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Ever since her organization, Butler county has played an important part in the various congressional, senatorial and judicial districts to which she has belonged, in addition to exercising a fostering care over her own internal political affairs. Her citizens have been jealous of their rights, watchful of their interests, and unfalteringly devoted to those principles and doctrines, which to their minds were but calculated to conserve the highest interests of the Nation and the State. Here, as elsewhere, party spirit has, at times, run high, and occasionally individuals, thinking themselves entitled to more than their parties were willing to give them, have seen fit to test their personal strength and popularity at the polls, as independent candidates. At various times, also, new parties have sprung into existence to contest the county with the great parties that have embraced within their following a large majority of her citizens from the earliest years of her history.
The stirring campaigns of the past ninety years, have called into action many bright and able men, who have made their individual influence felt, and acquired more than passing fame, in shaping the destiny of the Commonwealth. Besides those who have made for themselves distinguished names while yet claiming the county as their home, there are others, who, after acquiring homes elsewhere, have, by the force of their ability and energy, pushed themselves to the front, and have become potential in the councils of the State and Nation, confering honor alike upon the State of their nativity and the States of their adoption.
The act creating Butler county was approved March 12, 1800. Besides defining the boundaries, it made temporary provision for the political status of the new county by assigning her to the same senatorial district as Allegheny, Washington and Greene counties, and placing her in a representative district made up of Beaver, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Warren and Venango counties, [p. 116] which it was provided should be entitled to two representatives in the General Assembly.
Under the Constitution of 1790, then in force, members of the State Senate were elected every three years, and members of the House of Representatives every year. No member could serve more than four years in seven. Elections were held on the second Tuesday in October of each year, save for President and Vice-President of the United States, which were held in November, as at present. The terms of service of State Senators and Representatives began on the fourth Monday of October. The State capital was at Lancaster, and the senators and representatives, as well as other citizens having business there, usually made the journey on horseback, that being the only mode of conveyance, outside of walking, previous to the establishment of stage-coach lines and the canal. Occasionally a prudent member took his own provisions with him. This, Jacob MECHLING, one of the early members from this county, is said to have done, providing himself before starting on his journey with a liberal supply of cooked ham and other edibles.
The act above referred to also provided that:
The inhabitants of that part of the county of Butler in ELDER's district of the Depreciation lands, who heretofore held their elections at the town of Freeport, shall be annexed to the district known by the name of McLURE'S district, and vote with the inhabitants thereof, at the house of Andrew McLURE. And the inhabitants of that part of Butler county, in any of the Donation districts, who have heretofore held their elections at the town of Freeport shall be annexed to what is called BUCHANAN'S district, and vote with the inhabitants thereof.
The act of April 2, 1803, assigned Butler county to the Sixth judicial district, with Beaver, Mercer and Erie counties. That of April 11, 1803, divided the State in eleven congressional districts, the Eleventh district being composed of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Warren and Erie counties.
The first general election in the county was held in 1804. Members of Congress, State and county officers were voted for on the second Tuesday in October, and the presidential electors on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The candidates for Congress were J. B. C. LUCAS, Democratic-Republican, and James O'HARA, Federalist. O'HARA was a resident of Pittsburg, a Revolutionary soldier and an adherent of the Hamiltonian strong government idea. There were eight candidates for representative and six for county commissioner. The following is the vote cast so far as disclosed by the record:
[p. 117]
CANDIDATES 1ST 2D 3D 4TH 5TH 6TH
DIST DIST DIST DIST DIST DIST
CONGRESS--
JOHN B. C. LUCAS 32 76 188 -- 61 51
JAMES O'HARA 32 6 63 -- 9 8
ASSEMBLY--
JAMES BOVARD -- -- 92 -- -- --
GEORGE ROBINSON 32 46 84 -- 60 58
JACOB MECHLING 50 76 78 -- 25 4
ABNER LAYCOCK 32 22 80 -- 43 58
JOHN McBRIDE 32 8 196 -- 43 66
JONATHAN COULTER 32 34 50 -- 25 5
JACOB FERREE 12 6 51 -- 7 5
JOHN NEGLEY -- -- 102 -- -- --
COMMISSIONERS--
ABNER COATS -- -- 12 -- 40 60
JAMES SCOTT 18 42 121 -- 4 2
FRANCIS KEARNS 1 -- 72 -- 23 3
DAVID ARMSTRONG 27 -- -- -- 3 --
HUGH LEE 13 40 1 -- -- --
WILLIAM BROWN 3 -- 53 -- -- 1
The election was held, in the First district, at Ezekiel BREDIN's house, formerly James BUCHANAN's, where William GAULT, Jacob SMITH and Ephraim HARRIS were judges. In the Second district, the polling place was at the residence of Alexander RAMSEY, the judges being Benjamin FLETCHER, W. FURGESON and James COULTER. The judges and places of election for the Third and Fourth districts are not recorded. The judges in the Fifth district were W. JOHNSTON, Samuel DUNCAN and Moses BOLTON. In the Sixth district the judges were Abdiel McLURE, William CAMPBELL and George SHANNON. At Butler the judges were William AYRES, John CUNNINGHAM and John GILMORE. There were no returns from the Fourth district. The total vote cast for LUCAS for Congress was 418. O'HARA, his opponent, received 118 votes.
In 1805, James MARTIN received 207 and Samuel EWALT 149 votes for senator in this county. In 1806, Jacob MECHLING was elected to the legislature, receiving 229 votes in this county. Abner LAYCOCK, received 232 and Francis McLURE 231 votes.
By an act approved February 24, 1806, the legislature reconstructed the Sixth judicial district, placing in it the counties of Mercer, Butler, Venango, Crawford and Erie, and providing for the holding courts in Butler on the first Mondays in March, June, September and December of each year, for terms of one week. The act of March 21, 1808, put Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties in the same senatorial district, and Allegheny and Butler counties in the same representative district, and entitled them to four representatives. The act of April 4, 1809, changed the time of holding courts in Butler to the second Mondays of the months given above. An act was also passed at this time to validate the acts of justices of the peace from the erection of the county to November 1, 1808.
In 1809, also, Francis McLURE and Samuel EWALT were candidates for the State Senate. In 1810, James PATTERSON, candidate for representative, received a majority of the votes of this county. In the same year Walter LOWRIE was [p. 118] elected to the legislature and in 1811 to the State Senate. He was re-elected in 1814, and elected United States Senator in 1818.
The act of the General Assembly of March 20, 1812, apportioned the State into fifteen congressional districts, Allegheny and Butler counties constituting the Fourteenth district.
In those days, the complex political machinery of the present was unknown, and candidates ran, as a rule, upon their personal merits and popularity, and as the representatives of the political ideas and principles then dividing the people into parties. The followers of Jefferson, known as Democratic-Republicans, early attained to power in this county and continued in the majority for many years. Occasionally, however, the personal popularity of an opposition candidate would land him in office. This result was more likely where too many candidates from the leading party sought the same office. In time this tended to render the "scrub race" unpopular, and to pave the way for delegate conventions and the methods that at present prevail.
As an indication of this tendency toward delegate methods of naming candidates, the following advertisement from a Pittsburg paper of 1814, is of more than passing interest:
At a general meeting of the Democratic-Republican delegates, from the different townships of the county of Butler, held at the court-house in the town of Butler, on the 4th day of July 1814, for the purpose of putting in nomination suitable persons to be supported at the next general election, the following persons were unanimously agreed upon: Governor, Simon SNYDER; Assembly, John POTTS. It was resolved, that Hugh McKEE and Robert SCOTT be delegates to meet two delegates from Allegheny county, at Mr. James CARNAHAN'S, at such time as may be agreed upon; and that they be instructed to support John POTTS, for a member of the House of Representatives of this State, in conjunction with three members from Allegheny county; and also after conference with the delegates from Allegheny county, to put in nomination a suitable person, to be supported for a member in Congress from this district. Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and published in the Pittsburg papers.
