Armstrong County

Chapter 14 Manor Formed out of the Western Part of Kittanning in 1849-First Township Election – Named from one of the Proprietary Manors – Kittanning afterward Appleby Manor – Ancient Works – Numerous Relics – Speculation in Regards to the Origin of the So-called “Old French Fort” – Soldiers Here in 1777-8 – Correspondence of … Read more

Chapter 14 Manor Part 1 Manor township was formed out of the western part of Kittanning township. The petition for its organization was presented to the proper court, at June sessions, 1849, and Hugh Campbell, Samuel Green and James Stewart were appointed viewers or commissioners, who presented their report in favor of the organization, at … Read more

Chapter 14 Manor Part 2 Col. Brodhead, in one of his letters to Gen. Washington, mentions Mahoning as being “about fifteen miles above Fort Armstrong.” The distance between the mouth of the Mahoning creek and the site of that fort is twelve and nine-tenths miles. Its site was about ninety rods above Fort run, on … Read more

Chapter 29 Parker City An Oil Town of Phenomenal Growth – Settlement of the Parker Family – An Indian Village on the River Bottom – Bear Creek Furnace – Lawrenceburg – Its Origin and Decline – Parker�s Landing – The Discovery of Oil and the Rapid Upbuilding of a City – Important Events – Leading … Read more

Chapter 16 Burrell Named after Judge Burrell-Organization-Indian Names of Crooked Creek-Original Owners of the Soil- Warrants Dated in 1776-Names of the Citizens of the Township in 1805-Strange Conjugal Arrangements- Powder-Mills – Captain Sam Brady�s Autograph-An Eccentric Manufacturer of Plows-�Williamsburg�-Salt Works-Religious History-Primitive Schools-Recent Educational Statistics-Mercantile and Other Occupations-Population. BURRELL TOWNSHIP was named after the late Judge … Read more

Chapter 17 Valley Set Apart from Pine — Mills — Monticello Furnace — The Patentees and Subsequent Owners — Lands of Gen. Armstrong’s Heirs — Doanville Seminary — Donaldson Nurseries — Troy Hill — The Old State Road — The Collins Lands — Pine Creek Baptist Church — Methodist Episcopal Church at West Valley — … Read more

Chapter 18 South Bend Organized in 1867 from Territory in Kiskiminetas and Plum Creek — The Thirty-five Original Land Warrants — The Pioneers and First Owners of the Several Tracts — Transfers of Property — “Captain Tom’s Hunting Camp” — A Political Meeting of 1810 — Woodward’s Mills — Postoffice — Blockhouse Built by the … Read more

Chapter 19 Freeport Probable Presence of the French in this Locality 1750-60 — Adventures with the Indians — Craig’s Blockhouse — Reed’s Station — An Indian Attack — Capture and Escape of Massy Harbison — Murder of Her Children — William and David Todd — “Toddstown” — Origin of the Name Freeport — The Early … Read more

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 1 WILLIAM PENN The writer briefly refers to the person, motives and principles of the first charter proprietor of the Province of Pennsylvania, once the owner of the soil of this county. Two hundred and thirty years ago was born in the city of London the subsequent … Read more

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 2 EXPEDITION AGAINST KITTANING. Eight companies of soldiers, constituting the second battalion of the Pennsylvania regiment, under the command of Lieut. Col. John Armstrong,7 were stationed at the forts on the west side of the Susquehanna. For the purpose of carrying out the expedition against Kittanning, planned … Read more