Transcribed by: Dolores Carlson. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Surnames in this chapter are:
ALWARD, AMBERSON, ANDERSON, ARLEY, ASH, AYRES, BAILEY, BALDWIN, BALPH, BARICKMAN, BARR, BARRON, BARTLEY, BEALS, BEIGHLEY, BELL, BERG, BLACK, BLASHFORD, BOGGS, BORLAND, BORTMASS, BOVARD, BOWERS, BOWSER, BOYD, BRACKEN, BRADFORD, BRANDON, BRATTON, BREADIN, BREDIN, BRINKER, BROWN, BRYSON, BURKHART, BURTNER, CAMPBELL, CARNAHAN, CARNS, CHRISTIE, CHRISTLEY, CHRISTY, COATS, COCHRAN, COLBERT, COLL, COLLINS, COLMER, COOPER, COULTER, COVERT, CRAMER, CRATTY, CRISPIN, CRISWELL, CROZIER, CRUIKSHANK, CUNNINGHAM, DAVID, DENNISTON, DICK, DIXON, DODDS, DONALDSON, DOUGAL, DOUTHETT, DRUM, DUBERRY, DUFFY, DUNCAN, DUNBAR, ELLIOTT, EMERY, ENSLEN, ERWIN, EVANS, FORREST, FOSTER, FRAZIER, FREEMAN, FRYER, GALBREATH, GALL, GARVIN, GIBSON, GILLESPIE, GILLILAND, GILMORE, GOLD, GRAHAM, GREER, GRIBBEN, GRIMES, HAGERTY, HARRIS, HAYS, HAZEN, HENRY, HILL, HOFFMAN, HOGG, HOKENBOY, HUMPHREY, HUTCHISON, IRWIN, ISRAELS, JACK, JAMESON, JOHNSTON, KELLY, KENNEDY, KERR, KILGORE, KIRKER, KISKADDON, KNEISS, LAWE, LEASON, LEMMON, LEVERE, LINCOLN, LINN, LOWRIE, MAGINNESS, MARKS, MARSHALL, MARTIN, MAXWELL, MAYBURY, McBRIDE, McCANDLESS, McCLYMONDS, McCOLLOUGH, McCORKLE, McCURDY, McDERMIT, McDERMOTT, McDONALD, McFARREN, McGLAUGHLIN, McJUNKIN, McKEE, McLEARY, McLELLAND, McLURE, McMILLEN, McNAIR, McNEES, McQUISTION, MEAL, MEALS, MECHLING, MILLER, MITCHELL, MOORE, MOORHEAD, MOYER, MULLER, MURPHY, MURRIN, NEGLEY, NEYMAN, NIBLOCK, NICHOLAS, NIXON, PILLOW, POULSON, PURVIANCE, RALSTON, RAY, REDICK, REED, RENISTON, RICHARDSON, RIDDLE, ROBB, ROBINSON, ROSS, SARVER, SCHILLING, SCOTT, SHANNON, SHANOR, SHIRA, SHRYOCK, SIMPSON, SKEER, SLATOR, SMITH, SPEAR, SPENCER, SPROUL, STEPHENSON, STERRETT, SULLIVAN, SUTTON, TAYLOR, THOMAS, THOMPSON, TIMBLIN, TOWNSEND, TURK, TURNER, VANDERLIN, VANDYKE, VARNUM, WALKER, WALLACE, WALSH, WELSH, WHITE, WILLIAMS, WILLIAMSON, WILSON, WOLF, YOUNG, ZIEGLER
The first meeting of the commissioners of Butler county was held November 9, 1803, in a log house on or near the site of the present Armory building. Matthew WHITE and James BOVARD, two of the commissioners, took the oath of office on that date, but Jacob MECHLING did not qualify until November 16, on which day the organization of the commissioners was completed, and a term of four days begun, "to make estimates and adjust a variety of business relative to this office." On November 21, Mr. MECHLING reported that Districts Numbers 1 and 2 were laid off and the lines surveyed by Thomas GRIMES at a cost of five dollars. Messrs. WHITE and BOVARD reported that Districts Numbers 3, 4, 5 and 6 had been laid out and the lines surveyed by John CUNNINGHAM, at a cost of fifteen dollars. These districts were laid out under an act of the Assembly of April 4, 1803, providing for the appointment of justices of the peace. On November 28 the commissioners were at Pittsburg in consultation with the commissioners of Allegheny county; but little was accomplished prior to December 8, 1803, when duplicates of records were received from Allegheny county showing the receipts and disbursements in the four townships of Butler county, a copy of which document is given in the previous chapter. On December 10, the first wolf order was issued to John COOPER, collector of Buffalo township. At this time a contract was entered into with John NEGLEY for "a place to accommodate the courts of justice in the town of Butler."
Toward the close of December, the commissioners visited the commissioners of Allegheny county, but failed to obtain the books and copies of which they were in search. Returning with a copy of Reed's Digest, for which they paid five dollars and fifty cents, they considered their mission extraordinarily successful, and the clerk, David DOUGAL, was made happy in the possession of the volume. With so much written law at hand, it was now time to build a prison, and, on January 16, 1804, Samuel MEAL's bid for iron work on the "Public Prison" was accepted. Four wolf orders, each for eight dollars, were granted to Abner COATS in February, 1804. On February 23, James THOMPSON received twenty dollars for stationery, iron for jail and for rent of part of house for office. On April 11, the tax duplicates for the several townships were issued, the amounts being: For Slippery [p. 94] Rock, $364; Middlesex, $480.32; Buffalo, $166.22, and Connoquenessing, $465.27. In May, James BLASHFORD was paid twenty-five dollars for carpenter work on jail, and Abraham FRYER two dollars and sixty-seven cents for hauling boards. In June, Andrew CRUIKSHANK, John CUNNINGHAM and Benjamin SARVER received five dollars each for viewing a road from Butler to Freeport, and John RAY one dollar and twenty-eight cents for a road from Butler to the mouth of Bear creek. On June 7, Simon DRUM was given a warrant for twenty-six dollars and sixty cents for a stove and stove-pipe, supplied to the county, and Abraham BRINKER received seventy dollars for erecting jail according to agreement, and seven dollars for hauling a stove from Greensburg. On July 14, the sum of eight dollars and sixty cents was paid to John McCANDLESS for candlesticks, snuffers and ink stands; while to William FREEMAN, four dollars and forty cents were paid for plank used in jail. Henry MURPHY received six dollars for viewing a road from Butler to the Venango county line, and William SCHILLING three dollars for viewing a road "from Butler on the direction to Beaver." William REDICK, who viewed the road from Butler toward Franklin, was paid six dollars. The first mention of office furniture is made under date of September 20, 1804, when James BROWN was paid thirteen dollars for a writing-desk, table and ballot-box, and a few days after, John NEGLEY received eleven dollars and fifty cents for two locks for jail, staples and fastenings. Up to this period, or, at least, from the beginning of 1804, the commissioners rented a room from William B. YOUNG, to whom they paid six dollars rent on October 25.