The minutes of the meeting were signed by Robert MARTIN, as chairman, and Robert LEMMON, as secretary. Mr. POTTS, who was a citizen of Butler county, was elected to the Assembly.
John GILMORE, who was elected representative in 1816-17-18-19 and 1821, was chosen speaker of the House in the latter year. He was a candidate for State Senator in 1821 and 1825, but was not elected, although he received a majority of the votes in this county. Moses SULLIVAN was elected representative in 1822 and 1823, and State Senator in 1824. He served three terms in the latter body.
In October, 1825, 612 votes were cast for and 691 against the proposed constitutional amendment. Robert ORR was elected to Congress, receiving 5,157 votes in Beaver, Butler and Armstrong counties, then composing the congressional district. Moses SULLIVAN was elected State Senator from the district composed of Allegheny, Beaver and Butler counties, and John BROWN, James POWER, William BEATTY and William B. FOSTER representatives from the district composed of Allegheny and Butler counties.
The three tickets presented to the people of Butler county in September, [p. 119] 1828, were known as the "American System," "Independent" and "Jackson." William PURVIANCE, of Butler, was the candidate for the Assembly on the first-named ticket, Robert STEWART on the second, and James McKEE on the third. McKEE was elected, receiving 3,250 votes, of which 720 were given to him in Butler county. The vote of the county was 1,068 for Andrew JACKSON and 610 for John Quincy ADAMS, a majority of 458 for the former.
The campaign poet was abroad in the land thus early in the county's history, as the following effusion, found in the columns of the Butler Sentinel of January 17, 1828, will show:
Old Uncle's sons have lately had some bouts
Of wordy warfare 'twixt the ins and outs;
Hick'ry and Oak have flayed each other's side---
'Tis said old Hick'ry has the toughest hide.
Of "hearts of oak," we read in days of yore---
But, zounds! who heard of hickory hearts before?
The spirit engendered by that campaign is forcibly expressed in a toast, common on Fourth of July and training days. It is as follows:
May the skins of the enemies of JACKSON be converted into carpeting for his friends to dance upon.
Notwithstanding taunting boasts of this kind, evidencing the heated and bitter feelings of those belonging to the opposing parties of the time, personal encounters and deeds of violence, as the result of political differences, were rare. It was only occasionally that some hot-headed and over-rash champion of "Old Hickory" undertook to reduce to practice the sentiment of the above toast.
In March, 1829, the case of Hugh LEE, of Butler county, attracted general attention by its discussion in the legislature. LEE, who had filled the office of justice of the peace from 1808 to 1830 was charged with being an alien. This charge was carried forward unrelentingly from court to court, and, ultimately came before the legislature for adjudication. LEE refuted it with evidence that he had been naturalized in New Orleans prior to coming to Butler county. The legislature disposed of the matter by adjourning the debate, by a vote of fifty-four to twenty-eight.
By the act of April 29, 1829, Butler and Beaver counties were made a senatorial district, and Butler county created a representative district, entitled to one member of the House of Representatives.
The Anti-Masonic movement appears to have reached Butler early in 1830, as on February 6 of that year, a meeting of those who had taken up with the new idea was held at the court-house. It was presided over by General AYRES, John MOSER and Jacob MECHLING were the vice-presidents, and Clark McPHERRIN and George W. SMITH, the secretaries. At another meeting held on February 17, George W. SMITH was chosen as a delegate to the State Anti-Masonic convention; John DODDS, John PARKER, John REYNOLDS, John WELSH, John LEVIS, Jacob MECHLING and William AYRES were appointed a committee of vigilance.
By an act approved June 9, 1832, re-apportioning the State into congressional districts, Armstrong, Clearfield and Butler counties were placed in the same district. William AYRES, candidate for Congress, received 1,264 votes in this county.
[p. 120]
In October, 1835, this county cast 1,780 votes against the proposed Constitutional Convention, and 541 votes in favor of it. William AYRES and Thomas DENNY, senatorial, and Samuel A. PURVIANCE, representative delegates, were elected.
During the election of October, 1838, party feeling ran very high at Butler. The Whigs raised a flag on the MECHLING corner, concealing their project so well, that no Democrat knew of it until the streamer flaunted defiance in the morning. A Whig flag, in the Butler of 1838, was out of the question. Soon the amazed Democracy formed in the vicinity. PAULHEMAS, the blacksmith, in apron and accoutrements of his trade, was there, and the flag was lowered without ceremony. The affair suggested "The Flag," a comedy, referred to in the chapter on The Press.
The constitutional amendments submitted at this election received a majority of 1,671 votes in the county, the vote for them being 2, 383, and against them 712.
The election of October 11, 1839, was the first held under the amended constitution, the candidates for register and recorder, and prothonotary being elected by popular vote, for the first time. Joseph McQUISTION and William WALKER, candidates for register and recorder, received 1,219 and 1,093 votes, respectively, while Jacob ZIEGLER and John LEVIS, candidates for prothonotary, received 1,318 and 1,021 votes, respectively. The vote for academy trustees was very close, John GILMORE and Rev. Loyal YOUNG receiving 1,146 votes, while John DUFFY and Dr. James GRAHAM received 1,143 votes.
In 1840, Joseph BUFFINGTON received 2,100 votes, William WILKINS 1,804, and David TARBOX five votes for Congress in the county. The act of March 25, 1843, placed Butler county in the Twenty-fifth congressional district, with Armstrong, Indiana and Clearfield counties. The act of April 14, of the same year, placed Allegheny and Butler counties in the Twenty-fourth senatorial district, which was entitled to two members. Butler county was continued in a representative district by itself with one member.
The Anti-Slavery and Liberty men organized in 1844, at the court-house. John WALDRON presided, with John SMITH, secretary. One of the resolutions adopted asserted: ---
That in organizing a Liberty party in Butler county, we do it from a sense of duty to God, and are determined to support no man or party in the management of political affairs, farther than measures and men in office are governed by the Bible, which we take as our supreme law, to which all other laws must conform.
In the election that followed, John SHRYOCK, the candidate of this party for commissioner, received only 146 votes, while DODDS, Democrat, received 2,103 votes, and BRACKEN, Whig, 2,066 votes.
The Anti-Masonic Whig nominations made in 1846, were Alexander IRVINE, of Clearfield, for Congress; John LEVIS, of Zelienople, for senator; John R. HARRIS, of Mercer, for the legislature; John ANDERSON, of Buffalo township, for commissioner; George S. JAMESON, of Venango township, for auditor, and S.D. CHRISTY, of Cherry township, for auditor, short term.
In March, 1847, the people voted on the Option or Liquor Law, giving 1,960 [p. 121] votes for the sale of liquors, and 1,225 against such sale. The vote on the road law, that year, was 695 votes for the new law, and 1,771 for the old law.
The Free Soilers and Free Laborites met at Portersville, July 29, 1848, to prepare for the conventions of their party, but little was accomplished. The debate in the Assembly, of March, 1848, on the charter to the Columbia Bank, was participated in by Jacob ZIEGLER, of Butler, who maintained that the personal liability clause was sufficient security. The representatives from Berks and Dauphin opposed the views of the Butler member, who, in the course of his reply, said that the first gentleman reminded him of the epitaph of John HUGG: --
"Here lies John HUGG
As snug as a bug
Tied up in a rug."---
And that the second gentleman reminded him of the inscription on John HUGGER's monument:----
"Here lies John Hugger,
A little snugger
Than t'other bugger."
