOCK, NIXON, 0'DONNELL, PAMPSON, PARKER, PATTERSON, PEARCE, PIERCE, POLLOCK, PORTER, PURVIANCE, PURVIS, RAY, REED, RIDDLE, ROBB, ROBINSON, ROESSING, SAY, SCOTT, SEATON, SHAFFER, SHONTZ, SHOWALTER, SITLER, SMITH, STAUFFER, STEHLE, STEPHENSON, STEVENSON, STEWART, SULLIVAN, SUTTON, TEBAY, TEMPLETON, THOMPSON, TROUTMAN, TURNER, VENSEL, WADSWORTH, WALDRON, WALKER, WEIHL, WEIR, WESTERMANN, WILLIAMS, WILSON, WOLFF, YOUNG, ZIEGLER

It may be said with truth, that in the United States, agriculture and agriculturists have found their proper sphere. Cincinnatus, retiring to his farm, after saving Rome, did not bring with him to his fields a greater independence of spirit or more self reliance than the pioneers of Butler county brought with them into the wilderness. Agriculture, in pioneer days, required of its followers physical strength, great endurance and sublime patience. The mother and the children of the pioneer home in the forest had also to be possessed of these qualities in a certain degree, for disappointments and obstacles were always presenting themselves.

Clearing the land of the primitive forest appears to men of the present time to be a herculean task. To the first settlers it was an ordinary duty of the husbandman. Felling the trees in windrows and firing the fallen giants appear to have been play for those sinewy men, who opened Western Pennsylvania for the thousands who now occupy it. When the fire had done its duty, the work of cultivation was begun. The primitive wooden mold-board plow, and the harrow or drag were brought on the scene, and the sowing of the potato, wheat, corn and oats commenced without ceremony. Nor should the buckwheat be forgotten. From 1796 down to the present day this county has been famous for her fields of buckwheat. The three-cornered berry of Butler, which creates such placid dreams of griddle-cakes, grows here in perfection, not indigenous, it is true, like the sham [p. 203] rock in Ireland, or the thistle in Scotland, or the lily in France, or the olive in Spain, but rather like the flax in northern Ireland.

Harvesting was a serious time in pioneer days. There were no harvesting machines then to be called upon as aids to the farmer; for the sickle was the reaper until the cradle was introduced. Corn husking and shelling methods have not much improved. It was laborious work then and it is now, even with the sheller at the disposal of the farmer. Threashing was performed with ordinary flails, but, at times, horses or oxen would be utilized to tramp out the grain and this system obtained until the threshing machine was brought here. The winnowers came next. Sometimes four persons would hold a sheet on which a bushel or so of grain was placed. By a sudden uplifting of the fabric, the grain was raised upward and the wind carried off the chaff. Another system was the sieve, filled with grain, in well balanced hands. Holding the sieve at an angle, the grain flowed out as water out of a dishpan, the breeze caught the chaff and the grain fell in a golden heap below. These methods gave way in time to the fanning mill.

In 1840 more modern ideas of farming won attention here. It was a year when the turning point was observed in manners and customs and methods. Many young women and indeed many old ladies, if there were any who acknowledged seniority then, were inclined to cast aside the linsey-woolsey dress and to look with contempt on the products of the home spinning-wheel and loom.

In May 1856, the new mowing and reaping machine, of Dietz & Dunham's patents were advertised in the Butler papers. These machines were constructed without cogs or cranks, were very light and adapted for broken as well as level lands. They were not exhibited, however, at the fair of 1856. The Wood mowing machine was sold by W. & J. G. CAMPBELL of Butler in 1860, who had one at work on their farm in July of that year.

Stories of the railroad and the telegraph finally penetrated the settlements and suggested ideas of travel. This was a period of awakening, in which the past was a dream and the future and extraordinary picture of progress, when machinery would accomplish everything and man would merely direct it. How far all those things have been realized is patent. Fine farm houses, substantial schools and churches, well cultivated fields, modern machinery, large orchards, fine horses and cattle and swine tell unmistakably of the wonderful progress during the past fifty years. From the early day, when D. B. MULLER of the Harmony district, brought Merino sheep a distance of 700 miles, to introduce sheep farming in the Connoquenessing valley, great strides in the science of agriculture and stock growing have been made. The county has been converted into a fruitful field for the husbandman, where he may reap the rewards of his own enterprise and labor.

