Transcribed by Pat Collins. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Link to a sketch of Butler Township from the Atlas of Butler County, G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1874.
Surnames in this chapter are:
BAILES, BARICKMAN, BARNHART, BECK, BORLAND, BOYCE, BOYD, BRATTON, BRINKER, BROWN, BRYSON, BURBRIDGE, BURKHART, CRANMER, CRATTY, CRAWFORD, CRILEY, CRONENWETT, CUNNINGHAM, DEEHAND, DERSHEIMER, DOUGAL, DUFFORD, DUNBAR, EDMONDS, EVANS, FALLER, FLETCHER, FLOWERS, FREEMAN, FRY, FRYER, GRAHAM, GRUVER, HAMILTON, HARNISH, HECKART, HENSHAW, HOFFMAN, HOON, HUNTER, HUSELTON, JAMISON, KEARNS, KELLY, KENNEDY, KING, LANDIS, LEBERMAN, LEMMON, LIMBURG, LOWREY, MARTIN, MAY, MAXWELL, McCURDY, McGINNIS, McGUFFY, McILVAINE, McKEE, McKINNEY, McNAIR, McQUISTION, MECHLING, MILLER, MOORE, MORROW, NEGLEY, NEYMAN, PATTERSON, PETERSON, PIERCE, POTTS, RALSTON, RASELY, REIBER, RISHABERGER, ROBB, RUDOLPH, SANDOE, SARVER, SCHAFFNER, SCHLEGLE, SKEER, SLEPPY, SLIKER, STEPHENSON, SULLIVAN, THOMPSON, THORN, VENATE, WALKER, WILSON, YOUNG.
Butler township originally occupied an area of about eight miles square, and was organized in 1804, when the county was divided into thirteen townships. Some years later it was subdivided into North and South Butler, by a line running from the center of the western boundary to the Connoquenessing creek, and thence northeasterly along that stream to the eastern boundary line of the township. This subdivision continued in force until 1854, when the township was established within its present limits, which embrace an area of about five miles square. The Connoquenessing creek, which, with its tributaries, drain and diversify the surface of the township, is fed, near the northeastern corner, by the Kearns and Bonny Brook branches. It flows centrally through the township in a southwesterly direction, receiving the waters of Smith's branch, Butcher's run, Sullivan's run, Rock Lick run, and other smaller streams. The Little Connoquenessing flows through and drains a small area in the northwestern part of the township. The general surface of the township is hilly, the numerous streams breaking it into valleys. The soil varies from a stiff clay to a light sand. The township, notwithstanding its hilly surface, has a fair proportion of tillable land, which is not only well cultivated but highly productive. The Upper Freeport coal, which underlies the eastern part of the township, was mined at an early day on the William KEARNS farm. During more recent years, it has been extensively and profitably developed, especially in the neighborhood of Butler and along Butcher's run and its tributaries.
James McKEE, eldest son of Thomas McKEE, a Revolutionary soldier, came to Butler township, from Ligonier, Westmoreland county, in 1795, and settled on a tract of land three miles west of Butler. His father, Thomas McKEE, with the remainder of the family, came a year later and settled on an adjoining tract, now occupied by the William BARNHART farm. Thomas McKEE died in June, 1815. John PIERCE, another Revolutionary soldier, came here in 1796, and settled on land near the center of the township. He built a cabin, and leaving his young wife, whose maiden name was Jane VENATE, alone in the wilderness, returned to his former home at Turtle Creek for supplies. He died in 1846.
John McQUISTION, a native of Donegal county, Ireland, came to Butler county, from Philadelphia, in 1796, and purchased 500 acres of land southeast of Butler. He erected a large tannery, which he operated for a number of years. He was a man of energy and enterprise and became a prominent and influential personage among the early settlers. Among others who came in 1796, or earlier, were James and Andrew MOORE, who located on land west of Butler.
Robert GRAHAM, a native of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, came here in 1797, and purchased a tract of 100 acres of land. This he afterward sold to the commissioners, who laid out a portion of the town of Butler thereon. He then purchased 400 acres of land outside the town limits on which he resided until his death. William WILSON came in 1797 or 1798, but removed to Indiana in the early part of the present century. John MORROW located in the western part of the township in 1798. About the same time came Peter PETERSON, who, as a member of the Colonial forces sent against the French at Fort Duquesne, participated in that ill-fated battle known as "Braddock's defeat." He was in the hottest of the fight, and was one of six survivors out of a company of eighty. He afterwards served in the Revolutionary war.