An anti-slavery meeting, held at Centreville, October 25, 1850, to consider the provisions of the new Fugitive Slave Law, was presided over by John HAYS, with Thomas STEPHENSON, secretary. John T. BARD, William VINCENT, Dr. William E. MARKS, Thomas STEPHENSON and E. D. DeWOLF were appointed a committee to draft a petition to Congress for the repeal of the law. A numerous committee was selected to obtain signatures to the petition. Meetings followed throughout the county and , so far as Butler county could oppose the law, her opposition was carried.
The vote cast October 11,1853, for Thomas A. BUDD, Whig candidate for judge of the Supreme Court, was 1,952; for John C. KNOX, Democratic candidate, 1,835, and for William A. STEPHENSON, Free Soil candidate, ninety-five. The majorities for the State officers on the Whig ticket ranged from 126 to 193, and for the county officers, on the same ticket, from fifty-five to a fraction over 200. The total vote was 1,600 less than polled for President in 1852, the decrease being on the Democratic side, many Democrats casting their fortunes with the Free Soil interests.
The election for State and county officers in October, 1854, in the thirty-three townships, then recently organized under the general re-subdivision of that year, and in the four boroughs of the county, brought into light the dangers of introducing "isms" into politics. Though the Know Nothing party had a State ticket, it secretly gave its support to the Whig candidates, and by this means the Democratic ticket was badly defeated. In local elections the Know Nothings secretly supported those candidates on the Whig and Democratic tickets who were members of their dark-lantern organization, or whom they believed to be in sympathy with it. Thus the Know Nothing vote in this State in 1854 cannot be estimated by the ballots cast for the candidates of that party. The vote in Butler county for James POLLOCK, Whig candidate for Governor, was 2,955; that for William BIGLER, the Democratic candidate, 2,381, and that for Ben R. BRADFORD, the Know Nothing candidate, fourteen. The highest Know Nothing vote [p. 122] cast for assemblyman was sixty-one, for H. F. ADERHOLD; W. McCLELLAND, T. BERRY and John COWDEN receiving, each, seventeen votes. Samuel A. PURVIANCE, the Whig candidate for Congress, received 2,903 votes, against 2,367 cast for O. D. PALMER, Democrat. In county affairs, John McKEE, Democrat, received 2,675 votes, against 2,553 cast for J. A. GIBSON; Matthew F. WHITE received 2,732 for prothonotary, against 2,445 cast for his Whig opponent, Nathan BROWN. This vote was reversed in the battle for register and recorder, I. S. P. DeWOLF, Whig, being victorious. John GRAHAM, Democrat, received 3,434 votes, against 1,799 cast for S. P. IRVINE, Whig. John KENNEDY, Democrat, was elected commissioner; Jacob BENTEL, Whig, coroner, and William SMITH, Whig, auditor. The vote for the liquor law was 2,301, and against it 2,293. The vote for the gubernatorial candidates at this election in the different townships is as follows:
POLLOCK BIGLER POLLOCK BIGLER
WHIG DEMOCRAT WHIG DEMOCRAT
Adams 112 16 Franklin 109 74
Allegheny 98 33 Jackson 116 91
Brady 57 55 Jefferson 59 153
Buffalo 135 32 Lancaster 97 69
Butler 51 115 Marion 44 94
Butler borough 112 135 Mercer 69 54
Centre 60 71 Middlesex 121 54
Cherry 76 47 Muddy Creek 113 50
Clay 99 48 Oakland 39 98
Clearfield 9 120 Parker 101 41
Clinton 122 32 Penn 79 52
Concord 89 34 Slippery Rock 97 61
Connoquenessing 126 60 Summit 26 111
Cranberry 92 43 Venango 35 93
Centreville borough 24 38 Washington 108 36
Donegal 32 105 Winfield 91 69
Fairview 126 54 Worth 111 63
Forward 92 44 Zelienople borough 28 36
The total Whig vote cast was 2,955, and the total Democratic vote 2,381. Thomas H. BAIRD, candidate for judge of the Supreme Court, received 1,189 votes, representing the full strength of the Know Nothings. The proposed liquor law received 2,301 votes, while 2,293 votes were cast against it. John GRAHAM, Democratic candidate for clerk of court, received 3,434 votes, and Samuel P. IRVINE received 1,799 votes.
The anti-administration party--or Unionists for the sake of Union---was first heard of in the beginning of 1856, when, following the example of members of the legislature, a large number of citizens signed a call for a great Union meeting to be held at Butler, March 19, 1856. The meeting was largely attended.
The campaign of 1856 was one of the most exciting in the history of the State. Party spirit ran high and the battle for political supremacy was waged fiercely. Rallies and torch-light processions were of frequent occurrence and each party had its campaign songs to cheer, enthuse and enliven the various meetings. Butler county was hotly contested ground, and her citizens entered into the spirit of the campaign with characteristic vigor and earnestness. The [p. 123] entire interest of the campaign may be said to have centered upon the presidential contest, the leading candidates being James BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania, Democrat, and John C. FREMONT, Republican. The Democrats, among other songs, sang "Jamie, the True," of which the following is a sample verse:
Come all ye stanch friends of the Union,
Bold Whigs and brave Democrats, too;
Come join all your forces together,
And rally for "Jamie, the True."
Another song, popular with them, was sung top the tune of "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny." The second verse of this song is as follows:
We know no north, we know no south,
We know no east or west,
But go for the whole United States,
The land we love the best.
Then down with the Abolition crew,
Who'd let the "Union slide;"
And rally round old Buck and Breck,
The noble, true and tried.
In the election that followed the Republicans were overwhelmingly victorious in the county. The result was an unexpected and disagreeable surprise to the Democrats. Their leaders and standard bearers were all driven from the field, their defeat being decisive. The returns for the October and November elections made the following showing:
Auditor General Associate Judges Darwin PHELPS, R 3078 T. STEPHENSON, R 3070 Jacob FRY, D 2576 J. MECHLING, Jr. R 3011 Canal Commissioners Samuel MARSHALL, D 2617 Thomas E. COCHRAN, R 3098 J. BOVARD, D 2549 George SCOTT, D 2560 Commissioner Surveyor General P. HILLARD, R 3003 Benjamin LAPORTE, R 3099 J. W. MARTIN, D 2644 John ROWE, D 2556 Surveyor Congress David SCOTT, R 3114 S. A. PURVIANCE, R 3092 Charles CRAMER, D 2529 James A. GIBSON, D 2581 Auditor Alexander WARDLAW, K.N. 13 W. S. WALDRON, R 3050 State Senator R. B. MAXWELL, D 2565 John R. HARRIS, R 3090 Academy Trustees John H. NEGLEY, D 2562 Arch BLAKELEY, R 3052 Legislature Thomas H. BRACKEN, R 3051 A. W. CRAWFORD, R 3101 W. C. POLLOCK, D 2552 De Lorma IMBRIE, R 3103 William BORLAND, D 2554 George P. SHAW, R 3102 Thomas J. LAYTON, D 2565 President Charles H. SHRINER,D 2566 FREMONT, R 3401 Jacob CRISS, D 2566 FILLMORE K. N. 67 District Attorney FILLMORE, (repeaters) 14 Eugene FERRERO, R 3106 BUCHANAN, D 2648 James M. BREDIN, D 2546
[p. 124]
In October, 1857, the people of Butler county gave David WILMOT, the Republican candidate for Governor, 2, 831 votes, and William F. PACKER, Democratic candidate, 2,361 votes. The Know Nothings polled fifty-three votes for HAZELHURST, their candidate, and from thirty-five to sixty votes for their nominees for legislative and county offices.
