History of Butler County Pennsylvania, 1895

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

Surnames in this chapter are:

AGNEW, AIKEN, AYRES, BAILEY, BALPH, BARCLAY, BEACOM, BENNETT, BICKEL, BLACK, BOGGS, BRACKEN, BROWN, BRYSON, BUECHLE, BYERS, CALVERT, CAMPBELL, CARNAHAN, CARRITHERS, CARSON, CHRISTIE, CHRISTY, COATS, COLWELL, CORE, COULTER, CRATTY, CRAWFORD, CROZIER, CUBBISON, CURRY, DAIN, DICKEY, DODDS, DOUTHETT, EARHART, ELLIOTT, EVANS, EVERS, FAY, FISHER, FOSTER, FOWZER, GARRETT, GILMORE, GLENN, HAYS, HENRY, HOPKINS, HUDSON, HUGHES, JOHNSTON, KEARNS, KENNEDY, LEAIRD, LLOYD, LOWRIE, MAGINESS, MARTIN, MATHEW, MCBRIDE, MCCANDLESS, MCCLURE, MCDONALD, MCDONALD, MCGAGHY, MCGOWAN, MCKEE, MCKEE, MCKINNEY, MCLEOUD, MCLOUD, MIDGELY, MILLER, MITCHELL, MONTOOTH, MOORE, MURPHY, NEGLEY, NICHOLLS, ORR, PHILLIPS, PHINNEY, PILE, POTTS, RAY, REESE, RHODES, RICE, RIDDLE, ROBINSON, ROSS, SEALI, SHAW, SHOWALTER, SMITH, STEEN, STEWART, SULLIVAN, SUTTON, SWIFT, TAGGERT, TAYLOR, TEMPLETON, THOMPSON, THORN MECHLING, WALKER, WASHINGTON, WATSON, WEBSTER, WEEKS, WHITE, WICK, WILLARD, YOUNG, ZUVER

The first movement in Butler county for the regulation of the liquor traffic took place soon after its organization. Among the old documents in the prothonotary's office is an original petition presented to Judge MOORE, in February, 1804, and endorsed by him: "Continued under advisement to next May sessions. J. MOORE." Here is the humble prayer of the petitioners:

To the Honorable Jesse MOORE and his associate judges, now composing a court of general quarter sessions of the peace and common pleas for the County of Butler. The humble petition of us the subscribers, inhabitants of Butler county. Your petitioners conceive it is in the power of the honorable court to set a stipulated price on the provisions for man and horse, and liquors, in the taverns of said county. As they conceive that 25 cents for a meal of victuals and 12 cents for a half pint of whiskey is rather an extortion, as whiskey has been purchased for 40 cents per gallon, pork from 3 1/2 to 4 cents per lb., and flower for two dollars per cwt., and as our county is now organized and will be increasing in population we thought it prudent to petition the honorable court to redress the wrongs and advantages we conceive is committed by the tavern keepers in said county. And we, your petitioners, as in duty bound will ever pray, &c., &c.

[signed]
Michael MARTIN, James LEAIRD, Henry EVANS, James COLWELL, James McKEE, John MITCHELL, John CARRITHERS, William MARTIN, Abner COATS, James MARTIN, William PILE, James LLOYD, John McLEOUD, John McDONALD, Joseph EVANS, John McCANDLESS, John CARSON, Henry MONTOOTH, Thomas McGAGHY, Joseph HUDSON (per order), Matthew THOMPSON, Joseph CRAWFORD, Charles MAGINNESS, Mordecai McLOUD, William McLOUD, Colin McDONALD, Andrew McGOWAN, Henry EVANS, Robert KENNEDY, Henry KENNEDY, Martin KENNEDY, John RAY, Isaac F. CURRY, John CARSON, David MOORE, Thomas DICKEY, W. EVERS, John ELLIOTT, Jacob ROSS, William BALPH, F. McGOWAN, Wm. McBRIDE, Isaac EVANS, James HUGHES, John SEALI, Johannas BUECHLE and Peter BUECHLE.

The beginning of temperence [sic] agitation in this county dates back to February 9, 1829, when a county temperance society was organized at Butler with Rev. John COULTER as president. Another was organized the same year at Mt. Nebo, which was presided over by Rev. Reid BRACKEN, with Robert WALKER, secretary, and Matthew McCLURE treasurer. The committeemen were Alexander HAYS, Thomas CRATTY, Samuel RIDDLE and Thomas BRACKEN, and they with the twenty-four members enrolled on April 28, 1829, pledged themselves against supporting any man for office who was known to be an habitual drinker of liquor.

