09/01/2026
Tidbits from Yester-Years:
2013 - Old Fallowfield Township History: "Frederick COOPER, native to Germany, first settled in Frederick Co. VA and lived there till 1771. Early in that same year, he came to the Mon Valley region, north bank of the Monongahela River, it still being a wilderness at that time with very few having had previous tomahawk claims, now the claims controversy being made between PA and VA. He purchased land from Andrew Devore, that lay between Paul Froman and James Devore, but he sold it in 1772 to a Abraham Miller. There was much confusion at the time as to whom taxes were to be paid and much ill-feeling was existing at the time. In 1780 steps began to take place to settle the issue. On March 28, 1781, Washington County was established in Pennsylvania. When Fred. Cooper first came, he had left his wife and 3 children back East, because of this and Indians still being prevalent in the region, hence he sold his land to Miller and returned to the East – like many who would wait for more settled and peaceful times. His first wife died and after he married another, Elizabeth KYLE, he returned to Washington County with his family, purchased 287 acres that had been warranted to Jacob Froman, surveyed under the name “Wrangle”. The warrant is noted as having been received by him, December 27, 1784, and here he lived till for the rest of his life. Fred.’s children: Catherine m. Thom. WARD, noted as having been the first one to build his house in Belle Vernon; Margaret m. John ROLAND and they both moved to Wooster, OH wherein they passed the rest of their lives; Abraham moved to Guernsey Co. OH; Fred. owned a farm in the “Dutch Settlement” and was the father to Sam. and F. K. Cooper; Rebecca m. Daniel JACOBS; George moved to OH; Valentine resided and died as a very old fella on the original Cooper homestead, which was located at the mouth of Maple Creek, he being a distiller and farmer by trade. Valentine’s children were: Jackman, Washington, Jehu, Fred., Elizabeth, Nancy, Narcissa and Josiah C.. Jackman died in Upshur Co. W.V.; Jehu moved to Marshall Co., IL; Fred. became a school teacher and died, 1852; Nancy m. Newton Van VOORHIS; Elizabeth m. Apollos SPEERS who resided in Allen Twp. of old across from Belle Vernon; Narcissa m. Martin WEAVER and they moved to Huron Co. OH; Josiah C. was a practicing doctor in Philadelphia. Washington remained in Fallowfield Twp. where he was born, twice married, once to Sarah A. THOMPSON, with whom he had 5 children, then to Ruth A. GRAVES, who was b., 1814, in W. Pike Run Twp. and was the daughter of practicing Quakers who had come to the area from Wilmington, DE to settle there. Washington and Ruth had 5 children. Washington died in 1866 at 66 years old, his widow lived with her son, John F. thereafter. John F. Cooper, her son, became the Register of Wills in 1881 for Washington Co., serving for two terms. Later he became the Cashier for the People’s Bank of Monongahela City, he m. Miss Sarah J. CROW, also a native of Fallowfield Twp., dau. of Ben. and Susan (Thompson) CROW, Ben. being known as Squire Crow and having served as JP for a number of years as well as having been a carpenter and farmer. John F. and Sarah had 7 children – they lived their lives out on the old homestead farm, 4 mi. SW of Monongahela City, on the “Old Brownsville Road” in Fallowfield Twp., having 113 acres. (BEERS, 1893) - if you check in the pics we've put on this site - you can see the old Cooper farm .... on the "Old Brownsville Road" - for sale last we knew! See less
The other farm that was located at the mouth of Maple Creek is part of where Charleroi now sits. 🙂
Steve Kostelac: "first old wagon junkyard... was located there."
CAHS, Inc. - "archeology site! 🙂 "
2014 - More Tidbits from Yester-Years - 9-4-1907 - "ENTERTAINED AT DINNER - Mrs. T. J. Grant of Charleroi entertained at dinner Tuesday, in honor of Mrs. McElroy, Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. Myers, of Orlando, Florida. The affair was delightful and well appointed. Among those present, together with the hostess and the three honor guests were: Mrs. S. F. Jones, of BelleVernon, Mrs. Gailey, of Pittsburg, Mrs. Charles G. McIlvain and Miss Ella McIlvain, of this city. On Friday, Mrs. Jones will entertain in honor of the southern ladies, at her home in Bellevernon." ....
Another item of interest is this obituary found in old Mon City news - 7-19-1940 - "Obituary - HUGH ADAMS - Hugh Adams, aged 72 years, died yesterday morning at 1:20 o'clock in Mercy hospital, Pittsburgh, after an illness of three days. Mr. Adams, for 50 years an employee of the MacBeth Division of the Corning Glass Company as a glass packer, had resided in Charleroi for the past 40 years. He was born in Ireland, the son of William and Mary McCracken Adams. He was well known in Charleroi, and vicinity. Surviving are his wife, Madge Hanley Adams and one son, Harvey and one daughter, Mrs. Anna McCann, both of Charleroi. Two grandchildren also survive. Friends are being received at the L. B. Frye Funeral home, Charleroi, where funeral services will be held Saturday, conducted by the Rev. Frank S. Montgomery, Burial will be in Monongahela cemetery."
