Elizabeth was one of the seven original subdivisions of the county, and was erected in 1788. Its present limits were established in 1869. It borders upon the Monongahela river a distance of about a mile above the borough of Elizabeth, and upon the Youghiogheny about twelve miles. It also adjoins Westmoreland county. There are no streams of importance, and the general slope of the surface is northeast. The land is fertile and productive, though much of it has been under cultivation nearly a hundred years; and in addition to its advantages as a farming section, there is an apparently inexhaustible deposit of coal extending through the entire township.

The first discovery of coal in this part of the Youghiogheny valley was made by Robert Graham, who became a resident of the township in 1815. He located a vein in the hills opposite Alpsville, and first demonstrated that the mineral was combustible. Coalpits were opened in various places for local consumption, but as timber was abundant, and generally preferable for fuel, there was no great demand for the product. The development of the coal interests of the eastern part of the township received a great impetus in 1852, when slackwater navigation on the Youghiogheny was provided for by the construction of dams and sluices. Dr. John Kuhn, of Versailles township, built an abutment and tipple at the place where Graham’s first discovery was made before the river was actually open to navigation, and from "Little Alps" mines the first shipments through the locks on the Youghiogheny were made. In the same year (1852) Duncan, Cornell & Co. opened the mines at Duncan station, then known as Duncan’s landing. The "William Dravo& mine, a short distance below Buena Vista, was opened in 1856 by William Dravo. A cooperative association of miners, under the name of Muse & Co., began operations at Stringtown in 1856, and Miller & Maguire, on a small scale, at Industry in 1864. Unfortunately for the interests of both the coal companies and the owners of coal-lands, the slackwater navigation did not justify their expectations. Dam No. 1 was injured by the ice-flood of 1862, and repaired by the combined efforts of the navigation company and the coal companies; but in the winter of 1865-66 both No. 1 and No. 2 sustained injuries to such an extent as to necessitate their virtual reconstruction. Instead of being rebuilt they were abandoned. Coal-mining on the Youghiogheny was thus prematurely suspended, and not resumed until 1883, when the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny railroad was opened. The first shipments over this road were made from the mines of the Southwest Gas Coal company at Buena Vista. With the exception of the Lake Shore Gas Coal company’s mine at Dravo, all the collieries on this line of railroad are owned and operated the Youghiogheny River Coal company, of which Hon. William L. Scott is president, James Matthews, superintendent, and M. H. Taylor, secretary and treasurer, and in which the Vanderbilt estate is largely interested. The coalworks of this company in Elizabeth township are known, respectively, as Ocean Mines Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5 (the Southwest Gas Coal company), Atlantic, Pacific and New Hopkins. The operations of this company contribute in large measure to the business activity and prosperity of this section of country. The former rugged aspect of the river valley has been subdued, and thriving towns afford additional evidence, if that were necessary, of the benefits and permanence of the change.

Boston was so named by a brother of Mr. Duncan, of the firm of Duncan, Cornell & Co., by whom the coalworks at this place were first established. Its previous history was not uneventful. A hundred and more years ago there stood upon the present site of the village a stockade or fortification, the traditional location of which is known as "the fort field." The outline of the redoubt was clearly traceable forty years ago. This was the retreat of the inhabitants of the "Forks" in times of threatened danger during the French and Indian troubles, but nothing of a remarkable character seems to have occurred here. It is to be regretted that incidents in connection with pioneer experiences at this period have not been preserved.

There is little in the appearance of Boston to indicate the most remote resemblance to "The Hub" of New England civilization. Although it presents few features other than those usually possessed by mining towns, the beauty of the surrounding scenery, the generally substantial character of the buildings, and the effects of a favorable location, improved upon by public-spirited citizens, render it an exception to the general rule. Its growth has not been rapid, and the population at the present time may be estimated at two or three himdred. Saltworks on a small scale were once in operation, but have long since been suspended. The mines are worked by W. H. Brown’s sons, and employ the laboring class of the population. Shipments are made by water, this place being at the head of navigation on the Youghiogheny. It is a station on the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny railroad.

The Boston Methodist Episcopal church, a frame structure on the principal street of the village, was built in 1879. The society originated in a revival held the previous winter by the pastor of Dravo charge, of which it forms part. Rev. F. F. Pershing was pastor from 1878 to 1881, R. S. Ross from 1881 to 1884, and R. C. Wolf from 1884 to 1887. The First United Presbyterian Church was organized February 27, 1885, by Rev. D. M. Thorn, and the church-edifice, a frame building on the main road from Boston to Buena Vista, was built in 1884-85. J. D. Williams, T. P. Westbay and T. J. Williams constituted the first session, and Mr. Thorn was pastor from 1885 to 1887. The first religious service in the village was held in 1866 at the sawmill of J. D. Williams, by Rev. Crow, then pastor of a United Presbyterian church at Coultersville.

Rankin Post, No. 127, Grand Army of the Republic, was organized May 15, 1879. The hall, a large brick building at the traditional location of the fort, and one of the most attractive features of the village, was built in 1886. Lone Star Lodge, No. 51, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with organizations of Knights of Labor and Knights of the Mystic Chain, are also in a flourishing condition.

