Transcribed by: Judy Lockwood For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Link to a sketch of Butler borough and Butler downtown from the Atlas of Butler County, G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1874.
ALBRIGHT, ALEXANDER, ALLISON, ALSPACH, ANDERSON, ANSLEY, ARMSTRONG, AVEY, AYRES, BAHT, BAILEY, BAIRD, BAKER, BALPH, BARKLEY, BARRETT, BASSLER, BEATTY, BELL, BERNHARD, BESELIT, BEST, BIEHL, BLACK, BLOUGH, BOLARD, BOLES, BONNELL, BORBRIDGE, BOYD, BRACKEN, BRADSHAW, BRANDON, BRAUN, BREDIN, BRINKER, BROWN, BRUGH, BRYSON, BUCHANAN, BUECHLE, BURKE, BURKHART, BYERS, CAMPBELL, CARNAHAN, CARNS, CARROLL, CARRUTHERS, CARSNER, CHANDLER, CHRISTIE, CHRISTY, CLARK, CLEELAND, COCHRAN, CODY, COFFEY, COLBERT, COLLINS, CONRAD, CONWAY, CONWELL, COOPER, CORE, COULTER, CRAIG, CRATTY, CREEDON, CRONENWETT, CROUSE, CROZIER, CRUMPTON, CUMMINGS, CUMMINS, CUNNINGHAM, DAVID, DAVIS, DERRIMORE, DEVLIN, DICK, DICKEY, DIEFFENBACHER, DIXON, DOBBS, DODDS, DOMENEC, DRENMAN, DUFFORD, DUFFY, DULL, EDWARDS, EICHHOLTZ, EMERICK, EVANS, FARNSWORTH, FELDMAN, FERGUSON, FERRY, FETTER, FINDLEY, FOLTZ, FOWSER, FRANCE, FRESHWATER, FRITZ, GAHAGAN, GAILEY, GALBREATH, GALLAGHER, GALLAUDET, GALLREATH, GESHWIND, GILCHRIST, GILKY, GILLESPIE, GILLILAND, GILMORE, GRAHAM, GRAY, GREENAWALT, GREENLEE, GREER, GRENNIS, GRUB, GWINN, HABERLIN, HAGERTY, HAMILTON, HANLEN, HANNABERY, HARNISH, HAWKINS, HEATON, HEINEMAN, HEMENWAY, HENDERSON, HENNY, HENSHEW, HEWIT, HILTON, HOLLISTER, HOPKINS, HOWE, HUSELTON, HUSTON, HUTCHISON, ILLIGER, JACKSON, JOHNSTON, JOICE, JONES, KEAGLE, KEARNS, KEMPER, KENRICK, KERR, KILLIKELLY, KLINGLER, KNOX, KREIDLER, KRUG, LANDIS, LANDOE, LANDON, LANE, LEACH, LEAKE, LEE, LEGGET, LEGGETT, LEIBERT, LEONARD, LEVAN, LICHLITER, LIMBURG, LINN, LOCKE, LORIMER, LOWREY, LOWRIE, LOWRY, LUEBKERT, McABOY, McCANDLESS, McCARTHY, McCLEAN, McCLEAR, McCLELLAN, McCLINTOCK, McCOLLOUGH, McCONNELL, McCORMICK, McCURDY, McELVAINE, McGLAUGHLIN, McGOWAN, McILYAR, McJUNKIN, McKEE, McKEOWN, McKINNEY, McMICHAEL, McNAIR, McPHERRIN, McQUISTION, McSWEENEY, MACKEY, MANSELL, MARKS, MARTIN, MAURICE, MAXWELL, MAYBURY, MECHLING, MEISER, MELSHEIMER, MILLER, MILLINGER, MITCHELL, MOHAWK, MONTGOMERY, MOORE, MOOREHEAD, MORROW, MORSE, MOSER, MOYER, MUNTZ, NEFF, NEGLEY, NESBIT, NEYMAN, NIBLOCK, NICHOLAS, NICHOLLS, NOLAN, O'CONNOR, OESTERLING, OLLER, O'NEIL, ORR, OSBORN, O'SHEA, PATTERSON, PEARCE, PETERSON, PFLUEGER, PHILLIPS, PLUMMER, PORTER, POTTS, PROUDFIT, PRUGH, PURVIANCE, PURVIS, RAFFERTY, RAY, REDICK, REED, REIBER, REMEY, RICH, RICHARDSON, RIDDELL, ROBINSON, RODGERS, ROESSING, ROTH, ROTHACKER, ROWE, ROY, RUMMELFANGER, RUSSELL, SARVER, SCHENCK, SCHNEE, SCHOONMAKER, SCHULTZ, SCHWEITZERBARTH, SCOTT, SEDWICK, SHANER, SHERIDAN, SMITH, SNYDER, SPEAR, SPROUL, STARR, STAUFFER, STEIN, STEINMANN, STEVENS, STEVENSON, STEWART, STOCKTON, STORER, STOUGHTON, SULLIVAN, SUMNEY, SUTTON, SWAN, SWARZIE, TAIT, TANNEHILL, TEMPLETON, THOMPSON, THORN, TIBBLES, TITZEL, TORBETT, TRANGER, TRAUSHU, TROUTMAN, TURNER, VOGELEY, WAGLEY, WAIT, WALKER, WALLACE, WALSH, WALTER, WARMCASTLE, WATERS, WATSON, WELSH, WHIPPLE, WHITE, WICK, WILLIAMS, WINTERSTEIN, WOLF, WOOD, WOODFORD, WRIGHT, WYLIE, YETTER, YOUNG, ZIEGLER, ZIMMERMAN.
[p. 328]
CHURCHES, RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS - PRESBYTERIAN -- UNITED PRESBYTERIAN -- ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC -- ST. PAUL'S CATHOLIC -- ST. PETER'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL -- ST. MARK'S LUTHERAN -- ENGLISH LUTHERAN -- GRACE LUTHERAN -- METHODIST EPISCOPAL -- BAPTIST -- ST. PAUL'S REFORMED -- BETHANY REFORMED -- CHURCH OF GOD -- FREE METHODIST -- BIBLE AND OTHER SOCIETIES -- ST. PAUL'S ORPHAN HOME
The Presbyterian church is the oldest congregation in Butler. The records of the church, however, post-date its organization twenty years and the settlement of Presbyterians here by at least thirty-three years. In 1836-37 Rev. Loyal YOUNG, acting on instructions of the Synod of Pittsburg, compiled an historical sketch of the origin and growth of the local church down to 1833. This sketch forms to-day the introduction or preface to the minutes of the session, and, as stated by Mr. YOUNG, is "as accurate as any data, in possession of the writer, [p. 329] will admit." A few years before the close of the Eighteenth century, there were found among the settlers within the bounds of what are now called Butler and Concord congregations, a few individuals who, though ridiculed by the world, maintained the domestic and social worship of God and were members of the Presbyterian church, though not yet regularly organized as a congregation. Among these were James McCURDY, John LORIMER, Alexander HAMILTON and Andrew CHRISTY, who met every Sabbath in the capacity of a prayer-meeting. They met in their own dwellings, the distance between the extremes of their four homes being twelve miles. It is thought that Rev. Mr. GWINN was the first minister of the gospel who preached to them, in the fall of 1797. Rev. Mr. MOOREHEAD preached here in 1798, and he was followed by Revs. Samuel TAIT, William WYLIE, Robert LEE, Mr. CUMMINS, John BOYD, Elisha McCURDY, Joseph STOCKTON, Mr. McCLEAR, and perhaps some others. These men preached during the season of the "Bodily Exercise," which prevailed throughout the country, and to some extent in this place, particularly in 1803 and 1804. The gospel was now preached, for the most part, at Thorn's tent and Russell's tent -- the former within the bounds of Butler congregation, near the house where William KEARNS resided (in 1837), and the latter was within the bounds of the Concord congregation.
The church of Harmony was organized in 1805, by Rev. John McPHERRIN, with William NEYMAN, Mary NEYMAN, Alexander and Rachel HAMILTON, Robert and Sarah GRAHAM, James and Margaret McCURDY, Robert and Prudence THORN, James and Catherine MOORE, Peter PETERSON, James ROY, John ROY, and Richard MILLER. The new congregation had been called Thorn Ridge congregation, then Salt Spring congregation; but at organization was called "Harmony," with house of worship five miles north of Butler. When the first sacrament was held Rev. Samuel PORTER assisted Mr. McPHERRIN.
On April 7, 1813, Rev. John McPHERRIN was installed pastor of the churches of Butler and Concord by the Presbytery of Erie. He began preaching in the court-house at Butler, to the newly organized church of this borough, devoting three-fourths of his time to it and giving one-fourth to the church at Concord. In 1815, a stone meeting-house was erected, on the site of the present building, and in it the pioneer preacher held regular services until his death, February 10, 1822.
In the fall of 1814 the movement to erect a house of worship was inaugurated. On December 12, of that year, Rev. John McPHERRIN, William and John NEYMAN, James McCURDY, John GILMORE, Alexander HAMILTON, David McJUNKIN, Robert THORN, William BEATTY, Robert SCOTT, Andrew SPEAR, John McQUISTION and James MARTIN, signed a document binding themselves to pay the trustees whatever balance might remain due the contractor. John NEYMAN, John POTTS, and William CAMPBELL were chosen trustees, and to John NEYMAN the contract was awarded for $1,500.
Rev. John COULTER was ordained and installed pastor of the united churches of Butler, Concord and Muddy Creek September 10, 1823, - giving one-half his time to Butler. In the spring of 1833, he resigned the Butler charge, and in July of that year Rev. Loyal YOUNG commenced preaching at Butler, and was ordained pastor, December 4, 1833. He found on the list the names of 105 [p. 330] members. The elders prior to that time were Robert GRAHAM, Alexander HAMILTON and William NEYMAN; while between 1833 and 1837, Robert WALLACE, James McCURDY, John NEYMAN, David McJUNKIN and Malachi RICHARDSON were enrolled among the elders.