The People's Reformed ticket of 1858, presented the names of James KERR, of Harrisville, for Congress; R. J. GREGG, of Buffalo township, and John O. JACK, of Centre township, for the legislature; Maj. Thomas DODDS, of Connoquenessing for commissioner; and William McKINNEY, of the same township, for auditor.
The campaign of 1860 was formally opened in Butler county by a Republican meeting held to ratify the nomination of Abraham Lincoln, the presidential nominee of the party. The battle was carried on with earnestness and enthusiasm, particularly on behalf of the Republicans, who swept the county. The bitterness of the campaign survived the election and individual members of the minority party were proscribed for their political views.
In 1862, when the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decided that the act extending the right of suffrage to soldiers in the field was unconstitutional, the legislature of 1863 offered an amendment to the Constitution providing a remedy for this injustice to a volunteer army. It was voted on in August of that year. In Butler county the vote for it was 2,679 and against it, 1,237. The vote for Governor was for CURTIN, 3,328, and WOODWARD, 2,054. In 1857 Butler county was constituted a separate representative district, and elected two representatives. In 1863, William HASLETT and John H. NEGLEY were elected. In 1864 the district was enlarged by the addition of Lawrence and Mercer counties and elected four representatives, all the counties voting for the nominees. In this year William HASLETT and John H. NEGLEY, of Butler, Samuel McKINLEY of Lawrence, and Col. Josiah McPHERRIN, a native of Butler, but a resident of Mercer county, were the successful candidates. In 1865, John H. NEGLEY and Capt. Henry PILLOW, of Butler were elected, as were also McKINLEY and McPHERRIN.
The returns of the presidential election of 1864 show that the civil and military vote of Butler county for President, was for LINCOLN, 3,475, and for McCLELLAN, 2,937. The returns of Marion township, which gave LINCOLN fifty-three and McCLELLAN 102 votes, came in too late, so it was alleged, to be counted.
In 1868, Lewis Z. MITCHELL received 3,317 votes for Congress, and Darwin PHELPS 3,396, in this county. In 1871, under a new apportionment, Butler county was placed in a representative district with Beaver and Washington counties. George W. FLEEGER was one of the new members under this apportionment. In September, 1871, the Philadelphia Press noticed the report that the name of Samuel A. PURVIANCE, of Butler, would be presented as candidate for the vice-presidency before the National Republican Convention in 1872. The idea was entertained, but Henry WILSON of Massachusetts, secured the coveted prize.
At the general election, in 1872, the question of calling a convention to revise the State Constitution was submitted to the people, and carried by a decisive majority, the vote in Butler county being 3,377 for and 496 against it. The Constitutional Convention thus provided for, met in the city of Philadelphia, the dele-[p. 125] gates from Butler county being Lewis Z. MITCHELL and John N. PURVIANCE. It concluded its labors November 3, 1873, and the new Constitution, except wherein otherwise provided, went into effect January 1, 1874. This Constitution provided for the election of State Senators every four years, instead of every three, and members of the House of Representatives every two years instead of every year. It also provided for biennial instead of annual sessions of the General Assembly, and fixed the date of meeting for "the first Tuesday of January every second year." The date of holding the general elections in the State was changed from the second Tuesday in October to "the Tuesday next following the first Monday of November," of each year.
In order to make effective the provision of the new Constitution, changing the terms of State Senators from three to four years, the legislature of 1874 re-apportioned the State, placing Butler and Armstrong counties in the Forty-first senatorial district, and providing that at the general election for that year a senator should be chosen in the district for a term of two years, and that at the general election in 1876 the senator should be elected for four years. This apportionment is still in force.
The extraordinary activity in the Butler oil field of 1874, and the abnormal increase of population, greatly changed the manners and customs of the people, and even led to unusual conditions in local politics. The question of electing two judges for the district comprising Butler and Lawrence counties, was presented at the Republican primaries, held in May, 1874. There were more votes recorded by the Republicans, in Butler county, than were cast by the two great parties in the fall of 1873. The candidates brought before these primaries were Charles McCANDLESS and E. McJUNKIN, the later being then in Congress. When the result of the primaries in this county was presented to the convention, the McCANDLESS vote was found to exceed the McJUNKIN vote by forty-one. The friends of Mr. McJUNKIN, dissatisfied with this result, held a convention opposite the Willard Hotel, and nominated him. Charles McCANDLESS and L. L. McGUFFIN were the regular nominees of the Republican party; James BREDIN and John McMICHAEL were the Democratic nominees, while E. McJUNKIN was the choice of the independent Republicans. The canvass was carried on very bitterly, party lines were, for the time, obliterated, and the contest resulted in the election of Judges McJUNKIN and BREDIN.
The Republican vote of the county in 1876 was 5,643; the Democratic, 4,830; the Prohibitionist, fifty seven, and the Greenback, twenty-one. In the battle for the representatives in the Pennsylvania Legislature, the vote cast was the largest in the history of the county down to that time. R. A. MIFFLIN received 5,424, and William IRVINE, 5,359 votes on the Republican ticket; George H. GRAHAM received 5,076, and James HUMPHREY, 4,779 votes on the Democratic ticket; Brandon, the Prohibitionist candidate for the Assembly, received sixty-six votes; while John G. CHRISTY, the candidate of that party for associate judge, received seventy-six votes.
The last re-apportionment of the State into congressional districts took place in 1887, when Beaver, Lawrence, Mercer and Butler counties were assigned to the Twenty-fifth congressional district. In the same year, also, the legislative [p. 126] apportionment, still in force, was made. Under this apportionment Butler county constitutes a single district and is entitled to two members, who are elected every two years. September 1, 1893, Butler county was constituted a separate judicial district. It is known as the Seventeenth district the number being the same as that given to it in 1883, when Lawrence and Butler counties constituted the district.
The proposition to hold a constitutional convention in 1872 was defeated in November, 1871, the vote 1,051 for and 4,450 against, being an index of the sentiment throughout the State.
The vote cast in November, 1892, for presidential electors is tabulated as follows, except the eight votes recorded for the Socialist-Labor candidate:
R D PRO PEO R D PRO PEO
Adams, North 67 60 21 ... Muddy Creek 119 71 14 3
Adams, South 115 40 19 9 Oakland 114 84 ... 1
Allegheny 125 39 7 7 Parker 141 30 65 3
Bald Ridge 57 29 2 36 Penn 143 52 12 4
Brady 73 57 28 3 Slippery Rock 127 73 12 1
Butler 103 115 13 2 Summit 42 166 ... 2
Buffalo 168 50 12 ... Venango 55 111 11 5
Centre 97 59 12 1 Washington, North 61 39 ... 5
Cherry, North 56 40 4 1 Washington, South 92 14 15 ...
Cherry, South 114 56 1 ... Winfield 100 95 3 1
Clearfield 33 134 ... ... Worth 110 94 6 ...
Clinton 139 37 12 ... Butler-1st ward 150 139 61 4
Concord 136 36 13 16 2nd ward 155 197 16 1
Connoquenessing, North 81 44 3 1 3rd ward 98 146 16 2
Connoquenessing, South 72 60 5 5 4th ward 117 125 20 7
Cranberry 88 103 2 1 5th ward 137 111 27 3
Clay 147 35 19 ... Centreville 64 42 9 ...
Donegal 57 158 4 5 Evans City 54 80 3 ...
Fairview, East 93 25 6 8 Fairview 31 12 12 ...
