[p. 571] general merchant at Wampum, has served twenty years on the School Board and is a member of the town council. He was born in Moon Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, November 9, 1840, and is a son of Abia and Jane (Bell) Butler.
Abia Butler was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and accompanied his father to Allegheny County in boyhood. The latter died in 1870, aged seventy-eight years. When about twenty years of age Abia Butler joined a regiment recruited in Beaver County by Colonel Miller, for service in the War of 1812, and they were stationed at Erie, Pa. When marching to that point the soldiers passed through the present village of Wampum and camped at New Castle, which was then but a collection of log houses. After the war was over Abia Butler returned to Allegheny County, where he subsequently married Jane Bell. She belonged to an old and prominent family of Juniata County. She died on the old farm which is now owned by the Werner heirs, not far from New Castle, October 23, 1853, aged fifty-three years. Abia Butler survived until 1870, dying at the age of seventy-eight years.
The large family born to Abia and Jane Butler is recorded as follows: George, who lived to the age of eighty-six years; Benjamin, who died in 1862; James, who died in 1907; Sarah, who died in 1908, survived her husband, John McCague; Alexander, Elizabeth, who is the widow of John C. Houck; Richard, who died in 1898; Tobias, Stephen, who was a soldier in the Civil War and fell at Chickamauga; Joseph Roney, John B., a soldier in the Civil War, was killed at Gaines' Hill; Nancy, who died young; Mary Ann, who died aged about thirty years. There were two other babes that died in infancy.
Joseph R. Butler was yet a boy when the family moved to Lawrence County and settled in Perry Township. The parents moved two years later into Taylor Township, where the mother died, and after this domestic affliction the family home was broken up. Joseph R. sought work on other farms and made himself generally useful either as a farm laborer or teamster up to the time he enlisted for service in the Civil War. The recruiting officer found him working on the farm of John Kelso, and not only induced Mr. Butler to enlist in Company H, Ninth Pennsylvania Reserves, under Captain Cuthberson, but also secured his three companions, his brother, John Butler, who was later killed in the service, James Piersaw and George Kelso. Farmer Kelso was obliged to find other helpers, as the four young men immediately left for Camp Right and shortly after the regiment went to Washington and then to Camp Pierpont. On December 13, 1861, Mr. Butler fought in his first battle, which took place at Drainsville, Va. He was on the firing line during the seven days before Richmond, in the three days of the second battle of Bull Run and later, under command of General Hooker, participated in the battle of South Mountain. Next came Antietam, this being followed by Fredericksburg and then Gettysburg. He left the front May 4, 1864, and was mustered out of the service at Pittsburg, May 16, 1864. His long and dangerous period of service was bravely endured and he had the great good fortune to escape all serious injury. He is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic at Wampum.
When Mr. Butler was relieved of his military duties he came to Wampum, and for the next ten years ran an engine at one of the furnaces. He also worked at drilling oil wells at Oil City and later ran an engine at the cement works at Wampum, for some five years. He is the pioneer merchant at Wampum, having opened up his present business at the same stand, in 1883. He is prominent in all the public affairs of the town and lends his influence to progress and public improvement. Politically, he is a Republican.
Mr. Butler was married November 23, 1865, to Mary E. Hess, who was born in 1846 and died October 26, 1907. They had the following children: Jennie, David, Ella, Joseph W., Mabel and Charles. Jennie married Edward Cochran, of Wampum, and they have two children, Emma and Adda. David died, leaving a bride of one year. Ella married Frederick Cochran, the twin brother of Edward Cochran. Charles married Lillian McQuistan.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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