The list of members in 1833, gives the following names: William WRIGHT, Jane, his wife, Mary, Agnes and Daniel WRIGHT, Joseph WRIGHT and his wife, Margaret, H. and Agnes CUNNINGHAM, James and Agnes MITCHELL, Mary COCHRAN, James and Margaret McCURDY, Rebecca Ann McCURDY, Peter, Peggy and Betsy PETERSON, Patrick GRAHAM, Rosanna MARTIN, Rachel SCOTT, Robert and Prudence THORN, Jane, Joseph and Sarah THORN, John and Prudence CAMPBELL, Nancy SPEAR, Mary NEYMAN, John THORN, John and Mary NEYMAN, William and Priscilla McJUNKIN, John L. and Polly MAXWELL, William and Mary MAXWELL, Alexander and Rachel HAMILTON, David and Elizabeth McELVAINE, John and Mary PEARCE, John PEARCE, Jr., Polly BLACK, Job and Mary PEARCE, John and Harriet ROWE, Mary SULLIVAN, Walter LOWRIE, Robert and Sarah CARNAHAN, David and Jane WALKER, James H. and Francis GRAHAM, Dr. George LINN, Mary WELSH, Barbara PETERSON, William BROWN, B. GRENNIS, Simon MARKS, Robert and Sarah GRAHAM, Mary GRAHAM, William and Jane CAMPBELL, Martha MILLER, Silas PEARCE, Oliver and Anne DAVID, J. and Sarah PLUMMER, Elizabeth CONRAD, Abram STEVENSON, Thomas PLUMMER (son of Nancy), Elizabeth PLUMMER (daughter of Nancy), Jane SEDWICK, John and Mary SMITH, Mary SUMNEY, Margaret J. MOORE, John and Sarah GRAHAM, Rachel SCOTT, Malachi RICHARDSON, George and Polly McCANDLESS, Samuel, Isabel and Jane McCURDY, Priscilla MAXWELL, Elizabeth PURVIANCE, Martha McCANDLESS, Catherine and Sarah Ann PETERSON -- deceased in 1833 -- Polly GILKY, and Nancy PLUMMER (who belonged to Plain Grove church), Robert WALLACE, Andrew MITCHELL and John and Jane WAIT.
In 1823 when the second building of worship was suggested, Walter LOWRIE, John L. MAXWELL, John GILMORE, Robert SCOTT, William CAMPBELL and John SHERIDAN were trustees. Ten years after, in 1833, the suggestion was carried out, and $3,200 expended on a house fit to accommodate the large congregation.
A constitution was adopted June 30, 1823, and on the 8th of January, 1824, the congregation was incorporated. The charter members were as follows: Walter LOWRIE, John L. MAXWELL, John GILMORE, Robert SCOTT, William CAMPBELL and John SHERIDAN, trustees. A second charter was obtained in 1854, which is now the law of the church.
On November 29, 1833, John and Juliet GILCHRIST and Elizabeth PATTERSON were admitted members, and the next day Jane CAMPBELL, Mary CAMPBELL, Martha THORN, Rebecca MAXWELL, James MAXWELL, Samuel M. LANE and Robert STEVENSON were admitted. An incident of this session was the statement of David WALKER, "that he feared the cause of religion would suffer" in consequence of having kept several persons at work on his brick-kiln on a Sabbath in September, 1833. He explained the causes and the session was satisfied, provided the explanation would be read to the congregation the following Sabbath. The absence of elder Robert WALLACE from several meetings suggested an investigation in January, 1834. This action appearing to him to be too radical, led to his resignation and his demand to be dismissed from membership. In September, [p. 331] 1834, William McJUNKIN, Robert THORN and Jonathan PLUMMER were ordained elders, and they, with Messrs. HAMILTON, GRAHAM, McCURDY and RICHARDSON, formed the board when the congregation was divided into seven districts, in September, 1834. In December, celebrated resolutions against the theatrical meetings, then held at Butler, were adopted, and the elders exercised the closest supervision over members of the congregation, calling on many of them to confess and reform. In 1836, the question of betting on elections was presented, and one member was suspended because he would, "under similar circumstances bet again." Walter LOWRIE became a member of the board of elders that year; while on January 20, 1839, David McELVAINE and Thomas WELSH were ordained, Samuel M. LANE and Oliver DAVID, elders-elect, declining ordination. Henry M. BOYD, who died August 4, 1845, and William CAMPBELL, Sr., were chosen elders in December, 1841. From that period until April 15, 1846, Elders McCURDY, THORN, GRAHAM, McELVAINE, WELSH, McJUNKIN and CAMPBELL were the active members of the session, and gave close attention to the affairs of the church. Record book, Number 2, closes on the last date given.
The second book of records begins with the session held October 1, 1845. From that date until September 8, 1849, the style and nature of business vary but little from that of the older record. On the last date given, the death of Robert GRAHAM (the last of the elders ordained when the church of Butler was organized), was recorded. In November, the new elders: - William MAXWELL, William S. BOYD, John CAMPBELL and James MITCHELL were ordained. In March, 1858, Thomas H. BRACKEN, Dr. R.L. McCURDY and Samuel MARTIN were installed elders, they, with James McCURDY, William MAXWELL, John CAMPBELL, William CAMPBELL, W.S. BOYD, James MITCHELL and Robert THORN, forming the board of elders. In December, 1858, Elders BOYD, MARTIN and GRAHAM were appointed a committee to secure a lot for a church building, south or southeast of Butler, for the accommodation of members living distant from the town in the direction indicated. In January, 1859, the committee of elders reported that an acre of land was secured from Joseph ROBINSON for twenty dollars, the location being five miles southeast, on the Saxonburg road, and that funds for building to the amount of $350 were on hand.
On June 24, 1859, the ruin caused by the great frosts of June 5 and 11 was recorded, and the last day of July was made one of fasting and prayer. In May, 1861, the session discussed temperance work. In October, 1862, the death of Samuel MARTIN, captain of the One Hundred and Third regiment, was noticed. The years 1862 and 1863 are noted for the erection of a new church building.
April 28, 1868, Mr. YOUNG's relation with the church was dissolved. Of the large number of members, named in 1833, when he became pastor, there were only seventeen on the roll, when he closed his pastorate, namely: Elder McCURDY, Jane THORN, Robert THORN, William MAXWELL, Mary MAXWELL, John CAMPBELL, Betsey MARTIN, Priscilla McJUNKIN, John L. MAXWELL, John ROWE, Mary SULLIVAN, Robert CARNAHAN, Sarah CARNAHAN, Silas PEARCE, Jane SEDWICK, John GRAHAM and Sarah GRAHAM. In all, there were 229 members enrolled on the day the pastoral relations were dissolved. During his pastorate of nearly thirty-five years, he preached in the bounds of the congregation 2,920 times, [p. 332] besides delivering addresses at prayer meetings, funerals and other occasions. He married 203 couples and baptized nearly 700 infants and about seventy adults; and during his ministry nearly 450 persons united with the church and several revivals of marked interest occurred. Witherspoon Institute owed its existence to him more than any other man. The work of calling the convention which brought the school into existence, of preparing the charter, of raising money and of starting the school, devolved principally upon him, and he was its principal for a considerable period.
In May, 1868, Rev. W.I. BRUGH was stated supply. He was installed pastor November 2, 1869, and resigned in April, 1871. On January 23, 1872, Rev. C. H. McCLELLAN was installed pastor. Three years later, George A. BLACK was elected elder, and was appointed vice-superintendent of Sabbath school -- J.C. REDICK being appointed superintendent. In 1877, Elder BLACK was clerk of the session, and continued in this position until April, 1881, when W.D. BRANDON, the present clerk, signed the minutes for the first time. In 1877, Mr. BRANDON, J.C. REDICK, James D. ANDERSON, James STEVENSON and George A. BLACK formed the board of elders; and a year later, when Mr. McCLELLAN resigned the pastoral charge, several of them were active members of the board.
Rev. W.T. WYLIE accepted a call from this church in April, and was installed pastor in June, 1879. The death of Elder BLACK is of record in the minutes of July 9, 1881, and the resignation of Mr. WYLIE under date December 25, 1881. In June, 1882, Rev. W.E. OLLER was elected pastor; in December, W.D. BRANDON was chosen superintendent, and Joseph S. GRAY assistant of the Sabbath school.
In September, 1883, Alfred WICK and John F. ANDERSON were elected elders. The death of Elder BOYD was noticed in February, 1885. Some time in October, 1888, Mr. ANDERSON, choir leader, resigned, and Mrs. Emma K. COLBERT was chosen leader; while in November Messrs. BRANDON and GRAY were re-elected to the positions in the Sunday school for which they were chosen in 1882. Resolutions on the death of Rev. Loyal YOUNG were adopted in December, 1890, but beyond this the minutes, to the close of Book Number 3, March 3, 1892, deal only with the ordinary affairs of the board of elders.
The fourth book opens with a record of the session of April 8, 1892. Rev. W.E. OLLER, pastor, with Elders William CAMPBELL, James STEVENSON, J.C. REDICK, W.D. BRANDON, Alfred WICK and John F. ANDERSON; and Trustees W. J. McKEE, William CAMPBELL, Jr., E.H. ANDERSON, P.W. LOWRY, J.E. BYERS and Ira McJUNKIN. January 1, 1893, the elders-elect were Thomas B. WHITE, Robert A. WHITE, D.L. CLEELAND, Clinton B. CONWAY, Robert M. ANDERSON and C.N. BOYD.
The list of 1833 shows 105 members. From the coming of Mr. YOUNG to his going, there were about 600 members admitted, the great majority on examination. The roll of members in November, 1890, contained no less than 544 names, being an increase of 269 over the list of 1882.
The church was remodeled in 1863, and dedicated December 9, of that year, when $643.50, were received, the collection being $263.50. R.C. McABOY was then treasurer. The resolution to build was adopted June 14, 1862, when J.S. [p. 333] CAMPBELL, William CAMPBELL and R.C. McABOY were empowered to enter into a contract with S.G. PURVIS for wood work and material at a cost of $2,725, and with William FOWSER, for stone and brick work and material, at a cost of $1,700. The extras in the first case brought the sum up to $2,856, and in the second, to $1,895. George CROZIER, the painter, received $470, and other sums made the total cost, $6,205.39.
