Armstrong County

Beers Historical Record Index    Chapter 1 – Early Inhabitants and Indian Wars    Chapter 2 – Settling of the County    Chapter 3 – Agriculture , Fish and Game    Chapter 4 – The Fruit Industry in Armstrong County    Chapter 5 – Transportation    Chapter 6 – Geology and Natural Productions    Chapter … Read more

HEADER Chapter 1 Early Inhabitants and Indian Wars THE MOUND BUILDERS – INDIAN TRIBES AND CUSTOMS- PIONEER SETTLERS- INDIAN DEPREDATIONS- MASSEY HARRISON’S STORY CAPTAIN BRADY’S FIGHT- MINISTERIAL DEFENDERS The history of this county may be divided into three great periods: The aboriginal, or period of Mound Builders; the savage, or Indian period; and the civilized, … Read more

HEADER Chapter 2 Settling of the County CONRAD WEISER– THE SCOTCH-IRSIH– THE GERMANS– ESTABLISHING HOMES– DIFFERENT CUSTOMS– THE PURCHASE LINE– THE HOLLAND LANDS– THE DONATION LANDS– THE DEPRECIATION LANDS– THE FIRST SETTLERS– BUILDING OPERATIONS– COSTUMES– SPORTS AND GAMES– NEUGHBORLINESS A STRANGE MARRIAGE CONTRACT.   Weary, travel-worn and haggard, a little party of whites and Indians … Read more

HEADER Beers Historical Record Volume I Chapter 3 Agriculture , Fish and Game   The pioneer farmers of this county had little to aid them in the reclamation of the soil. The ground was covered with dense undergrowth and weeds, the removal of which required the most arduous labor by hand. Small quantities of grass … Read more

HEADER Armstrong County, Pa., Her People Past and Present Volume I Chapter 4 The Fruit Industry of Armstrong County (By Rev. T. J. Frederick, of Spring Church, Kiskiminetas Township.) EARLY GRAFTERS–VARIETIES OF APPLES–PEARS, PLUMS AND SMALL FRUITS–PIONEER ORCHARDS–STRANGE CUSTOMS–MODERN METHODS–STATE AID–DEMONSTRATIONS–COLLEGES–ASSOCIATIONS–SOIL SURVEYS–DYNAMITING–MARKETING Our forefathers who settled what is now called Armstong county, and who hewed … Read more

HEADER Beers Historical Record Volume I Chapter 5 Methods of Transportation, Ancient and Modern RIVERS AND STREAMS–SURVEYS AND IMPROVEMENTS–DECLINE OF WATER TRANSPORTATION–THE SIX CAPTAINS–THE PENNSYLVANIA CANAL–POSTAL FACILITIES–ROADS AND ROAD BUILDING–MODERN METHODS–RAILROADS–A NOTABLE GATHERING–ELECTRIC RAILWAY LINES The Allegheny river passes nearly north and south through the western part of the county, fed on the east by … Read more

HEADER Beers Historical Record Volume I Chapter 6 GEOLOGY AND NATURAL PRODUCTIONS The first geological survey of Pennsylvania was made in 1836 by Professor Henry D. Rogers, formerly State Geologist of New Jersey, under the act of that year’s Legislature, when the sum of $6,400 was appropriated for the purpose. This small sum was totally … Read more

HEADER Sylvester F Hildebrand SYLVESTER F. HILDEBRAND, a veteran of the Civil war, residing at Apollo, Armstrong county, was born at that place April 16, 1847, son of George W. and Elizabeth (Ford) Hildebrand. His maternal grandparents, Jacob and Christina (Lynch) Ford were early residents of Armstrong county, and he owned land in Apollo. By … Read more

HEADER Henry W Hild HENRY W. HILD is conducting the blacksmith business at Freeport, Armstrong county, established many years ago by his father, and is one of the respected citizens of that borough, where he has lived all his life. He was born there Feb. 15, 1870, son of John Hild, and grandson of Henry … Read more

HEADER Jacob T Hileman JACOB T. HILEMAN, a resident of Manor township, Armstrong county, was born Jan. 21, 1858, in that township, son of Jacob Hileman, who made his home in Armstrong county and died in 1860. He is one of a family of nine children, seven sons and one daughter besides himself, namely: Joseph, … Read more