1908 postcard to Miss Elizabeth Caylor, Creekside, Pa., signed "From Grandma." Submitted by Linda Repine.

Here is some of the history of Rural Valley, Yatesboro, and surrounding areas in Cowanshannock Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania that I've gathered up along the way. This is a work in progress with much more to be transcribed. Many of these materials were found while I was cleaning out my aunt's home in Rural Valley. Quite a few others came from the estate of Mary Elizabeth ("Lib") Caylor and were generously donated by Linda Repine. Submissions are very welcome!

This site is subdivided into the following areas:

• Histories. Civic, church and Civil War histories.
• Maps.
• People. Wedding announcements, biographies, letters, memorial cards and obituaries.
• Cemeteries.
• Pictures.
• Miscellaneous. Newspaper articles and the like that do not fit into the other categories.
• What's new?

Happy digging! Use the box below to search this site.

You can use * and ? wildcards in your search. For example, if you enter McCa* into the box above, you will find references to McCain, McCall, McCasland, McCausland, etc. If you enter McC???? into the box, you will get McCarty, McClury, McCombs etc.

Want to see what's going on today? Visit:

• The Rural Valley borough web site.
• Weather forecast for Rural Valley and vicinity.

Let me know if you would like to be notified when this site is updated.

Histories

Civic Histories

• Hosick's "Rural Valley, Cowanshannock Valley and Vicinity (1900)." A booklet written by Thomas Hosick, who was at that time editor of the Rural Valley Advance and a real estate agent.
  • Text.  A history of Rural Valley and Cowanshannock, sections about gas production, coal production, the Crooked Creek coal field, and a sales pitch to business developers.
  • Cover, title page and ads.  Includes 20 pages of advertisements. Most are from businesses in Rural Valley and Kittanning.
• Sagamore.   A history of the town and recollections of some of its older residents. External link to Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
• Yatesboro Memories.   Recollections of Ida Enterline Milliken about Yatesboro from its founding through World War II. Submitted by Mary Koma.
• St. Mary's Mother of God.  This history of St. Mary's Catholic Church also contains a summary of the history of Yatesboro.  External link to the St. Mary's Mother of God Catholic Church web site.
• Anonymous Sketch of the History of Cowanshannock Township (about 1880).  Transcription of a manuscript found in an old house in Rural Valley.
• Cowanshannock Chapter, Smith's 1883 "History of Armstrong County, Pennsylvania."   External link to the Armstrong County GenWeb Project.
• Cowanshannock Chapter, Beers's 1914 "History of Armstrong County Pa., Her People, Past and Present."   External link to the Armstrong County GenWeb Project.

Church Histories

• First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rural Valley History (1947).  Covers the years 1901 to 1947. This brief history was published in the bulletin commemorating the dedication of a new church building; the old one was destroyed by the tornado of 1944. Lists names of pastors up to 1947, and names of parishoners and local businesses who contributed toward the rebuilding of the church. Submitted by Linda Repine.
  
• Rural Valley Presbyterian Church Histories.  Descriptions of church buildings, names of some members, elders and pastors, and descriptions of early services. Although these selections cover the same material, each has its own perspective.
  • Rev. Newton B. Kelly's History (1888).
    
  • J. C. Rhea's History (1893).
    
  • Rev. Samuel D. Regester's History (1935).
    
• Salem United Church of Christ History (2001).  Salem U.C.C. was previously known as Salem Reformed Church and Hill's Church. This excerpt from the "Salem United Church of Christ 160th Anniversary Book" details the church's activities from 1841 to 2001 and contains names of many pastors, church officials and members.  Submitted by Sue Hill and Carolyn Schrecengost.
• St. Mary's Mother of God, Yatesboro 1904-2004.  This history of St. Mary's Catholic Church also contains a summary of the history of Yatesboro.  External link to the St. Mary's Mother of God Catholic Church web site.
• Church of the Brethren.  A few pages from History of the Church of the Brethren of the Western District of Pennsylvania by Jerome E. Blough (1916).  External link to Google Books.

Civil War Histories

• Company K, 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers
  • Company "K," 155th Pa. Volunteer Zouaves (1888)  by David Porter Marshall, J. Andrew Cline and W.D. Porter.  External link to www.archive.org.
  • Letters From the Storm: The Intimate Letters of Lt. J.A.H. Foster, 155th Pennsylvania Volunteers, is a book by Linda Foster Arden, of Rural Valley's Foster family, about her great-great grandfather's experiences in the Civil War. For sale at the Mechling Books web site.
• 204th Regiment, 5th Artillery, Battery M
  • Roster  from History of Pennsylvania Volunteers 1861-5  by Samuel P. Bates.  External link to the University of Michigan web site.
  • Summary of Service.  External link to Pennsylvania Volunteers of the Civil War web site.