The present church is simply an extension of that erected in 1862-63, the work being accomplished in 1874-75. With the exception of the court-house and Jefferson street school, it occupies the finest site within the borough limits. Its high, symmetrical spire springing from a central tower, gives to the rather plain Gothic building an attractive appearance. The contract for the whole work was awarded to John MARTIN and Malcolm GRAHAM, on their bid of $11,771, but the extras with repairs and painting brought the total expenditure up to about $16,000 before the close of 1880.
One of the most interesting features of the church is the Bible Class conducted by Col. John M. SULLIVAN. It was organized under his instruction, February 5, 1888, and now comprises a class of fifty, consisting of professional and business men. The youngest member is twenty-five and the eldest sixty-five years of age. The class meets every Sunday morning in a separate room of the church. The leader, who is a close student of the bible, is noted for his zeal in the work, and his short lectures are always instructive, and exercise a healthy moral influence over the minds of his hearers.
The church is in a prosperous and flourishing condition. The membership in 1894 numbered 650, and there were 457 scholars in the Sunday school. The superintendent, W.D. BRANDON, is assisted by thirty-two officers and teachers.
United Presbyterian Church*. -- This is the second oldest church organization in the borough of Butler. At a meeting of the Associate Reformed Presbytery of the Monongahela, held at "Yough Meeting House," June 25, 1804, a petition was presented for "supplies of gospel ordinances" from the congregation of "Butler-town." So far as any records that are extant show, this was the origin of the present United Presbyterian congregation of Butler.
*This history of the church was compiled from the Centennial discourse of the Rev. J.S. McKEE
Doubtless the number represented by this petition was not large, for we learn that very few persons had settled within the bounds of Butler county up to 1803, at which time the town of Butler was laid out.
It was during the fall of that year, and only a few months before this petition was presented, that the first houses were built in Butler. While we cannot give the names or tell the number of these early petitioners, we may judge from this one act something of their character. They were men and women who had come from Christian homes -- some of them from neighboring counties, as Allegheny and Westmoreland, and some from Ulster and Caledonia across the sea. They were brought up under the influences of the stricter sect of the Presbyterian faith, who sought for themselves and their children not only a home and a fortune in the new land, but the privilege and blessing of the christian religion.
They must have pressed their petition very earnestly, and the Presbytery [p. 334]must have regarded Butler town as no unpromising field, for the petition was promptly granted and the Rev. Joseph KERR, a young man who had just been ordained, was appointed to supply on the first Sabbath of August, 1804. It is presumed that he fulfilled this appointment, and on that day ninety years ago the first sermon by a minister of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church was preached in Butler. As to the sermon we can only judge it by the record afterwards made by the man who delivered it. For twenty-one years he served faithfully and successfully as pastor of St. Clair congregation, and at the time of his death he was pastor of the Second church, Pittsburg, and Professor in the Associate Reformed Theological Seminary.
It is evident that the congregation of Butler town was well pleased with the young minister, for we find them three weeks after hearing the first sermon present at a meeting of the Presbytery, either by commissioners or petition, asking "for supplies of preaching." Again in the following spring a similar application was made by the congregation of "Butler town."
In the statistical table submitted by the Presbytery on May 15, 1805, we find Deer Creek, Glade Run and Butler town all in Butler county, joined by a bracket and marked by a sign which is explained at the foot of the page to mean, "nearly ripe for a settlement."
The second sermon, so far as the records shows, that was preached to this congregation was by another young man who had just been licensed, Rev. Mungo DICK. He was appointed to preach in Butler on the second Sabbath of July, 1805. At the following meeting of Presbytery Mr. DICK reported that he had filled his appointment. September 3, 1805, the Presbytery "received a petition from the congregations of Butler town and Deer Creek praying to be united and have as frequent supplies of sermons as can be afforded." This petition was granted and these two congregations declared "one united congregation."
On April 9th of the following year a call was presented from Butler and Deer Creek addressed to Rev. Mungo DICK, the young licentiate who had preached for them during the previous summer. It was to the disadvantage of Butler congregation that Mr. DICK had received other calls. For after due consideration he decided to accept the call to another charge. Although disappointed in securing a pastor the congregation of Butler did not become discouraged. They continued to ask and to receive "supplies of gospel ordinances." The statistical table of 1806 has Butler and Deer Creek marked, "ripe for settlement."
On March 27, 1811, a call was laid on the table of the Presbytery for Rev. James McCONNELL from the congregations of Butler and Deer Creek; but for some reason the Butler branch of the charge did not prosecute this call, and it was returned to the congregations without being presented. At this meeting a paper was read "from the society of Butler praying for the dissolution of their connection with Deer Creek and the establishment of a connection with Slippery Rock." The Butler congregation with its new partner at once put forth an effort to obtain a pastoral settlement, and on April 10, 1811, a call was presented from Butler and Slippery Rock addressed to Rev. George BUCHANAN. But again the expectations [p. 335] of this persevering society were doomed to dissapointment [sic], for on presenting the call to the candidate, "he would not accept."
Although the Butler society had been referred to from the beginning of its history as a congregation, yet so far the records show it was not a fully organized congregation until March, 1812, when Rev. David PROUDFIT, by appointment of Presbytery, installed Thomas DODDS, and ordained and installed Hugh McKEE, as ruling elders in Butler congregation.
On June 25, 1815, a call was presented from Butler and White Oak Springs for Rev. Robert REED, then settled at Erie. At a meeting of Presbytery held on the 27th of the following September, after hearing Messrs. Hugh McKEE and Samuel FINDLEY in support of the call, it was resolved by a unanimous vote that it was inexpedient to translate him from Erie and Waterford to Butler and White Oak Springs. Again this persistent congregation was disappointed and made dependent on supplies.
At length the prayers of this people were answered, and their persistent seeking rewarded. On May 17, 1819, Rev. Isaiah NIBLOCK, a licentiate from the Presbytery of Monaghan, Ireland, presented credentials, on the credit of which he was received as a probationer under the direction of Presbytery. He was at once given appointments in the vacant congregations, and preached at Pigeon Creek, Mifflin, Harmony, Shenango, White Oak Springs, Brush Creek, and other places. No record is give of a Presbyterial appointment to preach in Butler, but it is learned from another source that he arrived in Butler two days before Christmas, and preached in the court-house on the last Sabbath in the year. It was a very boyish looking young man, with a slender form, a large head, and intellectual face, that stood before the Butler congregation. But the sermon made such an impression on the minds of the hearers, that on May 5, 1819, a call from the united congregations of Butler and White Oak Springs for Rev. NIBLOCK was presented and accepted.
June 16, 1819, at Robinson Run church, Mr. NIBLOCK delivered his trial discourse for ordination, which was well received. The next meeting of Presbytery was appointed to be held in Butler on the third Wednesday of November, at which time it was agreed that Mr. NIBLOCK should be ordained and installed. It was the 17th of November, 1819, when for the first time the Associate Reformed Presbytery met in Butler. It was a meeting long to be remembered, marking, as it did, an important epoch in the history of this congregation. There were present: Revs. Matthew HENDERSON, John RIDDELL, Mungo DICK, James McCONNELL, Joseph KERR, Moses KERR, George BUCHANAN, Allan B. CAMPBELL, A. CRAIG, ministers, and John DRENMAN, John ORR, Hugh McKEE and John FINDLEY, ruling elders. Mr. NIBLOCK was solemnly ordained and installed pastor of the Butler and White Oak Springs congregations.
The congregation was small, two elders and nine or ten members, with a few adherents, and Butler was a village of perhaps twenty houses; the country around was thinly settled and only a small portion cleared for farming purposes. There was no church building. Services were held in the groves, private houses, and the court house.
The first communion service was held in the valley just south of the North [p. 336] cemetery. It was the first service of the kind conducted by the young minister, and the first time the congregation of Butler was permitted to receive the sacrament at the hands of their own pastor. The occasion was a memorable event.
The young pastor entered at once upon the active work of his ministry. The first couple he united in marriage was Mr. James PHILLIPS and Miss Margaret ALLISON, whose son, Zachariah PHILLIPS, is still living. His labors, which involved missionary tours, was arduous. Many interesting incidents in his ministerial career might be related if space permitted. He organized a Sunday school, but the exact date is unknown; but it was evidently the first held in Butler, for while conducted by the Associate Reformed congregation, members of other denominations were among its officers and teachers. In an old minute book is the record of "a meeting of the congregation of the Reformed Associate church held at the court house on Sabbath, the 11th of May, 1823, for the purpose of appointing officers and teachers to superintend the Sabbath school. William AYRES, Esq., was appointed president, and Jacob MECHLING recording secretary."
For some years after the advent of Mr. NIBLOCK the congregation labored under the disadvantage of having no church building. For a time services were held in the court house, but as other denominations met there, appointments often conflicted. Arrangements were then made to hold services in the ravine below the cemetery, where the first communion was held. Hugh McKEE obtained permission and the congregation hauled logs and put blocks under them, and on these rough hewn pews they sat for hours listening to the word of life.
In 1824, a deed was given by Robert CAMPBELL and Jane his wife to John POTTS in trust for the Associate Reformed church of Butler, for lot 138 on which the church now stands. It cost fifty dollars. May 14, 1825, proposals were solicited, by advertisement, for "building a brick meeting-house." The contract was secured by the BRYSON Brothers; the brick were made at the old race ground; the lumber was sawed at Moses SULLIVAN's mill; and most of the stone for the foundation was quarried by Mr. WARMCASTLE out of his father's lot. The glass and nails were a donation from friends in Pittsburg, and the pine lumber for sash and pulpit was obtained in the same way from Freeport. Thus was the building erected. While it was wanting in architectural beauty, it was among the best and largest church buildings in its time. It was an oblong square-cornered brick building costing four or five thousand dollars. The ladies of the church came nobly to the help of the pastor and building committee. They spun large quantities of woolen yarn and flax which the pastor carried to Pittsburg and converted to cash, with which he purchased necessary hardware and other finishing material.
