History of Armstrong County Pennsylvania

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

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 3 MORE FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES. Wiser legislation, Gen. Wayne’s treaty with the Indians at Fort Grenville, Ohio, and other causes, operated favorably in causing permanent settlements to be made in this section of the state, from and after 1796. Such had been the increase of population therein that … Read more

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 4 ARMSTRONG COUNTY CIVIL ROSTER. Governors. � William F. Johnston, of Pennsylvania; Andrew J. Faulk, of Dakota Territory. Congressmen. � Gen. Robert Orr, Samuel S. Harrison, Joseph Buffington, Darwin Phelps and James Mosgrove � all citizens of Kittanning. Walter A. Burleigh, a former citizen of this county, … Read more

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 5 POSTAL AND TRAVELING FACILITIES. In 1818 there was only one postoffice between Kittanning and Indiana, and only a weekly mail, which was carried on horseback. In 1820, people living several miles above Red Bank creek received at least some of their mail matter from the Kittanning … Read more

Chapter 1 Historical Sketch of Armstrong County Part 6 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. �������� COL. JOHN ARMSTRONG. Col., afterward Gen., John Armstrong was born in the north of Ireland in the year 1720. About 1746 he came to Pennsylvania, and settled in what was then called the Kittatinny, now Cumberland valley, on the southeast side of the … Read more