This "Tree of Liberty" is spoken of at later times, and in the "Minerva" of Beaver, October 8, 1808, a reply was made to articles that appeared in the "Tree of Liberty," which has led some to think that it was a Beaver county paper published prior to the "Minerva," but it is clearly established that it was a Pittsburg paper and was never published in this county. Mr. Israel sold the "Tree of Liberty" in December 1805. In January 1807, Hon. Walter Forward was editor of the paper, and he was Secretary of the U. S. Treasury in 1841-43.
In the issue of the "Commonwealth" August 7, 1805, a report is given of a meeting in Beaver county, in which it is said that a 'number of Democratic Republicans convened on the banks of the Beaver creek * * * in order to celebrate the anniversary of our independence,' with the usual toasts. One of the toasts was, "The Tree whose fruit is blasted, may it soon be despoiled of its branches, and the axe of the Commonwealth at its root." In the issue of the same paper of September 28, 1805, there appeared a call to the Republicans of Beaver county on the issues at stake, in the approaching election. Mr. Lacock had a number of articles in the paper on political questions, and many other Beaver county articles appeared frequently.
Abner Lacoek was born near Alexandria, Va., July 9, 1770, came to Beaver county in 1796, and on the 19th of September of that year, was appointed by Governor Thomas Mifflin Justice of the Peace for Pitt township, Allegheny county, afterward made a part of Beaver county. He was elected to the legislature in 1801; was appointed Associate Judge in 1803, and served in the first court held in his house in 1804, resigning to return to the legislature, where he served until elected to the State Senate in 1808; was elected to Congress in 1810, and to the United States Senate in 1813, serving six years, the first U. S. Senator from Beaver county. He was a
