Transcribed by: Tina Kinser. For an explanation and caution about this transcription, please read this page.
Link to a sketch of Prospect Borough from the Atlas of Butler County, G.M. Hopkins & Co., 1874.
Surnames in this chapter are:
AIKEN, ALBERT, ALEXANDER, ALLEN, BARKLEY, BARR, BASSLER, BEAM, BOWERS,
BOWMAN, BRECHT, BRYSON, CAMPBELL, CAREY, CLARK, CONNER, CRATTY, CRITCHLOW, CUMMINGS, CUTLER, DANIELS, DAVIS, DECHANT, DICK, DICKEY, DODDS, DOUBLE, DOUGLASS, DUNLAP, DUNN, DURST, EDMUNDSON, ENGLISH, ENSLEN, EVANS, FERGUSON, FINDLEY, FORRESTER, GALLAGHER, GALLOWAY, GARVEY, GRAHAM, GREER, GROSSMAN, HALL, HAYS, HECK, HERSHAW, HEYL, HICKMAN, HIPPE, HIPPLE, HOON, HUNTER, ISSENSE, JONES, KALER, KELLY, KELTY, KENNEDY, KIRKPATRICK, KLINGER, LACHENMEYER, LIEGHNER, LIMBURG, MACKLY, MARSHALL, MARTIN, MARTINCOURT, MATTHEWS, McCASKEY, McCALLOUGH, , McCONNELL, McCORMICK, McELHANEY, McGEE, McGOWAN, McGREW, McLURE, McMICHAEL, MILLER, MITCHELL, MORROW, MUNTZ, NORRIS, PHIPPS, PILLOW, PIPER, PRESSLY, RANDOLPH, RALSTON, RICHARDSON, RIDDLE, ROBB, ROBINSON, ROTH, ROXBURY, SCOTT, SHANNON, SHANOR, SHEARER, SHEFFER, SILVIUS, SPEAR, STARGEION, STARK, STEVENSON, STIFFY, STOUGHTON, SULLIVAN, THOMPSON, WALL, WALLACE, WALTBERGER, WATERS, WEBER, WEIGLE, WESLEY, WEST, WHITE, WILSON, WRIGHT, YOUNG
PROSPECT, situated near the south line of Franklin and east line of Muddy Creek townships, is the center of the most extensive plane in Butler County, and the market town of a rich agricultural region. Its elevation above sea level is 1,880 feet, the same as Unionville, seven miles eastward; thirty feet lower than Portersville, six miles westward, and thirty feet higher than Centreville, eighteen miles northwest.
It was laid out and surveyed into lots May 25, 1825, by Thomas M. FORRESTER, on those portions of the farms of Andrew McGOWAN, Matthew McCOLLOUGH and David DAVIS, which cornered at the crossing of the Franklin and Pittsburgh, and the New Castle and Butler roads. The name Prospect was suggested by George A. KIRKPATRICK, who came from Ireland at the solicitation of Andrew McGOWAN and opened a stock of goods in a cabin-erected by Lewis EVANS, the second built on the town site-which stood on the northwest corner of the cross roads. The first sale of lots took place September 9, 1825, but many years elapsed before those embraced in the original survey were disposed of. John JONES is credited with having an interest in the town site, but the official record shows only the names of Andrew McGOWAN, Matthew McCOLLOUGH and David DAVIS. A second survey of lots was made in 1838 by James DUNLAP, a well remembered surveyor of Butler.
George A. KIRKPATRICK, the first merchant, was joined in 1836 by Robert ALLEN and G. W. McCASKEY, who opened a stock of goods in a frame building-the first in the village-erected by Lewis EVANS. In 1845 McCASKEY retired from the firm, and was succeeded by William ALLEN, who in turn was succeeded by John MARTINCOURT. William ALLEN remained in Prospect until 1857, when he moved to what has since been known as Allen's mill, in Connoquenessing township. John CAHEY, also one of the early merchants, opened his first stock in a little cabin. Here he carried on business for five years, when he erected the CAHEY building, later Dr. RICHARDSON's residence, where he continued a successful mercantile career for over a quarter of a century. William ALEXANDER, another early storekeeper, carried on business for a short time on the lot later occupied by the home of William MARSHALL. In 1859 Thomas CRITCHLOW, a native of Connoquenessing, established a store here, having moved from Petersville, where he was in business from 1844 to 1849.
The first tavern, opened soon after the town was laid out, was kept by [p.591] Jonathan HAYS in a little two-story log building which stood on the lot now owned by William RIDDLE. He was succeeded by William WILSON. Samuel DOBBS also kept a public house on the lot later occupied by White's Hotel. In 1845 Robert ALLEN erected the Prospect Hotel, a large brick building. This is now known as Boehm's Hotel. In 1869 his interest in this house was purchased by John MARTINCOURT, who refitted and refinished it and carried it on down to his death in 1881. He made a genial and popular landlord.
THE MORROW TANNERY, north of Prospect, is a small but old industry. It was started by Robert ALLEN in the thirties, and afterward carried on by Andrew DOUGLAS, from whom William MORROW bought it. Another tannery was started, south of town, before the war, by Henderson DICK, and a third one, owned and operated by Alfred RIDDLE, stood on the site of the Roxbury dwelling.
