Auction set the tone for Butler
After the dozens of long, narrow lots in the 76 acres that make up Butler's Main Street were auctioned in 1803 by trustees selected by the state, with buyers paying for the $10 to $90 lots in three payments, the residents of the new town began going about the business of daily life.
“The pioneer villagers entered upon the humble beginnings of what were to be as a rule successful careers,” according to resident recollections in “History of Butler County, Pennsylvania — 1883.” “There was promise of prosperity for almost everyone.”
Blacksmith James Thompson erected Butler's first log cabin, near the Diamond, and the book goes on to relate that William Young, William Neyman, Abraham Brinker and Jacob Funk built the next four cabins on Main Street, which was called High Street at the time.
“Other houses, all of very primitive character, were built soon after by John Emfrey, George Powers, Stephen Crawford and John Potts,” according to the historical book.
William Graham, born in the late fall or early winter of 1803, was the first child born in Butler, and the first infant girl to make her appearance was Sarah Potts, who later married Robert Carnahan, according to the book.As families eked out their existence in the new village during the dreary winter of 1803, two taverns, a store and a blacksmith shop appeared, according to the recollections of Henry Brackenridge, who rode the bridle path from Pittsburgh to Butler to serve as the clerk for Butler's first prothonotary, William Ayers.
“The country around was a howling wilderness, with the exception of a few scattered settlements, as far removed from each other as the kraals in the neighborhood of the Cape of Good Hope,” Brackenridge recalled.By the summer of 1804, residents were ready to assemble socially, and a festive Fourth of July celebration was planned for an area near the Connoquenessing Creek to celebrate the 28th birthday of the democracy, which at that time boasted 17 states.Gen. John Purviance, who addressed those assembled at the event, recalled that a table estimated at 100 feet was supplied “with the best the country afforded.”Ayers sat at one end of the table and Sheriff John McCandless at the other. Both men offered patriotic toasts.The story was related that when Ayers proposed a toast to a man named Thomas McKean, he added “energy and wisdom” to his name.“McCandless, who was a little deaf, and possibly of the opposite political party, rose at the foot of the table and in a sonorous voice announced 'Thomas McKean-injured by whiskey,' and so the toast was drunk,” according to the historical book.The little town of Butler continued to grow, and by 1828, contained 400 to 500 residents, two doctors, seven lawyers, seven taverns and 14 stores that accepted cash or bear and deer skins, cranberries, honey or beeswax.Butler was also incorporated as a borough by that time, according to the book.
One memorable incident that occurred within a quarter-century of Butler's beginnings was a visit on June 1, 1825, by Revolutionary War Gen. Marie Lafayette, who was on his way from Pittsburgh to Erie.Two “triumphal arches” were decorated with laurel and evergreen and erected on each end of Main Street to welcome the revered general.American flags hung at the apex of each arch along with tablets proclaiming “Welcome Lafayette.”The residents of Butler and visitors who had come to see Lafayette lined the streets and saluted the war hero as he passed.Lafayette exited his carriage at “the public square” and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner before walking out of “Mr. Mechling's inn” and meeting all who requested the honor. It was estimated that Lafayette shook hands with no less than 400 people.He was introduced to a handful of former Revolutionary War soldiers, with whom he discussed in detail the arduous Battle of Brandywine.“He bid them an affectionate adieu and exclaimed 'Farewell, my friends. This is the last time you will see me,'” before departing at 4 p.m.A historical marker denotes Lafayette's long-ago visit on the Historic Lafayette Apartments building at the intersection of Main and West Diamond streets, now owned by the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Butler County.Before the authority remodeled it into senior citizen apartments, many county offices were housed in the Lafayette Building.With 24 states now included in the union, Butler celebrated the country's 50th birthday in 1826.
As mercantiles, mills of various kinds, churches, schools and distilleries were available in Butler, several villages were settled throughout the county.By 1854, it was decided that the 13 townships named in the county by action taken in 1804 would be divided into the 33 townships that still exist today.During the five decades that Butler Township remained one of the 13 townships in the county, it was divided into North Butler and South Butler “for the convenience of its inhabitants,” according to “History of Butler County — 1883.”In 1854, when the county was redistricted into its current townships, it was reduced to its present size.
While the original pioneer of Butler Township is not known, several notable settlers have been recorded.Irishman William Kearns settled there in 1796 after leaving Westmoreland County.Unusual for the times, Kearns' sister, Jane, “took up in her own name and secured by settlers' rights 100 acres of land” adjoining her brother's.A man named Thomas Collins sunk a salt well in 1811 or 1812 in Butler Township, which was mined for many years.The quality of the salt, however, was negatively impacted by the crude oil also in the ground, and meat pickled in brine from the salt tasted of oil.“Old Mrs. Kearns usually kept a jug or two of the oil in her cupboard, from which many small vials were filled for her neighbors,” according to recollections in the book. “It was believed to be a sovereign remedy for many of the ills afflicting man and beast, especially cuts and bruises.”John Buckhart in about 1800 settled in the southeastern corner of the township after being captured by Native Americans four years earlier in Allegheny County and made to run the gauntlet.“He received a tomahawk wound upon the forehead, the scar of which he carried until his dying day,” which occurred in 1855 in Butler Township.Revolutionary War veteran Peter Peterson of Somerset County settled in Butler Township sometime before 1800. Peterson was one of only six soldiers from a company of 80 men who fought at Braddock's Defeat.Colorful men and women who are listed as settlers of Butler County's 33 townships laid the groundwork for the future farms, mills and mercantiles that flourished in all corners of the county.