Back row: Louis McKelvey, Bertha Neal, Mrs. McKelvey, unknown. Front row: unknown, Mary Neal

Maps

Cowanshannock Township is located in the eastern part of Armstrong County, on the border of Armstrong and Indiana counties. Towns in Cowanshannock include: Atwood, Barnards, Blanco, Bryan, Hoosicks Mill, Hughesville, Lumstead, Meredith, NuMine, Rose Valley, Rural Valley, Sagamore, Smeltzer and Yatesboro.

• 1860 map of Rural Valley.  Includes a list of local businessmen.  External link to Ancestor Tracks.
• 1861 map of Cowanshannock Township.  Shows locations of farms. Includes parts of Wayne, Plum Creek and other surrounding townships.  External link to Ancestor Tracks.
• 1876 map of Cowanshannock Township.  Shows locations of farms. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1876 map of Rural Village and Atwood.  Shows locations of homes and businesses. Lists businesses in the area and the type of goods they sold. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1978 topographic map of Cowanshannock Twp.  This U.S. Geological Survey map shows towns, cemeteries, churches, mines, bodies of water and the railway. External link to Rootsweb.

Cowanshannock's neighbors are:

• To the north: Wayne Township, Armstrong County. Belknap, Dayton, Echo, McCrea Furnace, Milton, Muff and Syderville.
• To the northeast: West Mahoning Township, Indiana County. Benton Furnace, Benton Mills, Goodville, Loop, North Point, Sellersville and Smicksburg.
• To the east: South Mahoning Township, Indiana County. Ambrose, Beyer, Denton, Elkin, Frantz's Mill, Glen Oak, McCormick Station, Ox Hill, Plumville, Rossmoyne, Sharpsburg, Smyrna, Wallopsburg and Wells Station.
• To the southeast: Washington Township, Indiana County. Advance, Creekside, Davis, Five Points and Willet.
• To the south: Plum Creek Township, Armstrong County. Elderton, Gastown and Whitesburg.
• To the southwest: Kittanning Township, Armstrong County. Blanket Hill, Heilman, McNees, Pyrra, Rockville and Shay.
• To the west: Valley Township, Armstrong County. Greendale, Oscar, Stone House and West Valley.
• To the northwest: Boggs Township, Armstrong County. Baum, Goheenville, Pine Furnace and Slabtown.

Armstrong County area maps:

• 1861 maps of Armstrong County townships and villages  showing landowners. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a menu of Armstrong County locations that are available.  External link to Ancestor Tracks.
• 1872 Outline Map of Armstrong County, PA.  Shows boundaries of Armstrong County's townships as of 1872. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1876 Atlas of Armstrong County, PA.  Links to maps of Armstrong County's townships and boroughs as of 1876. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1978 topographic maps of Armstrong County.  Links to topographic maps of Armstrong County townships and boroughs. External link to Rootsweb.
• Current Armstrong County road maps.  External link to the Armstrong County Chamber of Commerce.  Select "Maps" on the menu in the left margin to download maps in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format. The link marked "Armstrong County" has a map for the entire county, with townships clearly delineated and the smaller roads included. The link marked "Kittanning Area Map" has an inset map for Rural Valley, and also has inset maps for Apollo, Dayton, Elderton, Ford City, Freeport, Kittanning, Leechburg, Parker City and Worthington.

Indiana County area maps:

• 1871 Atlas of Indiana County, PA.  Links to maps of Indiana County's townships and boroughs as of 1871. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1872 Outline Map of Indiana County, PA.  Shows boundaries of Indiana County's townships as of 1872. External link to Rootsweb.
• 1978 topographic maps of Indiana County.  Links to topographic maps of Indiana County townships and boroughs. External link to Rootsweb.

Jim and Jessie (Huber) Ambrose with their 1938 Studebaker - back in the day when cars were CARS.

People

Individuals' biographies, letters, memorial cards and obituaries.  Most are people from Rural Valley and Cowanshannock; some are folks from other towns who are related to families in the area.

Other resources:

• MARSHALL Family History  by Oscar Sloan Marshall (1884). The Marshalls were connected to many other families, so if you are looking for area folks from the early to mid nineteenth centuries, you may find them here. External link to Google Books.
• Miners' Memorials.  Partial list of men who worked in the mines at Yatesboro and NuMine. External link to the "Virtual History of Coal Mining in Western Pennsylvania" web site.
• Historical Sketch of the Rural Valley Presbyterian Women's Missionary Society (1924).  The missionary society was formed in 1874. This 1924 newspaper article has names of some early members and some of the missionaries they helped.
  
• World War II Vets Associated with the Rural Valley Presbyterian Church (1947/1985).  A list of names from the 1947 service honoring veterans; annotated in 1985 to show deceased.
  

1890 receipt for a lot in the Rural Valley Grave Yard.

Cemeteries

• Salem United Church of Christ (Salem Reformed Church/Hill's Church) Cemetery List.  Submitted by Sue Hill and Carolyn Schrecengost.



