Bentleyville Borough was named for it's founder Sheshbazzar Bentley Jr. two years after his death in 1868 Bentleyville became a Borough.

In 1871 Bentleyville had just thirty-six houses, three stores, one schoolhouse, a literary society, a grist and saw mill and one steam tannery.

In the early 1900's the town fathers were discussing and taking action on such things as lighting the town, grading Main St. and giving taxpayers a chance to work out taxes.