In November, 1804, James SCOTT took the place of Jacob MECHLING as commissioner, and with Messrs. WHITE and BOVARD, issued the warrants to the judges and clerks of the general election. On the 16th of that month, Matthew THOMPSON received eight dollars and seventy cents for making "spikes" for jail, and George BOWERS six dollars for fuel and attending to fires during the six days' term of court.
In December, Hugh SMITH petitioned for relief from the disabilities under which single men then labored. The tax on single-blessedness was seventy-five cents; but Hugh could now protest, and on the certificate of Squire Robert GALBREATH, that he was married before the date of petition, the commissioners gladly exonerated him. Beyond the issue of warrants to judges and clerks of election, and some attention given to the assessment of unseated Donation and Depreciation lands, the commissioners work for the month was uninteresting. On the 29th of December, the clerk, David DOUGAL, credited Commissioner WHITE with ninety-four days' services, BOVARD with 103 1/2 days, James SCOTT with eleven days, and himself with eighty-three days.
In 1804, William AYERS,--who appears to have moved from Pittsburg to Butler in the fall of 1801,--opened an account with Butler county. It is a debtor account, pure and simple, containing the following items:--
[p. 95]
June 8. To recording release from creditors of John CUNNINGHAM
To an order to divide the county into townships
To certificate of the division of the county, approved by court
1805 Jan.7. To certificate of auditors
$ 92
71
71
46
Oct.31. To certificate of auditors
To writing one deed from Samuel CUNNINGHAM to trustees of Butler county 4 00
June 13. Recording patent at the instance of the trustees
Nov.-- Recording deed from S. CUNNINGHAM to trustees
Oct.4. To drawing out the form of a deed from the trustees to the purchasers of lots
To writing five deeds from the trustees to the purchasers at $2.00 each
$ 46
4 00
80
1 23
8 00
10 00
On January 4, 1805, the question of estimates was disposed of and a levy of $2,500 ordered. On January 15, an order was given to Robert LEMMON for five dollars to pay for "six painted split-bottom chairs for this office." Benjamin WHITE was paid thirteen dollars for thirty logs and 1,000 brick for the use of the jail on the 17th, and the same day John NEGLEY received twenty-eight dollars and eighty-nine cents for services as treasurer of Butler county, from April 11 to December 31, 1804, being at the rate of forty dollars a year. John BEALS was paid twelve dollars for viewing a road from Butler "on the direction to Mercer," and, February 12, John NEGLEY received fifty dollars "in full" for rent of court-house from February 1, 1804 to February 1, 1805. Zadock CRAMER, who supplied the stationery for county use from the beginning, was paid thirty-seven dollars for blank books, and William AYRES, nineteen dollars for seals. The re-appointment of John NEGLEY as treasurer was made February 16, 1805, his bondsmen being William BROWN and William B. YOUNG, the sum being $3,000. In March following, William McDONALD, the coroner, who held an inquest on the body of the child--Catherine BARICKMAN--at the house of Benjamin THOMAS, was paid fifteen dollars and fourteen cents for his services. At this time also, warrants were issued to David DOUGAL, James BOVARD and James SCOTT, surveyors, Edward GRIMES, George SCOTT and Alexander WHITE, chain-carriers and blazers, for services in ascertaining township lines. In April the tax duplicates were issued as follows: Slippery Rock, $351.81; Mercer, $161.84; Parker, $178.53; Venango, $116.28; Donegal, $205.63 1/2; Clearfield, $118.45; Buffalo, $170.17; Middlesex, $232.71; Butler, $262.55; Muddy Creek, $260.48; Connoquenessing, $312.89 1/2, and Cranberry, $153.34 1/2. The total tax levied was $2,798.02 1/2. In the four first named townships the rate was six mills, in the others, five mills. The collectors, in the order of townships, were John LEVERE, Henry EVANS, John JAMESON, Henry MURPHY, Adam BORTMASS, Peter HENRY, David MOORHEAD, George BROWN, Robert MAXWELL, John TURK, William DODDS, John BEIGHLEY and William KILGORE. Warrants were issued in May and June to the road viewers from McLURE's in the direction of Beaver, and from the Mercer county line through Zelienople to Butler county line, near DIXON's; while, in August, five dollars were paid to Thomas GRAHAM for viewing a road from the Venango county line to CUNNINGHAM's mill; three dollars to Benjamin GARVIN for a road from Glade run through Harmony; and six dollars to Joseph McFARREN for a road from Allegheny county line, through Zelienople, toward the town of Mercer.
The bills for printing lists of Donation and Depreciation lands were considered September 24, 1805, when a warrant for $111 was issued to William McCORKLE, of the Freeman's Journal; one for $118.75 to Zach. POULSON, of the American Daily Advertiser; one for $114.87 1/2 to Thomas BRADFORD, and one to [p. 96] John ISRAELS for forty-five dollars and sixty cents for printing in The Tree of Liberty. It appears that an account for postage existed between the commissioners and the postmaster, William B. YOUNG, for a bill of two dollars and eighty-six cents was ordered to be paid him. On October 9, a warrant for two dollars was issued to Benjamin WALLACE for viewing a place for a bridge at the creek near Butler, and, on October 10, a warrant for eighteen dollars and seventy-five cents was given to Sheriff John McCANDLESS for blankets supplied to prisoners. Abner COATS, who took the place of James BOVARD, qualified November 9. William CAMPBELL, who made two jury wheels, was paid thirteen dollars and fifty cents for them on December 21. John NEGLEY was re-appointed treasurer December 30.
The opening days of 1806 were busy ones for the members of the board. Warrants to election judges and clerks, road viewers, supervisors, the "making-out" of tax duplicates, orders for auditors, jurors, etc., kept both clerk and commissioners at their desks until the close of February. In March, John SPEAR received eight dollars for work done in jail yard, and another bill for postage on letters and newspapers of one dollar and seventy-three cents was paid to Postmaster YOUNG. In April, Paris BRATTON received eleven dollars and fifty-two cents for placing pickets around the jail, while Samuel DUNBAR was allowed ten dollars for digging and walling a cellar in the jail yard, and Benjamin WHITE twenty-six dollars for "erecting" jail yard. The tax duplicates were confirmed in May, as follows: Slippery Rock, $519.46; Mercer, $243.38; Parker, $278.89 1/2; Venango, $180.94; Donegal, $312.39; Clearfield, $198.06 1/2; Buffalo, $263.38; Middlesex, $306.82; Butler, $450.50 1/2; Centre, $383.25; Muddy Creek, $386.46; Connequenessing, $332.27 1/2, and Cranberry, $260.56.
