History continued..

Prior to being named Monongahela, the city was known as Parkinson's Ferry, Williamsport, and the Monongahela City. Monongahela gained its name, officially on April 1, 1837. A first attempt at selling lots in the town of Williamsport was made in 1792, but Parkinson didn't succeed because of a boundary dispute between Pennsylvania and Virginia, which claimed the land that is now Monongahela.

During the early days of the city, local children, like those today, enjoyed spending time at the "Mounds". While sports are played on the property today, children in earlier times amused themselves by digging for Indian relics from the Adena tribe.

It was during the rebellion that Parkinson gained clear title to Williamsport. Not long afterwards, lots were sold and a marketplace, cemetery, church and school were erected. By 1805, the settlement had grown to its present third-class status. Serving as the first postmaster was the city's founder, and James Gordon was credited with establishing its first Sunday school.

The Williamsport Rangers were organized in 1811 and was the city's first active military unit.
It was mustered into service during the War of 1812, when it marched to Buffalo, NY, to embark on an invasion of Canada, which never took place.

Later in the century, the men of Monongahela served and fought in the Civil War and the Spanish-American War.

Over the years, Monongahela added a steam mill, tan yard and more. Monongahela was a major river port throughout the 19th Century.

Pages of history continued to turn at Parkinson's Ferry. On September 14, 1799, leaders from Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette and Allegheny counties met in the community in an attempt to gain public support for a proposal to form a separate state in the Monongahela Valley.

The insurrection took place after the government decided to place an excise tax on whiskey (about nine cents a gallon).