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Edward Everett Abrams
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EDWARD EVERETT ABRAMS, who has for more than twenty years been one of the most stirring and progressive business citizens of Butler, is a native of Clarion County, Pennsylvania, having been born
at Rimersburg, July 9, 1856, son of James H. and Hannah (McCuteheon) Abrams. His paternal grandfather was David Abrams, whose parents were the first settlers at Turkey Foot, Westmoreland County, Penna. They were of Scotch ancestry, and the subject of this sketch is in possession
of the family record, beautifully written in a bible over 118 years old. Edward Everett Abrams passed his early years in his native town of Rimersburg, where he attended the common school and Clarion Collegiate Institute. His education was further advanced by attendance at the seminary at Clarion and Dickinson Seminary, at Williamsport, Penna. He then pursued a commercial course at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, and to further round out his general education took a course in a military academy at Tarrytown-on-Hudson. Having some taste for military matters, he joined the National Guard of Pennsylvania, and at the age of eighteen was first sergeant of Company F, Seventeenth Regiment, N. G. P. While in camp with two regiments, he was complimented by the inspecting officer for keeping the best records. His father, James H. Abrams, was one of the pioneers in the oil and steamboat business at Oil City, and in 1874 was a prominent oil producer at Karns City, Penna. The subject of our sketch having begun his business career as bookkeeper in a banking house, became his father's active assistant in the oil business at Karns City in 1876. From 1877 to 1879 their operations were continued in the Bradford field. In the year last mentioned he was married and, having purchased the famous Meclimans farm, on which Karns City is built, he removed there and remained until 1886, when Butler became his place of residence. Butler has been the scene mainly of his subsequent activities, though he continues to manage his property at Karns City and oil farms near there. He has been a prominent factor in the commercial and business life of Butler County and in the year 1900 was one of the original and very active incorporators of the Butler County National Bank, which he served as director and member of the Discoimt Board for ten years. After resigning from that institution he was one of the first incorporators of the Farmers' National Bank, of which he has been an active director since it was organized, and continues to thus serve this very successful bank. During his early years in the oil business, and under the nom de plume of "Van Winkle," he made something of a reputation as a newspaper writer, both for the oil country and metropolitan press, his articles on various subjects of interest being written in a style to command the attention and appreciation of a wide circle of readers. Mr. Abrams has devoted some part of his time to public affairs, believing it to be the duty of a good citizen, when called upon, to make some sacrifice of time and private interests for the welfare of his party and the cause of good government. A stanch Republican, he was elected a delegate to the State convention that nominated Senator Quay for State treasurer, in 1885. He also served as chairman of the Republican County Committee in the Beaver campaign, in 1886, and was elected in 1892 alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention at Minneapolis. He was Presidential elector in 1896 and in January, 1897, cast his ballot for McKinley and Hobart. His advice has always carried weight in the local councils of his party. Butler having no public park, Mr. Abrams interested himself in the matter and in 1908 suceeeded in persuading a land company to cancel the contract to cut down a forest of noble white oak and other trees; and he secured twenty public spirited citizens who purchased eight acres of woodland, and thus preserved a beautiful natural park within the borough limits. If there is anything in his history that he thinks worthy of special record, it is that he has led a life of absolute integrity and has done what he could to promote the good things in our government. Mr. Abrams was married, August 20, 1879, by Bishop Stevens, to M. Genevieve, daughter of Charles M. Allen. Mr. Allen was fonnerly consul to the Bermuda Islands, being appointed to that office by President Lincoln during the Rebellion, and continued to fill it until his death in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Abrams are the parents of Myvra Genevieve, Lucile, wife of Lieut. Donald C. Cubbison, U. S. A.; Eleanor, Edward Everett, Allen, Dorothy Hannah, John McClelland, Richard Henry and Elizabeth Loveberry. Dorothy died in 1895 at age of two years. The family belong to the First Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Abrams is a Trustee. Source: 20th century history of Butler and Butler County, Pa., and respresentative citizens, McKee, James A., 1909, page 611-612. |