On June 19, William ELLIOTT, John McBRIDE and John DAVID delivered their trust in the matter of the county seat lots to the commissioners--Matthew WHITE, Abner COATS and James SCOTT. The latter awarded contracts for cutting the State road through Butler county, in August, while in September their attention was mainly directed to the issue of warrants in payment for jury services, witness fees, and other expenses connected with the circuit court. October was given up to settling with election judges and clerks. On November 7, David DOUGAL was paid twenty dollars for drawing a map of Butler county for the use of the commissioners. With the exception of making contracts for the construction of a bridge over the Connoquenessing and accepting bids for other bridges, the map question was the last to receive attention and the second last to be recorded in the first and venerable minute book of the commissioners.
On December 2, 1806, Jacob SMITH took the place of Matthew WHITE as commissioner. On January 6, 1807, the contract for building a court house was awarded to Alexander HILL, and on the 18th the contract was sealed. Viewing roads and bridges and ordering the survey of township lines occupied much of the commissioners' time in January. On March 7, Abraham BRINKER was appointed commissioner, vice Jacob SMITH; but there is no record of the resignation, removal or death of SMITH. Under date of April 14 it is recorded that Commissioner COATS was granted two dollars for "laying out court house and going to Justice SCOTT's for advice on business relating to court house." In June the sum [p. 97] of eighty-five dollars and sixty-nine cents was paid to John NEGLEY for carpenter work done and materials furnished on jail building.
The record for 1808 gives the names of Abner COATS, John NEGLEY and Francis ANDERSON as commissioners, and Walter LOWRIE, clerk. In February the sum of fifty dollars was paid to John PURVIANCE for rent of court house from March, 1808, to March, 1809, while on March 12, George YOUNG was paid fifteen dollars for court-house rent up to April, 1808. Among other items is two dollars to D. C. CUNNINGHAM for advice to commissioners in 1807. In the fall of 1808, James SCOTT succeeded Abner COATS as commissioner, and on October 27, 1809, Thomas DODDS and Joseph WILLIAMSON qualified as successors of NEGLEY and ANDERSON. The work of the board throughout 1808 and 1809 was not confined to usual business. The erection of the court house, construction of bridges and opening of roads entailed upon the members and clerk a large amount of work.
In October, 1810, Walter LOWRIE qualified as commissioner, and, with Joseph WILLIAMSON and James SCOTT, formed the board. Fixing the budget for 1811 was their principal work, the estimate of expenditures being $4,800. Robert SCOTT was appointed commissioners' clerk for the year beginning November 3, 1810, and a schedule of values of lands, horses, cows, mills and stills was drafted for the guidance of assessors. Samuel WILLIAMSON was appointed treasurer, his bond of $6,000 being signed by John NEGLEY and Samuel DENNISTON. In February, 1811, the question of a bridge over Slippery Rock creek was discussed; and early in April the commissioners engaged "in compromising" with Alexander HILL, the builder of the court house, for $600, and gave him a draft on the Bank of Deposit and Discount at Pittsburg. In October, 1811, William BALPH was elected commissioner to succeed James SCOTT. Letting contracts for the State road and issuing warrants formed the work of the officials up to that time. In December, the board settled with John MAGINNESS for finishing the sheriff's office, transacted routine business and adjourned. In September, 1812, Messrs. WILLIAMSON and LOWRIE visited Pittsburg to settle the accounts, as closed in 1803, with Allegheny county, but their mission proved a failure.
In October, 1812, Robert MARTIN was elected commissioner, also HARRIS vice LOWRIE, resigned. They, with William BALPH, formed the board on January 1, 1813, with Robert SCOTT clerk. In November, 1813, SCOTT was re-appointed clerk at $1.33 per day, and James McKEE qualified as commissioner, vice HARRIS, whose term expired. The auditors, appointed in the fall of 1813, namely:--John CHRISTY, Robert LEMMON and Moses SULLIVAN, reported on accounts up to January 1, 1814, but beyond this, nothing out of the routine of issuing orders was accomplished until October 29, when the contract for building a bridge at AMBERSON's was considered. On November 8, John NEGLEY gave a bond for the completion of the bridge. At this time John CHRISTY was commissioner vice William BALPH. It appears that a new jail building was in process of erection, by John NEGLEY, at that time, having been begun in 1812; that a new bridge at "race grounds" was contemplated, if not begun, and three bridges were built at Slippery Rock on the State road. Down to the close of 1810 there were 3,058 warrants issued; in 1811,--604 warrants; in 1812,--982 [p. 98] warrants; in 1813,--530 warrants; and in 1814,--579 warrants, the last number representing $5,052.40 in cash.
In 1815, there were 510 warrants issued, aggregating $3,466.47, a large part of which represented court expenses, such as jurors' fees. Election expenses formed no small amount. On November 4, William CAMPBELL took the oath as commissioner vice Robert MARTIN, whose term expired. The new jail building was practically completed by John NEGLEY, who also finished the floor and partitions of the second story of the court-house, receiving on the latter contract, in January, 1816, the sum of $175. The bridge over Wolf creek, built by Daniel FOSTER for the county, was completed in May, 1816, and also that over the Connoquenessing creek. Warrants for forty-two dollars were given to John RALSTON, John BURKHART, Daniel GRAHAM and John BURTNER for fourteen wolf puppies, while John RENISTON received eight dollars for a full grown wolf head. In October, Thomas McLEARY qualified as commissioner vice McKEE, whose term expired. During the year, 492 warrants were issued, representing $5,858. The completion of the jail in May, 1817, by John NEGLEY, and the plastering of the court-house later by John DUNBAR, were the only important events in which the commisioners were concerned. Warrants to the number of 493 were issued and $4,074.35 disbursed. The election of Francis FRYER as commissioner took place in October, and he took his seat in November vice John CHRISTY, whose term expired. Comparatively little business was transacted in 1818, there being only 353 orders issued and $3,986.92 1/2 disbursed. Abraham BRINKER was elected commissioner in the fall and qualified November 2, 1818, when he with McLEARY and FRYER formed the board. During the ensuing year a new bridge at Harmony was built by David TOWNSEND at a cost of $399, also one at Bassenheim and one at Zelienople, and a number of roads projected. The 437 warrants issued represented a sum of $3,000.57. Robert LEMMON, elected commissioner, in October, took the place of Thomas McLEARY in November, and assisted fully in transacting the county business during the year 1820, which was, in every respect, a busy year for the board--497 warrants being issued and $4,752.28 disbursed. John DODDS qualified as commissioner in November, 1820, vice Francis FRYER, who was not re-elected. On November 6th, Thomas McLEARY was appointed clerk, to succeed Robert SCOTT, at a salary of $100. The commissioners reserved the right to dismiss him at the close of three months if his work was not satisfactory.
