Transcribed by: Jim Wise. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Surnames in this chapter are:
ABRAMS, AKIN, BATEMAN, BEZLER, BOLLMAN, BRANDOW, BROWN, CAMPBELL, CANFIELD, CARROLL, CATHER, CLOVER, COOPER, CORTS, CRISWELL, DARLING, DECKER, DUPREY, EARHART, ELLIOTT, EMERICK, EMERSON, EMERY, EVANS, FAIR, FITHIAN, GAMBLE, GEYER, GIBSON, GLOSSNER, GODFREY, GRAHAM, HAINES, HAMOR, HARPER, HARVEY, HENRY, HILLIARD, HOFFMAN, HOUGHTON, HOWLAND, JACKSON, JEWELL, JOHNSON, JOHNSTON, JUNE, KANE, KARNS, KEAN, KELLERMAN, KING, LARDIN, LENFESTY, LESLIE, LEWIS, LINN, LOVELESS, LUTHER, MATTISON, McCANDLESS, McCLEAN, McCLYMONDS, McCOLLOUGH, McDERMOTT, McELROY, McGAFFIC, McGILL, McKENZIE, McLAUGHLIN, McMILLEN, McQUAIDE, MEAD, MECHLING, MERRITT, MESSIMER, MILLER, MOORHEAD, MORSE, MURTLAND, NEUBER, NEVILLS, O'HARA, PAINTER, PARKER, PATTON, PENNELL, PETERS, PETTIGREW, PHILIPS, PHILLIPS, PLANET, POLLARD, RALSTON, RANDOLPH, RANKIN, RHEINHART, RHODES, RIDDLE, RIGNEY, ROBERTS, RODGERS, ROSS, RUCH, RUTHERFORD, RYAN, SALISBURY, SHAY, SHERMAN, SHERWIN, SIMPSON, SLATTERY, SQUIRE, STETSON, STEWART, STONE, STOREY, STRANCE, TABER, TARBELL, TAYLOR, TEETS, THOMPSON, TITUS, TOY, TRAVEN, WALKER, WALLACE, WATHY, WEIBLE, WERSH, WEST, WILCOX, WILLIAMS, WING, ZUVER
WHEN, in December, 1871, the COOPER Brothers leased fifteen acres of land from Hugh P. McCLYMONDS and fifteen acres from Samuel L. RIDDLE, these farms were destined to be the site of a remarkable oil town. The first well was located in the valley on the McCLYMONDS farm, near the west line, and was named the "Shasta." In June, 1872, it was producing 120 barrels a day. On May 29, of that year, S. D. KARNS, having great faith in this venture of the COOPER Brothers, leased the entire 214 acres of the McCLYMONDS farm at a bonus of $200 per acre and one-eighth oil royalty, the owner reserving the COOPER lease and fourteen acres surrounding his farm buildings. On June 1, he leased, on the same terms, 204 acres from Samuel L. RIDDLE, who reserved the lease given to COOPER Brothers and ten acres about his farm buildings. Oil was then selling at $4 per barrel, and the new strike was attracting the alert producer. A fierce dispute arose among several operators as to the possession of McCLYMONDS farm, but a compromise was effected, and June 18,1872, he sold his farm, reserving the farm buildings and surface of fourteen acres, for $60,000, the purchasers being O. G. EMERY, S. D. KARNS. William THOMPSON, William PARKER and John H. HAINES. Excitement was now intense. Derricks were looming up on every side, and buildings were rapidly erected.
[p. 552] In honor of S. D. KARNS the new town was named "Karns City." Lots on the McCLYMONDS farm sold at $100 to $500, while many were leased for an annual rental of $25 to $150. Dwellings, stores of all kinds, hotels, restaurants, livery stables and machine shops lined the streets. Business was booming, and during this year, 1872, RALSTON, McQUAIDE & Company established a banking office, and transacted a large business until they suspended, in 1880. With the advent of the "Fourth sand gushers," the excitement was intense, and the rapidly accumulating fortunes of many oil producers were amazing.
Believing that a permanent town would be built, the owners of the McCLYMONDS farm, in February, 1874, made a plat of their land, and on January 4, 1875, the borough was incorporated, the boundaries embracing all of the McCLYMONDS farm and about ten acres of the RIDDLE farm. Karns City being the terminus of the Parker and Karns City railroad, it became the depot of supplies for points at the "front." On the arrival of trains passengers were greeted with boisterous invitations to be transported by all kinds of vehicles to Barnhart's Mills, Greece City, Angelica, Troutman and Modoc. On June 13, 1874, the McCLYMONDS farm was sold to James H. ABRAMS for $30,000, and since that time has been owned by various persons, but on June 18, 1879, it was purchased by E. E. ABRAMS, the present owner.