The first movement toward forming an agricultural society in this county dates back to April 7, 1830, when a society, for the promotion of agriculture and domestic manufactures, was organized in Butler. William AYRES presided, with John PARKER and John ZIEGLER, vice-presidents, and Alexander MCBRIDE and James BOVARD, secretaries. On resolution, the name, "The Butler County Agri [p. 204] cultural and Domestic Manufacturing Society" was adopted, and, for its government, a committee was appointed to prepare by-laws. A committee of twenty-eight persons, two from Butler and two from each township, was appointed to secure members and 100 subscribers were enrolled to assist the president in pushing forward the interests of the society. The local committee men were: John GILCHRIST and Hugh MCKEE, of Butler borough; Sylvanus AGGAS and Alexander HAGERTY, of Centre township; John MCNEES and David MCJUNKIN, of Slippery Rock; Abraham ZIEGLER and Barnet GILLILAND, of Connoquenessing; John BOSTON and Robert GLENN, of Muddy Creek; John DODDS and Arthur MCGILL, of Middlesex; William WALKER and Robert ELIOTT, of Buffalo; Matthew SMITH and William ROBB of Donegal; Edward GRAHAM and John PARKER, of Parker; Benjamin LOWE and John POLLOCK, of Venango; Samuel MCMURRY and James HARRIS, of Mercer, and John L. MAXWELL and John MCQUISTION, of Butler.

The North Butler Agricultural Club was a well ordered association of farmers organized in 1846, and the successor of the old agricultural organization.

The Butler County Agricultural Society.--The question of organizing an agricultural society was discussed in the spring of 1852, and on March 17, that year, decided in the affirmative. The meeting to organize, held at the house of Henry KOHLMEYER, was presided over by Samuel ANDERSON, of Venango township, with John SAY, vice-president, and Henry KOHLMEYER, secretary. A constitution was submitted by Samuel HALDERMAN and T. J. LAYTON, in which the name, "Butler County Agricultural Society," was used. This was adopted and signed by the following members: John CRAIG, John SAY, Samuel HALDERMAN, Samuel ANDERSON, John MARTIN, J. N. POLLOCK, A. J. HALDERMAN, J. MCKEE, A. G. SAY, R. P. ANDERSON, John ANDERSON, William ANDERSON, Henry KOHLMEYER, T. J. LAYTON, Samuel LEASON, A. B. GRANT, James MILFORD, Abel GRANT, C. C. HOOVER, David GRANT, William CLAY, W. L. ANDERSON, Thomas STEWART, Simon WILLIAMS, John POLLOCK, William MEALS and H. DICUS. The election which ensued resulted in the choice of Samuel ANDERSON, president, and John CRAIG, Samuel HALDERMAN, John JACK, Joseph CUMMINS, George PARKER, Samuel MCMURRY and John SCOTT, vice-presidents. This organization accomplished very little, except to arouse an interest in the matter.

The Butler County Agricultural and Horticultural Society was founded, March 30, 1858, on the ruins of the former one. John MURRIN was chosen president; Samuel M. LANE, treasurer; Archibald BLAKELEY, William CAMPBELL and Thomas BRACKEN, correspondents, and C. E. PRUVIANCE, secretary. The vice-presidents were William CAMPBELL, Joseph DOUTHETT, William JACK, John THOMPSON, W. C. ADAMS, John JACK, Samuel HALDERMAN, George PARKER, John KERR, David STEWART, Rev. W. P. BREADEN, William MOORE, Robert PAMPSON, Edward KENNEDY, T. H. BRACKEN, A. H. ZIEGLER, Samuel BOYD, John THOMPSON (Middlesex), Jonathan WALKER, Daniel O'DONNELL, R. S. MCCOY, John R. HARRIS, David MARSHALL, Henry WOLFF, William BASTIAN and E. MAURHOFF.