In October, 1821, John BRANDON took the oath of office as commissioner, and, with Messrs. LEMMON and DODDS, formed the board. In November, Robert SCOTT was restored to his old position as clerk. Beyond the attention given to new roads, such as that from Louisburg to ARLEY's ford and from NEYMAN's mill to the Mercer road, and to bridges, the issue of warrants to officers of elections and to jurors occupied the board. In the record of expenditures for this year items appeared, showing that Moses and John SULLIVAN were paid thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents for printing the statement of receipts and expenditures; that Reese EVANS was paid some moneys on account of his contract for building the bridge at Butler; that Robert GRAHAM was paid for hauling lightning rods and stove-pipe, and that men, named MARTIN and BOWERS, were paid for coal supplied to the county in 1820 and 1821. The number of warrants issued was 517 and the sum [p. 99] represented, $3,390.10 1/2. John SHRYOCK, who made the first pump for the jail yard, received for his work fifteen dollars. In July, 1822, the construction of a bridge at LOWRIE's mill was decided upon, and repairs on the court-house and jail were authorized. John COVERT, who was elected commissioner, qualified October 26, and on November 4, took his seat with Messrs. DODDS and BRANDON. The appointment of William GIBSON, treasurer, was one of the first acts of the new board. A book-case, made by Robert CARAHAN, was introduced into the recorder's office, the jail doors were covered with sheet-iron, grates were placed in the open hearths of the jail and other advances toward the comfort, as well as the security of prisoners, were made. There were no less than 592 warrants issued in 1822, covering $3,589.80 1/2. The appointment of John WALSH as clerk, to succeed Robert SCOTT, was made November 29, so that the new official was brought face to face with the intricacies of office at a time when election judges, clerks, inspectors, road views, jurors, etc., were hunting warrants for their pay as industriously as the bounty seekers were hunting old wolves and puppies.
One of the items of expense in 1823, was twenty-five cents paid to John BRANDON for "goose quills," bought in Simon REED's store. A singular case was presented in July, it being nothing less than the demand of William HOGG for three dollars and fifty cents for grand jury service, although he was discharged from service on account of being a Scotchman or Englishman, who never became a citizen. The commissioners issued the warrant.
In July, William PURVIANCE surveyed a number of out-lots east of the borough, which were sold by the commissioners in October. Prior to that time, John McQUISTION was elected commissioner and took his seat vice John DODDS, on November 5, on which date, John SULLIVAN was appointed treasurer. Hugh McGLAUGHLIN was authorized to make window blinds for court-house, and the commissioners bought two pairs of snuffers and one box of candles. The business of the year is indicated by the issue of 622 warrants, amounting to $3,755.58, including those issued for the Lick bridge, the bridge over the Connoquenessing and at the turnpike, and improving the bridge at Harmony.
The minutes of 1824 show 720 warrants issued and $4,140.56 disbursed, but the treasurer's statement shows an expenditure of $7,055.86. Among the items is one for six dollars and forty-three cents to William REED "for schooling poor children." In August, 1824, the treasurer paid four dollars to Hugh McKEE for a ream of Number 1 paper, and twenty dollars to John SULLIVAN for printing a ream of blank checks. John ALWARD received one dollar and eighty cents "for schooling poor children"; while Joseph STERRETT, Alexander HAGERTY and Robert STEPHENSON received two dollars each for apprehending and guarding David McJUNKIN. Hugh McKEE, elected in October to succeed John BRANDON, qualified November 5, 1824, and, on the 27th, William GIBSON was appointed clerk to succeed John WALSH.
In 1825, the bridge at Bell's ford, over Slippery Rock creek, was finished by Charles COULTER, and the Connoquenessing creek bridge, at the turnpike, was rebuilt by Henry EVANS. A uniform standard for the triennial assessment was adopted in November, 1825, Robert SCOTT, Hugh McKEE and John McQUISTION, being the commissioners. The assessors were William CAMPBELL, and Rob- [p. 100] ert GRAHAM, of Butler; Oliver DAVID, Middlesex; John GILLESPIE, Cranberry; David SHANNON, Connoquenessing; Samuel DODDS, Muddy Creek; Robert BLACK, Slippery Rock; Richard VANDYKE, Mercer; Joseph MURRIN, Venango; Samuel ERWIN, Parker; Paul McDERMOTT, Donegal; John SLATOR, Clearfield; William COLMER, Buffalo, and David McJUNKIN, Centre. The auditors were William PURVIANCE and Maurice BREDIN. The expenditures of the county amounted to $4,558.62.
The appointment of Isaiah NIBLOCK as treasurer, was made in January, 1826, his pay being based on one and one-half per cent. His appointment was strongly opposed by John McQUISTION. The twelve year contract with Andrew MARSHALL to keep Harmony bridge in repair for that term was made,--the stated consideration being $317.50. At the close of October, Commissioner-elect David DOUGAL succeeded John McQUISTION. The total disbursements amounted to $4,456.91.
The appointment of Samuel A. PURVIANCE as clerk was made in February, 1827. The building of a bridge over the Connoquenessing, opposite the borough, was completed by John STEPHENSON, and the court-house was subjected to general repairs by authority of the board. On October 22, John McNEES was inducted into office to succeed Hugh McKEE. The annual expenditure was $6,198.40 as certified by auditors--Robert MARTIN, Maurice BREDIN and Joseph BRYSON.
In March, 1828, the plan for the bridge at AMBERSON's was adopted, and from January 1, to October 29, sufficient business was transacted to occupy the time of Commissioners SCOTT for eighty-three days, DOUGAL for eighty-one and a half days, and McNEES for sixty-eight days. The clerk, Samuel A. PURVIANCE, was engaged for 109 1/2 days of his second term, down to March 6, 1828, and sixty-one days additional down to October 29. Alexander GRAHAM succeeded SCOTT, as commissioner, October 29, and served sixteen days before the close of December. Christian MECHLING was appointed clerk, for a short term, on October 28, and Treasurer THOMPSON reported a revenue of $6,710.98 for the year, of which $1,437.63 1/2 were unexpended.
The question of appointing a treasurer was decided January 1, 1829, when James THOMPSON was chosen. In February, John N. PURVIANCE was appointed clerk, at a salary of fifty dollars per annum. In April, 1829, the bridge at Zelienople was authorized to be built. In October, Joseph McQUISTION was elected commissioner to succeed David DOUGAL; John N. PURVIANCE was re-appointed clerk, at a salary of seventy-five dollars per annum, and Francis McBRIDE was chosen treasurer, to succeed James THOMPSON. The expenditures for the year amounted to $5,508.
