This township has been reduced to its present limits by the formation of Findlay in 1822 and Crescent in 1855. It extends from the line of Beaver county to Montour run, and borders upon the Ohio river a distance of several miles. The surface is broken and hilly, but well adapted to farming, which is the principal pursuit. Trout run and other branches of Chartiers creek drain the southeastern part of the township, Flougherty run, Wilson run and Narrow run, the western; Thorn’s run and other smaller streams, the middle and eastern portion. Geologically the entire township is included in the fourth coal-measure, or Pittsburgh vein.

Many interesting circumstances occurred in the early settlement of this section. The first settlers arrived before the Indian troubles had subsided, and many of the early land-titles were originally based upon "tomahawk claims." Of the original settlers, many of the families are represented among the present population. They were principally of Scotch nationality.

Jeremiah Meek and sons Jeremiah, Bazaleel and Joshua; Abraham Christy and sons Daniel, John and James; William Simpson and son Robert; Robert Simpson and son Robert; John Hanlon and sons John, Benjamin, Hughey, James and Joseph; J. D. McCormick and son James; Samuel Neely and son William; William P. Free and sons Jacob, Robert, George, William and Sandford; Jacob Free; Isaac Free and sons James, Joel and Spencer; John Stevenson and sons Samuel, John and Philip; James McCabe, Esq., and sons James H., William P., John, Milton and Alfred; James Stoddard and son Robert; John Creighton and sons William, James and John; Samuel Ramsey and sons Samuel and James; Jonas Moore and sons James and Samuel; John Vanderveer and sons John, Martin, Hiram, James and Peter; John Harger and sons Martin, Milton and John were residents of the present township of Moon prior to 1820, and some of them were very early settlers.

Montour run, the eastern boundary of the township, derives its name from Henry Montour, an Indian three-quarter blood. His mother, Catherine Montour, was the daughter of a French governor of Canada, probably Count Frontenac, by a Huron woman. At the age of ten years Madame Montour was adopted by the Iroquois Indians, and became domiciled with them. At the age of eighteen years she married a chief of that people, by whom she had several children, two of whom, Andrew and Henry, were interpreters, the latter serving Sir William Johnson in this capacity. Henry figured prominently in Indian affairs about Pittsburgh. Montour county in this state is named from their mother.

The Montour Kailroad company, William McCreery, president; L. M. Jenkins, treasurer, and F. L. Shallenberger, superintendent, was incorporated in 1878. The road is eleven and one-half miles long. The terminal points are Montour Junction, on the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie railroad, in this township, and Montour City (Imperial), in North Fayette. The road was built for coal transportation from the mines of the Imperial Coal company, a corporation identical in management and control, but also affords passenger facilities, and has proven an important factor in the development of the Montour valley. The coke-ovens on the line of this road, on the farm formerly owned by William Ewing, about a mile from the Ohio river, constitute the only industrial feature of any importance in the township. The ovens are one hundred and twenty in number.

The post offices are Moon, established in October, 1841; Beers, established in July, 1861; Stoops, established in December, 1879; Montours, established in February, 1832, discontinued in May, 1837, re-established in May, 1843, and finally discontinued in May, 1852; Tipps, established in February, 1884, and discontinued in November, 1885.

Henselville appears upon maps of the county, but the propriety of calling it a village is questionable. Sharon, on the Beaver road (opened by Col. Daniel Brodhead), and Stoop’s ferry, opposite Sewickley, are also designated as villages, but the indications of their existence are not numerous. The township is exclusively agricultural, and not thickly settled. In 1860 the population was over 1,148; in 1870, 1,230; in 1880, 1,389.

Sharon Presbyterian Church was organized in 1817 by Rev. Andrew McDonald, who continued as pastor three years. Rev. Samuel C. Jennings, D. D., was ordained and installed as pastor in 1829, and continued in that capacity for half a century, during which he was instrumental in organizing three other churches within the bounds of his charge. Rev. John M. Mercer is the present pastor. A church-edifice was built in 1828.

Mount Gilead United Presbyterian Church was organized in 1843. Rev. Robert Armstrong was pastor 1847-53; J. C. Bryson, 1855-66; D. K. McKnight, 1872-74; G. H. Getty, 1884-85; J. A. Lawrence, 1886- This church is in the southern part of the township.