In 1800, John BURKHART came from Allegheny county and settled on a tract of land in the southeastern part of the township. He was noted as a hunter and for his general knowledge of woodcraft. He died in 1855, in the ninetieth year of his age. Robert MAXWELL and his son, Abraham, came here from Maryland, in 1800, and settled on a tract of land just west of the village of Butler. Abraham MAXWELL, about 1814, leased his land for three years to Samuel ROBB, who came into the township in 1800, and settled in Butler. In the fall of 1815, while an attempt at the instigation of Stephen LOWREY was being made to evict ROBB, Abraham MAXWELL was shot and seriously wounded by some one unknown. He recovered, however, and afterwards became one of the early sheriffs of the county. He died in 1841. Adam FRYER, another noted hunter, settled in the western part of the township about 1800 or 1801. He died in 1840. John BAILES, known as "Little John" to distinguish him from the John BAILES of Connoquenessing township, settled about 1800, in the western part of the township. In 1801, Lawrence KING settled four miles west of Butler, coming here [p. 385] from Eastern Pennsylvania. Alexander BRYSON came about 1800 and settled on the Little Connoquenessing creek near the northwestern part of the township. He afterwards removed to Ohio where he died. His sons Richard and Joseph remained upon the old homestead, which is still the property of their descendants.
Paul BRATTON, a hatter by trade, came soon after 1800 and settled on 400 acres of land south of Butler, where he afterwards set up a shop. He married Hannah PIERCE, their marriage being the first solemnized in the township. In 1805 Alexander HAMILTON settled on a tract of land in the northwestern part of the township. Among the settlers in the township at this time, besides those already named, were James BORLAND, William BROWN, William BURBRIDGE, William BOYCE, James BOYD, John CRATTY, Samuel DUNBAR, Josiah CRAWFORD, John DOUGAL, William FREEMAN, Joseph and Henry EVANS, Thomas FLETCHER, Charles McGINNIS, William FLOWERS, George McGUFFY, William MARTIN, Matthew SKEER, and others. Of these, John CRATTY ran a distillery, while William FREEMAN owned a saw-mill.
Col. Robert LEMMON, a native of Ireland, came to the county in 1796, and located in the village of Butler soon after it was laid out. During the War of 1812 he served as a sergeant. After its close he settled on a farm southwest of Butler, afterwards the home of his son Andrew. In 1815, Leslie MAXWELL, who married a daughter of Alexander HAMILTON, located in the western part of the township. Jacob and Henry DUFFORD came in 1817. The latter soon afterward moved to Indiana. Henry YOUNG came from Luzerne county in 1824. David McILVAINE settled here in 1825. Joseph Bernhart SLIKER and wife came here from Baltimore in 1830. Francis CRILEY, another German, came direct from the "Fatherland" to Butler county in 1831, and settled on Three Mile run. He bought his land from John NEGLEY at four dollars an acre. The CUNNINGHAMS, MECHLINGS, NEGLEYS, BRINKERS and other pioneers who settled in Butler are mentioned in the chapters devoted to that borough.
Among the earlier enterprises in the township, in addition to those already noticed, were the two saw-mills erected by Moses SULLIVAN, on his home place, known as "Solitude," a short distance northwest of Butler, on Sullivan's run. These he operated for a number of years. In 1857, George, Jacob and Martin REIBER erected a distillery on the site of the upper mill, and carried on the manufacture of whiskey there until a recent date. About 1850, William RALSTON, Sr., built a grist mill on the Little Connoquenessing creek, just south of the Butler and Prospect road, in the northwest corner of the township. It is now owned and operated by John CRANMER.
The population of the township, in 1810, was 453; in 1820, 472; in 1830, 768; in 1840, 1,389; in 1850, 2,622; in 1860, after the division of the township, 1,198; in 1870, 984; in 1880, 1,007, and in 1890, 1,297.
