1851
Georgetown is incorporated as Sheakleyville.
Liberty, Pine, Deer Creek, New Vernon & Perry townships are created.
Dr. W. H. Axtell reports an epidemic of dysentery that is extensive and fatal in Sandy Creek and New Vernon townships.
| 1852
May 15 - Act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly authorizes the purchase of land for a county farm. | 1853
Aug 19 - Ground is broken for the Erie Railroad.
Oct 23 - earliest known edition of the Independent Democrat is published. |
1854
The first election for the position of county superintendent of schools ($400/year) is held.
Jamestown is incorporated. | 1855
Aug 28 - Peoples Convention is held and creates the Republican party in the county.
A very wet summer spoils the grain. | 1856
Residents of West Middlesex buy shares at $5 each to bild a small frame house to serve as school and church.
May 13 - An act of the Pennsylvania General Assembly creates the Mercer School District.
Nov 22 - West Greenville Times newspaper publishes first issue.
Hempfield and Sugar Grove townships are created. |
1857
| 1858
Jun 5 - A frost kills all the crops. Flour soars to $18 a barrel the next winter. | 1859
Sandy Lake is incorporated. |
| 1860 | 1861
Jan 22 - A lecture is given at the courthouse on "Our National Troubles".
Capt. James Wood ploots out Wheatland.
Oct 16 - the first draft of the Civil War is held in Mercer. | 1862
|
1863
Oct 11 - The first freight train arrives in Sharon. | 1864
Brothers R. D. and James Frey publish the first edition of the Sharon Herald ($1.50/year in advance).
May 20 - the first locomotive crosses State Street in Sharon (the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad).
Jan 8 - the re-enlisting troop members of the 57th Pennsylvania receive a one month furlough.
West Middlesex is incorporated. | 1865
May 22 - The first train leaves from Mercer Iron & Coal Company mine (near Stoneboro) with five cars. |
1866
Feb 25 - Fire destroys the courthouse due to a faulty stove pipe.
Stoneboro and New Lebanon are incorporated.
| 1867
The second courthouse is erected for $98,000. | 1868
Mercer born representative John A. Bingham is Judge Advocate General in the impeachment trial of President Jackson.
The brick jail is erected for $67,000.
Jan 7 - An ordinance in Greenville prohibits wooden buildings on Main Street between the river and Penn Street.
John L. Morrison buys the Sharon Heralld. |
1869
| 1870 | 1871
Jan 7 - The Advance newspaper is started in Greenville.
Jan 21 - Laird's block on Main and Race streets burn in Greenville (losses amount to $44,000). |
1872
The cornerstone for "Greenville Hall" is erected (the first Thiel College building).
Feb 21 - Wheatland is created.
Railroad reaches Pine Grove (now Grove City).
Bethel is incorporated. | 1873
Jan
15 - The "Chicago Fire" of Greenville engulfs 300 feet x 120 feet on
the south and north sides of Main Street (35 buildings burn. Total loss
of $83,000).
An atlas of Mercer County is published. | 1874
Sharpsville is incorporated.
Aug 4 - The Sandy Lake News newspaper is established.
Fredonia Institute, originally for men only, allows women to attend. |
1875
Jun 10 - The Woman's Christian Temperance Union of Mercer County forms at the courthouse. | 1876
Isacc Ketler opens "select school" in Pine Grove (now Grove City College).
Mar 2 - Firebug burns several businesses in Greenville.
Mar 25 - The Mercer Iron & Coal Company has producted 629,158 tons of coal in 13 years. | 1877
A history of Mercer County is published. |
1878
June 3 - A new game law is passed that any one catching a black bass less than six inches long will be fined $10.
Advertisements for Carters Liver Pills and land in Kansas for $2.50 to $5/acre appear. | 1879
The Academy Building, the structure of the forerunner of Grove City College is bult. | 1880
The county's population is 56,161.
The Sharon Times ceases publication. |
1881
Feb 11 - Wheatland Bessemer Steel incorporates. | 1882
Apr 1 - C. H. Buhl becomes sole owner of the Sharon Iron Company.
Oct 15 - Sharpsville Furnace opens a new and modern furnace.
First issue of Pine Grove Telephone is published. | 1883
Nov 17 - Greenville Water Company is incorporated.
Nov 19 - Mercer Heat, Light & Power Company is chartered.
Grove City is incorporated from Pine Grove.
Nov 20 - Sharon Water Works is incorporated.
Dec 10 - Samuel S. Mehard is appointed judge of Mercer County. |
1884
People are riding the first bicycles ("hi-wheels") | 1885
The Evening Eagle is sold and changes its name to the Sharon Eagle. | 1886
Aug 17 - Portected Home Circle No. 1 is organized. |
1887
Jan 28 - Miller & Gordon Opera House in Mercer burns destroying the Mercer Dispatch.
Apr 11 - Wheatland Iron incorporates.
May 3 - The Shenango Hook & Ladder Company reorganizes as the Sharon Fire Department
Aug 26 - Sharon Steel Casting Company make its first steel. | 1888
Feb 28 - The number of dogs on the tax roles for the county is 4,843.
A history of Mercer County is published.
Jul 24 - The first passenger train from the new station on Main Street leaves Greenville. | 1889 |
1890
The county's population is 55,744.
Fire destroys much of North Broad Street in Grove City.
Shenango Valley Electric Light Company (now Penn Power) begins operating. | 1891
Apr 7 - An ordinance for construction of a plant to furnish electricity to Greenville is approved. | 1892
Feb 16 - The first paving ordinance occurs in Greenville.
Electric street lights are put up in Sharon.
James S. Fruit applies for a charter for the Sharon-Sharpsville hospital.
The daily Sharon Telegraph and the weekly Sharon Star begin publication. |
1893
June 8 - Construction of sewers connect two lines in Greenville and in Sharon. | 1894 | 1895
Bars have to close promptly at 10:00 p.m. |
1896
Jan 30 - The Mercer County Telephone & Telegraph is organized.
The doors of the Christian H. Buhl Hospital open to the sick of Shenango Valley.
Dec 18 - The second courthouse has work completed to ensure the safety of county records from fire. | 1897
Nov 11 - The Soldiers Monument in front of the courthouse is dedicated as "Mercer County's Tribute to Her Soldiers".
The last issue of the Sharon Record is published. | 1898
Dr. Pithian and John Carruthers start the Friction Clutch Factory (forerunner of Cooper-Bessemer).
Fire destroys much of South Broad Street in Grove City. |