The dealings of the board in 1830, with assessors, collectors, jurors, officers of election, road and bridge viewers, and contractors, form an index to the advances made by Butler since 1820. Among the roads opened was one from James McCANDLESS' house to the brick meeting-house in Connoquenessing township; and among the bridges projected was one opposite the former home of Detmar Basse MULLER; one over Muddy creek, near KENNEDY's mill; one over Wolf creek, and one over Slippery Rock creek, where the graded road from Butler to Franklin crossed that stream. The State road from Kittanning to EVAN's ferry, [p. 101] on French creek, received some attention in August, and then came preparations for election days. In October, John McCANDLESS qualified as successor to Commissioner McNEES. Later, the salary of the clerk, John PURVIANCE, was increased to ninety dollars. The financial report shows $6,574.57 received, of which $699.86 remained in the treasurer's hands.
In January, 1831, Francis McBRIDE was re-appointed treasurer and William AYRES attorney. The salary of Mr. AYRES was placed at twenty-five dollars, a small sum, indeed, looking at it through modern spectacles, but large enough for the duties of the office sixty-three years ago. The Breakneck creek bridge, opposite BOGGS' house, was contracted to be built by Sylvester ASH, and the meeting with the merchants, who appealed from tax classification of the commissioners and associate judges, was held.
It may appear strange that one of the commissioners had to go to Pittsburg to procure "iron and nails and other things for the use of repair of jail and attending to have the same hauled from Pittsburg." James SPENCER was then working on such repairs. In August Bennett DODDS was employed to place sheet-iron on the western wall of the prison-room. In September the bridge over the Connoquenessing at the salt lick was begun by Contractor Charles DUFFY. John N. PURVIANCE was re-appointed clerk at a salary of one dollar per day. William PILLOW, who succeeded Alexander GRAHAM as commissioner, qualified in November. Andrew SPROUL was appointed treasurer in December, and, some days later, Samuel A. PURVIANCE succeeded Mr. AYRES as attorney to the board at a salary of twenty-five dollars. Auditor William MOORE reported a revenue of $6,946.07, including $1,278.57, which remained in the treasury on January 1, 1831.
The contract for repairing the court-house was awarded to George MILLER in March, 1832, and the plastering thereof to Philip VARNUM. About this time a new roof was ordered to be placed on the jail. In May, B. G. GALL and A. ZIEGLER contracted to build a bridge over the Connoquenessing, opposite Harmony. Robert GRAHAM qualified as commissioner, in October, to succeed Joseph McQUISTION, while later in the month William CAMPBELL, Jr., was appointed clerk at a salary of seventy dollars per annum. The financial statement for 1832 shows a sum of $8,394.57, of which $670.56 were reported unused on December 31, 1832.
The year 1833 was opened by the appointment of Charles C. SULLIVAN counsel to commissioners, at a salary of twenty-five dollars, and Andrew SPROUL as treasurer. In June a bridge over Buffalo creek in Clearfield township, was authorized. John VANDERLIN, who was elected to succeed John McCANDLESS, qualified as commissioner October 18; William CAMPBELL was re-appointed clerk at one dollar per day; a pavement in front of the court-house was authorized; John McLELLAND was appointed attorney at a salary of twenty-five dollars; and George MILLER, treasurer. Of $5,614.10 received during the year, only $224.83 were unexpended.
The elections of 1834, resulted in the return of Joseph GRAHAM to succeed William PILLOW. The total credits to tax amounted to $6,446.33 and expenditures to $6,802.94. In 1835, William CAMPBELL, Jr., clerk, George MILLER, treasurer, and John McLELLAND, attorney, were re-appointed. The tax levy for the [p. 102] year was confirmed in March and duplicates given to the collectors. In April, Moses CRISPIN was employed as bell-ringer; in September, contracts for building bridges over Thorn creek, on the road from Butler to BOYD's mill, were sealed; in October, Hugh STEPHENSON was elected to succeed Robert GRAHAM as commissioner, and Jacob ZIEGLER was appointed clerk, vice CAMPBELL, retired. Under date of October 17, a peculiar entry occurs. It records that on that day the commissioners were "employed in fighting with Joseph McQUISTION," but leaves the cause of the battle and its results untold. John VANDERLIN was then a member of the board.
Early in 1836 John N. PURVIANCE was appointed counselor to the commissioners at an annual salary of thirty-five dollars, and John B. McGLAUGHLIN was appointed treasurer, the value of the office being two per cent on the levy. A brief reference to the new bridge over Bear creek and one to a meeting with the school directors show the terse style of the clerk. In October, 1836, Nathan SKEER qualified as commissioner to succeed VANDERLIN. The auditor's report deals with a revenue of $8,314.59, of which the sum of $1,136.12 remained in the treasury.
In January, 1837, the treasurer was re-appointed, and John N. PURVIANCE appointed counselor at a salary of thirty dollars per annum. The building of a bridge over the Connoquenessing, below Butler, claimed the attention of the board in February; later the bridge near BOYD's mill was constructed, and one at Malachi RICHARDSON's and one at GILLILANDs were authorized. William CRISWELL was elected to succeed Joseph GRAHAM as commissioner. Of $8,372.16 charged to the treasurer, a balance of $2,743.47 was carried to 1838.
The appointments of James FRAZIER, as treasurer, and Jacob ZIEGLER, as clerk, were made in January, 1838. Jacob SHANOR, commissioner-elect, qualified October 28. On December 31, the auditor's report showed $8,177.28 received into the treasury, of which $1,005.84 remained unexpended. In January, 1839, Jacob ZIEGLER was chosen clerk and counselor to the commissioners, his pay as clerk being one dollar and twenty-five cents a day, and as a counselor thirty dollars per annum. This arrangement was not of long duration, for, on January 8, George ZIEGLER was appointed clerk, at one dollar and twenty-five cents a day; John N. PURVIANCE, counsellor [sic] at thirty-five dollars per annum; and Jacob MECHLING, Jr., treasurer at three and one-half per cent. on tax levy. In October, Thomas R. McMILLEN took his seat as commissioner, vice Nathan SKEER, whose term expired. The sum audited for 1839 was $8,030.47, including $166.76 advanced by the treasurer to meet bills against the county.
In 1840, E. M. BREDIN was appointed attorney; William CAMPBELL, treasurer, George W. ZIEGLER clerk, and John McCOLLAUGH, bell-ringer. Toward the close of October, George MILLER occupied Commissioner CRISWELL's place and took a full part in the closing transactions of the board for that year. The revenue of the county in 1840 was $9,403.83, all of which appears to have been expended, jurors and grand jurors eating up no less than $1,809.11.
The officers of the commissioners, appointed in 1841, were Andrew CARNS, treasurer; William TIMBLIN, clerk; George W. SMITH, attorney, and William JOHNSTON, bell-ringer. One of the incidents of the year, was the receipt of a [p. 103] petition from leading citizens of Butler borough against continuing a boy of William JOHNSTON's years as bell-ringer and custodian of public buildings, and recommending the employment of John McCOLLOUGH, Jr. This petition was acquiesced in by the commissioners without delay. It [sic] August, John ROSS was awarded the contract for painting the court-house and offices. On November 10, the election question arising in a tie vote for commissioner, was settled by commissioners McMILLEN and MILLER, sitting with the court of quarter sessions. John RAY, of Donegal township, was chosen--the claims of McCURDY and MOYER being set aside. The new member took his seat November 20. The revenues of 1841 amounted to $9,237.52, all of which were disbursed. The school fund then amounted to $254.15, or $111.66 from unseated land tax, and $142.49 paid by former treasurer.