Fairview, West 81 28 29 7 Karns City 17 24 10 1
Forward 156 144 9 5 Harmony 49 68 4 2
Franklin 110 72 12 2 Harrisville 37 27 4 1
Jackson, East 23 66 3 ... Millerstown 92 68 17 10
Jackson, West 61 89 1 ... Prospect 45 25 9 ...
Jefferson 110 163 3 3 Petrolia 29 41 8 4
Lancaster 79 122 ... ... Saxonburg 29 44 ... ...
Marion 83 106 8 1 West Sunbury 32 5 12 ...
Mercer 53 50 9 1 Zelienople 61 101 2 3
Middlesex 141 60 11 3 _____ ____ ___ ___
5019 4161 636 180
The vote cast November 7, 1893, was canvassed by Stephen CUMMINGS, A. M. CORNELIUS, John FINDLEY and A. T. SCOTT, the tellers appointed by Judge GREER. They reported the vote as follows:
State Treasurer Sheriff
S.M. JACKSON, R. 4676 A.G. CAMPBELL, R. 4671
F.C. OSBORNE, D. 3124 W.T. MECHLING, D. 3298
J.S. KENT, Pro. 354 John C. KERR, Pro. 268
F.M. WINDSOR, Peo. 56
Judge of Supreme Court Register and Recorder
D.N. FELL, R. 4620 J.S. WICK, R. 4700
S.G. THOMPSON, D. 3144 A.M. BEERS,D. 3235
H.T. AMES, Pro. 358 J.R. HUMPHREY, Pro. 273
J.H. STEVENSON, Peo. 61
[p. 127]
County Commissioner Prothonotary
S.W. McCOLLOUGH, R. 4771 S.M. SEATON, R. 4547
R. KELLY, R. 4666 Alex RUSSELL, D. 3346
G.W. WILSON, D. 3104 David CUPPS, Pro. 294
J.C. KELLY, D. 2209 County Treasurer
A. STEWART, Pro. 308 J.T. MARTIN, R. 4623
J. WALLY, Pro. 285 George MARBURGER, D. 3245
W.H. ORR, Pro. 333
County Auditor Clerk of Courts
J.N. ALLISON, R. 4663 Joseph CRISWELL, R. 4894
R.H. YOUNG, R. 4430 D.M. McCULLOUGH, D. 2977
A. ELLIOTT, D. 3193 William WATSON, Pro. 316
J.A. BULFORD, D. 2981 Coroner
J.H. RENISON, Pro. 342 G.M. GRAHAM, R. 4658
William FLETCHER, Pro. 327 J.G. RENNO, D. 3097
In the election of February, 1894, for Congressmen-at-large, Galusha A. GROW, Republican, received 4,182 votes; James D. HANCOCK, Democrat, 2,576 votes, and MORROW, 235 votes.
The people of Butler county, with the exception of a small minority, may be said to be faithful and loyal adherents of the Republican and Democratic parties, the former polling 5,019 votes, and the latter 4,161 votes at the general election for President and State officers in 1892. At the same election the Prohibition ticket received 636 votes, the People's ticket 180 votes, and the Socialist ticket eight votes. This gave the Republicans a majority of thirty-five of all the votes cast.
From the earliest days of the history of the county, there have been found among her sons and citizens men of marked ability, especially in the field of political effort, who have forged their way to the front as leaders of their respective parties. These have been honored from time to time with seats in the United States Senate, and in Congress, with honorable and responsible positions as appointees of the President of the United States, as well as with State offices and seats in the Senate and House of Representatives of the General Assembly. To these may be added, also, the names of those who have removed to other States, and have there been accorded distrinquished honors at the hands of their fellow citizens. The following lists embrace the more prominent names of these favorite sons?
United States Senators.-- Walter LOWRIE, served from March 4, 1819, to March 4, 1825. At expiration of his term as United States Senator, he was elected secretary of the senate. He held that position until 1836. John H. MITCHELL, formerly of Butler county, is serving his third term in the United States Senate from the State of Oregon.
Representatives in Congress.-- John GILMORE, 1829 to 1831; William BEATTY, 1837 to 1841; Joseph BUFFINGTON, 1843 to 1845; Alfred GILMORE, 1849 to 1851; Samuel A. PURVIANCE, 1855 to 1859; Ebenezer McJUNKIN, 1871 to 1874; John M. THOMPSON, 1875 to 1878; George W. FLEEGER, 1885 to 1887, and Thomas W. PHILLIPS, elected in November, 1892, and re-elected in November, 1894.
[p. 128]
James THOMPSON, a native of Butler county, served two terms in Congress from Erie county. He was elected in 1846, and re-elected in 1848. In 1857, he was elected judge of the Supreme Court of the State, serving for fifteen years, the last five as chief justice. Augustus M. MARTIN, a member of Congress from Indiana, is another of Butler county's distinguished sons.
Electors.-- James G. CAMPBELL, 1856; E. McJUNKIN, 1864; Dr. S.D. BELL, 1888.
Federal Appointees.-- John M. SULLIVAN, revenue collector, 1867 to 1882. Alexander W. CRAWFORD, consul at Antwerp, Belgium, 1861. Edwin LYON, consul at El Paso, Mexico. Hugh McKEE, surveyor of Territory of Kansas, 1858. Charles McCANDLESS, chief justice of New Mexico, 1877. Samuel BLACK, governor of the Territory of Nebraska, 1859. James G. CAMPBELL, marshal of the Western District of Pennsylvania. John N. PURVIANCE, R. L. MAXWELL and H. H. GOUCHER, registers in bankruptcy. J. W. KIRKER, provost marshal, 1863 to 1865. John H. NEGLEY, enrolling officer, 1861. John C. O'DONNELL, appointed postmaster of Pittsburg, March, 1894.
State Officials.-- John GILMORE, treasurer, 1841; Moses SULLIVAN, president of canal commission, 1835; John N. PURVIANCE, auditor-general, 1845-51; John M. SULLIVAN, deputy secretary of state, 1855-58. Colonel SULLIVAN was also assistant clerk of the State Senate from 1847 to 1850; chief clerk from 1852 to 1853, and deputy superintendent of common schools from 1858 to 1860. John GILMORE, speaker of the House in 1821. James THOMPSON, speaker of the House in 1835, associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1857 to 1867, and chief justice from 1867, to 1872. Walter H. LOWRIE, Associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1851 to 1857, and chief justice from 1857 to 1863. Samuel A. PURVIANCE, attorney-general, 1861. Jacob ZIEGLER, transcribing clerk of Senate, 1843; assistant clerk of House, 1858, and chief clerk of Senate, 1871.
Constitutional Convention Delegates.-- William AYRES and Samuel A. PURVIANCE, to the convention of 1838; Lewis Z. MITCHELL and John N. PURVIANCE, to the convention of 1878; James H. WALKER and S. A. PURVIANCE, delegates-at-large to same convention; Porter W. LOWRY, Livingston McQUISION and Mervine F. LEASON, to the convention of 1891.
State Senators.-- Walter LOWRIE, 1811 to 1819; Moses SULLIVAN, elected in 1824, and served three terms; William PURVIANCE, 1836; Charles C. SULLIVAN, 1841 and 1844; William HASLETT, 1849; John R. HARRIS, 1856; Charles McCANDLESS, 1862; James KERR, 1868; John M. GREER, 1876 and 1880; Joseph B. SHOWALTER, 1888.
