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, Pennsylvania, Historical Pub. Co., 1927,
Pages 750-752.
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