A steam grist mill and a steam saw mill were erected in 1872 by Martin & Roth, who were succeeded as owners by Edmundson & Haller, and they by Martin Edmundson. These mills were burned in October, 1880.
THE RALSTON ROLLER MILL, operated by William RALSTON, was completed in 1882 as a buhr mill. In 1892 the buhrs were replaced with three sets of rolls and the new process was adopted. A saw mill is also operated in connection with this mill. Both mills are devoted strictly to custom work. The Thomas powder mill stood south of the Riddle & Barr store.
THE PROSPECT CREAMERY is a recent local enterprise. The plant is located north of the borough, on the Franklin road. it has an output of 250 and a capacity of 1,000 pounds of butter a day. Butter made in this creamery has been shipped to Alaska.
THE PROSPECT SAVINGS BANK was opened for business May 1, 1874. David MARSHALL was president, and J. M. LIEGHNER, cashier. The directors were David MARSHALL, George BEAM, John ENSLEN, William DICK, William R. RIDDLE, John MARTINCOURT and Joseph ALLEN. They carried on the institution for a number of years, when J. M. LIEGHNER became the owner. He was succeeded in November, 1883, by J. H. McLURE, the present proprietor.
The present merchants of the place are Critchlow Brothers, S. S. Forrester, Kiester & Company, and W. R. Little & Company, general merchants; August BOWERS and J. H. McLURE, druggists, and R. H. GRAHAM, furniture dealer.
The names of the justices of the peace elected for the borough from 1846 to 1894 are as follows:
Samuel PIPER, 1846; Jacob PHIPPS, 1850; Enos McLURE, [page 592] 1851, John GREER, 1852, re-elected in 1857 and 1862; William W. DODDS, 1852; Henry PILLOW, 1857, and 1862; Joseph ALLEN, 1867; Samuel RIDDLE, 1867, re-elected in 1872, 1877, 1882, 1887 and 1892; Abraham SHANOR, 1873; John MARTINCOURT, 1874 and 1879; John HEYL, 1882 and 1887, and John WEIGLE, 1894.
The successive postmasters of Prospect since the establishment of the office in 1888 have been: Dr. M. W. SPEAR, David MARSHALL, Louis ROTH, J. K. KENNEDY, C. C. SULLIVAN, A. W. McCOLLOUGH, S. S. FORRESTER, August BOWERS, Reuben SHANOR and August BOWERS.
The population in 1870 was 271; in 1880, 362, and in 1890, 343. The assessed value of property was $59,500, on which a county tax of $238.08 and a State tax of $115.62 were levied.
The Prospect Academy, first known as "The Prospect Normal and Classical Academy," was chartered a few years ago, the officers and directors being James WILSON, president; Henry YOUNG, vice-president; C. C. SULLIVAN, secretary, and J. M. LIEGHNER and W. N. CLARK. Professors CROUSE, KENNEDY, F. W. McGEE AND G.I. WILSON have each in turn been at the head of the institution. The building is a two-story frame, containing three class rooms and a hall. In 1894 there were thirty pupils, the tuition fee being seven dollars per term. The trustees for 1894 were J. C. KELLY, J. W. HEYL, E. L. ENGLISH, F. P. CRITCHLOW and J. H. McLURE. [p. 593]
The United Presbyterian church, know as the Associate Reformed church down to 1858, dates back to the summers of 1823 and 1824, when an Irish preacher named FERGUSON, visited the settlement. Soon after the town site was surveyed, the Associate Reformed society erected a log house for worship,
in which such ministers as Revs. STURGEON, START, CONNER and McCONNELL preached. From 1827 to 1833, Rev. Mr. GREER filled the pulpit at intervals. In 1835 an organization was effected by Rev. J. T. PRESSLY, of Allegheny, the members of the first session being James HALL, Benjamin McCORMICK, Hugh STEVENSON, Joseph DODDS, and George MATTHEWS. At that time the men named and their wives, with Robert AIKEN, Andrew DOUGLASS, John MITCHELL, John McGREW, James McGREW, Thomas DODDS, Maj. Thomas DODDS, John DUNN, Matthew SHANNON, James STEVENSON, Christie McMICHAEL, Jennie and James DODDS, Joseph FORRSTER, Samuel DODDS, William ALEXANDER, Edward KENNEDY, Joseph WHITE, John WHITE, William GALLAGHER, John DOUBLE and a few others formed the society. Supplies were sent here by the Monongahela Presbytery until Butler Presbytery was organized. Rev. William FINDLEY became pastor of this and the church at White Oak Springs, May 25, 1837, and continued until 1857. A charter was granted March 15, 1842. In 1838 a brick building was erected in which meetings were held until July, 1869, when the present house of worship was dedicated. Rev. James A. CLARK was called to the pastorate November 1, 1858, and installed April 12, 1859. He served the congregation faithfully until
his death, July 26, 1894, a period of nearly thirty-six years. The members of the session at the close of 1893, were James WILSON, William DICK, Ebenezer DICK, James BARR and John ROXBURY. The church has grown from a membership of 175 in 1860, to 200 in 1894.
