Cameron County Genealogy Project

History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, Cameron, and Potter, Pennsylvania, with Biographical Sketches, including their early settlement and development; a description of the historic and interesting localities; sketches of their cities, towns and villages; portraits of prominent men; biographies of representative citizens; outline history of Pennsylvania; statistics - J. H. Beers & Co. Each county has its own chapter wherein is described its general history, its townships' histories, and biographical sketches of some of its citizens. Portraits are scattered throughout the book. (1890) 

   Here is an unofficial index to the book! Look ups available.

-From Wendy's Genealogy Section-

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History of Cameron County

This section is under construction and will be added to regularly.  Green lettering indicates a link to the corresponding page

Disclaimer:  It has been brought to our attention that not all of the information in Beer's History is completely accurate.  Like all such resources, it is a good starting place, but you might want to double check the information for accuracy.  Please let me know of any thing that you know is wrong and I will add notes to the offending section.  All in all, the book makes for good reading!

Chapter I - Topography and Natural History 

• Locality of County and Origin of Name
• Altitudes
• The New Purchase
• Area and Population
• Topography
• Natural History
• Salt and Oil Wells
• Floods, Storms and Forest Fires
• Climatology

Chapter II - Aborigines and Pioneers 

• Indian Relecs
• Interesting Find
• Fights with Indians
• Adventures and Murders
• Dr. Lansing's Account
• Lands in 1811
• Early Settlers and Settlements
• Experiences and Privations of the Pioneers
• Life on the Sinnamahoning in 1839-40
• Hunter's Stories
• Highwaymen

Chapter III - Transactions of the County Commissioners 

• Establishment of the County
• Location of the County Seat
• Capt. Roger's Reminiscences
• First Meeting of the Commissioners
• Doings of the Commissioners from 1860
• War Tax
• Appointments
• County Officers
• Jail, Etc.

Chapter IV - Courts and Bar 

• Record of Cameron County Courts
• Appointments and Removals
• Admissions to the Bar in 1862 and Subsequently
• Presiding Law Judges, and Assistant Law Judges President Judges and Associate Judges
• Law Circle of Cameron County
• Crimes

Chapter V - Political History 

• Northumberland District
• Judicial Erection of Counties
• Organization of Cameron County
• First Elections for County Officers
• Elections from 1860-1889

Chapter VI -Military History 

• Introductory
• War Meeting at Emporium
• Cameron County Company (Old Bucktails)
• First Cavalry
• Eighty-Fourth Regiment P.V.I.
• One Hundred and Ninetieth P.V.I.
• One Hundred and Ninety-first P.V.I.
• One Hundred and Ninety-ninth
• Miscellaneous

Chapter VII -Journalism, Education, Physicians, County Associations, Railroads

• Journalism- The Citizen, The Press, The Independent, The Herald, The Gazette (Sterling and Driftwood), Literature
• Education- Early Schools, Teachers and County Superintendents, Report of Superintendent Pearsall Year ending June 4, 1888, The Teacher's Institute
• Physicians- Dr. Kincaid and Others, The Cameron County Medical Society
• County Associations - Agricultural Societies, Centennial Association, Semi Religious Societies
• Railroads - Road to Salt Spring Run, The P & E Railroad, The B., NY., and P.R.R. 
• Miscellaneous

Chapter VIII - Shippen Township 

• Borough of Emporium
• Shippen Township
• Boundary and Area
• General Topography
• Population and Assessment
• March Elections 1861
• Pioneer Days and Homes
• Lumber and Mills
• Oil Wells, Coal Mining and other Ventures
• Internal Improvements
• Miscellaneous
• Borough of Emporium- It's Early History
• Municipal Affairs
• Postmasters and Post Offices
• Fire Department
• Water Company
• Bank
• Manufacturing
• Societies
• Churches
• Schools
• Fires
• Flood of 1889
• Conclusion

Chapter VIX - Gibson Township 

• Borough of Driftwood
• Gibson Township- Boundaries and Area
• Elevations and Streams
• Population and Assessment
• Election 1844
• Miscellaneous
• Borough of Driftwood- Origin of the Place
• Some First Things
• Incorporation
• Municipal Affairs
• The Place in 1876
• Manufactures, Fires, Floods, etc.
• Hotels
• Churches
• Schools
• Societies and Associations
• Conclusion

Chapter X - Grove Township 

• Grove Township
• Boundary
• Elevations and Streams
• Populations and Assessment
• Indian History
• Industries
• Sinnamahoning
• Survey and Sale of Village Lots
• Historic Apple Tree
• First Business of the Place
• Hotels
• Mails
• Early Schools
• Fires
• Church, Etc.
• Societies

Chapter XI- Lumber Township 

• Lumber Township
• Boundary
• Topography
• Population and Assessment
• Elections in 1861
• Forest Fires
• Sterling (Run)
• Origin and Survey of the Place
• Business and Improvements
• Fires
• Postmasters
• Societies
• Churches and Etc.
• Cameron
• Survey and Commencement
• Fires
• Catholic Church

Chapter XII- Portage Township 

• Portage Township
• It's Origin
• Elevations
• Streams
• Population and Assessment
• Families Resident in 1859
• Elections in 1861
• Sizerville
• A Historic Place
• Salt Works
• Hotels
• Fires
• Cemetery Association
• Conclusion

Chapter XIII Biographical Sketches 

• Biographical Sketches
• Shippen Township
• Borough of Emporium

Chapter XIV - Biographical Sketches 

• Gibson Township and Borough of Driftwood
• Grove Township
• Lumber Township
• Portage Township
  

Portraits

• J. W. Cochran 
• John T. Earl
• J. P. Felt
• C. B. Gould
• R. P. Heilman M.D.
• N. Segar
• R. Segar
• L. Taggart
• G. W. Warner
• J. S. Wiley

This page was last updated on  Friday, March 19, 2004.

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