The justices of the peace elected in the township for North and South Butler previous to 1854 are as follows: North Butler - David WALKER, 1840; Hugh STEPHENSON, 1843; William JAMISON, 1845; Hugh STEPHENSON, 1848; Robert K. HUNTER, 1849 and Robert McKEE, 1854. South Butler - Robert McNAIR, 1840; Anthony FALLER, 1843; Henry RISHABERGER, 1845; John KENNEDY, 1847; James [p. 386] McKINNEY, 1848; Elijah BURKHART, 1849, and Joseph PATTERSON, 1853. The following have been elected since 1854; Peterson PIERCE, 1856; Nathaniel WALKER, 1858; John HUSELTON, 1861-66-71; Robert McKEE, 1863-68-73-78-83-88; Anthony HOON, 1872; Samuel SCHAFFNER, 1877; William C. KELLY, 1883; John C. KELLY, 1888 and 1893; S.L. RASELY, 1889, vice Robert McKEE, who removed into the borough, and Sebastian BECK, 1894.
In 1848 the pulpit was supplied by Revs. LEBERMAN and HOFFMAN. In 1849 Mr. MILLER returned and continued as pastor until 1852, when he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph MILLER, who remained until 1854. From 1854 to 1859 the pulpit was supplied. In 1859 Rev. F.W. DEEHAND became pastor, remaining until 1863. The pulpit was vacant until 1866, when Rev. W.M. LANDIS was installed. He continued until the fall of 1870, in June of which year he organized an English society under the name of St. John's Congregation, both societies using the same building. From the fall of 1870 until January, 1874, Rev. F.A. EDMONDS served both congregations. In May 1873, the German congregation, which, with the church at Harmony, had constituted one pastoral charge was united with those of Butler and Prospect, the three being known as the Butler charge. The Harmony congregation was then made an independent charge. In January, 1874, Rev. C.A. LIMBURG was called as pastor. He remained until 1877, when both congregations united in calling Rev. Mr. SANDOE. In November 1877, the German congregation was constituted an independent charge, known as the HENSHAW charge. November 20, 1880, Rev. Josiah MAY became pastor, serving both congregations.
After this the German congregation dwindled in numbers, while the English congregation increased. The former being too weak to maintain a pastor and hold regular services, the latter undertook to gain possession of the church property. This resulted in both congregations becoming incorporated in 1887. The German congregation retained possession of the property. In 1889, their pulpit being vacant, they requested Rev. E. CRONENWETT of St. Mark's Evangelical [p. 387] Lutheran church, Butler, to preach for them at stated periods. He consented, holding service every fourth Sunday. This led to the members - to the number of nineteen - uniting themselves with St. Mark's church, and to the Reformed Zion church passing out of existence. Rev. Mr. CRONENWETT still preaches in the old church every fourth Sunday.
St. John's Congregation of Zion Reformed Church was organized June 19, 1870, by Rev. Mr. LANDIS, at that time pastor of Zion Reformed church. The original members were John J. DUFFORD, Eli HENSHAW, Michael DUFFORD, Samuel DERSHEIMER, John FRY, Peter GRUVER, and Francis HECKART. The elders were Eli HENSHAW and Francis HECKART; the deacons, Samuel DERSHEIMER and John J. DUFFORD. In the fall of 1870 the congregation united with that of Zion Reformed church in calling Rev. F.A. EDMONDS as pastor. He remained until January, 1874, when Rev. J.B. THOMPSON, superintendent of the Orphan's Home, at Butler, became pastor of the new church, which in 1876 numbered eighty-two members. In 1877, both congregations - Mr. THOMPSON having left the charge - united in calling Rev. W.B. SANDOE, who resigned September 1, 1880. On November 20 following Rev. Josiah MAY became pastor. In December, 1886, Rev. D.N. HARNISH, who has also charge of St. Paul's Reformed church, Butler, was installed. The legal title to the old building remaining in the German congregation, the new society concluded to erect a house of worship for its own use. A lot was secured near the old church and a frame building erected upon it, at a cost of $1,500. It was dedicated in February, 1889.
[End of Chapter 24 - Butler Township: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
Previous Chapter 23--Butler Borough (contd.)
Next Chapter 25--Conoquennessing Township Table of Contents
Updated 07 Jan 2000, 11:56
