History of Butler, (Butler County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Local History Notes:

BUTLER, a county in the W. part of Pennsylvania, has an area of about 800 square miles. The Alleghany river touches the N. E. and S. E. extremities; the N. part is drained by Slippery Rock creek, and the S. part by Conequenessing creek. The surface is mostly undulating. The soil contains a large portion of sand, and is moderately fertile. Wheat, Indian corn, rye, oats, wool, silk, cattle, and pork are the staples. In 1850 this county produced 281,595 bushels of wheat; 237,339 of corn; 585,684 of oats; 31,695 tons of hay, and 699,764 pounds of butter. There were 8 woollen factories, 1 cotton factory, 28 flour and grist mills, 10 saw mills, 6 saddle and harness manufactories, 14 tanneries, 5 manufactories of cabinet ware, 2 of agricultural implements, 1 of coaches, 2 of hats and caps, and 2 of tin and sheet-iron ware, 2 breweries, 5 iron furnaces, 4 iron foundries, 1 distillery, and 3 potteries. It contained 62 churches and 3 newspaper establishments. There were 7000 pupils attending public schools, and 113 attending academies or other schools. Bituminous coal is abundant in many places, and the county contains valuable mines of iron and quarries of limestone. Organized in 1800, and named in honor of General Richard Butler, who fell at St. Clair's defeat in 1791. Capital, Butler. Population, 30,346.

Biographies:

Robert Orlando Graham, educator, was born in Butler, Pa., Jan. 10, 1853; son of Malcolm and Mary (Boggs) Graham; grandson of Joseph Graham, and great grandson of Malcolm Graham, direct descendant from the Scottish family of that name. He prepared for college at the grammar and high schools of New Brighton and at Witherspoon academy, Butler, Pa., and was graduated from Amherst in 1877. He was professor of science at Monson academy, Mass., 1877-78; of chemistry at Westminster college, Pa., 1878-86, and took a post-graduate at Johns Hopkins university, 1886-88, receiving the Ph.D. degree in 1888. He was elected Isaac Funk professor of chemistry and geology at the Illinois Wesleyan university in 1888, the Shallebarger and Swayne laboratories being placed at his service; and he was made dean of the non-resident and post-graduate departments. He was also acting president of the University, 1897-98. As president of the city council, he was acting mayor of Bloomington, 1897-99. He was elected a member of the American chemical society.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Jonathan Roberts Lowrie, lawyer and botanist, was born in Butler, Pa., March 16, 1823; son of Walter and Amelia (McPherrin) Lowrie. He was graduated from Jefferson college in 1842, and studied law with his cousin, Walter Hoge Lowrie . He practised at Holidaysburg, Pa., 1846-54, and at Warrior's Mark, Pa., in 1854-85. He devoted much time to the study of botany and to the cultivation of an arboretum on his estate. He made a large collection of rare plants and discovered one new species, Prunus Alleghaniensis, and others new to the state of Pennsylvania. He was married, Feb. 15, 1848, to Mary, daughter of John Lyon, and after her death to Matilda, daughter of the Rev. Dr. Nassau. He served as a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church for several years. He died at Warriorsmark, Pa., Dec. 10, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor