…bringing our past into the future
CAPTAIN SAMUEL MURPHY — CAPTAIN JAMES P. MURPHY — THE MURPHY FAMILY The progenitor of the Murphy family of this county was Capt. Samuel Murphy, a native of Frederick county Virginia, born in 1756. He led a remarkable career, one full of adventure, vicissitude and usefulness, and was famous both as soldier and pioneer. Left … Read more
Robert Walter Smith ROBERT WALTER SMITH* Robert Walter Smith was born at Litchfield, New Hampshire, June 16, 1816, at the residence of his grandfather (on the maternal side), Judge Parker. His great-grandfather, Capt. Ebenezer Smith, was an officer throughout the whole of the revolutionary war, and was appointed captain of the guard over Maj. Andre … Read more
Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 1 William Penn Ă¯Â¿Â½ His Influence as Proprietor of the Province Ă¯Â¿Â½ Outline of the Early History of Pennsylvania Ă¯Â¿Â½ The Original Counties Ă¯Â¿Â½ Formation of Armstrong Ă¯Â¿Â½ Contest between the English and French for Dominion in the West Ă¯Â¿Â½ The Aboriginal Inhabitants Ă¯Â¿Â½ The Indian Town … Read more
Chapter 10 Kiskiminetas Indian Origin of the Name—Organization— Early Visits of the Whites—Christopher Gist—Persons to Whom the Lands were Originally Surveyed—Old Time Attempts to Divide the Township—Churches—Schools—Temperance Element—Improving Navigation in the Kiskiminetas—Mechanical Industries—Statistics of Employments and Population—Postoffices—An Ancient Landmark—Geological Description—“Dunmire’s Rock”—Borough of Apollo, Formerly Warren—Assessments at Various Dates—Ferries and Bridges—Religious Matters— Military—Soldiers Aid Society—Lodges— Trades … Read more
Chapter 10 Kiskiminetas Part 1 KISKIMINETAS TOWNSHIP This township was named from the river which skirts its southern border. Kiskiminetas, says Heckewelder, is corrupted from Gieschgumanito, signifying, make daylight. Its etymology is: Gisch-gu—day; gisch-que—today; gieschapen—it is daybreak; manitoon—to make. It was probably the word of command, given by a warrior to his comrades, at night, … Read more
Chapter 10 Kiskiminetas Part 2 BOROUGH OF APOLLO Apollo is a borough. It was formerly the town of Warren, so called after either an Indian chief or an English trader who bore that name. The town as originally laid out, it is said, was partly on the upper part of a tract containing 500 1/4 … Read more
Chapter 11 Pine (Including Boggs) Name – Erected from Territory in Kittanning Township – Decreased in Size by the Establishment of Boggs in 1878 – (Note)-Mahoning Creek and its Indian Name – The Old Path to Le Bœuf – The Indian Town of Mahoning Ă¢Â€Â“ Orrsville – History of the Original Land Tracts – Ore … Read more
Chapter 11 Pine (Including Boggs) Part 1 Pine township derived its name from Pine creek, which flows westwardly through the territory which it formerly embraced. Pine creek in the Delaware language is Cuwen-hanne, i. e., pine-streamĂ¯Â¿Â½a stream flowing through pine-lands. A petition of divers inhabitants of Kittanning township was presented to the court of quarter … Read more
Chapter 11 Pine (Including Boggs) Part 2 The Pine township postoffice, Wm. Gallagher, postmaster, was established July 16, 1855, and removed to or merged in the Pine Creek Furnace one, May 21, 1872. George Stewardson conveyed to William and Robert McCutcheon, proprietors of Ore Hill Furnace, 4,219 acres of those Wallis lands, September 7, 1849, … Read more
Chapter 11 Pine (Including Boggs) Footnotes 1 Ă¢Â€Â“ It was further shorn of the greater part of its remaining territory by the organization of Boggs township, June 10, 1878, by a line extending from a point on the Allegheny river, about 125 rods in an airline below the mouth of Whisky runĂ¢Â€Â”south of the telegraph … Read more