The prizes awarded by this society, at the first fair, held at North Washington, October 13, 1853, are given as follows:--For Durham cattle, to Isaac HILLIARD, John CRAIG, G. T. FRAZIER and Samuel HALDERMAN. For National cattle: William CHIRSTY, G. T. FRAZIER and John JACK. For horses:--Robert HENRY, Joseph [p. 205] FLICK, Henry KOHLMEYER, Jack MECHLING, Samuel HALDERMAN, John JACK, Joseph CUMMINS, A. CAMPBELL, George PARKER and W. C. ADAMS. For swine:--Samuel HALDERMAN, John CRAIG, James MOORE and E. CHRISTY. For a seed planter:--G. H. MELLINGER. For butter:--William S. JACK. For Indian corn crop:--John CRAIG. For best fruit display:--Abel GRANT. For winter pippins:--Isaac HILLIARD, and for yellow pippins, John MCKEE. To William BIERS or BYERS, was awarded a prize for best blacksmith work; to Platt SUTTON for best shoemaker work; to J. MCMAHON for best band of music; to Miss MCCONNELL for best bed-quilt, and to Mrs. GRANT for next best quilt. W. C. GLENN, Joseph JACK, S. N. MOORE and John JACK were awarded prizes for special cattle, John MECHLING for blankets, and Hugh GALLAGHER for grain sowing box.

The second fair was held at North Washington, in September, 1854, and, in one or other of the northern boroughs, fairs were held in 1855 and 1856. The fifth annual fair was held at North Washington, in September, 1857. The society, in November, 1857, elected Robert RAY, president; Allen WILSON, treasurer; Henry KOHLMEYER, correspondent; William C. ADAMS, recorder; and S. G. MEALS, librarian. It struggled on some time, but the societies at the county seat won the battle for precedence.

The Seminconan Agricultural Society held the first annual exposition at school-house Number 1, East Connoquenessing, October 19, 1852. John MARTIN was the secretary. In 1853 the second fair was held, and in October, 1854, Prospect was honored with the third annual meeting. Soon after, the society merged into a broader organization.

The Butler Agricultural Association was organized in March, 1856, as the Fair Society, with John ANDERSON, president; James G. CAMPBELL and George W. CROZIER, secretaries; Archibald BLAKELEY, recorder; Eugene FERRERO, correspondent; James CAMPBELL, librarian, and thirty-seven vice presidents. This society held its first fair at Butler in September, 1856, and in December, Joseph DOUTHETT was elected president, and J. B. MCQUISTION secretary. Henry BUHL was elected president in December, 1857, and in 1858, Samuel MARSHALL was chosen.

The people of Butler borough and their friends of the southeru [sic] townships held their second annual fair in Butler in September, 1857. In 1858 a successful meeting was recorded. John L. MAXWELL was elected president in December, 1859; John PURVIANCE, correspondent; Herman J. BERG, recorder; and I. J. CUMMINGS, treasurer. John NEGLEY was elected president in December, 1860; John B. MCQUISTION, recorder, and William S. JACK, correspondent. During the war there was little attention given to such matters, so that from 1861 to 1863, inclusive, no fairs were held. The sixth fair was held October 4 and 5, 1864. At that time, Thomas MCNEES was president; Thomas ROBINSON, acting secretary; and R. C. MCABOY, treasurer of the association. In April, 1865, W. O. BRECKENRIDGE was elected president. John W. FORRESTER was elected in March, 1866, with James MITCHELL, Milton MAXWELL and Samuel MARSHALL, vice-presidents; C. E. ANDERSON, treasurer; and John B. MCQUISTION, secretary. The name of the society in November, 1866, was the "Butler County Agricultural and Stock Association." James BREDIN was president, and H. C. HEINEMAN, secretary, who held that position three or four years, or until its end.

Prior to 1857 trotting horses were not considered in the community, although horse racing took place at intervals. It was the wild gallop in which the people delighted and on this gallop bets were offered and taken. The era of trotting matches in this county was introduced in May, 1857, when Thomas FAWCETT, of Birmingham, and John VENSEL, of Clarion county, bet $300 each on their respective horses, "Bobb and Jack." The course was the plank road from Stewartstown to Zimmerman's inn (now the Willard), at Butler, a distance of twenty-seven miles, and the time made was two hours and ten minutes. The extraordinary race drew the attention of the people to trotting matches, and scarcely a year has passed since in which races of this description have failed to draw a large crowd.