The value of warrants issued in 1836 was $5,881.32; in 1837, $4,997.56; in 1838, $6,514.55; in 1839, $8,030.47; in 1840, $9,992.05, and in 1841, $7,456.30. The trustees of the Butler Academy owed on January 1, 1842, the sum of $2,457.70. This sum included $1,101.36, the amount of John NEGLEY's judgment, and $150.00 subscribed toward the support of the institution, or a total of $42,872.25 in six years.
The record of the election of the county treasurer was made January 1, 1842, when Andrew CARNS presented his certificate of election in October, 1841, for a term of two years. Alexander S. McBRIDE was appointed clerk; George W. SMITH, attorney, and Samuel R. WILLIAMS, bell-ringer. In October, John RAY and Abraham MOYER were elected commissioners, and, with Thomas R. McMILLEN, formed the board. The total expenditures, or rather treasurer's credits, amounted to $13,559.96. The warrants issued represented $8,309.75.
In 1843, Alexander McNAIR was appointed attorney at a salary of twenty-five dollars per annum, and John GOLD, bell-ringer, at a salary of fifty dollars. Maurice BREDIN qualified as commissioner on October 14. The total treasurer's credits amounted to $11,677.21 and the value of warrants to $7,292.47. On January 1, 1844, Daniel COLL, treasurer elect, qualified. On October 26, W. W. DODDS, commissioner elect, qualified, and on January 1, 1845, voted for the appointment of GILMORE and PURVIANCE, county attorneys; the re-appointment of Alexander S. McBRIDE, clerk, and John GOLD, bell-ringer. Thomas H. BRACKEN took the place of Abraham MOYER in October, and in January, 1846, John BREDIN, Jr., was appointed clerk; Oren BALDWIN, attorney, and John GOLD, bell-ringer or janitor. In April, David DOUTHETT was appointed as the successor of Commissioner BREDIN and qualified the same day. The appointment of Lewis Z. MITCHELL as appraiser of mercantile taxes, on October 24, was the first to this position under the act of April 22, 1846, so far as the record tells. On the 27th, John ANDERSON qualified as successor to David DOUTHETT, and on January 1, 1847, the board appointed George W. CROZIER, clerk, at one dollar and twenty-five cents a day. John BORLAND, attorney, at twenty-five dollars per annum, and John McCOLLOUGH Jr., bell-ringer. The election of Joseph DOUTHETT, in October, to succeed Commissioner W. W. DODDS, and the appointment of William TIMBLIN, as mercantile appraiser, completed the list of official changes for the year. In 1848, Andrew [p. 104] SIMPSON succeeded BRACKEN, and, immediately after, the system of fuel contracts was changed, the resolution being as follows:
[That the coal should be shipped by those who will supply at four cents per bushel and not take more than 400 bushels from any one at any one time; also to supply the jail in the same way.]
In 1849 George W. CROZIER was re-appointed clerk and John SULLIVAN counsel and mercantile appraiser. An entry refers to the floods of July and speaks of the two bridges at AMBERSON's, one at RALSTON's, one at ROBB's, and one at Breakneck, as if they were damaged. The election of Thomas KELLY as commissioner in 1849, to succeed ANDERSON; the appointment of W. TIMBLIN as counsel, at twenty-five dollars per annum, and the re-appointment of George W. CROZIER, clerk, and of John McCOLLOUGH, bell-ringer, in January, 1850, mark the personal history of the board. Thomas WELSH, elected commissioner to succeed Joseph DOUTHETT, in October, 1850, qualified the same month; James WHITE, of Prospect, was appointed mercantile appraiser to succeed SULLIVAN; and in January, 1851, James A. McNAIR was appointed clerk, Arcus McDERMIT, attorney, and William WILLIAMSON, bell-ringer. The resignation of Mr. McNAIR in October, 1851, was followed by the appointment of John SULLIVAN as clerk, at the last meeting of the old board.
On October 28, 1851, James MITCHELL succeeded Andrew SIMPSON as commissioner, and on the last day of the year, John GREER, of Prospect, was chosen mercantile appraiser. In January, 1852, John SULLIVAN was appointed clerk; E. McJUNKIN, attorney, and John McCOLLOUGH, bell-ringer. On May 28, of this year, Architect BARR was in consultation with the commissioners over the plans for the proposed new court-house. Subsequently the commissioners, Messrs. KELLY, WELSH and MITCHELL, spent twelve days visiting the county seats of Lawrence, Beaver, Allegheny, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Blair and Indiana counties to obtain information relative to court-house buildings, and continued to give this subject attention until July 16, when they awarded the contract for building to William BELL, of Warren, Pennsylvania. In November, 1852, John MILLER succeeded Thomas KELLY as commissioner, and David M. McDONALD was appointed mercantile appraiser.
At the beginning of 1858 the commissioners and their appointees were the same as named in the minutes of 1852. Toward the close of January, G. W. CROZIER was appointed temporary clerk. On March 31, 1853, the commissioners unanimously agreed to subscribe $250,000 to the capital stock of the North Western Railroad Company, as recommended and found by the grand jury, and, in accordance with the act incorporating that company. This resolution was duly signed by the commissioners and the clerk, John SULLIVAN. At this time the commissioners were also engaged in watching the progress of the new court-house, so that their positions were anything but sinecures. One of the sanitary acts of this period must be credited to the board. This was nothing less than the construction of a sewer from the jail to the creek, the first improvement of this class made in this section of Pennsylvania. In May, the basement of a church was prepared for holding courts. The election of William C. CAMPBELL as commissioner in October, to succeed WELSH; the "laying-off" new townships, [p. 105] bridge matters and court-house building, were the proceedings of the closing months of the year.
In October, 1854, railroad bonds were issued and a contract made for a court-house bell. In November, John KENNEDY took his seat as commissioner. In January, 1855, Samuel MARKS was appointed clerk. In August the commissioners were engaged in measuring the new court-house and laying carpet in court-room, although there is no minute of the acceptance of the structure; but, on the contrary, Mr. BELL was notified to finish it. The cleaning of the interior, December 7, is the only record in minutes to tell how BELL observed this notice. In January, 1856, the clerk, Samuel MARKS, the attorney, E. McJUNKIN and John McCOLLOUGH, the bell-ringer, were re-appointed officers of the board. In August, Architect BARR and Contractor BELL met the commissioners. In September, the members were in session with the agricultural societies, railroad officers, assessors, collectors, etc.
