Beaver in Beaver County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Beaver County Is Born 1800-1814

Photographed By Craig Doda, July 3, 2021

1. Beaver County Is Born 1800-1814 Marker

Inscription.

Beaver County Is Born 1800-1814. . Prior to 1800 Beaver County did not exist as we know it today and was, at various times, part of several other much older counties. On March 12, 1800, Beaver County was officially formed from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. The Borough of Beaver, then called "Beavertown,” had been surveyed nearly eight years earlier by Colonel Daniel Leet and was designated by the state as our county seat.

Several events of national importance occurred during this era of history. Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery passed through our county in the very early stages of their voyage across the country. Former Vice President Aaron Burr had a flotilla of boats built in Bridgewater to transport men down the Ohio River in support of his western conspiracy. Also, the War of 18 12 roused local patriots to form militia companies that aided in the defense of the key lake port of Erie.

March 12, 1800 , Pennsylvania established Beaver County from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. The 14th Section of this act appointed Jonathan Coulter, Joseph Hemphill and Denny McClure Trustees of the county.

March 29, 1802 , The town of Beaver (Beavertown), was incorporated as a borough. It had been surveyed by Daniel Leet in 1792 and confirmed by an act of assembly in 1793. Beavertown became our county seat in 1800 upon the formation of the county.

1802 , Greersburg Academy in Darlington was established by the Erie Presbytery becoming the first academy west of the Alleghenies. William McGuffey, author of the "McGuffey Readers,” was its most famous student.

September 3, 1803 , Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery traversed Beaver County via the Ohio River on their way to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

February 6, 1804 , The first county court, presided over by Judge Jesse Moore, was held on Third Street in Beaver on the upper floor of a tavern owned by Abner Lacock.

1805/1806 , Aaron Burr arranged for construction of a flotilla in present-day Bridgewater, in support of his conspiracy to establish a western empire.

November 4, 1807 , The Minerva, published by John Berry every Saturday in the town of Beaver, was the first known newspaper in the county.

June 18, 1812 , The War of 18 12 began when Congress declared war on Great Britain.

1813 , General Abner Lacock was elected to the United States Senate.

1813 , During the War of 18 12, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's Great Lakes fleet was rigged with rope produced by William Quinn's ropewalk located in modern-day Monaca.

1814 , Bassenheim Furnace was built in Franklin Township by Baron Detmar Basse and John Glasser. The second blast furnace built in the county, it lasted until 1824.

January 1814 , During the War of 18 12, the county formed eight militia companies consisting of 587 officers and men. All of these companies marched by way of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and served a tour of duty at Erie during the severe winter of 1814.

December 1814 , The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 18 12.

Prior to 1800 Beaver County did not exist as we know it today and was, at various times, part of several other much older counties. On March 12, 1800, Beaver County was officially formed from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. The Borough of Beaver, then called "Beavertown,” had been surveyed nearly eight years earlier by Colonel Daniel Leet and was designated by the state as our county seat.

Several events of national importance occurred during this era of history. Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery passed through our county in the very early stages of their voyage across the country. Former Vice President Aaron Burr had a flotilla of boats built in Bridgewater to transport men down the Ohio River in support of his western conspiracy. Also, the War of 1812 roused local patriots to form militia companies that aided in the defense of the key lake port of Erie.

March 12, 1800
Pennsylvania established Beaver County from parts of Allegheny and Washington Counties. The 14th Section of this act appointed Jonathan Coulter, Joseph Hemphill and Denny McClure Trustees of the county.

March 29, 1802
The town of Beaver (Beavertown), was incorporated as a borough. It had been surveyed by Daniel Leet in 1792 and confirmed by an act of assembly in 1793. Beavertown became our county seat in

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1800 upon the formation of the county.

1802
Greersburg Academy in Darlington was established by the Erie Presbytery becoming the first academy west of the Alleghenies. William McGuffey, author of the "McGuffey Readers,” was its most famous student.

September 3, 1803
Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery traversed Beaver County via the Ohio River on their way to explore the Louisiana Purchase.

February 6, 1804
The first county court, presided over by Judge Jesse Moore, was held on Third Street in Beaver on the upper floor of a tavern owned by Abner Lacock.

1805/1806
Aaron Burr arranged for construction of a flotilla in present-day Bridgewater, in support of his conspiracy to establish a western empire.

November 4, 1807
The Minerva, published by John Berry every Saturday in the town of Beaver, was the first known newspaper in the county.

June 18, 1812
The War of 1812 began when Congress declared war on Great Britain.

1813
General Abner Lacock was elected to the United States Senate.

1813
During the War of 1812, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's Great Lakes fleet was rigged with rope produced by William Quinn's ropewalk located in modern-day Monaca.

1814
Bassenheim Furnace was built in Franklin Township by Baron Detmar Basse and John Glasser. The second

Photographed By Craig Doda, July 3, 2021

2. Beaver County Is Born 1800-1814 Marker

blast furnace built in the county, it lasted until 1824.

January 1814
During the War of 1812, the county formed eight militia companies consisting of 587 officers and men. All of these companies marched by way of Meadville, Pennsylvania, and served a tour of duty at Erie during the severe winter of 1814.

December 1814
The Treaty of Ghent ended the War of 1812.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War of 1812. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1814.

Location. 40° 41.884′ N, 80° 17.819′ W. Marker is in Beaver, Pennsylvania, in Beaver County. Marker 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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Early Industry And Development 1815-1860 (here, next to this marker); Early Settlement 1772-1799 (here, next to this marker); Native Americans-Early Contact 1600-1771 (here, next to this marker); County Growth Continues 1881-1900 (here, next to this marker); Industry Flourishes 1861-1880 (here, next to this marker); History Of Beaver Station & Vicinity (a few steps from this marker); Beaver County National Firsts (a few steps from this marker); Beaver County 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 175 times since then and 33 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.