Of the five remaining oil wells on this farm that have produced over twenty years, one is the famous "Rob Roy," which has produced more than 200,000 barrels of oil, and is yet pumping about four barrels per day. The total value of oil from this farm is estimated to be over $1,500,000, much of the oil having been sold at four dollars per barrel. The RIDDLE farm was not sold, but the leases and producing wells formed large transactions. It was on this farm that in 1878 E. O. EMERSON drilled an exhausted Third sand well in search of the Fourth sand, and struck the "Teaser," which flowed 500 barrels per day and surprised every person. Mr. EMERSON sold this well and others on the RIDDLE farm to H. L. TAYLOR & Company for $90,000.
In 1876 Karns City had a population of over 2,000, with an excellent fire department, good schools, churches, crowded stores, glittering saloons, fountains of oil and a general whirl of excitement, but the exodus to the "upper country" rapidly decreased the population. In 1877 an opera house was built, which was afterwards torn down and moved elsewhere. In 1880 less than half the population of 1876 remained, and in 1890 the total was 427, which is about the present population.
Though there was a private postal route prior to 1874, in that year the postoffice department established an office with E. S. HARVEY postmaster. He was succeeded by A. N. HAMOR, who was followed by Miss M. B. MORSE. In 1887 P. R. BURKE was appointed, and next came Miss Anna RIGNEY, whose successor was Miss Mary N. CORTS, who managed the office until the appoinrment, in August, 1893, of E. H. JEWELL, the present incumbent.
The general merchants in 1894, were McELROY Brothers, John WERSH, Mrs. M. HILLIARD, and the druggist, T. R. STOREY. The DUPREY House furnishes hotel accommodations. The Star Light and Producers oil refineries are in operation. [p. 553] The National Transit pump station continues to force oil through the various pipe lines, there being five large lines near it. P. D. SHERWIN's Enterprise Coal Works ships several cars of coal daily over the Pittsburg & Western Railroad.
The fire of December 2, 1874, burned sixty-four buildings in the business center; and in September, 1876, another fire destroyed sixteen buildings between the present postoffice and the machine shop, including P. R. BURKE's two buildings.
The burning of the BATEMAN House, March 5, 1877, was the most terrible in its results, Mrs. BATEMAN, three of her children and one of the guests perishing in the flames, while F. E. BATEMAN, his son and another guest died of burns within a few hours. Notwithstanding this series of destructive events the citizens renewed their exertions, so that, by the close of the fiscal year in June, 1878, a sum of over $2,913 was received for taxes, together with various sums for local improvements.
The flood of July 26, 1879, which wrought such havoc at Petrolia, was proportionately unmindful of the interests of Karns City. At 11 o'clock in the forenoon the waters of Bear creek began to claim the valley for their bed, and as the rain increased in volume they attacked the small buildings and then LUTHER's stable. The old Conduit Pipe Company's office, occupied by the TOY family, Mrs. EMERICK's house, the kitchen of the Primrose Hotel and A. D. HALL's farm house were moved from their foundations, and some of them carried down stream to mingle with the wreckage.
The burning of the tank belonging to the National Transit Company, June 1, 1884, was one of the awe-inspiring scenes of this field. The tank contained 26,000 barrels of oil, and though much of it was drawn off, what remained supplied fuel to keep the flames alive for twenty-four hours. BOROUGH OFFICIALS AND SCHOOLS
The borough was incorporated January 4, 1875, in answer to a petition of September 12, 1874, with L D. AKIN, burgess; A. J. ELLIOTT, J. C. SHAY, J. E. CRISWELL, H. RODGERS, John S. KANE and Dr. S. H. PETTIGREW councilmen, and T. P. BROWN clerk. The burgesses and councilmen elected since 1875 are as follows:
1876-- L. D. AKIN, burgess, and same council with the exception of J. E. CRISWELL, who made way for D. F. KELLERMAN.
1877-- C. TABER, burgess; F. H. ROBERTS and J. H. LUTHER.
1878-- C. TABER, burgess; A. J. SALISBURY, J. D. PETERS, N. B. PARKER, Henry W. WATHY and Perry HOUGHTON.
Special-- Luther STONE, burgess; Joseph BELL and S. H. GORDON.
[p. 554]
1879-- Luther STONE, burgess; J. J. BELL, G. D. HAMOR, A. M. ROSS, P. R.
BURKE, A. T. MEAD and S. TRAVEN.
1880-- P. R. BURKE, burgess; A. MESSIMER, S. M. ROSS, T. P. LARDIN, A. W. GORDON, A. A. WEST and J. H. MURTLAND.
1881-- Joseph THOMAS, burgess; S. M. ROSS, A. H. SIMPSON, W. S. WILLIAMS, Luther STONE, W. M. RANDOLPH and David HARPER.
1882-- Joseph THOMAS, Jr., burgess; H. A. MOORHEAD, William WALKER and T. G. BROWN.
1883-- J. B. SHERMAN, burgess; A. B. EVANS, H. A. MOORHEAD and James O'HARA.
1884-- Joseph THOMAS, burgess. J. N. TITUS, W. C. LENFESTY, W. W. WALLACE, J. C. NEVILLS, John BECK and William HOWLAND.
1885-- Luther STONE, burgess; J. C. NEVILLS and William HOWLAND.
1886-- Luther STONE, burgess; O. S. JUNE and George STRANCE.