An anti-intemperance society was formed in Concord township, August 21, [p. 212] 1829, with Andrew CHRISTIE, president, and John CHRISTIE, secretary. The movement gained votaries in every township before the close of 1830; while the Theobald MATHEW idea of temperence, as inculcated in Ireland, spread rapidly throughout the counties of this Commonwealth.

In 1831-32 William CAMPBELL and Matthew S. LOWRIE visited every house in Butler and tendered the pledge, which was generally signed by the women and children. In 1836 another pledge was presented to the people of the borough, a majority of whom signed it. These recurring temperance waves continued throughtout many years of hope and disapointment. From 1829 to 1840 temperance society succeeded temperance society. Each organization took a share in teaching the wisdom of abstention from strong drink, and each was credited with the accomplishment of much good. The political campaigns of 1840 and 1844 led many to return to the old social ways, and in 1848 the moralists had to resume arms and again attack the evil.

Butler Division, Number 207, Sons of Temperance, was organized in April, 1848, by Robert CARNAHAN, with the following named officers, in order of rank: William FOWZER, Levi THORN, Michael MECHLING, James GLENN, Philip BICKEL, Wilson K. POTTS, Samuel BENNETT, William H. JOHNSTON, James CAMPBELL, George W. CROZIER, P. De P. TAYLOR and R. J. WHITE. This was followed by the organization of township and borough branches throughout the county, and ultimately by the organization of the youth into temperance companies.

The Boys' Hope Section, Cadets of Temperance, elected officers in April, 1850, as follows: William B. AGNEW, W. A.; William MILLER, secretary; M RHODES, assistant-secretary; Joseph MIDGELY, treasurer, and Curtis SMITH, assistant-treasurer.

The organization died out before the close of the year.

The Independent Order of Good Templars took up the work later and prosecuted it by secret methods. Several lodges were organized in Butler county and contained a large membership. The Good Templers [sic] continued temperance work for many years, and though the society accomplished much good, yet the liquor traffic grew and prospered, from year to year, with little abatement of the evils arising therefrom. Finally many of the earnest women of the county became enlisted in the temperance cause and offered themselves as soldiers of the new crusade, which had its inception at Hillsboro, Ohio, in December, 1873. The "Woman's Crusade" led to the organization of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in 1874, which spread through Pennsylvania the following year, and six years later invaded Butler county. Since that time the fight against the liquor traffic has been carried on with zeal and unabating vigor.

The work of organizing was continued, and in the course of a few years nearly every part of the county had been reached. Bruin Union was organized in February, 1883, by Miss Narcissa E. WHITE, with nine members. Brownsdale Union was also established by Miss WHITE, March 20, 1883, with thirty members. Unionville and Myoma Unions were organized in 1883, and Holyoke in 1884. Petrolia Union came into existence in June, 1885, with thirty members, being organized by Mrs. E. R. DAIN, and in September following Mrs. Mary W. DOUTHETT organized Connoquenessing Union with five members. In April, 1886, Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN and Mrs. M. E. NICHOLLS organized Unions in Millerstown and Karns City; while Mrs. TAGGERT organized one at Mars in June, 1886. Moniteau Union was started the same year, also one at Zelienople by Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN. Fairview Union was organized May 26, 1886, with five members, and that at Eau Claire in May, 1887, by Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN. Hilliards, Middlesex and Plains Unions were all organized in the latter year. More than 500 members were enrolled in the Unions of the W. C. T. U. of Butler county in 1887, and a vigorous warfare was waged against the traffic in intoxicants.

The South side branch, at Butler, was organized October 18, 1888, with Mrs. James S. HENRY, president; Mrs. J. H. NEGLEY, vice-president; Mrs. A. STEWART, corresponding secretary; Mrs. L. L. CHRISTY, recording secretary; Mrs. D. L. AIKEN, treasurer, and Mrs. T. STEEN, delegate to county convention.

The Central branch of Butler was organized December 4, 1888, with Mrs. M. E. NICHOLLS, president; Mrs. Lizzie K. AYRES, vice-president; Mrs. I. J. McBRIDE, corresponding secretary; Mrs. M. K. BYERS, recording secretary, and Mrs. N. D. FISHER, treasurer.

The Young Womens' Christian Temperance Union, an auxiliary of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, organized its first branch in Butler county at Harrisville, May 8, 1884, with twelve members. Mrs. Mary B. REESE was [p. 214] the organizer. On March 7, 1885, Mrs. E. R. DAIN organized a branch at Butler containing eighty-two members. The same year a Union was organized at Evans City by Miss Alice WICK, with twenty members; one at Centreville with forty-two members, and one at Unionville, by Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN. In 1886 the Concord, Prospect, Bethel, Jacksville, North Hope and Millerstown Unions were organized. The local temperance work was carried on assiduously by these unions in every part of the county, and the object, of those engaged in the agitation were partially achieved.

