CHAPTER I
PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF BEAVER COUNTY…….PAGE 1
Location–Boundaries–Origin of the Name–Drainage–Soil–Topography–Geology–Flora and Fauna–Historic Floods–Climatic Peculiarities, etc
CHAPTER II
THE PRE-REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD……PAGE 13
Indian Occupation–French and English Claims–Explorers and Traders–The Ohio Company–Celeron’s Expedition–Alarm of Pennsylvania and Virginia Authorities–Washington Sent to Fort Le Boeuf–Military Measures–Fort at “Forks of the Ohio”–Ward’s Surrender–Beginning of French and Indian War–Fort Necessity–Braddock’s Defeat–Forbes’s Expedition and Fall of Fort Duquesne–End of French Empire in America–Conspiracy of Pontiac–Relief of Fort Pitt–Colonel Bouquet–Battle of Bushy Run–Bouquet’s Expedition against the Ohio Indians–Dunmore’s War–Mixed Character of Settlers–Murder of Logan’s Family–Battle of Point Pleasant
CHAPTER III
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD, AND AFTER, TO 1800……PAGE 64
Origin of Revolutionary Spirit–Causes of the Conflict–Training of Colonists for it–Part of Western Settlers in Revolution–General Clark’s Expedition–General Hand’s Expedition–Girty and Other Renegades–Conduct of British at Detroit–General McIntosh’s Expedition–Building of Fort McIntosh–“Brodhead’s Road”–Fort Laurens–Distress of its Garrison–(end p. vii)Relations of McIntosh and Brodhead–Descriptions of Fort McIntosh–Brodhead in Command–Indian Troubles–Irvine in Command–Mutinous Troops–Their Hardships–Military Executions at Fort McIntosh–Decay of that Post–Indian Treaty There–Surrender of Prisoners–Visit to Fort McIntosh of Boundary Commissioners–Evacuation–Demolition–Blockhouse at New Brighton–Sam. Brady–Defeats of Harmar and St. Clair–Wayne’s Camp at Legionville–His Victory at Maumee–Its Results–Boundary Controversy between Pennsylvania and Virginia: Its Origin, Progress, and Settlement–The “New State” Movement.
CHAPTER IV
THE FIRST SETTLERS AND THEIR LIFE……PAGE 145
The Scotch-Irish–The Germans–The Moravians–Date of Early Settlements–Claims of Priority–Incidents of Indian Incursions–The Poes and Captain Brady–The Last Indian Murder–North Side Settlers–Pioneer Life–“Forts” and Blockhouses–Dress and Provisions–Homes and Furniture–Sports and Diversions–Morals and Manners–Religious Beliefs and Superstitions–Education.
CHAPTER V
FIRST LAND TITLES……PAGE 179
“Land-grabbing,” Indian, Swedish, Dutch, and English–Duke of York’s Tenure–William Penn’s Tenure–Conveyances–Manors–Extinguishment of Indian Title–Purchases of 1768 and 1784–Treaty of Fort McIntosh, 1785–Depreciation and Donation lands–Reservations–Land Act of 1792–Land Companies–Litigation Resulting–Pennsylvania and Virginia Grants.
CHAPTER VI
ERECTION AND ORGANIZATION……PAGE 192
Need of New Counties–Eight Counties Formed–Boundaries of Beaver County Defined–Commissioners–Organization of Courts–Admission of First Attorneys–First County Officers–First Grand Jury–Constables Appointed–Licenses Granted–Justices’ Districts–First Deed and Will–Commissioners’ Report of 1806–Erection of County Buildings–Civil List–Personal Sketches of United States Senators, Members of Congress and of the State Senate. (end p. viii)
CHAPTER VII
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT……PAGE 235
Indian Trails–Brodhead’s Road–County and State Roads–Bridges–Canals–Ohio River Dams–Steam Railways–Railway Contrasts–Street Railways–Water, Fuel, and Lighting Companies–Banking Institutions–Mail Facilities–Growth of Population.
CHAPTER VIII
COUNTY DEVELOPMENT (continued)….PAGE 276
Nature’s Part–Agricultural Progress–Pioneer Means and Methods of Farming–Modern Conditions–State Aids–Agricultural Societies–Farmers’ Associations–Agricultural Statistics–Mineral Resources–Manufacturing–Pioneer Industries–Early Mills and factories–Era of Speculation–Hindrances and Helps to Growth of Industrial Life–Boat-Building in Beaver County–Iron and Steel Industries–Fire-clay Products–Oil Refining–Manufacturing Statistics.
CHAPTER IX
LEGAL HISTORY–BENCH AND BAR……PAGE 304
Previous Jurisdictions–Virginia Courts–Organization of Beaver County Courts–Judicial Districts–Character of First Officers–Sketches of President Judges–Associate Judges–First Attorneys–Prominent Early Attorneys–Attorneys of Later Date, Deceased–Simplicity of Early Suits–Fees–Celebrated Causes–Law Association–Roll of Attorneys.
CHAPTER X
MEDICAL HISTORY……PAGE 370
Tributes to Profession–Scope of Chapter–Sketches of Prominent Physicians, Deceased–Healthfulness of Beaver County–Noted Epidemics–Beaver County Medical Society–Hospitals.
CHAPTER XI
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY……PAGE 393
Merits of Common-School System–Influence of Teachers–Pioneer Schools–State Aid–Lotteries Authorized–Efforts for Common-School Law–Act of 1834–Directors Elected–Tax Laid–Inspectors–Repeal Discussed–System Inaugurated–School Buildings–Teachers’ Associations–Early Teachers–County Superintendents–Teachers’ Institutes–Statistics–Higher Education. (end p. ix)
CHAPTER XII
RELIGIOUS HISTORY……PAGE 411
Religious Spirit of Pioneers–Roman Catholicism–Moravian Mission on the Big Beaver (Friedenstadt)–Presbyterianism–Methodism–United Brethren in Christ–Church of God–Baptists–Lutheranism–Disciples of Christ–Evangelical Association–Congregational Church–Protestant Episcopal Church.
CHAPTER XIII
THE PRESS……PAGE 450
The First Newspaper–News-Letters–First Newspaper in English–First English Daily–Journalistic Development in the United States–First Colonial Newspapers–First Religious Journals–Newspapers in Pennsylvania–Great Modern Newspaper Plants–Character of the American Press–History of the Newspaper Press of Beaver County.
CHAPTER XIV
MILITARY HISTORY……PAGE 474
Connection of Beaver County with the Revolution–Revolutionary Veterans and Pensioners–War of 1812–Patriotic Proceedings–Rosters of Troops–Mexican War–The Alamo–Causes and Commencement of Hostilities–Enlistments–War of the Rebellion–Introductory Remarks–Patriotic Mass Meetings–Citizens’ Committees Appointed–Home Guards–List of Commissioned Officers–Sketches of Regiments in which Beaver County was Represented–Beaver County Men in the U S. Naval Service–Rosters of Troops in the War of the Rebellion.
CHAPTER XV
BEAVER COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR……PAGE 606
Volunteering–Company B, Tenth Regiment–Response to Call of President McKinley–Mustered in –Tenth Regiment Ordered to the Philippines–At Camp Merritt–At Honolulu–In Camp Dewey–First Engagement at Malate–In Attack upon Manila–Corregidor Island and Cavite–Return to San Francisco–Mustered out–Receptions at Pittsburg and New Brighton–List of Officers and Men.
(end p. x)