The Emlenton Agriculture Society was organized March 27, 1858, by citizens living in the northern part of the county, assisted by their friends in Venango, Clarion and Armstrong counties. Its supporters comprised many of those who belonged to the old Butler County Agriculural [sic] Society of 1853. Henry KOHLMEYER, of Butler county was elected president, and among the long list of vice-presidents were the following from Butler county; John MURRIN, J. F. LAYTON, John MECHLING, and George PARKER. The first fair, held at Emlenton in the fall of 1858, was successful, but interest in the project then subsided and the organization disbanded.

The Butler County Colonization Society was organized January 25, 1860, with Rev. Loyal YOUNG, president; Rev. Isaiah NIBLOCK, and Rev. William A. FETTER, vice-presidents; and John GRAHAM secretary. Robert R. REED, agent of the State Colonization Society, was the organizer, and the object was to obtain an appropriation of $5,000 to be applied to the colonization of free negroes in Pennsylvania, which it was believed would benefit the agricultural interests of the State, as well as the negro.

The Wool Growers' Association of Slippery Rock township, was organized in April, 1866, with David MCKEE, president; Dawson WADSWORTH, vice-president; John BIGHAM, secretary, and Lewis PATTERSON, treasurer. In 1867, Thomas MOORE presided, with John T. BARD, secretary. This organization merged into the Agricultural Society and lost its identity.

The Butler County Farmers' Club held it's first meeting in April, 1869, with the following named officers were elected; John Q. A. KENNEDY, president; John Q. A. SULLIVAN, recording secretary; Edwin LYON, corresponding secretary; Hugh MORRISON, treasurer, and W. H. BLACK, librarian. The vice-presidents then chose were: Herman J. BERG, of Butler township; John MARTIN, of Connoquenessing; David MCKEE, of Slippery Rock; W. H. GRAHAM, of Washington; James D. ANDERSON, of PENN; John B. MCLAUGHLIN, of Clearfield; H. C. [p. 207] MCCOY, of Cherry; Abraham MOYER, of Lancaster; Samuel MARSHALL, of Adams; and Josiah M. THOMPSON, of Brady. The following year this organization was merged into the Farmers' Institute.

The Farmers' Institute held it's first fair at Butler in September, 1870. The Institute succeeded the Farmers' Club and the officers were simply the men who would have been selected by the Club had it continued its organization. John Q. A. KENNEDY presided in 1870, with Herman J. BERG and A. CUTHBERT, vice-presidents; W. H. H. RIDDLE, secretary; Edwin LYON, correspondent; Hugh MORRISON, treasurer, and G. W. SHAFFER, superintendent. The Institute has, through the passing years, grown into a profitable and most deserving organization. It is an educational society, important in its aims and successful in its workings. Meetings are held at state intervals to which all agriculturists are invited, and at which ideas relating to farms and farmers are expressed and discussed. W. H. H. RIDDLE is the founder of the Institute in this county. In November, 1893, D. B. DOUTHETT was elected president; A. D. WEIR, Christie ROBB, James STEPHENSON and Benjamin DOUTHETT, vice-presidents, and J. A. MCCAFFERTY, secretary.

The Connoquenessing Valley Agricultural Association was organized in 1874, with Abraham MOYER, president; Dr. Amos LUSK, secretary; Ira STAUFFER, treasurer; S. M. WEIHL, John N. MILLER, Adam ENDRES, Abraham SCHONTZ, John ENSLEN, James SMITH, George EICHOLTZ, Martin SITLER, Joseph S. LUSK, Daniel ACHRE, L. P. HAZLETT, H. M. ZIEGLER and Jacob HYLE. For many years fairs were held regularly, and at length the association dissolved.

The Patrons of Husbandry ruled in this county during he Seventies, attaining great strength in 1876-77. At that time Pomona Grange, the name of the county organization, claimed the following named officers:--James Porter, of Portersville, master; John Q. A. KENNEDY, of Butler, secretary; Robert MCKEE, of Butler, overseer; A. J. HUTCHISON, of Coultersville, chaplain; John BOOK, of Jacksville, lecturer; William J. HUTCHISON, of Butler, steward; Alfred AGGAS, of Coultersville, assistant steward; William R. PATTERSON, of Butler, treasurer; A. T. PEARCE, gate keeper; Miss Lizzie HUTCHISON, ceres; Mrs. Mollie A. PEARCE, pomona (all of Butler); Mrs. Mary MCMURRY, of Slippery Rock, flora; Leah A BOOK, lady assistant steward; John STEVENSON, J. D. STEVENSON, Alfred AGGAS, Robert MCKEE and William F. CAMPBELL, executive committee; John STEVENSON, chairman, business manager and deputy for the southern townships, and D. W. FORRESTER, deputy for the northern townships.

The local granges with the names of masters and secretaries are given as follows: Thalia Grange, 636, of Fairview, Samuel BARNHART and R. W. BARNHART; Prospect, 126, N. S. GROSSMAN and D. W. FORRESTER; Mt. Chestnut, 133, J. M. DUNN and T. S. DODDS; Mt. Oliver, 143, of Clay, Alfred AGGAS and E. S. FLEEGER; Good Intent, 183, of Slippery Rock, Abner SEATON and R. A. HARTLEY; Eureka, 244, of Butler, H. H. BRYSON and Levi A. BRYSON; Cherry, 315, Levi STEWART and Levi B. MCCOY; Bloomfield, 355, of Lancaster, Thomas ALLEN and J. D. LYTLE; Forest, 370, of Brady, J. M. THOMPSON and N. H. THOMPSON; Worth, 409, James PORTER and John HUMPHREY; Forward, W. S. WALDRON and Joseph ART; Oakland, 578, T. A. TEMPLETON and M. H. NEYMAN; and Penn, 542, J. Q. A. KENNEDY and Simeon NIXON. North [p. 208] Hope Grange, organized about 1872, with Samuel SMITH, master, and David F. CAMPBELL, secretary, did not exist in 1877, and Concord, another early organization, had also dissolved. It is related by George W. CAMPBELL, of Butler, that the secretary of Concord grange mailed an order to Pittsburg for ten barrels of salt. It appears that he wrote it "ten barrels of salts," and, without question, the enterprising merchant shipped him ten barrels of epsom salts. It was a most disagreeable consignment, so far as the secretary was concerned, and was a standard joke long after the grange had dissolved.

The Butler Driving Park Association was organized October 15, 1877, with the following named officers; G. J. CROSS, president; Joseph L. PURVIS, James H. TEBAY and G. A. MCBRIDE, vice-presidents; P. W. LOWRY, recorder; W. P. ROESSING, correspondent; Joseph L. PURVIS, treasurer; L. M. COCHRAN, G. A. MCBRIDE, W. H. H. RIDDLE, and the president, treasurer and correspondent, directors. In October, 1877, this society leased a tract of twenty-three acres, just east of the old fair grounds, from Mrs. Nancy BREDIN and transformed it into an excellent race track. In June, 1878, a race meeting was held, and a fair in the fall. The officers named, with J. S. CAMPBELL and R. P. SCOTT, were the first stockholders. In December, 1878, G. J. CROSS was elected president; R. P. SCOTT and J. H. TEBAY, vice-presidents; John S. CAMPBELL, treasurer; W. P. ROSESSING, recorder and correspondent; G. A. MCBRIDE, superintendent, and J. H. TEBAY director, vice ROESSING resigned. Under date, June 5, 1879, a motion providing for a fourth day races, and such telling references as "Dan Mace's Hopeful to beat 2:18 for $500," are recorded. Later in June, a resolution to hold a fair in the fall was carried, and the original idea of confining the business of the corporation to racing and trotting, without regard to farm exhibits, showed signals of distress.

