Jahnig, William C.

William C. Jahnig, who is extensively engaged in the real estate business in Butler, Pennsylvania, is one of the widely known and highly respected citizens of Butler County. He was born in Buffalo Township, this county, March 11, 1892, and is a son of August and Ursina (Kregar) Jahnig.

The Jahnig family are of Danish descent. Many years ago a Jahnig left Denmark and settled in Saxon, Germany. This Jahnig married a Prussian and remained in Saxon. His son, Ferdinand Jahnig, grandfather of our subject, came to the United States when his son, August Jahnig, was three years old. His wife was Christina, Jahnig. They settled in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, where he followed farming and stockraising.

August Jahnig began life working on his father's farm. Later he operated a coal mine for thirty years. He retired in 1916 and resides in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat and attends the German Lutheran Church. To August and Ursina (Kregar) Jahnig eight children were born: (1) Charles, assistant superintendent of the Westinghouse Electric Company, Springfield, Massachusetts; (2) Dora, married Benjamin Bartell, reside in Bakerstown, Pennsylvania; (3) child died in infancy ; (4) William C., the subject of this sketch ; (5) Mary, at home ; (6) Edna, married Edward Wetzell, resides at Sarvar, Pennsylvania, where he is engaged in farming and dairying; (7) Viola, at home ; and (8) Novella, married Paul Irman, resides in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania.

William C. Jahnig received his education in the public schools of Buffalo Township, Butler County, and Grove City College. After leaving school he went into business manufacturing hardwood lumber, such as telephone poles, mine posts, railroad cross-ties, etc. He conducted this business until 1921. During this time he was also interested in the coal business. He operated his business of hardwood products in Allegheny, Butler and Armstrong Counties, cutting timber from seventy-six farms, with a total acreage of 2,000 acres of stumps.

In 1921 Mr. Jahnig came to Butler, where he purchased a parcel of ground from Spang & Company, and built six modern houses, and three houses on Federal Street. In 1922 he purchased thirty building lots from the U. S. Government Housing Association and built twenty-nine modern houses. In 1924 he purchased the remaining U. S. Government holdings in Butler, consisting of 156 building lots. He was instrumental in having Morton Avenue paved from south of Main Street viaduct to Fairview Avenue, and in 1925 getting a pavement from Fairview Avenue to the city line, also in getting the road improved from the city line to the Saxonburg Road. Mr. Jahnig is now building houses on the property, doing his own paving, sewering, etc., and donating it to the City of Butler. This is known as the South Hill Addition. He is the only man in Butler who has made such donations to the city. In 1924 Mr. Jahnig gave the free use of a baseball ground to the city, and this field was used in 1924 and 1925 by other leagues also.

In 1924 Mr. Jahnig was married to Miss Elenore Marsh, a daughter of John L. and Katherine Marsh, natives of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, now residents of Butler, where Mr. Marsh is associated with
the Standard Steel Car Company. Mr. and Mrs. Jahnig have a daughter, Katherine, born March 23, 1926.

Mr. Jahnig is a Republican, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias (Saxonburg), Dramatic Order of Knights of Karassin, and Sterling Club. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, while Mrs. Jahnig holds membership in the Methodist Church.

History of Butler County, Pa, 1927