Indiana County, Pennsylvania
VOLUME I
In presenting "Indiana County and Her People" to its patrons, the publishers have to acknowledge, with gratitude, the encouragement and support their enterprise has received, and the willing assistance rendered in enabling them to surmount the many unforeseen obstacles to be met with in the production of a work of such magnitude. To procure the materials for its compilation, official records have been carefully examined; newspaper files searched, manuscripts, letters and memoranda have been sought; those longest in the locality were interviewed; and all the material has been so collated, systematized and indexed as to render it easy of reference.
He who expects to find the work entirely free from errors or defects has little knowledge of the difficulties attending the preparation of a work of this kind, and should indulgently bear in mind that "it is much easier to be critical than to be correct." It is, therefore, trusted that the history will be received by the public in that generous spirit which is gratified at honest and conscientious effort.
The publishers have been fortunate in securing the services of a staff of efficient and painstaking historians, who have been materially assisted by the gentlemen of the press and of the various professions, by the public officials, and by many other citizens of the county, of all of whom personal mention would gladly here be made, did space permit.
The work has been divided into two parts, History and Biography. The general history of the county, and for the most part of the townships and boroughs, has been compiled and prepared by Prof. J.T. Stewart. The Blairsville chapter is from the pen of Thomas Davis Marshall; the Montgomery township chapter by S.K. Rank; the Bench and Bar chapter by Samuel A. Douglass, Esq. Acknowledgment is made of assistance rendered by Gen. Harry White and Dr. W.B. Ansley in the prosecution of the work.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
The Wilderness 1
CHAPTER II
Remains of an extinct people 4
CHAPTER III
Early settlers 8
CHAPTER IV
Modes of travel 40
CHAPTER V
Roads 45
CHAPTER VI
The Pennsylvania canal 49
CHAPTER VII
Mineral resources of Indiana county 55
CHAPTER VIII
Changes in the system of weather 79
CHAPTER IX
Beasts and birds of Indiana county 84
CHAPTER X
Number and variety of serpents 88
CHAPTER XI
Indigenous fruits of the county 90
CHAPTER XII
Formation of the county 92
CHAPTER XIII
Political parties 97
CHAPTER XIV
County and state officers 103
CHAPTER XV
Veterans of Indiana county 109
CHAPTER XVI
Schools of Indiana county 195
CHAPTER XVII
Churches 231
CHAPTER XVIII
Medical profession 366
CHAPTER XIX
Bench and bar 383
CHAPTER XX
Indiana borough 395
CHAPTER XXI
Armstrong township - Sheloeta borough 432
CHAPTER XXII
Banks township - Glen Campbell borough 438
CHAPTER XXIII
Blacklick township 445
CHAPTER XXIV
Brushvalley township - Mechanicsburg borough 449
CHAPTER XXV
Buffington township 452
CHAPTER XXVI
Burrell township 455
CHAPTER XXVII
History of Blairsville and Vicinity 458
CHAPTER XXVIII
Canoe township 482
CHAPTER XXIX
Center township - Homer City borough 484
CHAPTER XXX
Cherryhill township - Clymer borough 492
CHAPTER XXXI
Conemaugh township - Salsburg borough 499
CHAPTER XXXII
Grant township 511
CHAPTER XXXIII
Green township 513
CHAPTER XXXIV
East Mahoning township - Marion Center borough 517
CHAPTER XXXV
North Mahoning township 527
CHAPTER XXXVI
South Mahoning township - Plumville borough 538
CHAPTER XXXVII
West Mahoning township - Smicksburg borough 542
CHAPTER XXXVIII
Montgomery township - Smickburg borough 542
CHAPTER XXXIX
Pine township 552
CHAPTER XL
Rayne township 556
CHAPTER XLI
Washington township - Creekside borough 559
CHAPTER XLII
East Wheatfield township - Armagh borough 561
CHAPTER XLIII
West Wheatfield township 566
CHAPTER XLIV
White township 571
CHAPTER XLV
Young township 572
Read the Book - Free
Download the Book - Free ( 75.3 MB PDF )
VOLUME II
Read the Book - Free
Download the Book - Free ( 65.2 MB PDF )
To a person who has witnessed all the changes which have taken place in the western country since its first settlement, its former appearance is like a dream or romance. He will find it difficult to realize the features of that wilderness which was the abode of his infant days. The little cabin of his father no longer exists; the little field and truck patch which gave him a scanty supply of coarse bread and vegetables have been swallowed up in the extended meadow, or grain field. The rude fort in which his people resided so many painful summers has vanished and, like the baseless fabric of a vision, left not a wreck behind. Large farms, with splendid mansion houses and well-filled barns, hamlets and villages now occupy the scenes of his youthful sports, hunting or military excursions. In the place of forest trees or hawthorn bushes he sees the awful forum of justice or the sacred temple with its glittering spire pointing to the heavens; and instead of the war whoop of savages or the howl of wolves, he hears the swelling anthem or pealing organ.
|