"The old church," says Rev. Mr. NIBLOCK, "forms a distinct picture in my mind. High up on the wall was the little old-fashioned red box pulpit with its closed doors. The pews were large with doors to each; and every seat was occupied by one or more families. The gallery ran around the three sides of the church, and was comfortably seated. The church was generally filled with worshipers, and on communion Sabbaths, which were always high days, a large audience crowded the building to over-flowing."
In addition to the onerous duties of the pastorate, Mr. NIBLOCK was appointed [p. 337] county treasurer by the commissioners in 1826. At the close of the year we find published a full report of his receipts and expenditures amounting to $5,785.23.
March 27, 1828, Mr. NIBLOCK was married to Miss Rachel ALEXANDER, and she proved a helpmeet indeed to the young pastor, not only sharing his joys and sorrows, his comforts and privations, but by her wise counsel, and hopeful, joyous spirit opening the way out of many a difficulty, and lightening many a burden. She was his almost constant companion in his pastoral visits, and her memory is affectionately cherished by the older members of the congregation and community.
After eighteen years of arduous service Mr. NIBLOCK was, at his own request, released from White Oak Springs branch of his charge, October 23, 1835. This was due to ill health and inability to perform the duties of so laborious a charge. In 1839 additional seating accommodations were required, and pews were placed in the gallery of the Butler church at a cost of $153. In 1845 an arrangement was entered into between the Butler and Union congregations by which a portion of Mr. NIBLOCK's time was given to them. This arrangement continued until 1853, after which this congregation became a separate pastoral charge. In 1849 the charter of the congregation was amended by reducing the number of trustees from nine to three. Some time in 1851 a portion of ground south of the borough, containing one and a half acres or more, was given by John McQUISTION to the trustees in trust for the congregation, to be used as a burying ground.
In 1858, the degree of doctor of divinity was conferred on Rev. NIBLOCK by Westminster College. That this honor was worthily bestowed is evident from the estimate in which he was held in the community and throughout the church. At the opening of the year 1864, Dr. NIBLOCK, who had never been a very strong man, began to show signs of failing health, being afflicted with a disease of the throat. His last sermon was preached January 31, from I. Corinthians, 15:57. On Wednesday afternoon, June 29, 1864, he peacefully entered into heavenly rest.
It is difficult to form a proper estimate of such a ministry, extending over a period of more than forty-five years. During that time there was added to the church at Butler, White Oak Springs and Union -- the field of his pastoral labors -- about 1,100 members. The fifty-five families and 150 members which constituted the congregation of Butler at the time of his death by no means indicates the ingathering to this congregation alone during his ministry; for many families had gone out to form neighboring congregations, and many more whose influence has been felt extensively in building up flourishing congregations in the great west.
Dr. Isaiah NIBLOCK, who was always noted for great zeal and earnestness in his profession, was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1794; studied theology at Glasgow, was licensed to preach in 1817, and came to the United States the same year. Greatly honored and respected through life, his memory will ever remain green in the hearts of those who knew him.
The congregation remained without a pastor for nearly two years, when Mr. John GAILEY, a licentiate under the care of Monongahela Presbytery, was called. He was ordained and installed April 24, 1866. Soon after his installation the question of either erecting a new church or enlarging the old one, was agitated. It was finally decided to enlarge the building, and July 25, 1867, the contract [p. 338] was given to S.G. and J.L. PURVIS for $5,800. The work was completed during the winter following. In 1871 an addition of twenty feet was made to the east end of the church at a cost of about $8,000.
After a pastorate of nearly six years Rev. GAILEY was released at his own request, December 26, 1871, to accept a call to the Fourth United Presbyterian church, Pittsburg. The congregation only remained without a pastor a few months. Mr. George McCORMICK, of the Allegheny Presbytery, received a call on March 27, 1872, the day of his graduation from the Seminary, and he was ordained and installed October 22nd following. This pastorate was of short duration. He resigned to enter upon missionary work in the far west, and was released April 22, 1873.
A vacancy of one year followed, when the congregation was fortunate in securing the services of Rev. R.G. FERGUSON. He commenced his work July 1st and was installed January 18, 1875. On July 8, 1884, he was released to accept the presidency of Westminster College. During his pastorate of exactly ten years, the congregation increased in membership from 195 to 231.
The present pastor, Rev. John S. McKEE, was called July 29, 1884, just three weeks from the date of Dr. FERGUSON's release. He began his work here October 1st, and was installed January 20, 1885.
As the church increased in strength from year to year, the old house became too small to accommodate the worshippers. As far back as 1878 the project of building a lecture room had been discussed, but owing to depression in business and other causes it had been postponed from time to time. A building fund, however, had been started in the meantime and money collected with the view of future improvement. As time wore on the old church edifice became greatly dilapidated. To repair it would cost heavily and in the end it would be unsatisfactory. Finally, on March 8, 1891, the matter was brought before the congregation, and on the following Sabbath, after an interchange of views, it was unanimously voted to build a new church. A committee, composed of C.G. CHRISTIE, J.F. ARMSTRONG and J.L. PURVIS, was appointed to prepare plans and specifications and look after the matter. A piece of ground fronting fifteen feet on McKean street and extending one hundred feet back, was purchased for $1,200, in order to give more room. The plan as finally settled on was for a stone and brick building in the Romanesque style of architecture, comprising an audience room sixty-nine by seventy-six feet, with a lecture room forty-nine by fifty-four feet. On July 9, 1891, contracts were made for the construction of a building to cost a little over $20,000. Sunday, July 12, 1891, the last service was held in the old building, and on the following Monday the pews were removed to Reiber's Hall, and on the 20th the work of demolition was commenced and such progress made that on August 12th the corner-stone was formally laid. December 27, 1891, the lecture room was occupied for the first time, the congregation having worshipped twenty-three Sabbaths in Reiber's Hall. The building was completed January 8, 1894, and on the 22d of February of the same year it was dedicated. It presents a fine appearance both externally and internally, the acoustics are good, and the total seating capacity of both rooms is about 1,200. The cost, including fixtures, was $26,153.28.
[p. 339]
The membership of the congregation has increased from 231 on October 1, 1884, to 449 in 1894. During this time 195 persons have been added to the church on profession of faith, and 253 on certificate. In the Sunday school there are twenty-two officers and teachers, and 220 scholars. The Ladies' Missionary Society has thirty-eight members, and the Young Peoples' Christian Union an enrollment of eighty-five.
St. Peter's Catholic Church. -- The first Catholic church in Butler was erected by the English-speaking Catholics in 1822. It was the old St. Peter's, was built of stone, and stood upon the hill in the eastern part of the borough, where the old Catholic burial ground is now located. The building committee were John DUFFY, Norbert FOLTZ and William HAGERTY, the last mentioned being also the contractor. Prior to the construction of the church, Rev. Charles FERRY came here in 1821, and organized the congregation. The first bishop to visit the church was Francis Patrick KENRICK, of Philadelphia, in 1834, when it was dedicated. It was superseded by the present German church, which was erected in 1849, on Franklin street. On the occasion of the laying of the corner-stone, Hon. James BUCHANAN was among the strangers present. He was on a visit to Butler at the time as the guest of Hon. William BEATTY. The church was dedicated October 14, 1849, by Right Rev. Bishop O'CONNOR, of Pittsburg. The old stone chapel was taken down in 1853, and the English-speaking Catholics erected St. Paul's church in 1866.
As early as January 15, 1829, Mrs. Sarah COLLINS deeded to the Right Rev. Henry CONWELL, D.D., bishop of Philadelphia, in trust for the members of the old St. Peter's Catholic church, one acre and seven perches, together with right of way from this land to the Butler and Kittanning turnpike. This deed was granted for a valuable consideration and for the encouragement of the congregation in Butler to the trustee named and his successors in trust for St. Peter's Catholic church. It was part of a tract called "Newry," patented by the State, April 22, 1807, to Stephen LOWREY and bequeathed by him, November 29, 1821, to his daughter, Mrs. Sarah COLLINS. The only reservation in the deed of 1829, was that which preserved to her and to her heirs the right of burying, in the COLLIN's tomb, deceased relatives by blood or marriage.
The instrument made May 2, 1834 by E.R. EVANS, of Butler, and the Right Rev. Francis Patrick KENRICK, of Philadelphia, sets forth the following interesting facts relating to the church:
Whereas, Sarah COLLINS did grant to the members of the Holy Catholic church of St. Peter, of Butler, a lot of ground near the borough of Butler, and whereas, on a survey made, the ground so granted to the members of said church was not large enough and the said Sarah COLLINS had by deed dated the 2nd day of May, A.D. 1830, conveyed the whole of the balance of the tract of land, to which said grant belonged, to her daughter, Valeria EVANS, and whereas the said Valeria EVANS and her husband, E.R. EVANS, in order to carry into effect the intentions of said Sarah COLLINS in making said grant, did on the first day of September, 1830, enter into a parol contract with the members of said church and give to said members a piece of ground adjoining said grant on the south and east on condition that the members would finish the chapel, already built on the said grant of Sarah COLLINS, and should clear out and fence the whole of said land given by Sarah COLLINS as well as that given by Valeria and E.R. EVANS, and whereas [p. 340] such conditions were observed and that Valeria EVANS died before a deed was made out for said tract, I, E.R. EVANS, on my own right, etc., etc., forever quit claim to Francis Patrick KENRICK, Bishop of Philadelphia, all rights, etc., all title, etc., the whole tract within the fence, adjoining lands of said Valeria EVANS on the east and south, lands of BRINKER and BREDIN on the west, and an alley on the north, containing two acres and 100 perches, and including what was granted by Sarah COLLINS as well as what was granted by E.R. EVANS and his wife, Valeria EVANS.
