July 23 1823 Page 3
Bulter, June 17
On Saturday night there was an unusual fall of rain in this borough, and
North West and East of it. On Sunday morning the Connoquenessing had the
appearance of a large river; nearly the whole of the bottom ground covered
with water to the depth of eight or ten feet, it had quite a majestic appearance,
though the owners of meadows along the creek seeing their grass destroyed
and their fences carried off, did not appear to view it with much pleasure.
The arched Bridge on the turnpike has been swept off, and the bridges generally
have been taken off by the flood.
William Boreland had two horses drowned. They were in the meadow and such
was the depth of the water, and strength of the current, that they were swept
out of the meadow. We regret to state, that we have been informed that Mount
Aetna Furnace, on Slipperyrock, has been injured by the flood: it was in
full blast, and the founders with their ladles in their hands ready to cast,
when the water rose with such rapidity that they had merely time to let the
metal run out amongst the water, which rose in a short time as high as the
tweer - the hearth is said to be so much injured that a new one will have
to be made.
The damages sustained by the farmers living on the creeks, and the loss of
the bridges, will be sensibly felt by the citizens of this county. - Repository.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 21, 1824
Melancholy Occurrence
David M'Junkin, of Muddycreak township, in endeavoring to arrest a man by the name of Hallock, discharged a gun at him. The ball entered near the spine, and lodged in the abdomen. The wound is considered mortal. M'Junkin is confined in the jail of this county, to await his trial. As this matter will be the subject of judicial investigation, we think it improper to make any statement of the circumstances attending this unhappy affair. No statement, but such as would be made by witnesses on oath, ought to influence the public mind in a case so very important. - Butler Sentinel.
Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
July 21, 1824
Butler, Pa, June 12
Harmonie Society
We are informed that this worthy and industrious people, who first built the village of Harmony in this county, have sold their establishment on the Wabash, and purchased a large quantity of land on the Ohio river between Pittsburgh and Beaver, Pa., and a great number of their people ave arrived at Sewickly bottom, 8 miles above Beaver, to commence an improvement and establish themselves at that place. From the proofs already given by them of their ability in making rapid and extensive improvements it may be reasonably expected that in a short time, they will have a large and populous town built, extensive farms operated, and manufactures of different kinds erected on a large scale and to a considerable extent.
The Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania)
December 10 1828
A young man by the name of Bruner, of Craberry township, Butler county, accidentally shot his father, on Sunday the 2d ult. They were watching a deer lick, and the father having wandered from the course agreed upon, the son perceived something moving in the bushes, which he supposed was a buck, and fired, when, conceive his astonishement on coming up to find instead of a buck, the almost lifeless remains of his father! - Crawford Mes.
Contributed by Nancy Piper. BUTLER COUNTY The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 14, 1808
Married on Tuesday evening the 6th instant, in Kittaning town, by the Rev. Mr. Boyd, Col. Thomas Graham, of Butler county, to Miss Mary Ann Weems of Gettysburg .
Contributed by Nancy Piper.
BUTLER COUNTY
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, September 27, 1809
Salt Works
Much advantage is expressed to the public from the great and valuable improvements making near the town of Butler . In particular, the salt works, commenced by Thomas Collins, Esq. deserve the public encouragement. The spring of saline water, is about a mile and a half N.E. of Butler, and only thirty miles from Pittsburg . It rises in bubbles in the channel of Connequinessing Creek, the course of which is perverted from the spring. A small well has been dug and two furnaces, each containing 24 kittles of 30 gallons each, has been erected, with suitable buildings. The fuel used is stone coal, procured from inexhaustible mines in the neighborhood. The works have been in operation since the 16th of June last, and the average product of salt, have been about five bushels per day. The whole labor is performed by three men who attend the pumps, fires and kettles and one cart and collier suppliers the fuel. The proprietor is now sinking a well of diameter and depth competent to supply, (when finished) 500 kettles of 30 gallons each - and the water is slued to increase in strength in proportion to the depth of the well. It is thirteen feet in diameter, and as yet only ten feet below the bed of the creek, in a very hard concrete of river gravel and blue sand. In digging this well on the 18th ult., the grinder of a mammoth, weight five pounds, seven inches in length, was found four feet below the surface of the rock, among several fragments of bones much decayed. The quality of salt, so far as we are enable to judge by the samples we have seen, is greatly superior to the common lake salt, with which we are no supplied. We hope the proprietor will meet with the encouragement so arduous and expensive, as well as important, an undertaking merits. -- Pittsburg Com.
