Early Settlement 1772-1799
With the onset of the Revolutionary War, Indian attacks increased as the British incited the native tribes to wage war on the settlers. But as the Revolution ended and independence was established, the native tribes moved further west, thus opening the land north and west of the Ohio River to settlement. Also during this period, the Pennsylvania and Virginia border dispute vwas finally settled, and the "Point of Beginning was established as the starting point for all land surveys of the new Northwest Territory.
Ca. 1772
The earliest recorded white settlers in the county were
established on King's Creek and Raccoon Creek (now
Hanover Township) by Levi Dungan and others. A part
of his original
this page online
1772/1773
George Baker family settled in
present-day Center Township.
1775
The first shots of the Revolutionary War
were fired at Lexington and Concord,
Massachusetts.
November 1778
Fort McIntosh was built
during the Revolutionary War
at the present site of Beaver,
becoming the first United States
military post on the "Indian side"
(northern side) of the Ohio River.
Before 1780
Thomas White built a three-story grist mill on
Raccoon Creek near the mouth of Potato Garden
Run. The oldest mill in what is now Beaver County,
White's mill marked the boundary with Washington
County in 1800 and became part of the Village of
Murdocksville. Supposedly, the burrs for the mill
were quarried from the Seine River in France.
1783
The United States and Great
Britain signed the Treaty of Paris
ending the Revolutionary War.
1784
Mill Creek Presbyterian Church,
the oldest religious institution in
the county, was established in
present-day Greene Township.
January 21, 1785
The Treaty of Fort Mclntosh with the
Delaware, Wyandot, Ottawa and
Chippewa nations opened up the
Northwest
August 23, 1785
The "Point of Beginning was established on the
north bank of the Ohio River on the border of
Pennsylvania for use in measuring all lands in the
Northwest Territories. The original marker is now
covered by the Ohio River.
1792
The first settlements are made on
the north side of the Ohio River by
Nicholas Dawson, Neal McLaughlin,
William Foulkes and William Williams.
November 1792
General "Mad Anthony Wayne
established Legion Ville near the
former Logs Town site to begin
training his troops for war
against the Indians.
April 21, 1794
Service Theological Seminary
(Eudolpha Hall), founded by
Dr. John Anderson, became
the first seminary west of
the Allegheny Mountains
and only the second in
the nation.
Ca. 1799
John Wolf established a flour mill on the east
bank of the Beaver River at the middle falls
(present-day New Brighton). David Townsend
erected a savw mill at the lower falls (present-day
Fallston). These were the earliest recorded mills
north of the Ohio River. Dr. Samuel Adams
settled at the upper falls of the Beaver River
(Eastvale), becoming
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary.
Location. 40° 41.883′ N, 80° 17.817′ W. Marker is in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County. It is on East End Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Beaver PA 15009, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh. It is also in the American Northeast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and in the Ohio River Valley. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Native Americans-Early Contact 1600-1771 (here, next to this marker); Early Industry And Development 1815-1860 (here, next to this marker); Beaver County Is Born 1800-1814 (here, next to this marker); History Of Beaver Station & Vicinity (here, next to this marker); A Walk Through Beaver County History (here, next to this marker); County Growth Continues 1881-1900 (a few steps from this marker); Industry Flourishes 1861-1880 (a few steps from this marker); Beaver County National Firsts (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beaver.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,698 times since then and 143 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 11, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