1887-- Joseph THOMAS, Jr., burgess; W. H. McGAFFIC and J. W. PENNELL.
1888-- J. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; George BECK, J. H. McELROY and G. E. McGILL.
1889-- T. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; George STRANCE and W. W. WALLACE.
1890-- J. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; W. S. KEAN and J. H. McELROY.
1891-- J. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; George BECK and H. C. JOHNSTON.
1892-- J. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; N. S. WHITE and Joseph MECHLING.
1893-- J. W. GLOSSNER, burgess; D. M. CARROLL, T. R. STOREY and W. S. KEAN.
1894-- John NEUBER, burgess; George BECK and B. O. JUNE elected, with D M. CARROLL, W. S. KEAN, T. R. STOREY and N. S. WHITE of the old council, and 'Squire KING clerk.
The following justices of the peace have been eleeted since 1875: T. P. BROWN, 1875; David J. STEWART, 1875 and 1880; Robert DUNN, 1878; James H. LEWIS, 1879; W. H. McGAFFIC, 1882 and 1885; Luther STONE and J. B. SHERMAN, 1886; M. J. KING, 1886, 1887 and 1892; J. N. TITUS, l888; W. H. McGAFFIC, 1889; Isaac WEIBLE, 1890; E. W. JEWELL, 1891; Isaac WEIBLE, 1892; W. W. WALLACE, 1893. 'Squire KING was the only justice elected since 1886 who qualified as such,
The present school house was erected in 1878, to replace the old school house erected in 1874 and burned in 1876. The school statistics of June, 1893, show thirty-eight male and sixty-one female pupils of school age: the total revenue for school purposes, $910.95, including $469.88 appropriated by the State. For many years the excellence of this school has been recognized by the people and endorsed by every county superintendent.
The Presbyterian Church of Karns City had its beginnings in the autumn of 1875, when Rev. I. D. DECKER began preaching to the people of that borough and Fairview. He continued the work throughout the following year, and on November 16, 1876, the church at Karns City was organized, and D. N. BRANDOW, C. S. LESLIE and W. W. RANDOLPH chosen elders. These with Mrs. BRANDOW, Mrs. RANDOLPH, Robert and Maggie WALKER, N. S. WILLIAMS, Mrs. C. STETSON, S. M. and Maggie ROSS, John A. BOLLMAN and Mrs. Margaret FITHIAN constituted the original membership. A church was completed and dedicated August 6, 1876. It stood on the farm of Harrison RIDDLE. In April, 1877, Rev. John RUTHERFORD began holding services at Karns City, Petrolia and Millerstown, and he was succeeded by Rev. W. D. PATTON, who preached here for a couple of months. On October 2, 1877, Mr. DECKER again took charge of this church and was installed pastor October 30. At the beginning of 1878 the congregation contained fifty members. It was incorporated June 7, 1880, by Charles S. LESLIE, W. W. RANDOLPH, S. M. ROSS, E. G. HARVEY and N. R. Blair, trustees. Adam MILLER was made an elder May 3, 1884, and three or four years later Joseph EARHART and Thomas EVANS were added. Mr. DECKER was pastor of this church until his removal to New Jersey, in October, 1888. The decline of oil production had a depressing effect on most all the churches in the oil towns, and Karns City suffered with the others. Prior to 1891 the church disbanded and its membership united with the chnrch at Fairview and elsewhere. During its existence it had enrolled 113 members.
Karns City Lodge, Number 1O6, A. O. U. W., was chartered March 31, 1877, with A. D. MEAD, J. MOORHEAD, A. T. MEAD, A. J. RHEINHART, F. J. PAINTER, J. L. HENRY, F. S. HOUGHTON, J. M. McCANDLESS, J. WILCOX and W. H. PHILLIPS, officers in order of lodge rank, with P. R. BURKE, W. H. HOFFMAN and others unofficial members. The past master workmen are P. R. BURKE, Dominick McLAUGHLIN, H. Z. WING, W. W. CATHER, Paul CAMPBELL, S. B. LOVELESS, J. B. SHERMAN, O. S. JUNE, B. O. JUNE, Aaron GAMBLE and A. G. ZUVER.
Derrick Lodge, Number 456, K. of P., was organized under charter of May [p. 556] 1, 1877, with eleven members. The past Chancellors are John McMILLEN, A. M. AKIN, Albert GODFREY, John GEYER, Joseph THOMAS, R. R. McDERMOTT, H. C. JOHNSON and J. M. McCOLLOUGH.
Gold Lining Union, E. A. U., Number 463, was organized in July, 1882, and instituted on the seventh of that month with forty charter members. The society has passed out of existence.
The Good Templars organized here at an early date and subsequently, about 1884, The Sons of Temperance, the present postmaster and Luther STONE being among the organizers.
The Knights of Labor organized here in the eighties, with P. R. BURKE, E. W. JEWELL, J. H. THOMAS, Jr., W. R. PAGE, P. D. SHERMAN and others-- the lodge at one time embracing 100 members.
[End of Chapter 47 - Karns City Borough: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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17 Jan 2000, 19:37