EMANUEL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH was organized January 2, 1843, with Lewis ROTH, David ROTH, William ALBERT, J. J. SHANOR, Robert SCOTT, Thomas GARVEY, Benjamin C. ROTH and David BARKLEY official members. The formal meeting was held December 4, 1842, the first meeting of council February 27, 1843, and on May 21 the Lutheran communion was administered to thirty-four members. Prior to 1845 services were held in the school-house or in the Associate Reformed building; then an old building was purchased from G. P. ROBINSON for $300, which was used as a meeting house down to the completion of the present brick church, March 9, 1849. The pastors of the congregation since 1843 are named as follows: Revs. G. BASSLER, 1843; A. H. WATERS, 1855; Lewis HIPPE, 1867; S. H. SWINGLE, 1874; G. W. CRITCHLOW, 1880; R. R. DURST, 1886, and N. SHEFFER, January 27, 1889, to December 1, 1894. The pulpit is now vacant. The English Lutheran society paid one-half the cost of the building and now own and equal share therein. The membership of Emanuel church at the beginning of 1894 was 163, an increase of ten in twelve years.
THE GERMAN REFORMED AND LUTHERAN CHURCH had its inception December 5, 1842, though organization was not completed for fully a year later, when the [p.594] Lutheran communion service was conducted in the English language. Rev. John ISSENSE presided over the meeting in 1844, when Daniel HECK, Peter KLINGER, and Christian WEST were chosen elders, and they, with twenty-five others, formed the society. Rev. Herman MUNTZ was the first regular preacher, Prospect being in his appointment. Messrs. BRECHT, LACHENMEYER, WALTBERGER and DECHANT, names well know and often repeated in several sketches of the Lutheran churches of this county, filled the pulpit successively down to 1865, when Rev. C. A. LIMBURG, of the Butler church, took charge, holding services every fourth Sabbath in the Lutheran building, which is owned jointly by the Lutherans and the German Reformed people.
BETHEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organized in 1844 by Rev. Samuel CROUSE, with Alexander BRYSON leader. prior to that date, however, George A. KIRKPATRICK, who is said to have renounced Presbyterianism in Ireland, in favor of John WESLEY's newer doctrine, was a leader of a Methodist class here. From 1844 to 1861 the members worshiped in the school house or in the Cumberland Presbyterian meeting house. In the latter year and attempt was made to erect a church, but not until 1866 could the owners say that the present frame building was complete. The society was incorporated June 12, 1862, with John HIPPLE, Samuel McELHANEY, Robert THOMPSON, Thomas ALEXANDER and Alfred G. RIDDLE, trustees. In January, 1878, Thomas GALLOWAY, Adam WEBER and John H. McLURE were elected trustees. John COOPER succeeded the last named as secretary in January, 1891. These officers, with Abram WEIGLE, are now trustees. Prior to 1885 the circuit was composed of Prospect, Harmony and Petersville, but since that time Renfrew has taken the place of Harmony. The preachers in charge have been J. R. STIFFY, 1886; R. L. HICKMAN, 1888; S. M. MACKEY, 1890, and W. F. HUNTER, 1891. F. B. CUTLER, the present pastor in charge came in 1893.
THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIANS, seeing the Associate Reformers, Lutherans and Methodists organized in the "Forties," determined not to be outdone, and imitated their neighbors. A society was formed with Samuel HOON and wife, James HAYS, Robert SCOTT, Samuel HAYS, John SHEARER, John A. DICKEY, Enos McLURE and Thomas CRITCHLOW members. In 1850 a brick house for worship was erected by Thomas CRITCHLOW, the same now owned by the Presbyterians. Rev. Joseph BOWMAN was their preacher at the time and down to 1863, when he went into the military service, as related in a previous chapter. After the war he resumed his labors, remained a year or so, and then was succeeded by Revs. J. N. GALLAGHER, Mr. WALL, J. K. NORRIS, J. R. MORRIS and W. F. SILVIUS, in the order given. Rev. R. N. GROSSMAN came in 1885 and remained until the dissolution of the church in 1887.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH was organized July 8, 1887. On June 21, 1887, a petition from the Cumberland Presbyterian society was presented asking to be admitted as a body or as individuals: T. J. CRITCHLOW, J. L. WILSON and J. B. KALER presented this petition. On the first date given a society of seventy members was formed, thirty-six of whom were formerly of the Mt.. Nebo society, twenty-six of the Cumberland Presbyterian, six from other churches and two on examination. The elders chosen were John MARTIN, John WEIGLE, Elliott ROBB,[p.595] John CRATTY, G. W. STEVENSON, J. D. WILSON, T. J. CRITCHLOW and W. F. HENSHAW. The trustees elected were J. M. LIEGHNER, M. D.; A. A. KELTY, M. D., and A. BOWERS. It is now in the Mt. Nebo appointment. In April, 1893, it was credited with eighty-seven members.
[End of Chapter 54 - Prospect Borough: History of Butler County Pennsylvania, R. C. Brown Co., Publishers, 1895]
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