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As related above,
Shenango township resulted from the division of the old Neshannock
township in 1805. At that time it extended north to include the
territory of what is now Hickory township as far north as Sharon. This
territory was detached to form part of Hickory township in 1833. In the spring of
1796 Samuel Byers and Andrew
Wylie came out of Virginia, following the course of the
Monongahela to Pittsburg and thence up the Beaver and Shenango valleys
to a point not far from the south line of what is now Shenango township.
A cabin was built, and in the course of the summer their families were
brought from Virginia and established in the wilderness. About the same
time with the above settlement Thomas Canon,
of Philadelphia, came into the valley, locating near Middlesex, and
founding the family whose present generation furnishes some well known
names in the citizenship of the county. Some of this family are now
identified with Mill Creek township, on the opposite side of the county. The trade of
weaver was certainly an unusual occupation among the pioneers. In the
majority of families the making of cloth was part of the household
pursuits. Richard Van Fleet, who arrived in
Shenango township in 1798, was a young man and by trade a weaver, but
combined with that occupation the work of farming. His name has since
been borne by numerous descendants. William
Bell settled here in 1798. Dr. John
Mitcheltree became the first physician of this part of the county
early in the following century, and the families of both have since
lived in the county. George Walker was an
Irish settler whose name is given among the taxables of this part of the
county in 1801. His grandson is a merchant of West Middlesex. Twentieth Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 167-168 |
Places
Shenango Township