Rev. Charles FERRY was pastor of St. Peters from 1821 to 1825; Rev. P.P. O'NEIL from 1826 to 1834. He was succeeded by Rev. P. RAFFERTY, who served until 1837; then Revs. GALLAGHER and Joseph CODY up to 1840. Rev. John MITCHELL followed and was pastor until 1846. After him came Rev. Joseph CREEDON, who served as pastor until 1848. For several years after this the Benedictine Fathers had charge of the church and furnished pastors from time to time. They were succeeded by the Carmelite Fathers, who remained in control until the fall of 1880 when Rev. Jacob RUMMELFANGER became pastor. He has served the congregation for the past fourteen years. In 1889 the church was enlarged at a cost of $3,000, and is now ample in size for the needs of the congregation, which numbers about one thousand souls, and embraces a flourishing Sunday school.
St. Paul's Catholic Church. -- On January 1, 1866, lot Number 147, in the borough of Butler, was deeded to the Right Rev. Bishop of Pittsburg, by Ellen McKEOWN, Alice SCHOONMAKER, Mary GILLESPIE, Bridget TORBETT, Anne DUFFY and Peter DUFFY, the consideration being $450. This is the same lot which, under legislative act of March 16, 1848, was conveyed by Bishop O'CONNOR to John DUFFY, August 7, 1848, and bequeathed by said John DUFFY in his last will, dated February 18, 1862, to the grantees of January 1, 1866.
The erection of the church, which fronts on McKean street, was begun in April, 1866, and in the month of February, in the following year, it was dedicated by Bishop DOMENEC, of Pittsburg, assisted by a large number of the diocesan clergy.
The original members of this church were among the first Catholic settlers of the county, and before the present church was built worshiped in St. Peter's, which they in no small degree helped to erect. A strong tide of German Catholic immigration to this place set in, and in a few years after, the original members of St. Peter's found themselves largely outnumbered by the German element. It was not long before a German priest was placed in charge of the church, and ultimately it came about that nearly all sermons and instructions were given in the German language.
Urged by this condition of things the English-speaking members determined to build a church for themselves. The initiative in this work was taken by Peter DUFFY. He not only contributed largely to the erection of the church, but gave the building of it his personal supervision. The other members likewise contributed according to their means.
The membership of St. Paul's, although at first small, has been gradually increasing. The first priest who assumed pastoral charge of the parish, was the Rev. Stephen M.A. BARRETT. He came in February, 1867, when the church was dedicated, and remained about one year. Rev. Daniel DEVLIN, who succeeded [p. 341] him, only remained thirteen months, when he resigned on account of illness, and died soon after. Rev. Joseph COFFEY, who followed in October, 1868, left the following December. The next pastor was the Rev. James NOLAN, who began his labors in January, 1869, and was transferred in June of the same year to McKeesport. He was succeeded by Rev. Francis J. O'SHEA, who took charge of the parish in June, 1869, and continued until March, 1872. His successor was Rev. Francis McCARTHY, who remained only three months. Rev. Columba McSWEENEY was the next in succession. He became pastor in July, 1872, and remained till November, 1876, when he resigned on account of physical infirmities. Rev. William Ambrose NOLAN succeeded him, as missionary rector, and assumed the pastoral charge November 10, 1876, and continued in that relation until his death March 27, 1891. Father NOLAN was born in Ireland July 18, 1834. He was an active, public-spirited man, very zealous in his church work, and greatly respected by the community. It was largely through his efforts that St. Paul's Catholic Parochial school was established, and the new cemetery incorporated.
Father NOLAN was succeeded immediately after his death by Rev. Daniel WALSH, the present pastor. The church, which is neat and attractive, occupies a convenient position on McKean street, opposite the old graveyard, where repose the ashes of the first settlers of Butler. Its membership embraces about 1,000 souls, and its prosperity evinces harmony and zeal in the cause of religion. Several societies and a prosperous Sunday school are connected with the church.
St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church. -- Some time in 1818 the Rev. Jackson KEMPER (afterwards bishop) visited Butler as agent for the Society for the Advancement of Christianity in Pennsylvania, and held Episcopal services in the parlor of Hon. John GILMORE, after which a number of children were baptized. But it was not until 1824 that the Protestant Episcopal church of Butler was organized. The first officiating minister was the Rev. Robert AYRES, and the membership at that time consisted of but few families. When the first meeting was held to organize and take steps toward the erection of a church building, the members present in the court house were Hon. John GILMORE and wife, Hon. John BREDIN, Maurice BREDIN, John B. McGLAUGHLIN, James BREDIN and wife, Benjamin WALLACE, Moses HANLEN, Samuel R. WILLIAMS, Campbell E. PURVIANCE, William DIXON, Samuel A. GILMORE, John N. PURVIANCE and wife, Mrs. Ann ANDERSON, Miss Susan BREDIN, Mrs. Hugh McGLAUGHLIN, Mrs. Thomas COLLINS and others. The Right Reverend John H. HOPKINS, then rector of Trinity church, Pittsburg, and afterwards bishop of the diocese of Vermont, presided. The first matter of consideration after divine services was the procuring of a suitable lot of ground on which to erect a church. Judge BREDIN proposed and did donate a lot located on East Jefferson street, on which the building was finally erected, and there the congregation have worshiped to the present time.
When subscriptions were solicited Bishop HOPKINS contributed $100, and others followed according to their means, when it was found that $1,000 had been secured. This sum was deemed sufficient with which to begin the erection of the building. It was at once put under contract. Prior to its completion services were held in the court house, Rev. AYRES officiating as rector.
The first pastor of the new church was the Rev. M.P. BONNELL. He began [p. 342] his work in 1824, holding services for a time in the court house, and served about three years. He was succeeded by the Rev. William G. HILTON, who remained about six years, when he resigned. Rev. Thomas CRUMPTON followed and served about six months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. B.B. KILLIKELLY in 1833, who remained until 1837, when the Rev. William WHITE, D.D. began his labors, and continued until 1877, a period of forty years. He then resigned and was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel I. EDWARDS, who took charge January 8, 1878. The latter remained until the 13th of April, 1880, when he tendered his resignation to take effect June 1st, following. An interregnum of a few months followed, when a call was extended to the Rev. Edmund BURKE, who accepted, and took charge as rector December 1, 1880. He remained until August 8, 1882, when he was succeeded by the Rev. S.H.S. GALLAUDET. He served as pastor until 1884, when the Rev. John LANDON came, and remained until August 30, 1891. On the 15th of September, 1892, he was succeeded by the Rev. Miles S. HEMENWAY, the present rector.
The total number of actual communicants, as shown by the report of 1894, is 177; entitled to the communion as recorded in parish register, 198. During the past year there was a total gain of fifty-one. The Sunday school has a membership of ninety, with ten teachers, and there are 100 volumes in the library. The church property, including the rectory, is valued at $9,000. It is contemplated to erect a new church on the site of the old building at an early date, and as the location is commanding, the improvement will add much to the appearance of this part of East Jefferson street. It is a source of some pride to the communicants of St. Peter's that their church is the fourth oldest in the diocese of Pittsburg.
St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church is one of the oldest church organizations in Butler. Official records of ministerial acts among German Lutherans date from 1818. The first entry in the church book is the baptism of Samuel BERNHARD, son of Philip and Mary Margaret BERNHARD, August 29, 1813, by Rev. Jacob SCHNEE. This minister continued his missionary visits, preaching occasionally in a carpenter shop, to the close of 1817, baptizing in the meantime a large number of German residents.
Early in November, 1821, Bishop J.C.G. SCHWEITZERBARTH, a scholarly divine hailing from Stuttgart, Germany, took charge of the interests of Lutheranism in this place, attending for a series of years from his headquarters in Zelienople to eleven stations in Butler and adjoining counties. He invariably wore a clerical robe when on his ministerial journeys about the country. He preached every four weeks in the old court-house, whilst for communion services he availed himself of the courtesy of the United Presbyterian church. When he came here he found but six members. June 3, 1821, he first administered communion to the congregation, having the day previous confirmed his first class of catechumens and effected a preliminary organization. The officials chosen were Jacob MECHLING, John McCOLLOUGH and John HENSHEW. In addition to these, the first communicants were: Joseph MOSER, Henry YOUNG, Isaac YETTER, Jacob BAHT, Henry STEINMANN, A. BUECHLE, Mrs. Elizabeth SHANER, M. McCOLLOUGH, Magdalena HENSHEW, Catherine MOSER, Louise BRINKER, Anna YOUNG, [p. 343] Mary YETTER, Elizabeth TRAUSHU, Elizabeth BESELIT and Miss Helen HENSHEW. The catechumens were: Jacob SHANER, Philip GRUB, Peter PFLUEGER, David and Abraham HENSHEW, Catherine GRUB, Elizabeth BRAUN, Sarah BAHT, Mary BUECHLE, Elizabeth HENSHEW, Elizabeth McCOLLOUGH and Magdalena YOUNG.
Such was the beginning of semi-organized existence. Ten years later, says Rev. E. CRONENWETT, from whom these facts are gathered, steps were taken to draft a permanent constitution, to secure a charter, and build a church. The application to the legislature for an act of incorporation was signed November 25, 1837, by the following council: J.C.G. SCHWEITZERBARTH, pastor; Jacob MECHLING, Jacob SHANER, Jacob WALTER, Isaac YETTER, Peter NICHOLAS, John SARVER, David HENSHEW, Dr. Carl EICHHOLTZ, John DULL, John OESTERLING and John Michael ZIMMERMAN.
The charter became a law April 18, 1841, and according to its provisions the foregoing council, or their successors in office, are constituted a corporate and body politic in law and in fact, to have continuance forever by the name, style and title, "The Ministers, Trustees, Elders and Deacons of the German Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of St. Marcus Church in Butler."
In the meantime preparations for building the new church had steadily been going on. It was to be of brick, forty by sixty, with an annex of twenty-two feet, with a basement of eight feet for school purposes, the whole surmounted by a belfry. The site was on the corner of Wayne and McKean streets, and the corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 8, 1840. It was dedicated September 26, 1841, by the Revs. J.C.G. SCHWEITZERBARTH, D. ROTHACKER and H. MELSHEIMER, respectively the president, secretary and treasurer of the "Eastern districts of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and other States," of its sixth convention, then being held in Butler.