On February, 1857, John GRAHAM was appointed agent of the county and ordered to visit Philadelphia to attend a meeting of the directors of the North Western railroad, on March 3, and find out the condition and policy of that corporation. On March 11, a settlement with Contractor BELL was effected. In December, Samuel P. IRWIN was appointed clerk, while the attorney and bell-ringer were re-appointed. In October, 1858, the prothonotary was ordered to record only the general result of all elections, such record to be paid for at the rate of one cent for every ten words. Anxiety about the intentions of the railroad company prevailed at this time, and the members of the board visited the directors at Pittsburg. On the last day of the year, the officers of the old board were re-appointed. Bridges at Evansburg, BLACK's mill, BOVARD's mill, Zelienople and other points, were rebuilt or repaired during the year, and mention is made of a lawsuit, in which the commissioners were interested, being tried at Pittsburg. Subsequently the case is referred to as "DUBERRY vs. Butler county." In January, 1860, Samuel P. IRWIN was re-appointed clerk and appointed attorney to the board. IRWIN resigned the clerkship in August, and Samuel MARKS was appointed.
The transactions of the commissioners from the beginning to the end of the Rebellion were of unusual importance. William S. JACK was appointed clerk in January, 1861, and John M. THOMPSON attorney. On April 30, John H. NIBLOCK was appointed clerk, vice William S. JACK, who had enlisted. In January, 1862, following, Mr. NIBLOCK was appointed permanent secretary; but on his resignation being accepted in March, 1862, Havey COLBERT was chosen his successor. Early in 1862 mention is made of the relief work of the board, and on July 31, of the commissioners agreeing to give each volunteer in three companies of nine months' men, twenty-five dollars each as soon as mustered in. On August 26 this bounty was paid to the soldiers of ANDERSON's company. In October, 1862, Charles McCANDLESS was chosen attorney, vice John M. THOMPSON, who entered the United States service. Mr. GREER attended the court at Pittsburg for several days in the matter of the railroad suits, and was credited with 109 days' service, fom January 1 to December 31, together with thirty-six days' service in 1861, against the 477 days of Mr. McNEES. In January the officers of the old [p. 106] board were re-appointed. In April, 1863, a meeting of the commissioners of Lawrence and Butler counties was held to settle some disputed points about soldiers' bounties and determine on which side of the line certain claimants for bounty lived. The Butler officers had already paid bounty to eight Lawrence county men. To avoid future trouble in this matter, the commissioners suggested that on which ever side of the line the home was, the land should be assessed in that county and the soldier paid the bounty from the treasury of that county. The meeting to fix the boundary line was held at Portersville, September 17, when Messrs. SUTTON, WILSON, GREER and BARTLEY were appointed to take the southern end of the line, and James FORREST, Thomas McNEES and Harvey COLBERT the northern end. In October, Samuel LEASON was elected commissioner to succeed Thomas McNEES, and, with Messrs. BARTLEY and GREER, brought the county business of the year to a satisfactory close.
The meeting of January 1, 1864, resulted in the election of the old officers. In February a tax of fifteen mills on assessed value of property was authorized; being four mills for county purposes, three mills for State purposes and eight mills for railroad charges. At the close of this year the auditors--John H. CRATTY, W. H. H. RIDDLE and Simeon NIXON--reported as follows:
[We, the undersigned auditors of Butler county, having examined the foregoing account of the commissioners' clerk of Butler, do report that Congress must either make more days in the year, or we shall compel the commissioners to commute his rations.]
It is apparent that the auditors did not associate the 312 days' service in 1863 and the 314 days' service in 1864 with the increased work of the times; but the commissioners did; for, two days after this report was made, Harvey was re-appointed clerk. There were 216 citizens of the county assessed in 1864, five per cent on their incomes, under the law providing for an income tax. Another item appears under date, March 15, 1865, which recalls a tragic national event. It reads as follows:
[Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot last night in Washington City by an assassin, and died this morning.--Requiescat in pace.]
In the midst of civil and military turmoil, the fight against the railroad company was carried on by BARTLEY and LEASON. In October, William DICK was elected to succeed Abner BARTLEY.
In January, 1866, the old officers were re-elected. In November the vacancy in the office of treasurer, caused by the death of W. E. MOORE, was filled by the appointment of John E. MOORE, of Centre township. In January, 1867, George W. KNEISS was appointed to succeed Harvey COLBERT as clerk. The tax rate of 1866, which was nine mills lower than that of 1865, was also made eight mills in 1867. In May bids for building the new jail and sheriff's house were received and the contract sealed June 14.
In 1868, the clerk's salary was placed at $700 and the attorney's was still held down to twenty-five dollars; but the bell-ringer now called janitor, had his pay increased to $150. The resignation of George KNEISS in September, 1869, led to the appointment of Thomas B. WHITE as clerk. On November 6, of this year, the board elected a president in the person of Charles HOFFMAN, he being the first to serve under that title. In other respects, the members of the board were [p. 107] assuming self-importance; for, not content with the old digest, purchased in 1804 or thereabouts, they now purchased an edition of Purdon for the use of the office. The record, too, shows signs of progress, partaking more of the style of DOUGAL's ancient minute books. In December, George MILLER was paid for making a coffin for one "HOKENBOY," who was hanged in this county.
In January, 1870, the tax rate was lowered to seven mills. About this time, John H. NEGLEY was awarded the printing of the auditors report for fifty dollars. In February, the commissioners borrowed from the First National Bank, for ninety days, the sum of $1500, and in March, issued a warrant for $116,798 to ROBISON, banker, for railroad bonds and coupons. In November, James M. LAWE was chosen president of the board, and at the same session the estimate of expenditures for the current year was placed at $40,000. Before the close of the year, W. H. BLACK was appointed attorney, and the clerk and janitor were re-appointed.
In April, 1871, Mr. WHITE received the commission of postmaster of Butler, and William L. SPEAR succeeded him as clerk. In June, the claims of John M. THOMPSON and Charles McCANDLESS, for defending Butler county in the case of Lawrence county vs. Butler county, growing out of the subscription to the North-Western Railroad Company, were tabled until "equitably adjusted either by law or compromise." In July, when the trial was resumed, James BREDIN was employed to represent this county, the consideration being $500 and traveling expenses. In October the new iron bridge in Cherry township was completed, and an iron bridge at Harmony, near ENSLEN's, was also finished.
The threat of the commissioners to proceed, according to law, against collectors who neglected "paying off" their duplicates on or before January 1, 1872, characterized the meeting of November 22. On November 29, the following minute was made:
[Commissioners all present; had a dispute with Mr. BROWN, jury commissioner. Wanted more pay than they were willing to give him. Mr. BROWN got very spunky and left without getting anything. Tomorrow being Thanksgiving Day, the board will not be in session.]