In November, 1879, W. P. SMITH, of Centre township, was elected president; E. A. HELMBOLD, Samuel BOLTON and G. J. CROSS, vice-presidents; W. P. ROESSING, secretary, and John S. CAMPBELL, treasurer. The success of the fall fair and the election of a farmer as president, abolished the original idea, and, in May, 1880, the association was re-organized.

The Butler Agricultural Association adopted a constitution in May, 1880, but there is no minute of the election of officers. The fact that W. P. SMITH was president, Joseph L. PURVIS vice-president, and John S. CAMPBELL, W. H. H. RIDDLE, J. H. TEBAY and W. P. ROESSING directors, shows that changes were made in the board of the old association. In September, Joseph L. PURVIS was elected superintendent of grounds, and in October, J. D. ANDERSON and R. D. STEVENSON are named among the directors. In December, President SMITH was re-elected, with W. P. ROESSING secretary; John S. CAMPBELL, treasurer; and W. H. H. RIDDLE and Alexander HUNTER, vice-presidents. In December, 1882, W. M. BROWN was elected to succeed Alexander HUNTER, while the other officers were re-elected. A. D. WEIR replaced BROWN in December, 1883, this being the only change in officers.

The election of December, 1884, resulted in the choice of George W. CAMPBELL, vice-president, and W. H. H. RIDDLE, secretary, the other officers being re-elected, and again elected in December, 1885. In 1886 the administration of [p. 209] affairs was so satisfactory that the old board and officers were continued. In 1887 Alexander HUNTER took A. D. WEIR's place as vice-president, George W. CAMPBELL being re-elected; but Mr. WEIR was elected to HUNTER's place in 1888. In December, 1889, W. P. SMITH was elected president; George W. CAMPBELL and A. D. WEIR, vice-presidents; Joseph L. PURVIS, superintendent; W. P. ROESSING, secretary, and John S. CAMPBELL, treasurer. The lease of five acres from Charles DUFFY and seven acres from H. C. HEINEMAN was reported. The lease of five acres from the Thomas STEHLE heirs, with the other leases, from the present grounds. The officers named were re-elected in 1890; but in December, 1891, W. H. H. RIDDLE was chosen president; George W. CAMPBELL and A. D. WEIR, vice-presidents; W. A. CLARK, Joseph L. PURVIS, R. D. STEVENSON, D. H. SUTTON, J. M. LIEGHNER, J. H. TROUTMAN and W. P. ROESSING, directors; John S. CAMPBELL, treasurer, and Ira MCJUNKIN, secretary. These officers were re-elected in 1892, and again in 1893.

The total amount of premiums paid out in 1880, was $945.70; in 1881, $1,128.57; in 1882, $1,182.06; in 1883, $1,600.50; in 1884, $1,478.37; in 1885, $2,552.89; in 1886, $2,205.67; in 1887, $2,294.32; in 1888, $2,581.29; in 1889, $2,506.22; in 1890, $2,211.70. The total fair receipts from 1880 to 1890, inclusive, amounted to $46,548.59, and expenditures to $46,160.50. The premiums paid in 1891 amounted to $4,143; in 1892, $3,852, and in November, 1893, there were about $3,700 pain in premiums and a further sum of $2,900 expended in improvements.

The officers of 1893 were re-elected for 1894, except Mr. ROESSING, whose place was taken by John S. CAMPBELL. The directors are Robert STEVENSON, J. S. CAMPBELL, D. H. SUTTON, J. H. TROUTMAN, J. L. PURVIS, J. M. LIEGHNER and W. A. CLARK; and the officers of the board, president, W. H. H. RIDDLE; vice-presidents, A. D. WEIR and George W. CAMPBELL; treasurer, John S. CAMPBELL; superintendent, J. L. PURVIS, and secretary, W. P. ROESSING, vice Ira MCJUNKIN, whose duties as district attorney made it necessary for him to resign the secretary-ship. The last fair was held in September, 1894, and was fairly successful, though it was handicapped by the general business depression and the remarkable drought which prevailed in western Pennsylvania for several months prior to its opening day.

