Crawford County, Pennsylvania

Part I: Directory
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BEAVER TOWNSHIP.

This township was formed in 1811 [sic; 1800], and is in the North-west corner of the county, being bounded on the West by Ohio, and on the North by Erie county. It contains 21,668 acres. The surface is flat and is watered by small tributaries of Conneaut Creek. The first settlement of the township was made in 1800, the first parties who came within its limits to make their home, being George and William Foster. Soon after, Mr. McGuire, two families named Silverton, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Dunham settled in the township; a little later came the Gates, Hollenbecks, Browns and Larkins. The first store in the township was kept by Lester Griswold, at Beaver Centre, and the first grist mill was built at the same place by Robert Foster. The first school was established in 1826 at Beaver Centre; it was managed by trustees. There are now 13 schools in the township. The average attendance is 190, and the annual cost to the township is about $1,400. The population is about 1800, all white, who gain their livelihood by farming, lumbering, dairying, etc. There is a salt spring in the South-western part, but the waters have become impregnated with petroleum, and are not used for commercial or any other purpose.