Closson Press

Authors: Staff of the Butler Eagle
Butler County’s story in many ways is typically American. European immigrants soon supplanted Native Americans, and the same waves of settlers that populated the eastern seaboard found their way here, especially those from Ireland and Germany. Eventually, African-Americans from the South found their way through the region, and some stayed on. Asians began to find their way in more recent years, adding to the “stew” of the life.

Butler County might not be a place of rip-roaring adventure today, but back in wilderness times circa 1770 and after, it was the scene of several movie-type thrillers. The staff of the Butler Eagle saw the Butler County Bicentennial as an opportunity to do something a little different from the newspaper’s usual routine, explore the past and involve the public. Readers responded in droves with old photos and stories; reporters and editors found material long forgotten and a legacy of accomplishment unknown to the average reader. Those photos and stories are included in these pages. Home of the jeep, the first American compact car (the Baby Austin), and the Huselton; the Taylorcraft Airplane and the first lit runway in the U.S.; 75% of the oil drilled in the world during the mid-1800’s; the Pullman railroad car. Plus the famous and the infamous: General Richard Butler, Revolutionary War Hero and county namesake; John Roebling, the engineering genius behind New York City’s Brooklyn Bridge; the Rev. Loyal Young, who hid runaway slaves in the crawl space of his church; “Lanny” Pride, horticultural genius; Standard Steel co-founder – Diamond Jim Brady; Sam Mohawk, murderer and recipient of quick justice; Simon Girty, Indian agent and misunderstood Revolutionary War Scout; and a host of other leaders, heroes, and outlaws, and even Agent 99, international super-spy.

The Butler Eagle has taken the reader on a compelling journey through 200 years of Butler County history. This is a terrific book for anyone with a connection to Butler and for anyone interested in a slice of genuine American. 240 photos, maps, illustrations, a bibliography and name plus subject index makes this book valuable to the researcher.