This township is south of Moon and west of North Fayette, adjoining Beaver county on the west and Washington on the south. Potato Garden run and other branches of Raccoon creek drain it from the south and west, and numerous branches of Montour’s run from the east. The township is exclusively agricultural.

At the November session, 1819, a petition signed by thirty-one inhabitants of Moon township (the names of Thornburg and Aten being most numerous) was filed in the court of quarter sessions, representing that it was "supposed to be at the least from ten to thirteen miles the nighest course across," in consequence of which two supervisors had been elected for some years; and in the appointment of constables, the records show that "First Moon" and "Second Moon" were separately recognized by the court prior to 1800. The division line of the respective territories of supervisors and constables was as follows:
"Beginning at the plantation of Thomas Hill adjoining Fayette township, thence a straight line to William Neville’s in Moon township, from thence a straight line to Isaac Justus’ in Beaver county." The court was asked to confirm this line, or take such measures as would accomplish the desired end in giving to the people of "Second Moon" a separate township organization. James Martin, Thomas Aten and James Thornburg were appointed commissioners to inquire into the matter. Their report was filed January 11, 1820, the line of division recommended being substantially as described in the petition. This appears to have caused some dissatisfaction. In a second report, under date of February 21, 1822, the following terse description of the line was submitted to the court:
"Beginning at the mouth of Jacob Guy’s millrace, thence north twelve degrees west to Isaac Justus’ on the Beaver county line." This was confirmed at the following term of court, the portion bordering upon Washington county receiving the name of Findlay, in honor of Gov. William Findlay, one of the ablest men upon whom the honor of that position was ever conferred. He was born at Mercersburg June 20, 1768, of Scotch-Irish origin, and was early prominent as a democratic legislator. He was state treasurer, 1807-17; governor, 1817-20; United States senator, 1821-27; treasurer of the United States mint, 1827-41; he died November 12, 1846.

Prior to 1820 the following residents in Findlay township are remembered: James McNall and sons John and James; David McAdam and sons Alexander and James; Samuel Maloney and sons Samuel, Alexander, William and Robert; James McBride and sons John, David, Matthew, Isaac, Alexander, Nathaniel and Francis; Nicholas Swearingen and sons John and Nicholas; Charles Morgan and sons John, Simon, James and Daniel; Alexander Burns and sons William, Thomas, John, Samuel, Robert, Alexander, George and James; James Stewart and sons John, Richard, Thomas, James and Joseph; Rev. William Wilson and sons William, James, Robert, Samuel and John; Charles and sons John, Elisha and Elijah. In addition to these the Purdys, Eatons, Vandermarks, Guys, McMinns, Jeffreys, Byerses, Harpers, Cooks, Cavitts, Morrisons and Springers are remembered as early residents.

At an early day a gristmill stood on Montour’ s run, a mile below Imperial; the name of its builder is not remembered, but William Guy conducted it as early as 1820. Horse-power was used here in times of drouth, and subsequently a steam-engine was added. It has been but little used for the last twenty years. Forbes’ mill, on Potato Garden run, and Strouse’ s mill, on the same stream, were in operation long ago. Both have gone to decay.

The village of Imperial was laid out by the Imperial Coal company, ten years since. Prior to that its site was the farm of Robert Wilson. The population is largely composed of miners and their families, and numbers about six hundred. Most of the houses are owned by the company. The town is superior in some respects to ordinary mining villages.

The company now operates three mines — two on Montour’s run, in North Fayette township, and one at Bower Hill, on the Pan Handle road. The two first named are operated by wire-rope haulage. The daily output of the three mines is one thousand tons. The company operates coke-works on the line of the Montour railroad, near Montour junction. There are 102 ovens here, and a coke-crusher, for preparing domestic coke, has recently been added.

The Montour railroad, though a distinct organization, is under the control of this company. Four hundred men are employed in the mines of the company, at the coke-ovens and on the railroad. The officers of the company are U. A. Andrews, president of the Imperial Coal company; William McCreery, of the railroad, and F. L. Shellenberger, superintendent of both.

Clinton, a village of some importance as a local business center, was laid out in 1826, by John Charles. The postoffice, one of the oldest in this part of the county, was established in 1828. A postoffice at Cliff Mine was established in February, 1886, and one at McMinn in June, 1881. Imperial, the southern terminus of the Montour railroad, is partly in this township.

Hopewell Presbyterian Church was organized in 1814 as part of the charge of Rev. Michael Law. Among the early pastors were Revs. William J. Frazier and James D. Ray, installed in 1825 and 1829, respectively. Rev. William Hunter was pastor during the civil war, and a difference of opinion among the congregation as to the advisability of his continuance resulted in the organization of Hebron Church, 1870. The church-building at Clinton is jointly owned by Presbyterians and Methodists. Valley Presbyterian Church was organized in 1840. Rev. Samuel C. Jennings was pastor 1857-68. Rev. William Hanna became pastor of this church and Hebron in 1874. The United Presbyterian congregation at Clinton completes the number of religious bodies in the township at present.

The population in 1860 was 1,187. In 1870 it had declined to 1,170; in 1880 was 1,417.