Mrs. M. S. TEMPLETON, a well-known temperance worker of Butler, has furnished us the following account of Union affairs from November, 1887, to November, 1889:
The sixth annual convention held in Butler, November 2 and 3, 1887, was presided over by Mrs. Frances L. SWIFT, Mrs. E. R. DAIN having died June 11, 1887. Mrs. S. M. McKEE, of Butler, was elected president, and Mrs. J. B. SHOWALTER, of Millerstown, correspondent, as Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN declined re-election. Mrs. L. J. McKINNEY, of Myoma, was chosen recorder, and Mrs. Lizzie K. AYRES, of Harrisville, retained as treasurer. Vacancies in the departments were filled; in all others the superintendents were continued. The following year, another campaign was prosecuted against license with out other result than the accumulation of a debt, the stirring up of local strife and the crippling of the Unions in means and influence. It was then thought better to imitate the course of the Butler Union and relinquish all such attempts for the present. The Butler County Union, had always, until the last two years, declared itself to be non-partisan, but at the annual convention in November, 1888, a motion to revive such action was defeated, owing to the desire on the part of many in both parties to keep the disturbing question out of the convention, if possible. Mrs. Lucy H. WASHINGTON, of Port Jervis, New York, presided at the election of officers, at which time Mrs. J. B. SHOWALTER and Mrs. S. M. McKEE changed places, the former becoming president. Mrs. M. J. EARHART was the delegate to the National Convention held at New York, that year. The vote on the prohibitory amendment was the event of 1889, and the women did all in their power, finding small scope for their efforts, as the campaign fell altogether into the hands of the voters. In several places the Young Women's Unions drilled the Loyal Temperance Legions and marched the children, singing on the streets, and past the polls; while banners and mottoes were placed wherever they were allowed. This agitation led to a majority for the amendment in this county. In 1889, nine delegates were sent to the State Convention in Philadelphia, and Mrs. N. C. CORE was the delegate to the National Convention at Chicago, in November. At the State Convention, in October, Mrs. F. L. SWIFT, Mrs. Ellen M. WATSON and Mrs. J. D. WEEKS declined re-election, and the State Union by a large majority, passed into the hands of those identified with Miss WILLARD's policy of endorsing prohibition wherever it might be found. This event and the subsequent adherence of the National Union to its position, induced Mrs. J. Ellen FOSTER, the leader of the opposition, to withdraw from the convention in Chicago, with thirteen Iowa women.

The convention held November 21, 1889, at Butler, was marked by the secession of thirteen members, who did not agree with the position taken by the National Union. The condition of the Butler County Union, prior to this disagreement, is shown by the following figures: Number of Unions, thirty-seven; paying members, 487; moneys raised, $1,607.37, and fourteen Juvenile Unions organized with 604 members. The officers elected at the convention were Mrs. Lillie J. McKINNEY, president; Mrs. J. H. SUTTON, vice-president; Mrs. S. M. [p. 215] McKEE, correspondent; Mrs. O. M. PHILLIPS, recorder, and Mrs. A. M. RICE, treasurer.

Mrs. TEMPLETON says that in 1890 the county reported twenty-five Unions, with 435 paying members, and nine juvenile organizations, with 315 members; while $1,349.83 were raised for temperance purposes, 40,000 pages of literature distributed, and all the freight trains on one line of railroad furnished with reading matter.

In 1891 there were twenty-seven Unions reported, $963.81 raised, 30,000 pages of literature distributed, seventy-three public meeting held and seven deldgates sent to the State convention at Bradford; while the Loyal Temperance Legion contained 569 members. The county convention was held at Mars, and Mrs. M. M. SUTTON was chosen president; Mrs. L. W. ZUVER, recorder; Mrs. M. S. TEMPLETON, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. A. M. RICE, treasurer.

In 1892 twenty-five Unions were reported, twenty-three public meetings held, six delegates attended the State Convention at New Castle, and numerous petitions were circulated for the anti-narcotic bill, for the signing of the Brussels treaty, and for the closing of the World's Fair on Sundays.

In 1893 there were twenty-two active unions in the county, $876.92 raised for the temperance cause, and twenty-nine public meetings held. Petitions were circulated for closing saloons on Memorial Day, for the local option bill, against the repeal of local prohibitory laws, and for the Pennsylvania Sunday law. The president and four delegates attended the State Convention at Lancaster, and Mrs. A. M. RICE was sent as a delegate to the National Convention at Chicago.

