Located along the Beaver River and nestled in the rolling hills of north east Beaver County, Daugherty Township was incorporated on January 27, 1894 through the division of Pulaski Township. Daugherty Township received its name in honor of Edward Black Daugherty, a local attorney and native son.

Daugherty Township is governed by an elected body organized under the Second Class Township Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The elected body is called the Board of Supervisors and consists of three (3) elected officials, each serving a six (6) year term. The Board of Supervisors is charged with the general government of the Township to secure the health, welfare and safety of the citizens. To accomplish that task the Board adopts laws, known as ordinances, that govern various activities within the Township. The Board is restricted in areas in which it can exercise control by both the Second Class Township Code and various other laws of the Commonwealth.

Daugherty Township is the home of Beaver County’s first Catholic cemetery, originally known as the Daugherty Cemetery, it is located at the intersection of Pittsburgh and Allendale Roads. It was established around 1800 by Edward Daugherty, who donated a half acre parcel of his farm. The donation was prompted by the death of Edward’s brother Manasseh, who was killed in a barn raising and was buried on the property. This cemetery was recently dedicated and a historical marker was placed by the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmark Foundation on October, 26 2003. Father James Reid a former pastor of St. Peter and Paul in Beaver, Pennsylvania was the first pastor buried in this cemetery.

Mercer Road (Route 65) extending from New Brighton to the Klein Farm  in Daugherty Township is also the first paved road in Beaver County. 

Daugherty Township achieved separate township status by a mere four votes in 1893. Originally part of Sewickley Township, the land which includes present Daugherty became part of New Sewickley Township in 1801, and then was included in Pulaski in 1854.

One of the earliest settlers in the area was Edward Daugherty, an Irish Catholic who brought his family to Beaver County from Delaware County around 1800. Daugherty's brother Manasseh and a man named John Black soon joined Edward Daugherty in making their homes in the district. Manasseh Daugherty was killed, probably in 1801, while helping Black build a barn, and his brother Edward buried him in a half-acre plot on his farm. This half-acre he then set aside as a burial ground for county Catholics. In 1844 some time after Edward Daugherty's death, his heirs formally transferred the property to Bishop of Pittsburgh Michael O'Connor.

Another early farm family was the McGuire family. Besides farming, Bausman reports that 'excellent coal' was mined 'in many places' in the present township.

Grandson of the original Edward Daugherty was Edward Black Daugherty, born on his father's farm in the present township on October 22, 1833. Admitted to the Beaver County bar in 1860, Daugherty, 'a devout end consistent member of the Roman Catholic Church,' in 1884 donated additional land for the Catholic Cemetery bearing his family name. He thus averted a contemplated abandonment of the cemetery due to lack of space.

Citizens in 1890 petitioned to separate from Pulaski Township but the petition failed. In 1892 came another petition which resulted in the 4-vote approval of partition the following year. On January 27, 1894, came the decree of court establishing the new township, which was named after the prominent lawyer, Edward Black Daugherty. In 1900, the population of Daugherty Township was 533.

In 1933, Eliza A. McGuire, a descendant of the pioneer McGuire family, left a 72 acre plot of ground to the Sisters of Charity in Greensburg. A nursing home was built on the site in 1953, but fell victim to financial difficulties, which eventually resulted in the property's transfer to the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In 1963, the Diocesan Department of Education began at McGuire Memorial a program for the care and education of severely retarded children from birth to age 7. The Felician Sisters, based in Coraopolis Heights, presently oversee McGuire Memorial, with its staff of over 100 people. Daugherty is included in the New Brighton Area School District.

By Vivian Cleis McLaughlin,
a former neighbor and friend.
Milestones Vol 9 No 4--Fall 1984

Daugherty Township achieved its township status by a mere four votes in 1893. It was originally part of Sewickley Twp. The land which includes present Daugherty Twp., became part of New Sewickley in 1801 and then included Pulaski in 1854.

