Douthett, W. G. Sr.

W. G. Douthett, Sr., the subject of this sketch, is at this time the senior member and treasurer of the firm of Douthett & Graham, Inc., a position he has held for the past twenty-three years, and is among the well known and representative citizens of Butler.

He was born in Forward Township, Butler County, March 20, 1862, and is the seventh son of David Douthett and Jane E. (Brown) Douthett.

W. G. Douthett was educated in the public schools of Forward Township, his education being greatly crippled and shortened by the serious sickness of his father, and at the age of sixteen he was compelled to quit school work to take charge of his father's large farm, which he very successfully managed for a period of seven years, until the date of his marriage, March 25, 1885.

In 1886 he bought his father's farm, consisting of 200 acres, managed and farmed it on a large scale until January, 1891, when he and his family moved to Butler.

In passing it is well to here note that Mr. Douthett is a lover of country life; he has kept his farm at his mother's request, which has been in the name of Douthett for over 140 years ; he oversees it personally and in doing so takes great pleasure, and even yet nothing affords him more pleasure than a stroll over the old farm, and to walk amongst his herd of 100 head of fine sheep, half of which are pure bred.

In March, 1893, in partnership with Hart W. F. Graham, the firm of Douthett & Graham, clothiers, was established, and in 1904 was incorporated under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania, with the following officers : Hart W. F. Graham, president ; L. C. Snyder, vice president ; W. G. Douthett, treasurer; A. R. Graham, secretary. In 1910 W. G. Douthett purchased the interest of Hart W. F. Graham and the following changes were made : William David Grant Douthett, president; D. C. Stewart, vice president; T. M. Barbor, secretary; W. G. Douthett, Sr., treasurer, and W. G. Douthett, Jr., assistant treasurer.

This is one of the largest and best stores of its kind in the county and is located at 113-117 South Main Street, Butler, Pennsylvania.

On March 25, 1885, Mr. Douthett was married to Sarah C. Bartley, a daughter of Williamson and Elizabeth Bartley, natives of Penn Township, Butler County, both now deceased.

To Mr. and Mrs. Douthett four children were born: (1) Bertha Jane, married to E. B. Reed, resides in Mercer, Pennsylvania, where he is cashier of the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank ; (2) Elizabeth B., married M. L. McBride, attorney, Grove City, Pennsylvania, and they have two children, Katherine D. and Milford L., Jr.; (3) William G. Douthett, Jr., born December 27, 1895, a graduate of Butler High School, 1914, Westminster College in 1918. He enlisted May 4, 1917, in Hospital Unit L, Camp Hospital 21, Fort McPherson, Atlanta, Georgia ; served in France sixteen months, was discharged June 12, 1919, and returned to Butler. He was married in 1924 to Esther M. Henninger, daughter of Jacob A. Henninger and Jean (Anderson) Henninger. William G. Douthett, Jr., belongs to the American Legion, Victory Lodge F. and A. M. No. 694, New Castle Consistory, Butler Country Club and Sterling Club. (4) Kathryn Douthett, at home, is a graduate of Butler High School, Wells College and University of Minnesota, class of 1922.

William G. Douthett, Sr., is a Republican and has served as school director. He is a ruling elder in the First United Presbyterian Church ; past president of the board of trustees ; past assistant Sunday school superintendent ; has filled the office of financial secretary of the Butler Presbytery, seldom held by a layman. He has served as president of the Butler Board of Trade for two terms, and through his efforts induced many of the first factories to locate in Butler. He has been interested in the oil producing business in Butler County ; is a director of the Butler County Mutual Fire Insurance Company ; director of the Community Savings and Loan Company, of which he was one of the organizers ; vice president and director of the Guaranty Trust Company, and is a member of the Merchants' Association and the Sterling Club.

History of Butler County, Pa, 1927