• Resources at Find-A-Grave.  Volunteers transcribe cemetery listings and photograph gravestones at this impressive site. Not all graves are listed, and you won't find every cemetery, but its wealth of information may surprise you. Family memorials can be linked together, providing genealogical information.

  • Atwood Cemetery (Concord Cemetery, Meeting House Cemetery).
  • Elgin Cemetery (Old Presbyterian Cemetery).
  • Harkleroad Cemetery.
  • McIntosh Cemetery - near Yatesboro.
  • Pleasant Union Cemetery.
  • Rural Valley Cemetery.
  • Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery - Sagamore.
  • Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery - Yatesboro.
  • Saint Paul's Reformed (Congregational) Cemetery.
  • Salem United Church of Christ (Salem Reformed Church, Hill's Church) Cemetery.
  • Schrecengost Farm Cemetery.
  • Slate Hill (Dunkard) Cemetery - near Sagamore.
  • Sowers (Baptist) Cemetery.
  
  
  • Menu of all Armstrong County cemeteries.
  • Menu of all Indiana County cemeteries.
  
  
  • Search for a person on Find-A-Grave.

Pictures

Craig Stewart and his dog Buddy bicycling on Main Street, probably in the 1920's. The building on the right is the old Opera House.

• Tornado of June 23, 1944.  Snapshots of damage done by the tornado.


• Area buildings.  Pictures of churches, schools, downtown, houses etc.


• The family of Joseph Ritner Ambrose (1839-1910) and Margaret Ann Dougherty (1837-1897).  Joseph Ritner "Rit" and Margaret (Dougherty) Ambrose came to Cowanshannock from East Franklin Township, Armstrong Co. Their farm was where part of Yatesboro is now located. Other names in this album are Banks, Chappell, DeLancey, Freyermuth, Gourley, Kinney, Pettigrew, Snyder and Stewart.
  • Ambrose Family - Volume One.
  • Ambrose Family - Volume Two.


• The Caylor, Harmon and Espey Families.  Members of the families of Amos J. Caylor, a Rural Valley merchant, and his two wives, Elizabeth Harmon and Alice Espey.  Submitted by Linda Repine.
  • Caylor, Harmon and Espey Families - Volume One - Mostly Harmons.
  • Caylor, Harmon and Espey Families - Volume Two - Mostly Caylors and Espeys.


• Geiger Family Album.  Some descendants of Benjamin and Esther (Turney) Geiger. Other surnames in this album are Ambrose, Beck, Bowser, Foster and McIntyre.

• Huber Family.  Family of Bernard and Anna (Businger) Huber of Cowanshannock Township and the surrounding area. Other surnames in this album are Ambrose, McFarland and Neal.



• The family of George Stewart (1804-1854) and Isabella Cassidy (1804-1880).  George and Isabella (Cassidy) Stewart moved to Cowanshannock Twp. from Cross Creek, Washington Co. PA. Their farm was south of Cowanshannock Creek. Other surnames in these albums are Ambrose, Brown, Cassidy/Casedy, Freyermuth, Gourley, Hosick, Kenley, McFarland, McGranahan, Miller, Rupp, Snyder and Totten.
  • Stewart Family - Volume One.
  • Stewart Family - Volume Two.


• The family of Hamlet Totten (1802-1891) and Mary Craig (1798-1866).   Hamlet and Mary (Craig) Totten moved to Armstrong Co. from Salem Twp., Westmoreland Co., PA. They lived in Kittanning and Elderton before coming to Cowanshannock. Before Rural Valley was founded they owned the land east of the Presbyterian Church, but they sold it to Thomas Patterson. Their farm was by the Meredith intersection on old route 85. Other surnames in these albums are Aitken (or Aitkens), Anderson, Brown, Ewing, Greenwood, Hill, Linsenbigler, McFarland, Rupp, Rush, Stewart and Vail.
  • Totten Family - Volume One.
  • Totten Family - Volume Two.


• Neighbors and Friends - Miscellaneous Pictures of Area Residents.
  • Volume One.
  • Volume Two.

Miscellaneous

Jacob Espey, about 1905, in the Gourley House, Rural Valley. Submitted by Linda Repine.

• The Gourley Store (1959).  An article about George Gourley's general store, which began in business in 1857. Contains information about early residents and their purchases. Submitted by Linda Repine.
  
• The School Vandalism Trial of 1867 (1901).  Twenty-four young men from Cowanshannock and surrounding areas were arrested in 1867 for vandalizing the Casedy school. In this 1901 newspaper article, R. M. Marshall recalls the incident and the trial; lots of local names are included in this article.
  
• Rev. S. S. Gilson's Trip to Rural Valley (1893).  A minister's impressions of the town. Has information about early parishoners, ministers and elders of the Presbyterian Church.