The convention of September, 1893, was held in the Reformed church at Springdale, and the following officers elected: Mrs. M. D. DODDS, president; Mrs. J. W. ORR, vice-president; Mrs. M. S. TEMPLETON, corresponding secretary; Mrs. L. C. WICK, recording secretary; and Mrs. A. M. RICE, treasurer. The presentation of banners to Unions showing a certain increase in membership was one of the interesting features of this convention.

The Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance of Butler county had its inception November 21, 1889, when a declaraton of secession and principles was signed by thirteen delegates of the Womans' (sic) Christian Temperance Union convention, then in session at Butler, and by six other women. This declaration was read in convention by Mrs. N. C. CORE, and, from it, the following leading points are taken: That while the society held a neutral position between Church and State, its members were a unit in opposing intemperance. That for some years, the original, central idea was being undermined by a political idea and that since the convention appears to adhere to views which cannot be otherwise than damaging to the best interest of the cause, it is necessary to organize a non-sectarian and non-political association. The document, as read, was signed by Madams N. C. CORE, I. J. McBRIDE, M. K. BYERS, M. E. NICHOLLS, F. BAILEY, R. I. BOGGS, D. GARRETT, K. H. MILLER, J. R. MILLER, Cynthia GILMORE, L. K. AYRES, and Patton KEARNS, with the Misses Mary E. SULLIVAN, Celia CUBBISON and Margaret WICK. After the reading Madams J. L. HENRY, M. J. FAY, E. S. BARCLAY and Miss L. E. YOUNG signed the declaration. That evening Mrs. M. E. NICHOLLS presided over a meeting of twenty-seven non-partisan workers who organized a bureau of [p. 216] correspondence with Mrs. NICHOLLS, president; Miss YOUNG, secretary, and Mrs. BYERS, treasurer.

The actual organization of the Alliance was effected on September 18, 1890, by Mrs. Ellen J. PHINNEY, president of the National Union. The officers then elected were Mrs. Margaret J. EARHART, president; Mrs. J. B. SHOWALTER, vice-president; Mrs. M. E. NICHOLLS, corresponding secretary; Miss May HOPKINS, recording secretary; and Miss L. E. YOUNG, treasurer. The title adopted for this new association of temperance workers was "Woman's Christian Temperance Alliance."

The second conference, held November 6, 1891, resulted in the choice of Mrs. J. B. SHOWALTER, president; Mrs. M. J. EARHART, vice-president; Mrs. Emily ROBINSON, corresponding secretary; Mrs. E. J. CALVERT, recording secretary; and Miss Ella YOUNG, treasurer.

The third conference, held at Millerstown in 1892, resulted in the re-election of the president, with Mrs. E. D. ROBINSON, corresponding secretary; Mrs. U. D. FISHER, recording secretary and Miss L. E. YOUNG, treasurer.

The fourth conference was held at Butler in September, 1893, when the following named officers were chosen: President, Mrs. I. J. McBRIDE; vice-president, Mrs. N. C. CORE; corresponding secretary, Mrs. J. E. BYERS; recording secretary, Mrs. U. D. FISHER; and treasurer, Miss L. E. YOUNG, who are also the present officers.

The Non-Partisan Temperance Union of Butler was organized September 19, 1890, as an auxiliary of the Alliance, by Miss Ella BEACOM. Miss L. E. YOUNG was chosen president, Mrs. J. E. BYERS, secretary, and Mrs. U. D. FISHER, treasurer. Since that year this organization has been extended to other parts of the county, Millerstown, Karns City and Concord township having Unions.

In reviewing the work accomplished by the temperance women of Butler county, we cannot but admire the wonderful persistence with which they have pursued their object. In 1885 they assisted their co-laborers throughout the State in having the "Temperance Education Law" enacted, and by their zeal literally compelled the court to close every drinking place in the county. In 1881 there were forty-five saloons or bars in Butler county, while in 1885 there was not one. this was the result of womens work. The great MURPHY meetings and the license agitation of 1886-87 were also manifestations of their power; while the gradual molding of public opinion in opposition to the liquor traffic is principally due to their untiring agitation. Though the women of Pennsylvania lost the battle on the prohibitory amendment in June, 1889, Butler county gave a majority of 2,428 votes in favor of the measure. It was largely through their efforts that every drinking place in the borough of Butler was closed in the spring of 1894, and that several other towns in the county met with the same treatment. and it is their intention to never cease this warfare until Butler county is "dry" throughout its length and breadth.

[End of Chapter 16 - The Temperance Cause: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]

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