Millerstown Fair Association, organized February 29, 1884, was chartered as "The Millerstown Driving Park and Agricultural Association, Limited," April 7, 1884, with seventy-four members, and a capital stock of $5,000, divided into 500 shares. The permanent organization was effected March 11, 1884, with S. D. BELL, president; Henry MOORHEAD and W. A. DENNISON, vice-presidents; H. J. MYERS, acting secretary; P. A. BELL, permanent secretary; H. J. HOYT, treasurer; C. H. JOHNSON, J. C. NEVILLS, Dr. FOSTER, Owen BRADY, J. J. WESTERMANN, R. K. SUTTON, S. F. SHOWALTER, H. C. LITINGER and W. P. TURNER. The grounds, fourteen acres, were purchased from Owen BRADY and FETZER & MYERS, at forty dollars an acre. The tract was improved at once, and a fair held that fall. The last fair was held in 1890, and the last races in 1891. Dr. BELL presided in 1885, W. P. TURNER in 1886, C. H. JOHNSON in 1887, and as chairman in 1888, of the reorganized fair association, over which C. F. PIERCE presided in [p. 210] 1889, and J. J. WESTERMANN, from 1890 to 1894. P. A. BELL was secretary in 1885 and 1886, but J. C. GAISFORD has filled that position from 1887 to the present day. There are now twenty-four stockholders.

The Farmers' Alliance is a modern association, partaking somewhat of the charge of the Patrons of Husbandry. Its branches are found in a few townships already and organizers are engaged in the work of propagating its principles and establishing new alliances.

In 1840 there were in Butler county 7,962 horses and mules; 26,051 meat cattle; 51,191 sheep; 40,145 hogs, and poultry valued at $22,759. Of farm products there were produced 254,914 bushels of wheat; 2,742 of rye; 629,179 of oats; 91,261 of buckwheat; 125,097 of corn; 286,158 of potatoes; 22,990 tons of hay; 3,831 pounds of sugar; 76,267 pounds of wool; 2,199 pounds of hops; 1,810 pounds of wax; while orchard products were valued at $23,114, and dairy products at $76,492.

The statistics of 1870 show 273,128 acres of improved land; farms valued at $18,230,848; productions, betterments and additions to stock, at $3,125,482; value of live stock, $2,467,001; number of horses, 11,521; 16,078 milch cows; 262 working oxen; 67,831 sheep, and 23,775 swine. There were 703 bushels of spring wheat; 293,761 of winter wheat; 179,577 of rye; 453,894 of Indian corn; oats, 1,099,163; barely, 4,637; buckwheat, 113,994, and potatoes, 187,984 bushels. The number of pounds of wool produced were 225,220; of butter 1,447,093, and of cheese, 2,695 pounds.

The statistics for 1880 credit the county with 341,459 acres of improved land, divided into 5,384 farms, valued, with improvements, at $20,644,143. Farm implements and machinery were valued at $784,767; live stock at $1,893,307, and farm products at $2,244,838. The estimated cost of fences, built or repaired, was $146,248, and of fertilizers, $9,700. There were produced 192,843 bushels of wheat, 1,095,612 of oats, 773,333 of corn, 150,508 of buckwheat, 612 of barley, 117,627 of rye, 473,513 of potatoes and 223 of sweet potatoes; with 229 pounds of hops, 4,224 pounds of tobacco and 49,623 tons of hay. There were 12,841 horses, 210 mules and asses, seventy-five working oxen, 19,388 milch cows, 21,038 head of other cattle, 56,669 sheep and 33,123 hogs. The wool produced amounted to 240,897 pounds; of butter, 1,929,790, and of cheese, 1,143 pounds, while the yield of milk was 72,339 gallons.

In 1893, there were 5,354 farms in Butler county,--a smaller number than in 1880. The owners leased their lands to oil operations and betook themselves to the boroughs. The estimate of population, at the close of 1893, does not, appreciably, change the figures of 1890, but the movement toward the county seat, has been carried on on a larger scale than at any period since 1877. The centralizing power of the principal borough is as manifest in the county as that of New York, Chicago and Philadelphia is in the Nation.

[End of Chapter 15 - Agriculture: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]

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Updated 10 Dec 1999, 09:35