One of several farms in Daugherty Twp. is the Krut Farm, purchased by Anton Krut in July of 1857, from Jesse Dean and his wife Tabitha. Mr. Dean had bought the farm from Adam Bright and his wife Eliza. The farm then was in Sewickley Twp. then Pulaski Twp. Census records list Mr. Dean as a river boat pilot in Allegheny County. According to relatives of Mr. Dean the farm was bought for speculation. The farm complete with house, barn and six out buildings and 86 acres of land was purchased by Mr. Krut for $3,000.

Anton Krut was born at Neider Schafersheim, Alsace-Lorraine in 1830. He came to Pittsburgh, Allegheny County in 1849 and pursued his trade as wagon maker. Anton married Theresa Muller in 1855. They had the following children: Philip, John, George, Joseph, Henry, Anthony, (who was a florist in Butler, Pa.) Albert (an engineer), Charles (in charge of the farm), Theresa, Mary and Rose. In 1854 he went into business for himself at Tunnel and Forbes Streets. Here he continued for five years then moved to South Fourteenth Street where he and his son, John A. ran the business until his death. Mr. Krut died April 5,1903 at the age of 73. He is survived by his children and wife who died Dec. 13, 1904. Both are buried in the Daugherty Cemetery in Daugherty Township, New Brighton.

According to Anton's will he left his business to his son John. Mr. Krut bought the farm to provide a good atmosphere for his growing family. Eventually the farm provided employment for them all.

Charles Krut was in charge of the farm. This is the period of time that I remember along with the operation of the Cider Mill.

Searching back and talking with the grandchildren. Grace Miller Reskovic, Dorothy Majors Fischer, and Frances Majors Kolb, I discovered this farm was more than an ordinary farm. The barn contained a planning mill, cider mill, wagon shed, stalls, cows grain bins and the usual found in most barns.

This barn was unusually large. The outbuildings on the farm consisted of a summer kitchen, spring house, storage house of vinegar vats, smoke house, blacksmith shop and chicken house.

The planning mill was used to plane lumber for the wagon works in Pittsburgh. The cider mill, used to make cider, which in turn was stored to ferment into vinegar. Then vinegar was wholesaled to clients as far away as Pittsburgh and Ohio. When the Pennsylvania pure food and drug act came into effect and inspections were made, Mr. Krut did not want to update his equipment or get into bottling, so he sold the vinegar clients.

The cider mill was then opened to the public. Every fall this was a very busy place for the local farmers to go to get their apples pressed for their own supply of cider and vinegar. Horses with their wagon loads of apples would line the roadway early in the mornings, everyone vieing for an early spot in line. As time went on and apples were ground you did not know whose apples were being ground. The farmers that used the juice for their own consumption of course wanted the best. Those who sold the cider and vinegar used a second grade of apples that were not very appealing to the late comers. The cider mill operated three days a week. It had to shut down then to dry the straining cloths. I remember those huge brown cloths drying on the clotheslines.

There was also a blacksmith shop on the farm. This was used to handle the iron work that went into the wagon manufacturing. The Krut's did a lot of truck gardening and kept cows for their own milk supply, chickens for the eggs and meat. Pigs were fattened for the fall butchering.

I remember this was the depression days but there was never a shortage of food among the farmers and neighbors. Everyone shared their wealth of food. Money was scarce but there was plenty of food.

Charles Krut and his wife Mary Catherine (Myers) Krut had the following children: Marcella Krut, Mrs. Harry Miller, Mrs. Herbert Majors, and Carl H. Charles Krut passed away in 1928 and left the farm in charge of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Miller. his daughter and son-in-law. They ran the farm until their retirement when the farm was sold.

The barn and cider mill was torn down and the slate roof and barn siding sold strictly for mercenary reasons. The Krut family was a very affluent and respected family and an asset to Allegheny, Beaver, and Butler Counties where they contributed to the economic and commercial growth and development. Many 4th and 5th generations of the Krut family still reside locally and are very proud of their heritage!

Daugherty Township is rich in history and heritage. Unfortunately, the Township Office is short on it's supply of artifacts and historical information regarding the Township and its people.

     The Board of Supervisors of Daugherty Township would like to extend an invitation to anyone who has any historical information regarding the land, buildings, and people of Daugherty Township to share this information with the township office. Information will be posted on this site.