Contributed by Nancy Piper.
The Centinel, Gettysburg, PA, July 11 1810
The following account of the origin and progress of the settlement at Harmony, in Butler county, will be read with much satisfaction.
The association of Harmony had its origin in Germany upwards of 20 years ago, and feeling themselves much oppressed on account of their religion, they concluded to seek a country where they could exercise their religion without hindrance or oppression. They chose the United States of America .
In the year 1804, in December, about 20 families arrived at Zelinople, in the neighborhood of which Mr. George Rapp, with some others, bought about four thousand seven hundred acres of land, and during that fall built nine low houses.
In the year 1805 in the spring; the society consisted of about 50 families They laid out the town of Harmony on their own land, and in that spring built 12 log houses, 24 feet by 18, built a large barn, cleared 25 acres round the town, and 150 acres for corn and 50 acres for potatoes a grist mill was built this year, the race of a mile long, and 15 acres cleared for meadow, the other ground sowed with wheat and rye. In the fall and winter 30 houses more were built.
In the year 1806 an inn was built, two stories high, 42 feet by 32 feet, and some other houses 300 acres cleared for corn, 58 acres for meadow. An oil mill was built, and a tannery, a blue dyers shop and a frame barn 100 feet long.
In the year 1807, 360 acres were cleared for grain and meadow, a brick store house built, a saw mill and beer brewery erected, and 4 acres in vines planted; in this year the society sold 500 bushels of grain and 3000 gallons of whiskey, manufactured by themselves of their own produce.
In the year 1808 a considerable quantity of ground cleared, a meeting house built of brick 70 feet long and 55 feet wide, another brick house built, some other buildings and stables for cattle, potash, soap boiler and candle drawer shops erected, a frame barn of 80 feet long built. Of the produce of this year was sold 2000 bushels of grain, and 1400 bushels were distilled.
In the year 1809 a **fulling mill was built, which does a great deal of business for the country, also a hemp mill, an oil mill, a grist mill, a brick warehouse 46 feet by 36, and another brick building of the same dimensions, one of which has a cellar completely arched under the whole, for the purpose of a wine cellar. A considerable quantity of land cleared this year. The produce of this year was 6000 bushels of Indian corn, 4500 bushels of wheat, 5000 bushels of oats, 10,000 bushels of potatoes, 4000 bushels of hemp and flax, 100 bushels of barley brewed into beer and 50 gallons of sweet oil, made from the white poppy. Of the produce of this year will be sold 3000 bushels of wheat 1200 bushels of rye will be distilled.
In the year 1810 will be erected a barn 90 feet long, a school house 50 feet by 44 wide, a grist mill with three pari of stones, one of which will be burrs, and some small brick houses for families.
The society now consists of 700 persons, comprising 140 families they have now 1600 acres of land cleared, 220 acres where of are meadow, and possess at present 6000 acres of land.
There are different tradesmen, members of the society, who work for the country as well as the society, to wit. Twelve shoemakers, 6 tailors, 12 weavers, 3 wheelwrights, 5 coopers, 6 blacksmiths, 2 nail smiths, 3 rope makers, 3 blue dyers, 10 carpenters, 4 cabinet makers, 2 saddlers, 2 wagon makers, 12 masons, 2 potters, 1 soap boiler, a doctor and apothecary, and in a short time a hatter and a tin plate worker is expected. During the last year the shoe makers alone, worked for the country to the amount of $12 dollars and 8 cents, the coopers to the amount of 207 dollars, the saddlers to the amount of 739 dollars 54 cents, the tannery 675 dollars, the blacksmiths 180 dollars.
** From the medieval period, the fulling of cloth often was undertaken in a water mill, known as a fulling mill, a walk mill, or a tuck mill. In Wales , a fulling mill is called a pandy. In these, the cloth was beaten with wooden hammers, known as fulling stocks. Fulling stocks were of two kinds, falling stocks (operating vertically) that were used only for scouring, and driving or hanging stocks. In both cases the machinery was operated by cams on the shaft of a waterwheel or on a tappet wheel, which lifted the hammer. Driving stocks were pivotted so that the 'foot' (the head of the hammer) struck the cloth almost horizontally. The stock had a tub holding the liquor and cloth. This was somewhat rounded on the side away from the hammer, so that the cloth gradually turned, ensuring that all parts of it were milled evenly. However, the cloth was taken out about every two hours to undo plaits and wrinkles. The 'foot' was approximately triangular in shape, with notches to assist the turning of the cloth. Wikipedia.com