As the cost of the building was about $4,000, the members, then numbering 200 communicants, discovered that they had overestimated their financial strength, and the church council got themselves individually into sore straits. To redeem their personal property from attachment, as well as to save the church from the hammer, they severally, after exhausting their own resources, made journeys elsewhere to solicit aid. Sufficient success attended their efforts to tide the congregation over the sorest need, and the church was saved. Prosperity began again to smile upon the congregation. In 1847 a small organ was bought, and soon after a burial ground was purchased.
The congregation originally had among its numbers a sprinkling of American born people. Some of these, together with others, were, through Rev. G. BASSLER, organized into an English Lutheran congregation on the 16th of January, 1843, and for a few years they held service in the German church. This drew off the English element, and in consequence St. Mark's congregation remained purely German. Bishop SCHWEITZERBARTH's pastoral relation with the congregation continued till April, 1849, a period of nearly twenty-eight years. During the latter part of this time Rev. Frederick ILLIGER was called, but after serving a few months, he died March 23, 1848.
On the 8th of April, 1849, Rev. William A. FETTER became the first resident pastor. He remained till the summer of 1863, when he removed to Millerstown, [p. 344] and died July 10, 1865. During the interval which ensued the congregation was temporarily supplied by Rev. J.N. WOLF, and others, till January, 1864, when Rev. G.F.H. MEISER was secured as pastor. During the time of his service a comfortable parsonage on Wayne street was secured, and a large pipe organ for the church purchased. Having received a call from another church, Rev. MEISER resigned and was succeeded in January, 1869, by Rev. C.H.W. LUEBKERT. He retired in 1876, when the congregation extended a call to Rev. E. CRONENWETT, which was accepted in January, 1877, and he has remained as pastor to the present time, a period of over seventeen years.
The prosperity of the congregation as to its future development called for the introduction of the English language in the public services; this was accordingly done on Sunday evenings with gratifying results. The movement was timely and marked the dawn of a new era in the congregation.
The debt of the church had gradually been increasing, while the building erected in 1841 was becoming too small, as well as time worn. An effort was made to cancel the debt, which proved successful, when the members made bold to express their preference for a new building in a more desirable locality. Accordingly, in the spring of 1878, a spacious lot was secured on the corner of Washington and Jefferson streets for $3,000. Preparations to build were at once set on foot and the work progressed so rapidly that the cornerstone was laid August 15, 1878, and the dedication of the new building took place September 7, 1879. Rev. MEISER delivered the farewell address at the old church, and Revs. CRONENWETT, FELDMAN, and TRANGER, spoke in the new. The pastor led the dedicatory exercises.
The style of architecture is mediaeval-Gothic, with corner tower and strong buttresses. The material is brick with stone trimmings. The exterior dimensions are fifty-eight feet across the front; extreme length, 100 feet. The basement story, used for lectures and school room, is twelve feet high; the auditorium above has a height of eighteen feet at the sides and thirty-four feet in the middle angle, exposing to view the ceiling timbers. The interior dimensions, including the gallery, and arched recess, are forty-seven by eighty-eight feet. Although becoming time worn, the building presents a stately appearance and attracts attention. The inscription stone of the old church has been preserved as a relic, and is inserted in the inner front of the new. The cost of the entire property, site, structure, sheds, fencing, pavements, etc., amounting to about $18,000, has all been successfully met.
During the past sixty years St. Mark's Congregation, in addition to the usual loss of members by death and removal, has suffered several more extensive drains through branch organization of its membership. Out of it grew, in some measure, the English Lutheran church, of Butler; then, largely, the so-called "White Church," some four miles west; next an effort at an Evangelical church in town, which turned out German Reformed, and then became extinct; and lastly, at the close of 1876, the German Lutheran church of Summit township, some four miles east. The territory of the congregation still extends in its extreme limits from five to seven miles in all directions from Butler. At this writing (September 1, 1894) it numbers 550 communicants. The German Sabbath school, which [p. 345] meets in the morning, has a membership of seventy-five, with George SCHENCK as superintendent; the English Sabbath school, which convenes in the afternoon, has 175 members, with J.H. TROUTMAN as superintendent, assisted by the requisite number of officers and teachers. During the eighty years of its existence the pastors of St. Mark's have baptized 1,875 persons; confirmed 1,162 members; married, 405 couples, and buried, 552 persons. In addition to his pastoral duties in Butler, Mr. CRONENWETT has charge of two chapels in the country -- one east, the other west -- where he fills appointments, alternately, Sunday evenings.
First English Evangelical Lutheran Church. -- the first meeting of those favorable to the organization of an English Lutheran church was held in the German church of the same denomination on the 16th of January, 1843. At this meeting Jacob MECHLING served as secretary and Rev. Gottlieb BASSLER as treasurer, and the proposition was very fully discussed pro and con. It was finally decided to enter into the movement, a church constitution was adopted for the guidance of the organization, and at a subsequent meeting the first church council was elected, consisting of Jacob WALTER, Sr., and John NEGLEY, Sr., elders, and John DULL, Jr., and Daniel KREIDLER, deacons. Mr. NEGLEY subsequently resigned and John McCOLLOUGH was chosen in his place. The officers were installed February 11, 1843, and Rev. BASSLER, who served as pastor, conducted the first sacramental services June 18, following.
From a sermon preached by Rev. Enoch SMITH, January 15, 1893, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the church, it is learned that the constitution was signed by forty-five individuals, twenty-two males and twenty-three females.
In 1848 the question of building a church was revived. Two offers of a location were made -- one by John NEGLEY and one by Michael EMERICK. After a full and fraternal exchange of views relative to the advantages of the respective sites, it was resolved to accept the offer of Mr. EMERICK. He gave the lot in fee simple upon which the church still stands (though now owned by the Reformed congregation) and assisted largely in its construction. The building was begun in 1849 and completed and dedicated in September, 1850. For twenty-seven years it served the congregation as a place of worship. In 1852 a charter was obtained for the association and the future outlook was flattering. The labors of Rev. BASSLER covered a period of about eleven years, from 1843 to 1854, with a brief interregnum.
Early in 1876 negotiations were entered into for the purchase of the property of the Witherspoon Institute building, which is still owned and used by the church. The changes and improvements made cost about $1,700, and the total cost of remodeling and purchase was about $7,700.
During the period of the Rev. BASSLER's ministry the ordinance of baptism was administered to fifty children and upwards of seventy adults. Among the adult baptisms was that of an Indian who had been convicted of murdering a woman and several of her children. He was known as Samuel MOHAWK, and was confined in the jail awaiting execution. During this time he was converted by Mr. BASSLER, his spiritual adviser, and the baptism was solemnized at the prison February 28, 1844.
[p. 346] It was while Rev. BASSLER was pastor, about a year after the organization of the church, that the Pittsburg Synod was organized, and it was in Butler that the preliminary conference was held for the purpose of making arrangements for the organization of the Synod. The place of meeting was in a little building on Washington street, which had originally been the jail, but which was at that time a private dwelling.
Those who followed the Rev. BASSLER as pastors of the church are sketched by Mr. SMITH in his sermon as follows: Rev. A.H. WATERS labored here from sometime in the year 1855 until 1861, when he resigned and was succeeded by Rev. J.H. FRITZ, who remained a little over eight years. He resigned in 1869, when the congregation was without a pastor for about ten months. On the 14th of August, 1870, the Rev. L.H. GESHWIND, who had been called, entered upon his work.
Steps were taken during this pastorate to secure a better church, and some subscriptions were made, but upon Rev. GESHWIND's resignation in 1874, the work was temporarily dropped. Again the congregation was without a minister for almost a year, when the Rev. J.Q. WATERS was called. He began his work in July, 1875, and continued it till August, 1884. Soon after taking charge the question of securing a better and more desirably located church was again agitated, and the result was the purchase of the plat of ground and buildings now owned by the church.
In November, 1884, Rev. WATERS was succeeded by the Rev. D.L. ROTH, and he continued his work until October, 1888. Under his ministrations the church became quite prosperous, but in the height of his usefulness he resigned to accept a call to Albany, New York. He was at once succeeded by the Rev. G.E. TITZEL, who came the same month Rev. ROTH departed, October, 1888. Rev. TITZEL served until November, 1891, and his labors were blessed with adding to the congregation 140 members. When the latter retired he was succeeded by the Rev. Enoch SMITH, who served as pastor until his death May 22, 1894. On November 18, 1894, Rev. D.L. ROTH was again chosen pastor, and is the present incumbent.
Grace Lutheran Church is a branch sanctioned by the General Synod, and was established here in 1892. The Rev. Eli MILLER is the pastor in charge. Services are regularly held in a hall on West Jefferson street. Recently the congregation purchased a lot on Mifflin street for $1,400, on which they propose erecting a house of worship soon.
Methodist Episcopal Church. -- As nearly as can be ascertained the first society or class of the Methodist church in Butler was organized about 1825. Among the first members were Andrew SPROUL and wife, Bennett DOBBS and wife, David ALBRIGHT and wife, Mrs. PATTERSON, Mrs. John NEGLEY, Elijah BURKHART, and Caleb BROWN, the first class leader.
In 1826, Rev. John CHANDLER was appointed as preacher in charge, at which time Rev. William SWARZIE appears to have been presiding elder of the district. In 1827, Caleb BROWN, the class leader of the preceding year, by the vote and recommendation of the society, was licensed as an exhorter, and in the fall of [p. 347] the same year was placed in charge of Meadville circuit as a supply, in place of Rev. J. LEACH, whose health had failed.
From 1828 to 1830 the records are missing. But from the organization it was one of the regular appointments of the Butler circuit up to August 9, 1851, when, by a vote of the quarterly conference, it was set off as a station, having sixty-two members. George C. ROESSING, John MILLINGER, Daniel MOSER and William DERRIMORE were elected stewards. It remained a station for only one year, when it was again united with Butler circuit.
The first church building was a plain, but substantial, brick edifice of one story, erected, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 1827, in the southwest part of the town, on lot Number 67, purchased from John NEGLEY, Sr. The consideration was $125, and the deed was executed July 12, 1837, to William STEWART, Andrew SPROUL, Henry CARSNER, James McNAIR, John WAGLEY, Joshua J. SEDWICK, Andrew CARNS, John HOWE, and James MILLER, trustees.
January 26, 1833, James McNAIR and William STEWART were class leaders. April 24, 1841, the membership was reported at seventy-nine. The Sunday school in 1842 consisted of seven teachers and fifty scholars; and there were 306 volumes in the library. In 1843 the circuit was composed of eighteen appointments, with a total membership of 522.
The society had it misfortunes as well as its drawbacks. During the prevalence of a terrible storm April 19, 1856, a considerable portion of the brick walls of the church were blown down, and about $1,000 was required to repair the damage.
On the 15th of December, 1860, the Methodist Episcopal church of Butler was incorporated, George C. ROESSING, Joshua J. SEDWICK, Isaiah E. THOMPSON, C.E. ANDERSON, and Lewis Z. MITCHELL, being the trustees named in the articles of association. From this time there has been a gradual increase in membership.
In 1865 Butler circuit was composed of four appointments, viz: Butler, Brownsdale, Petersville and the Temple, which imposed much hard work on the pastor in charge. To reduce the labor Butler appointment was set off as a circuit in the spring of 1867, with Rev. J.D. LEGGET as preacher in charge; James McNAIR, local deacon; Thomas HUSELTON, S.R. DIEFFENBACHER, C.E. ANDERSON, S.E.W. THOMPSON, and Jesse M. JONES as stewards, and S.R. DIEFFENBACHER and C.E. ANDERSON as class leaders.
On the 5th of November, 1868, the church decided to erect a new house of worship, as the congregation had become too large for the old building, and Rev. LEGGET, Theodore HUSELTON, and C.E. ANDERSON were appointed a committee to select a suitable site. After looking around for some time the present location, on the corner of McKean and North streets, was purchased April 1, 1873, for $3,500, and the old church property was sold for $2,500. Preparations were at once made to erect the present brick church building, which was completed in the spring of 1874, at a cost of $16,000. The furnishings cost $2,000. In 1882 the church had a membership of 250 and a flourishing Sunday school of 300 scholars.
Owing to the loss of some of the early records it is impossible to make up a complete list of the ministers from the beginning, but from 1831 to 1894, the appended statement is believed to be as nearly complete as it is possible to make [p. 348] it. The conference period does not date from the beginning of the years, but takes in or includes parts of two years. The list of ministers is as follows:
From 1831 to 1832, James GILMORE; 1832-34, William CARROLL and Harry BRADSHAW; 1834-35, Abner JACKSON; 1835-36, Abner JACKSON, E.J. REMEY, and D.K. HAWKINS; 1836-37, William C. HENDERSON and L. WHIPPLE; 1837-38, J. McCLEAN; 1839-40, Peter M. McGOWAN; 1840-41, Peter M. McGOWAN and William COOPER; 1841, Joseph RAY and James PATTERSON; 1842, Joseph RAY and Jacob S. PATTERSON; 1842-43, Peter M. McGOWAN and Jeremiah PHILLIPS; 1843-44, C.C. BEST and G.M. MAURICE (from 1844 to 1847 the records are missing); 1848, J.K. MILLER and R. HAMILTON; 1850-51, Alfred G. WILLIAMS and Samuel BAIRD; 1851-52, A.G. WILLIAMS and John GILLILAND; 1852, A.G. WILLIAMS, stationed as pastor; 1852-53, A. HUSTON and W.A. LOCKE; 1853-54; A. HUSTON and J.D. KNOX; 1854-55, James BORBRIDGE and R. MORROW; 1855-56, the same; 1856-57, J. ANSLEY and Henry NEFF; 1857, the same, with D. BAKER as assistant; 1858-59, Samuel CROUSE and Levi J. KEAGLE; 1859, H. MANSELL; 1860, Thomas STORER and H. MANSELL, with R.G. HEATON as supply; 1861, Thomas STORER and E.H. BAIRD; 1862, A.J. RICH and A. BAKER; 1863, A.B. LEONARD; 1864-65, W.H. TIBBLES; 1865-67, J.D. LEGGETT; 1868-69, W.D. STEVENS; 1870, J.F. CORE; 1871, A.P. LEONARD; 1872-73, D.M. HOLLISTER; 1874, James M. SWAN; 1875-77, J.J. McILYAR; 1878-79, M.J. MONTGOMERY; 1879-81, W.P. TURNER; 1882-83, Homer J. SMITH. He was succeeded by Rev. S.H. NESBIT, who served until 1889; then came Rev. S.M. BELL, who remained until 1893, when he was succeeded by Rev. J.F. JONES, who died December 27, 1894. November 18, 1894, Rev. E.M. WOOD became pastor and is the present incumbent.
The congregation embraces about 650 members, and the Sunday school 350 scholars, with William WALKER as superintendent.
The First Baptist Church was organized April 29, 1876, at Boyd's Hall, Springdale, with about six members. A number of persons who afterward joined the church participated in the exercises of organization, but as they did not have their letters could not unite at that time. Meetings were held every Sunday, and led by B.H. OSBORN until a council was called to recognize the church, November 8, 1876, and by its act the association was recognized as a regular Baptist church. From that time the Rev. T.H. JONES preached for the society about half the time, and Mr. OSBORN conducted the alternate meetings.
Application was made, and a charter granted, March 13, 1877, on petition of B.H. OSBORN, W.M. FARNSWORTH, William WATSON, C. MORSE and Adolphus HABERLIN, as directors and trustees. The object of the association, as expressed in its constitution, is "the spread of scriptural holiness throughout the world."
On the 16th of June, 1877, the society purchase the German Reformed meeting house for $1,500, which they immediately occupied, and had services and preaching every Sunday. After a thorough renovation and material improvement the church was dedicated November 4, of that year, the Rev. J.P. JONES officiating. His pastoral charge continued until April or May, 1878, when he retired and the church was without a pastor until April, 1882, when Rev. W.H. McKINNEY took charge. He remained until 1884 when he retired, and the church [p. 349] was without a regular pastor for about four years, having to depend on supplies. In 1888 Rev. ROWE became the pastor, but he only remained one year. Again the little congregation had to depend on supplies until 1892. This year Rev. MILLER took charge as pastor, but he only remained one year. In 1894 Rev. Henry COLLINS was assigned to the charge as pastor. The church has a membership of fifty-eight, and the Sunday school numbers seventy-five pupils.
St. Paul's Reformed Church. -- In 1877 the Rev. T.F. STAUFFER commenced preaching to a few members of the Reformed church residing in the borough of Butler, and meeting with success a church was organized on the evening of August 22, 1878, the following male members being present: Abraham MOYER, Henry W. NICHOLAS, Henry BIEHL, Conrad BIEHL, Oscar L. SCHULTZ, G.L. DUFFORD, C.M. RODGERS and Henry BLOUGH. An election for officers resulted in the choice of the following: Elders, Abraham MOYER and Henry W. NICHOLAS; deacons, Henry BIEHL and G.L. DUFFORD. The old Evangelical Lutheran church was purchased, refitted and dedicated to the service of God on the 25th of August, 1878. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas J. BARKLEY, of Grace Reformed church, Pittsburg; the pastor performed the dedicatory service, and was assisted in the other attending services by Rev. W.F. LICHLITER, of Woodstock, Virginia; Rev. J.W. ALSPACH, of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania; Rev. Joseph HANNABERY and W.B. LANDOE, of Butler county. The organization was effected in connection with and by the permission of Allegheny Classis of the Pittsburg Synod of the Reformed Church of the United States. The congregation remained under the pastoral care of Rev. STAUFFER until September 1, 1882, when he was succeeded by the Rev. D.N. HARNISH. In the meantime a movement was inaugurated to build a new church in Springdale and remove thither. This culminated in the erection of a fine brick edifice on Walker avenue, which was dedicated in June, 1890. The Rev. HARNISH still officiates as pastor. The membership numbers 175, and the Sunday school has 300 pupils. Prof. E. MACKEY is superintendent of the Sunday school.
Bethany Reformed Church was formed of members of St. Paul's congregation who were unwilling to remove to Springdale with the parent congregation. It was organized in 1890 by Rev. H.E. SNYDER, the pastor now in charge. He is gradually building up a good congregation and the future outlook is promising.
The Church of God is located on Second street, Institute Hill. It is a frame structure, forty by fifty feet in size. On the west corner a tower surmounts the building, seventy feet in height. The total cost of the house was $3,000. The audience room will seat about 400 people, and is nicely furnished, making a pleasant room for worship. The history of the church is necessarily brief. In October, 1892, Elder J.W. DAVIS and his son, George W. DAVIS, rented the Institute building on First street, and began a series of meetings. Much success attended their labors, and as new converts demanded a church home, an organization was effected January 1, 1893. The rapid growth demanded a church house. In March a building committee was selected to plan and build. The names of the committee are: F.M. HEWIT, T.N. GAHAGAN, A.J. AVEY, T. DICKEY, R.M. THOMPSON, H. GREENAWALT, J.Q. BAILEY, Theodore LEIBERT, John STARR, H.V. WINTERSTEIN, J.W. DAVIS, Richard BOLES and Breaden GIL- [p. 350]CHRIST. A board of trustees was chosen, resulting in the election of J.W. DAVIS, F.M. HEWIT and A.J. AVEY. The building committee gave the building into the hands of trustees and it was dedicated September 17, 1893. Rev. George W. DAVIS has been pastor up to the present. The official board consists of the elders, F.M. HEWIT, A.J. AVEY and H.V. WINTERSTEIN; the deacons, R.M. THOMPSON, H. GREENAWALT, T.N. GAHAGAN, Theodore LEIBERT, J.Q. BAILEY, and the trustees. The membership is now 125, with a large congregation and an interesting Sabbath school.