Representatives.-- In the following list of representatives elected since the admission of the county, the figures used to indicated the dates of election. The list has been compiled with care and is believed to be correct. The various changes in the apportionment of the county have made it difficult to secure absolutely reliable data. The following is the list as compiled: John McBRIDE, 1804; Jacob MECHLING, 1805-06-07-08; John NEGLEY, 1809 and 1820; Walter LOWRIE, 1810; John POTTS, 1814; Andrew CHRISTY, 1815; John GILMORE, 1816-17-18-19-21; (Mr. GILMORE was elected speaker of the House in 1821). Moses SULLIVAN, 1822-23; William BEATTY, 1825-26-27; James McKEE, 1828; William PURVIANCE, 1830-31; [p. 129] Joseph BRYSON, 1832; Samuel KERR, 1833-34; George W. SMITH, 1835; Samuel A. GILMORE, 1836-37; Samuel A. PURVIANCE, 1838; George POTTS, 1839; Isaac S. PEARSON, 1840; Samuel M. LANE, 1841; Joseph CUMMINS, 1842-43; Joseph CROSS, 1844; William HASLETT, 1844; Joseph CROSS, 1845; D.H.B. BROWER, 1845; John R. HARRIS, 1846; Jacob ZIEGLER, 1847; Robert HAMPSON, 1848; D. H. B. BROWER, 1850; William STEWART AND R. B. McCOMBS, 1853-54; Alexander W. CRAWFORD, 1855-56-57; W.W. DODDS, 1857; John M. THOMPSON, 1858-59; William M. GRAHAM, 1859-60; Thomas ROBINSON, 1860; Hiram C. McCOY, 1861-62; H.W. GRANT, 1861-62; William HASLETT, 1863-64; John H. NEGLEY, 1863,(by Butler county alone), and in 1864 and 1865, by Butler, Lawrence and Mercer counties; Henry PILLOW, 1865; James T. McJUNKIN, 1867; Alexander LESLIE, 1868-69; George W. FLEEGER, 1870-71; Dr. Joseph S. LUSK, 1871-74-76; David McKEE, 1872-73; William S. WALDRON, 1872; A. L. CAMPBELL, 1873. The new Constitution adopted in 1873 provided for biennial sessions, and the election of representatives every two years, Butler county being entitled to two members. R.A. MIFFLIN, 1876; Dr. William IRVINE, 1876; James HUMPHREY, 1878; George H. GRAHAM, 1878; Dr. S. D. BELL, 1880; William P. BRAHAM, 1880; Joseph T. DONLEY, 1882; Jacob ZIEGLER, 1882; Joseph HARTMAN, 1884; J.M. LEIGHNER, 1884; Josiah M. THOMPSON, 1886 and 1890; J.B. SHOWALTER, 1886; Joseph THOMAS, Jr., 1888; R. I. BOGGS, 1888; Andrew G. WILLIAMS, 1890; James B. MATES, 1892; David B. DOUTHETT, 1892 AND 1894; James N. MOORE, 1894.
President Judges.-- The president judges were at first commissioned "during good behavior." Under the Constitution of 1838, the term was fixed at ten years. In 1851 the office became elective. The judges under the old and new systems are as follows, being named in the order of their commission: Jesse MOORE, February, 1804; Jonathan ROBERTS, 1818; William WILKINS, 1821; Charles SHALER, 1824; John BREDIN, 1831; Daniel AGNEW, 1851-63; Lawrence L. McGUFFIN, 1863; Charles McCANDLESS(appointed) 1874; Ebenezer McJUNKIN, elected 1874; James BREDIN, elected 1874; Aaron L. HAZEN, elected 1884; John M. GREER, additional law judge, 1892, and judge of the Seventeenth district, September 1, 1893, Lawrence county being created the Fifty-first district, with Aaron L. HAZEN, president judge.
Associate Judges were first commissioned by the Governor to serve during life. In 1838 a term of five years was made the constitutional term of service, and in 1850, the office was declared to be elective. Samuel FINDLEY, John PARKER and James BOVARD were commissioned in 1803; John DUFFY in 1840, and Christian BUHL in 1845. The elections under the new law were first held in 1851, when Samuel MARSHALL and John McCANDLESS were chosen. Jacob MECHLING, Jr., and Thomas STEPHENSON were elected, in 1856; James KERR and James MITCHELL, in 1861, and Joseph CUMMINS and Thomas GARVEY in 1866. The death of Judge CUMMINS and the appointment of Hiram C. McCOY, as his successor, in 1870, disturbed, somewhat, the order of judges. Samuel MARSHALL defeated McCOY for the office, in the fall of 1870, and when the latter's term expired in 1871, Daniel FIEDLER was elected. In 1875, Samuel MARSHALL was re-elected and in 1876, Robert STOREY was chosen to succeed Judge FIEDLER. Abram McCANDLESS was elected in 1880; A.D. WEIR in 1881, and Jacob KECK in 1885. The last [p. 130] named did not qualify, as the Supreme Court decided that the new legislation abolished the office.
District Attorneys.-- The office of deputy attorney-general for Butler county was appointive down to 1851, when it became an elective one, and the name was changed to that of district attorney. Under the old law the office was held by John GILMORE, Charles WILKINS, Robert MOORE, John BREDIN, W.W. FETTERMAN, Samuel A. GILMORE, John N. PURVIANCE, Dunlap McLAUGHLIN, Parker C. PURVIANCE, John GRAHAM, John H. NEGLEY and E. McJUNKIN.
Under the law of 1850, the following named persons have filled the office: John H. NEGLEY, 1850; Archibald BLAKELEY, 1853; Eugene FERRERO, 1856, James W. KIRKER, 1859; Robert M. McLURE, 1862; W.H.H. RIDDLE, 1865; John M. GREER, 1868; Ferd REIBER, 1871; Livingston McQUISTION, 1874; W.A. FORQUER, 1877; A.M. CUNNINGHAM, 1880; S.B. SNYDER, 1883; C.A. McPHERRIN, 1886; Aaron L. REIBER, 1889, AND Ira McJUNKIN, 1892.
Sheriffs.-- Since the Constitution of 1790, this office has been an elective one. The first incumbent was John McCANDLESS, 1803. His successors have been: Eliakim ANDERSON, 1806; William CAMPBELL, 1809; Samuel WILLIAMSON, 1812; James McKEE, 1815; Henry EVANS, 1818; William BEATTY, 1821; Abraham MAXWELL, 1824; John WELSH, 1827; Jacob BRINKER, 1830; Francis McBRIDE, 1833; John POLLOCK, 1836; John B. McGLAUGHLIN, 1839; James G. CAMPBELL, 1842; George W. REED, 1845; Andrew CARNS, 1848; Arthur McGILL, 1851; John McKEE, 1854; Abram McCANDLESS, 1857; John SCOTT, 1860; William O. BRECKENRIDGE, 1863; James B. STOREY, 1866; Harvey D. THOMPSON, 1869; John T. KELLY, 1872; George WALTER, 1875; John MITCHELL (vacancy), 1877; William H. HOFFMAN, 1878; Thomas DONAGHY, 1881; Peter KRAMER, 1884; Oliver C. REDIC, 1887; William M. BROWN, 1890, and A.G. CAMPBELL, 1893.
Prothonotaries.-- Prior to 1839, when the Constitution of 1838 become effective, appointments to this office were made by the Governor, for terms of three years. Since that time it has been elective. Down to 1850 the incumbents discharged the duties of clerk of the courts. In that year the office of clerk of the courts became a separate one, its incumbent being elected every three years. William AYRES, the first prothonotary, was commissioned July 4, 1803. His successors have been Jacob MECHLING, 1809; John NEGLEY, 1818; William CAMPBELL, 1821; John NEYMAN, 1824; William STEWART, 1827; Peter DUFFY, 1833; John SULLIVAN, 1836; Jacob ZIEGLER, 1839; Jacob MECHLING, Jr., 1842; James McGLAUGHLIN, 1845; C. E. PURVIANCE, 1848; John T. BARD, 1851; Matthew F. WHITE, 1854; Nathan BROWN, 1857; Allen WILSON, 1860; William STOOPS, 1863; James B. CLARK, 1866; Cyrus E. ANDERSON, 1869; Eli CONN, 1872; James H. TEBAY, 1875; Alexander RUSSELL, 1878; Matthew N. GREER, 1881; William M. SHIRA, 1884; J.W. BROWN, 1887, re-elected in 1890, and S.M. SEATON, 1893.