In December, 1872, Collector KIRKER of Lancaster township, asked that a ten dollar counterfeit bill, which he received as taxes, be accepted by the treasurer, but the commissioners could not see it in that light. In the matter of a $10,000 fee, claimed by Attorneys THOMPSON and McCANDLESS, for legal services, arbitrators were appointed December 22, and on the 28th, Judge KERR, James F. ROBINSON and Judge MITCHELL met under the appointment, but nothing definite was accomplished. Robert BARRON became a member of the board in 1872. On January 8, the record states that every one having business with the office had fault to find with everyone and everything. At this time mention is first made of overseers of the poor. From the entry it appears that the poor people of the county were sent to Dixmont Hospital, in Allegheny county. In March, the treasurer, "having unexpectedly received money from Harrisburg," an overdue note for $600, held by Mrs. S. C. SULLIVAN, was paid. In June, it appears that one-half the jurors were excused and the commissioners hurried payments to them, saying, "they are no use here--the sooner they are discharged the better for the county." On the 22nd an entry states:
[p. 108]
[Yesterday we had the hardest rain that the oldest citizens remember of, particularly in the southwestern part of the county, taking away bridges and destroying fences, grain, etc.]
The rains in August damaged bridges and delayed the re-building of bridges in lieu of those swept away in June. The record contains weather and political reports, with references to the courts and other important affairs. This is shown by an entry under date of October 29, which reads as follows: "The witnesses are all from Clearfield, and a hard set of fellows they are to get along with." And, again, under date of October 31,--"Court in session. Trying Dutchman for burning a barn near Saxonburg; found him guilty, being out only fifteen minutes." William L. SPEAR, to whom credit is given for keeping excellent minutes, died November 24, and on the 25th, John B. McQUISTION was appointed to fill the vancancy.
In July, 1873, the sum of $2,448 was borrowed from John BERG & Company, with the understanding that the money was to remain in bank "to be drawn out as needed." In September, a court order to have all books re-bound, and such books as were mutilated, transcribed and bound, was received by the commissioners and an order made in obedience to that of the court. James P. CHRISTLEY, with Messrs. BARRON and GARVIN, were the commissioners.
The transactions of 1874, opened with the appointment of E. G. CRATTY, clerk, to succeed John B. McQUISTION, and Thomas ROBINSON, attorney, to succeed W. H. BLACK, the new member of the board being John C. RIDDLE. In February, 1875, I. S. P. De WOLF was chosen clerk, at a salary of $700 a year, and Clarence WALKER, attorney, at forty dollars per annum. In June, the services of the clerk were dispensed with, and George MAXWELL, of Centre township, appointed. The blowing-up of the safe in the treasurer's office, October 18, enlivened affairs round the court-house and checked the payment of warrants, as the doors of the safe could not be opened. In January, 1876, under the new law, the three members were Robert BARRON, J. C. DONALDSON and William A. CHRISTIE; Samuel McCLYMONDS was appointed clerk and J. C. DONALDSON succeeded J. C. RIDDLE as commissioner. In March, the dispute about the treasurer's salary was still in progress, the board offering $2,250, believing that this was the legal interpretation of the court's decision in the matter. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court, and the per centage to be paid the treasurer was fixed. In June, the removal of the old court-house cupola was decided upon and a new one, fitted as a clock tower, ordered to be constructed. The clock for this structure was not to cost more than $900, of which the county was to pay $300 and the borough of Butler, $600. Other work was also authorized on the old building. Later, the arrangement with Venango county, respecting assessment of property on the line, was made, and, during the long term of BARRON, DONALDSON and CHRISTIE's administration, much work was accomplished at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers.
In January, 1879, J. C. DONALDSON, James GRIBBEN and Jonathan MAYBURY were sworn in as commissioners; H. W. NICHOLAS was appointed to succeed the veteran janitor, John McCOLLAUGH, at one dollar a day; Clarence WALKER was re-appointed counsel and Samuel McCLYMONDS, clerk. The commissioners named [p. 109] were serving in 1881, when the minute book--1853-82--was closed. Thomas ROBINSON was appointed counsel in January, 1882, and the commission of the treasurer, J. H. MILLER, was fixed at four per cent for all moneys paid out to the amount of $55,000, and one-half per cent on any sum over that amount.
In March, 1884, a tax of five mills was levied for county purposes and two mills for building purposes. In June, Architect J. P. BAILEY was allowed four per cent for plans, specifications and superintendence of proposed court-house, and in August the proceeds of insurance on the old building ($23,500) were set apart for the new building, together with about $19,500 from the duplicate tax lists of 1884, and two mills per cent on duplicate for ensuing six years. The commissioners at that time were Charles COCHRAN, G. W. HAYS and James COLLINS, and the clerk was S. T. MARSHALL. In December the board authorized the issue of $65,000 in bonds, in blocks of $6,000 annually, the interest not to exceed four per cent. Mr. COLLINS voted against this resolution. On December 2, the contract for building was awarded to R. B. TAYLOR; on the 3rd the sum of $21,933.33 was received from the insurance companies, together with $329 interest, and a new era in the official life of the county was introduced. The order of Judge HAZEN to have old record books re-bound was not the smallest spoke in the wheel of progress.
The commissioners who qualified January 5, 1885, were J. C. BREADEN, J. C. KELLY and J. M. TURNER. Dr. LINN, appointed as the first county physician in 1879, was re-appointed in 1885, and S. F. BOWSER was elected counsel. Gas was introduced as fuel in the offices on trial, and the trustees of the Evangelical church building, which was used as a court-house, failed to convince the commissioners that the rent should be increased. R. N. EMERY was appointed clerk; but was succeeded by F. M. SHIRA, who was chosen for this position in April, and EMERY was appointed court-house watchman. In February, 1886, S. T. MARSHALL was elected clerk.
The new board--A. J. HUTCHISON, J. C. KELLY and B. M. DUNCAN--organized January 2, 1888, with A. J. HUTCHISON, president; S. T. MARSHALL, clerk; Newton BLACK, attorney, and John GRAHAM, jail physician. On January 7, 1889, Enos McDONALD was chosen clerk. The appointment of John HUMPHREY, by the court, to succeed J. C. KELLY, as commissioner, is recorded under date of January 10, 1890. On February 2, 1891, the present clerk, Isaac MEALS, was elected--the board then comprising Messrs. John HUMPHREY, S. T. MARSHALL and J. C. KISKADDON. They served until January, 1894, when S. W. McCOLLOUGH and Richard KELLY, Republicans, and G. W. WILSON, Democrat, qualified as their successors, and re-elected Mr. MEALS clerk. The administrators of county affairs from February, 1891, to January, 1894, made a good record for their economy, faithful observance of duty, kindness toward one another and courtesy to the people of all classes.
[End of Chapter 07 - Transactions of the Commissioners: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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