Greenoak was ushered into existence under the name Greenock, which was conferred at the suggestion of William Black, a native of the old Scotch borough. The name was conferred by John K. Graham, by whom the town was laid out (if it may be said to have experienced that formality); its impropriety became apparent as the distinctively German character of the population was noticeable, and by a corruption of the name it became Greenoak, but is known as a postofflce under the name of Greenock. The town is situated in a great bend of the Youghiogheny river, on the line of the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny railroad. It comprises an area of two or three hundred acres, and occupies part of a tract of land originally seated by Robert Wilson, who was among the earliest settlers of Elizabeth township. He lived for several years in a log cabin near the river, reduced a small portion of his tract to cultivation, and married after passing several years in this bachelor fashion. After his death, in the early part of this century, the tract relapsed into its original condition, and was regarded as utterly worthless for farming purposes. The surface is comparatively level, however, and when the mines were opened, in 1852, building sites were in demand. The farm was sold by John K. Graham and others in lots of from one to fifteen acres. The purchasers were principally Germans, and their untiring industry has effectually removed the rocks and brush which once were here in such profusion. Houses were built in styles and situations to suit individual preference, and hence the irregular appearance presented. The population is variously estimated at from six to eight hundred. Farming, gardening and mining are the principal occupations. There is a brickyard in operation, employing a number of men.

The Methodist church was built in the 60’s. This society forms part of Dravo charge. Trinity Lutheran Church was organized in 1856, with Christian Waegele, chairman; W. Wallaum, secretary, and L. Merhof, trustee. Revs. Meyer and Tollar, of McKeesport, conducted the first services. H. Frieman, successor of the latter, took the first steps in building the church, which was dedicated in 1858. Rev. M. Schweikert was pastor for a number of years. The society was incorporated April 14, 1863. Rev. F. L. Dietrich is the present pastor. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was organized by Rev. F. A. Hersberger September 8, 1872, with eighteen members. The cornerstone of the church-edifice was laid April 13, 1873, and the dedication occurred August 8, 1873. The following clergymen have been pastors: F. A. Hersberger, E. Mahlberg, Jacob AVilhelm, C. F. Meyer, H. L. Schenck and F. H. Besel.

Buena Vista was laid out by James B. McGrew, September 20, 1849, for the heirs of Daniel Greenawalt. The streets are numbered from First to Fourth, in order from the river, and named Brown, Main, Vine, Wood, Penn and Queen, in order from the west. Ocean Mines Nos. 3, 4 and 5 are located in the immediate vicinity, and from its situation at a great bend in the river, it commands the trade of a rich farming section. The ruins of one of the dams in the river obstruct its channel at this place. Communication with Buena Vista station, on the Pittsburgh & Connellsville railroad, by ferry, and with different points on the rivers by steam-packet, before the destruction of the dams, rendered the place a little more active than the generality of river towns, but its present importance has resulted from the opening of the railroad in 1883. The old courthouse at Pittsburgh and the piers of the Steubenville bridge were built from materials obtained at the quarries near this place.

The First United Presbyterian Church of Buena Vista was organized January 8, 1867, from the membership of Bethesda Church. The church-edifice was built in 1860. A Methodist society numbering fifty members was formed in the winter of 1885-86, by Rev. R. C. Wolf, and the erection of a church is under consideration.

Industry is a thriving village of several hundred inhabitants at Ocean Mine No. 2. This place has improved rapidly since the opening of the railroad. A Baptist church has been recently organized, with Rev. E. C. Weeks, pastor, and a place of worship is in course of erection. Douglass, so named from Col. William Douglass, is a station on the Pittsburgh, McKeesport & Youghiogheny railroad, and a place of about two hundred families. The Atlantic and Pacific mines are located here. Dravo station (popularly known as Stringtown) may be regarded as a village, though scarcely more than a scattered hamlet. The old Newlin Methodist Episcopal church, built in 1824 and rebuilt about forty years later, is situated in the immediate vicinity. The land upon which it stands was donated by William Newlin.

Lovedale is a mining village in the western part of Elizabeth township. The name is derived from that of A. Love, by whom the coalworks were originated. John A. Wood & Son are the present operators.

The postoffices in the township are Buena Vista, Boston, Greenock, Gamble’s, Blythedale and Frank. The population in 1860 was 5,991; in 1870, 2,937; in 1880, 3,361.

Although numerous changes were made in the political organization of the surrounding territory, no effort was made to reduce the limits of Elizabeth until January, 1825, when Robert Beatty, John Walker and Hezekiah Douthitt were appointed by the court to report upon the advisability of annexing to Versailles that part of its territory north of a line beginning at Coon’s mill, and thence by a straight course to the Monongahela river opposite the mouth of Peter’s creek. It is not probable that the commissioners took favorable action; at all events the movement was barren of results. April 2, 1853, by order of court. Col. John Scott, William G. Hawkins and Joseph Miller were authorized to report a plan of division, and under date of May 26, 1854, they submitted a draft of Elizabeth, that portion since known as Forward being designated as Jersey, and the limits nearly identical. The next plan suggested was that finally adopted — the formation of this township from the original territory of Elizabeth. Youghiogheny, Elizabeth and Forward were the respective names proposed; but at the election, June 30, i860, the measure was defeated by a vote of 225 to 189. It was plain, however, that a division must inevitably occur. The great extent of Elizabeth may be inferred from the fact that it bordered upon the Monongahela a distance of nearly twenty miles, and upon the Youghiogheny a distance of seventeen miles. The number of voters in this territory in 1868 is said to have been one thousand, and the places of election were seven miles from certain points in the township, which was the largest in the county, and had been such for many years. The plan of division proposed in 1860 was again agitated in 1868; and at the April sessions in that year William E. Harrison, J. McK. Snodgrass and J. B. Stilley were appointed as commissioners for the usual duties prescribed in such cases. They reported in favor of the measure which had been proposed and defeated eight years previously; and at the following election, March 19, 1869, the former result was reversed by a majority of 69 in a total vote of 365. March 29, 1869, by decree of court, Forward and Lincoln townships was erected, and Elizabeth reduced to its present limits.