Clerks of the Courts.-- Previous to 1850 the duties of clerk of the courts was discharged by the prothonotaries. In that year the office of clerk of the courts became a separate one, the incumbent being elected every three years. It has been filled by the following persons, elected in the years given: Lewis Z. MITCHELL, 1851; J. Graham, 1854. Mr. GRAHAM died while in office, and W.K. POTTS was elected to fill the vacancy. Emil MAURHOFF, 1857; Robert A. MIFFLIN, 1860; [p. 131] Watson J. YOUNG, 1863; Frank M. EASTMAN, 1866; Jefferson BURTNER, 1869; John H. SUTTON, 1872; Lewis N. COCHRAN, 1875; W.A. WRIGHT, 1878; W. B. DODDS, 1881; Reuben McELVAIN, 1884, re-elected in 1887; Joseph CRISWELL, 1890, re-elected in 1893.
Jury Commissioners.-- William A. CHRISTIE and Charles McCLUNG, 1867; John W. BROWN and Peter EMERY, 1870; T.W. KENNEDY and John M. McCANDLESS, 1873; Samuel BALFOUR and Thomas JAMESON, 1876; Hugh McCREA and J.W. MONKS, 1879; Daniel WALLETT and Robert McCLUNG, 1882; Z. McMICHAEL and Frederick HENNINGER, 1885; W.F. CAMPBELL and Charles RIELLY, 1890; William R. PATTERSON and John McCAFFERTY, 1891. George H. GRAHAM was appointed commissioner, vice John McCAFFERTY, deceased, in November, 1892, to serve until January 1, 1895.
Coroners.-- William McDONALD, commissioned October 4, 1803; Robert STEWART, 1806; Isaac EVANS, 1809; James McKEE, 1812; Connell ROGERS, 1815; William GIBSON, 1818; David SHANNON, 1821; Jacob BRINKER, 1824; George MILLER, 1827; Robert ST. CLAIR, 1830; James SPENCER, 1833, Thomas McKEE, 1836; James HOON, 1839; Matthias CYPHER, 1842; George W. CROZIER, 1845; James WHITE, 1848; Archibald CRITCHLOW, 1851; Jacob BENTLE, 1854; Neal DUFFY, 1857; John LEFEVER, 1860; W. BREWER, 1863; James KEARNS, 1866; George BURKHART, 1869; David KIRKPATRICK, 1872; W.R. CONN, 1875; J.J. CAMPBELL, 1878; William KENNEDY, 1881; William CAMPBELL, 1884; Alexander STOREY, 1887; John KENNEDY, 1890, and G.M. GRAHAM, 1893.
Register and Recorder.-- Prior to 1839 this office was an appointive one, and during the first fifteen years of the county's existence was administered by the prothonotary. On July 4, 1803, William AYRES was commissioned prothonotary, clerk of the court of oyer and terminer, clerk of quarter sessions, clerk of the orphans' court, recorder, register of wills, administrator of oaths of office, etc. Jacob MECHLING succeeded AYRES in January, 1810, in all these capacities; but in 1818, Robert SCOTT became register and recorder. The incumbents, appointed or elected since that time, are named as follows: Maurice BREDIN, 1832; John WELSH, 1836; William W. BRANDON, 1838; Joseph McQUISTION (first election) 1839; William BALPH, 1842, re-elected in 1844; James T. McJUNKIN, 1848, re-elected in 1851; Isaac S. P. DEWOLF, 1854; Adam EKAS, 1857; Cyrus E. ANDERSON, 1860; James S. KENNEDY, 1863; Simeon NIXON, 1866; George W. KNEISS, 1869; Matthew N. GREER, 1872; James D. ANDERSON, 1875; H.H. GALLAGHER, 1878; H.W. CHRISTIE, 1881; M.H. BYERLY, 1884; H.A. AYRES, 1887; David E. DALE, 1890, and J. S. WICK, 1893.
Treasurers.-- John NEGLEY, 1804; John POTTS, Samuel WILLIAMSON, 1810; William CAMPBELL, 1813; Hugh MCKEE, John GILCHRIST, William GIBSON, November, 1822; John SULLIVAN, 1823; Isaiah NIBLOCK, 1826; James THOMPSON, 1828; Francis MCBRIDE, 1829; Andrew SPROUL, 1832; George MILLER, 1833; John B. MCGLAUGHLIN, 1835; James FRAZIER, Jacob MECHLING, Jr., 1839; William CAMPBELL, 1840; Andrew CARNS, first elected in the fall of 1841 under the new law; Daniel COLL, 1843; Isaac COLBERT, 1845-46; Michael ZIMMERMAN, 1848; Samuel C. STEWART, 1850; John MARTIN, 1851; William B. LEMMON, 1853; James KEARNS, 1856; Samuel MARKS, 1857; James DEER, 1859; George W. REED, 1861; [p. 132] Nathaniel WALKER, 1863; William E, MOORE, 1865; J. Christy MOORE (to fill vacancy), November, 1866; Hugh MORRISON, 1867; John HANEY, 1869; Francis ANDERSON, 1871; Joseph F. CAMPBELL, 1873; David CUPPS, 1875; I.H. MILLER, 1878; A. L. CRAIG, 1880; J.A. MCMARLIN, 1884; Amos SEATON, 1887; James S. WILSON, 1890, and J.T. MARTIN, 1893.
Surveyors.-- Prior to 1850 this office was an appointive one. David DOUGAL, James SCOTT and James BOVARD were the first surveyors who performed work under the order of the commissioners. Their successors have been James IRVINE, Thomas GRAHAM, 1809 to 1814; William PURVIANCE, 1823; Hugh CONWAY, 1827; James HOGE, James DUNLAP, appointed in 1839; Thomas H. LYON and Peter MURRIN, served prior to 1850; William PURVIANCE, 1853; David SCOTT, 1859; W. D. MCCANDLESS, 1862; Nathan M. SLATER, 1865, 1868, 1871, appointed to fill vacancy in 1875, and elected in 1880; F. WILT, 1874(died in office); James M. DENNY, 1877 and 1880; B. F. HILLIARD, 1883 and 1886, and C. F. L. MCQUISTION, 1889 and 1892.