The Free Methodist is one of the youngest church organizations in the borough. It was founded in 1893, and the Rev. R.H. FRESHWATER is the pastor in charge. Their place of worship is on Spring avenue. Good progress is being made in building up a congregation.
The Bible Society of Butler county was organized August 12, 1828, by Rev. Mr. JOICE, agent of the Philadelphia society. John POTTS and Rev. Reid BRACKEN were elected presidents; Revs. Isaiah NIBLOCK, John FRANCE, Robert GREER, S. STOUGHTON, John COULTER, J.C.G. SCHWEITZERBARTH, Thomas McCLINTOCK and Robert BROWN, vice-presidents; John BREDIN, secretary, and Robert SCOTT, treasurer. The board of managers comprised John SULLIVAN, Hugh McKEE, Hugh GILLILAND, Robert MARTIN, Barnet GILLILAND, Henry MUNTZ, David McJUNKIN, William McMICHAEL, John CHRISTY and JAMES McCURDY. In each of the thirteen townships, two agents were appointed and two also for Butler borough, who were to assist in the circulation of the Bible without note or comment. Walter LOWRIE presided over the meeting, while John BREDIN acted as secretary.
The Butler County Sabbath School Association adopted a constitution May 7, 1867, and elected Rev. Loyal YOUNG, president; Rev. J.H. FRITZ and William R. HUTCHISON, vice-presidents; C.E. ANDERSON, secretary; H.J. KLINGLER, treasurer; Dr. A.M. NEYMAN, George A. BLACK, I.J. CUMMINGS, George VOGELEY and Theo. HUSELTON, executive committee.
The Christian Endeavor Union of this county was organized in 1892 with Rev. Mr. MILLER, president. The second annual convention was held at Centreville in September, 1893, when the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, P.W. LOWRY, Butler; vice-president, Prof. M.A. SUTTON, Evans City; recording secretary, Miss Vina McCOLLOUGH, Millerstown; corresponding secretary, Miss Lotta B. WHITE, Butler; treasurer, C.H. MAYBURY, Centreville. Reports were given by the local societies which showed advancement had been made during the year. Miss WHITE, district secretary, gave a retrospective and prospective view of county work, showing twenty-eight societies with a membership of about, 1,000, representing seven denominations.
The Butler County Sabbath Association was organized in February, 1893, with Rev. S.M. BELL, president; Revs. P.C. PRUGH, N.B. TANNEHILL, W.E. OLLER, J.R. COULTER and Mrs. D.B. CAMPBELL, vice-presidents; Rev. D.N. HARNISH, secretary; Rev. John S. McKEE, corresponding secretary, and J.A. CLARK, treasurer. The object was to oppose the publication of Sunday papers and Sunday work in general. This is practically a continuation of the "Lord's Day Union," [p. 351] organized in December, 1891, of which D.N. HARNISH was president, W.E. OLLER, secretary, W.D. BRANDON, J.M. GALBREATH and E. MACKEY, vice-presidents.
The Butler County Children's Aid Society was organized in November, 1886, as an auxiliary society of the western branch, formed at Pittsburg in November, 1885. The president of the new branch was Mrs. J.N. BOLARD; vice-presidents, Miss Mary E. SULLIVAN and Mrs. S.M. McKEE; secretary, Mrs. M.S. TEMPLETON, and treasurer, Miss Etta PRUGH. The board of managers comprised -- Madams Dr. NEYMAN, B.C. HUSELTON, J.L. PURVIS, C.D. GREENLEE, John LOWRY, A.E. CRATTY, M.H. NEGLEY, J.F. BALPH, C.G. CHRISTIE, John M. GREER, W.A. STEIN, Dr. JOHNSTON, M.E. NICHOLLS, Belle PURVIS and LEVI O. PURVIS. The ladies named were assigned to a committee on decision of cases, home relief and finance. It is a charitable organization to take charge of children from the ages of two to sixteen years, who were removed from the almshouses under the law of 1883. In 1887 the president and secretary were re-elected, with Mrs. B.C. HUSELTON, assistant secretary and Miss Belle PURVIS, treasurer, Madams J.L. PURVIS and C.D. GREENLEE being chosen vice-presidents. These ladies were re-elected in 1888, and in June, 1889, Mrs. J.D. McJUNKIN was elected secretary, vice Mrs. TEMPLETON, resigned. In December, 1889, the officers were re-elected; but Mrs. TEMPLETON was subsequently chosen secretary vice Mrs. McJUNKIN, transferred to the advisory board. The elections since 1889 have generally resulted in the choice of the officers named in 1887. The work of the society is carried on zealously and many children have been cared for.
Y.M.C.A. of Butler. -- At a meeting held in the Presbyterian church in June, 1886, under the auspices of the Y.W. C. T. U., for the purpose of considering the most effective means for doing Christian work, W.D. McJUNKIN suggested the plan of instituting a special line of work for young men. The suggestion was at once taken up by the speakers as an excellent one, and a time was set to hold a meeting for the consideration of the proposition. In the meantime announcements were made from the pulpits, and when the meeting assembled it was found that there was a good attendance, and that much interest was manifested. It was conducted by Col. George WOODFORD, and a committee, consisting of A.J. HENNY, W.D. McJUNKIN, Gilbert WALKER, W.H. MILLER, and Ira McJUNKIN, was appointed to take steps looking towards permanent organization. After due consideration a constitution was adopted under the title of the "Y.M.C.A. of Butler," and a board of fifteen directors chosen, when the following temporary officers were elected: Dr. E.W. LEAKE, president; Ira McJUNKIN, secretary; Prof. E. MACKEY, treasurer.
At a subsequent meeting, held August 16, 1886, the directors resigned, and the following board was elected: Capt. Jacob ZIEGLER, Col. John M. SULLIVAN, H.C. HEINEMAN, John H. NEGLEY, Joseph L. PURVIS, William CAMPBELL, Jr., Dr. E.W. LEAKE, W.D. BRANDON, Charles S. BAILEY, James M. GALLREATH, Eli D. ROBINSON, Prof. E. MACKEY, Fred J. KLINGLER, Aaron E. REIBER and William G. KRUG. The directors then chose the following officers from among their number: Dr. E.W. LEAKE, president; Capt. Jacob ZIEGLER and John H. NEGLEY, first and second vice-presidents, respectively; Ira McJUNKIN, general and recording secre- [p. 352] tary. An organization having been effected, the association was incorporated in November, 1886, and effective work has been steadily going on up to this time. Many changes in officers have taken place during the eight years of its existence, but there has been no abatement of zeal. While a lot has been purchased on the northeast corner of the Diamond, and means are being raised to erect a permanent building thereon, the association occupies temporary rooms in the Reiber block. The officers for 1894 are: Prof. E. MACKEY, president; William COOPER, first vice-president; A.E. REIBER, second vice-president; C.N. BOYD, treasurer; W.J. HEINEMAN, secretary; J.B. CARRUTHERS, general secretary. The active membership is about 150.
This Home is situated on a beautiful hill, on the east side of Butler, and within the borough limits. The main building, three stories high, is large, and contains parlors, library, boys and girls' reading rooms, rooms for superintendent and other officers, teachers and help, rooms for the girls, sleeping apartments and bath rooms, dining rooms and kitchen. The other buildings are: Boys' play room and dormitories, printing office and a large school house, with three well-furnished school rooms. With but two exceptions, these buildings are substantially built of brick, well arranged, and stand in the midst of a beautiful lawn, surrounded by thirty acres of land, with a capacity to accommodate well 165 children. The home was dedicated December 10, 1867. Rev. George B. RUSSELL, D.D., presided, and performed the act of dedication. The addresses were delivered by Rev. T.J. BARKLEY, F.K. LEVAN and William M. LANDIS.
It was chartered by the State March 23, 1868. This charter grants the privilege of receiving orphan children of all denominations of christians, and also the children of deceased soldiers and sailors who were citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, and served in the war of Rebellion. The Home was founded by St. Paul's Classis of the Reformed church, but the purchased title was subsequently transferred to the Pittsburg Synod of the Reformed church in the United States, and is under the general management of a board of sixteen directors, four of which are elected annually by said Synod.
The Rev. C.A. LIMBURG was elected its first superintendent, and held the position until 1871, when he resigned. During his term of office, the entire purchase indebtedness was paid and the institution brought to a good degree of usefulness and prosperity. After his resignation Rev. J.B. THOMPSON was elected superintendent, and entered upon the duties of his office June 1, 1871, continuing therein until the year 1876, when he resigned, his resignation taking effect April 1, 1877. At a meeting of the board of directors, held November 21, 1876, Rev. T.F. STAUFFER was elected to the office of superintendent and entered upon his duties April 5, 1877. During his term of office a new north wing was added to the main building so as to make it sufficient for the accommodation of a larger number of children. He resigned his position at the annual meeting of the board in June, which resignation was to take effect September 5, 1882.
At the same meeting of the board, Rev. P.C. PRUGH, D.D., of Xenia, Ohio, was elected superintendent, and took charge of the Home September 5, 1882, and [p. 353] remains in office at the present time. During his term, large additions and improvements have been made. A full third story was placed upon the main building, additional dining rooms, dormitories, store houses, bath rooms, and a large brick chapel and school house were erected, and all at a cost of $13,000. The present value of the Home is $50,000. The largest number of children at any one time during this period was 190, 165 of which were soldiers' orphans. During this time the school became noted for its efficiency, having received the highest commendation by the State Board of Soldiers and Sailors Orphan Schools.
The object of the founders of this institution was to provide for the maintenance and christian training of orphan children, principally of the Reformed church; and also for others for whose support payment is made by guardians and friends. Applications for admittance are made through the superintendent to the board of directors, and children are received by indenture. This enables the authority of the Home to again indenture them, when suitable christian homes can be found, and retain the guardianship over them until of age. The government of the Home is mild and parental. The importance of self-government is earnestly impressed upon the minds of the children, with encouraging success. One leading thought is to help the children build up for themselves a true manly and womanly character. The Home is in a most prosperous condition, and will long continue to bring comfort to many fatherless and motherless children.
[End of Chapter 22 - Butler Borough (Cont'd): History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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