AREA HISTORY:  Monaghan Township, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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THE TOWNSHIP OF MONAGHAN – Page 646
By James W. Shaffer

THE township of Monaghan is bounded on the north by Cumberland County, on the 
east by Fairview, on the south by Warrington, and on the west by Carroll.  Its 
greatest length is five miles, and greatest breadth four and one-half miles.  
The surface is undulating.  There is a rich deposit of magnetic ore in the 
northwest corner of the township, and outcropping of micacious and magnetic ores 
at other points.  Monaghan formerly comprised its present territory, Carroll and 
Franklin Townships.  It was organized in 1745, and received its name from a 
county in the northern part of Ireland.  The early settlers were the English and 
Scotch-Irish.  Later came the Germans.  Among the first two were the McMullins, 
Dares, Baileys, Parks, Elliots, and others.  Among the last were the Myerses, 
the Kimmells from the “Barrens,” the Hartmans, Shaffers, Fortneys, and 
Brennemans, who came from Lancaster and Berks Counties.  Dennis Cannon landed in 
America July 4, 1800, and shortly afterward settled in Monaghan.  The oldest 
house in the township, now owned and occupied by Jacob Bigler, was built by 
Benjamin Elliot in the year 1769.  The first kilns for burning lime were on the 
farm now owned by G. D. Shaffer; also on Mr. McMullen’s farm, and some of the 
lime burned was hauled to the Susquehanna, the stone being quarried and hauled 
from Cumberland county.  The early distilleries were Bailey’s, Rice’s, 
Fortney’s, Williams’, Smith’s, Coover’s, Myers’ and Cannon’s, with Cocklin’s 
apple and peach distillery.  They are all things of the past, as none have been 
in operation for more than twenty years.

Monaghan furnished many brave soldiers to defend and preserve the Union in the 
war of the Rebellion.  Many of her sons lie on Southern battle-fields.  Five 
died in Andersonville Prison, and many bear the scars of battle as evidence of 
their valor.

The census of 1880 gave to this township a total population of 1,054; 532 males, 
522 females; three of whom were colored.  Number of births in 1880 was 30; 
number of deaths, 11.

In 1783, the year the Revolution closed, there were 106 houses, 5 mills, 12 
negro slaves; population, 781, and 17,797 acres of land “taken up.”  The 
township then had its original limits.  In 1883, 100 years later, there were 317 
taxable inhabitants; the real estate valuation was $624,276; county tax, $1,298; 
State tax, $63.25.