Commissioners.-- The county was governed by the commissioners of Allegheny county from 1800 to 1803. Those who have held the office in this county since the latter year are as follows:
Matthew WHITE and James BOVARD, November 9,1803, and Jacob MECHLING, November 16, 1803, formed the first board; James SCOTT, 1804 and 1810; Abner COATS, November 9, 1805; Jacob SMITH, December 2, 1806; Abraham BRINKER, March 7, 1807; John NEGLEY and Francis ANDERSON, 1808 and 1809; Thomas DODDS and Joseph WILLIAMSON, October 27, 1809; Walter LOWRIE, October, 1810; William BALPH, October, 1811; Robert MARTIN, October, 1812 and 1815; Ephraim HARRIS, October, 1812, vice LOWRIE, resigned; James MCKEE, January, 1813; William CAMPBELL, November, 1815; Thomas MCCLEARY, October, 1816; F. FRYER, October 1817; Abraham BRINKER, November, 1818; Robert LEMMON, October, 1819; J. DODDS, November, 1820; John BRANDON, October, 1821; John COVERT, November, 1822; Hugh MCKEE, November, 1824; Robert SCOTT, November, 1825; John MCQUISTION, November, 1825; David DOUGAL, October, 1826; John MCNEES, October, 1827; Alexander GRAHAM, October, 1828; Joseph MCQUISTION, 1929; John MCCANDLESS, 1830; William PILLOW, 1831; Robert GRAHAM, 1832; Joseph GRAHAM, 1835; Hugh STEPHENSON, 1835; Nathan SKEER, 1836; William CRISWELL, 1837; Jacob SHANNON, October, 1838; Thomas R. MCMILLEN, October, 1839; George MILLER, 1840; John Ray, November, 1841; John RAY, October, 1842; Abraham MOYER, October, 1842, Maurice BREDIN, 1843; W.W. DODDS, 1844; T.H. BRACKEN, October, 1845; David DOUTHETT, appointed in April, 1846, to succeed BREDIN; John ANDERSON, October, 1846; Joseph DOUTHETT, October, 1847; Andrew SIMPSON, 1848; Thomas KELLY, 1849; Thomas WELSH, October, 1850; James MITCHELL, October, 1851; John MILLER, November, 1852; William C. CAMPBELL, 1853; John KENNEDY, 1854; Andrew BOGGS, 1855; P. HILLIARD, 1856; Isaac ROBB, 1857; William HARBISON, 1858; Charles MCCLUNG, 1859; Thomas MCNEES, 1860; Mathew GREER, 1861; Abner BARTLEY, 1862; Samuel LEASON, 1863; A. C. CHRISTIE, 1864; William DICK, 1865; John W. BRANDON, 1866; Charles HOFFMAN, 1867; James M. LOWE, 1868; John S. CAMPBELL, 1869; William L. [p. 133] BARTLEY, 1870; Benjamin F. GARVIN, 1871; Robert BARRON 1872; James P. CHRISTLEY, 1873; John C. RIDDLE, 1874; James C. DONALDSON, 1875.
Under the article of the Constitution of 1873, providing for the election of three commissioners, to serve three years, and for minority representation on the board, the following named were chosen in November, 1875: Robert BARRON, J. C. DONALDSON and William A. CHRISTIE, to serve until January, 1879, when James GRIBBEN, Jonathan MAYBURY and J. C. DONALDSON qualified. In the fall of 1881, Charles COCHRAN, George W. HAYS and T. I. WILSON were elected, but the last named died prior to January, and James COLLINS, appointed to fill the vacancy, took the oath of office as the third member. J. C. BREADEN, John C. KELLY and J. M. TURNER were elected in 1884; A. J. HUTCHISON, John C. KELLY and B. M. DUNCAN, in 1887; John HUMPHREY was appointed to succeed KELLY, resigned, January 10, 1890; and he with S.F. MARSHALL and J. C. KISKADDON, were elected in November, 1890. In 1893, S. W. MCCOLLOUGH, Richard KELLY and George W. WILSON were elected, and form the present board.
Early Justices of the Peace.-- The justices of the first election district of Butler county, from 1804 to 1838 were as follows: Melzer TANNEHILL, Jacob SMITH and Ephraim HARRIS, 1804; William ADAMS 1805; Thomas ELDER, 1806; Hugh LEE, 1808; Hugh HENDERSON, 1809; James MCKEE, 1812; Robert REED, 1820; W. MCMICHAEL and Andrew DONALDSON, 1824; John REYNOLDS, 1826; Samuel E. HARRIS, 1828; Samuel KERR, 1830; John MURRIN, 1834; John NEAL and Thomas STEPHENSON, 1835; Joseph JUSTICE, W. H. MCGILL and Alexander MCBRIDE, 1836; William JACK, 1837; Henry C. LINN and John BLACK, 1838. In 1820, this district comprised Mercer and Slippery Rock townships.
The justices of the peace for the same period in the Second district were: Jacob MECHLING, 1804; Washington PARKER and John STEWART, 1805; A. YOUNG, 1808; Matthew B. LOWRIE, 1812 and 1813; John CHRISTY, 1815; Joseph KERR, 1817; John MURRIN, 1823; Andrew DONALDSON and Benjamin FLETCHER, 1827; William TURNER, 1828; David KELLY, 1834; Levi DUCHESS and John ANDERSON, 1835; Jacob HILLIARD, 1836; and Josiah FLETCHER, 1838.
In District Number 3 the justices of the peace were-- William JOHNSTON, James BOVARD and James SCOTT, 1804; Thomas GILCHRIST and Samuel KINDAID, 1805; Reuben AYRES and Patrick HAGERTY, 1808; Walter LOWRIE, 1809; Joseph WILLIAMSON, 1812; William HUTCHISON and William CAMPBELL, 1813; Robert SCOTT, 1815; Samuel KINKAID, John NEYMAN and John DUFFY, 1816; Abraham BRINKER, 1817; William ROBB, 1818; Maurice BREDIN, 1821; Thomas McCLEARY and Frances MCBRIDE, 1825; James MCCURDY and John SWEENEY, 1826; Daniel MCLAUGHLIN, 1827; Moses HANLEN, 1828; James CUNNINGHAM, 1829; Hugh MCKEE, 1830; David MCCANDLESS, 1832; John MCCLELLAND, 1834; Robert CARNAHAN, 1835; Bennet DOBBS, 1836; P.C. PURVIANCE, 1837. In 1815, the townships of Butler, Centre, Clearfield and Donegal, were included in this district as well as some other territory.
The justices of the peace in District Number 4 were:--Robert GALBREATH and Frances ANDERSON, 1804; John DAVID, 1806. Owing to changes in 1807, it does not appear that justices were appointed or elected for this district. William CAMPBELL, 1822; Isaac LEFEVRE, 1825; James POTTS, William WALKER, John [p. 134] DODDS and James BROWN, 1829; W.R. ELLIOTT, 1830; William DIXON and Johnston WHITE, 1835; Emil MAURHOFF, 1838. This district comprised Buffalo, Clearfield, Butler and Middlesex, in 1822, Clearfield and Butler townships being detached from the Third district.
The justices of the peace in District Number 5 were:--Robert HAYS, 1804; Stephen STONE, 1806; Joshua STOOLFIRE, 1810; Christian BUHL, 1813; Robert BOGGS, 1820; John OAKLEY, 1822; Daniel BELTZHOOVER and Robert BROWN, 1823; William MCLEAN (resigned in 1836), and Jacob GROSSENOR, 1824; William SIMPSON and B.G. GOLL, 1825; Andrew WHITE, 1827; Samuel KIRK, 1832; James FRAZIER, 1823; Daniel GRAHAM and John HENRY, 1836; David SPEAR, 1837; W. CUNNINGHAM and Henry UMPSTEAD, 1838; Thomas FLETCHER, 1839. In 1810, Cranberry township constituted the Fifth district; in 1813, Connoquesnessing township, then organized, was added, and, in 1820, these two townships with Middlesex and Butler formed the district.
In District Number 6 the justices of the peace were:--Eliakim ANDERSON, 1804; John BRACKNEY, 1805; A. BRYSON and Thomas CHRISTY, 1808; William DODDS, 1812; Robert MARTIN, 1815; Thomas SULLIVAN, 1819; Thomas CHRISTIE, 1820; John THOMPSON, 1827; Henry DUFFORD, 1830; Robert HAMPSON, 1831; George A. KIRKPATRICK, 1832; Thomas STEWART, 1835.
[End of Chapter 9 - Political Affairs: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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