William A. Smith

William A. Smith is a Pennsylvania historical marker in NE of Saxonburg, Butler County, dedicated 1955.

N Pike Rd. (PA 356) near Cooper Rd. (T677), NE of Saxonburg

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Known as "Uncle Billy" Smith. In 1859, he drilled the world's first successful oil well with tools that he made in his blacksmith shop near Tarentum. The well, 69 1/2 ft. deep, was drilled near Titusville for Col. Edwin Drake. "Uncle Billy" died in 1890. He lies buried about 120 ft. southeast of here.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1848 · Pennsylvania. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1857 · Pennsylvania. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1858 · Colton's New York (1858) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1859 · Colton's New York (1859) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1864 · Eastern U.S. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Pennsylvania, 1857, covering the location of William A. Smith, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Pennsylvania, 1857, covering this location. David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission via data.pa.gov

William A. Smith

Historical maps covering this location

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