Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/415

 HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��CHAPTER XLII.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

Organization — Topogbaphy — Early Settlers — Churches — Schools — La Fayette — Mills — The Grange — .\

AV'oLF Hunt.

��BUTLER TOWNSHIP was formed March 5, 1849, by taking the eastern half, which had, prior to the erection of AshUmd Count}', been a part of Clear Creek Township, and a strip two miles in width from the eastern part of Blooming Grrove, and uniting them into a new township four miles in width and six miles in length. It is thus equal in size with all others in the north part of the count}-, having twent}'- four square miles of territory'.

The surface of Butler Township is flat. No other township in Richland Count}' is so level. It is drained by the Whetstone, the head-waters of which find their sources in the northwest part of the township. In early times, it was wet and uninviting to the settlers, if that part is excepted on the Whetstone, and, conse- quently, it settled slowly. But since the coun- try became opened to the sun, and the fallen timber all removed, which olistructed the drain- age of the surface, it has developed into a fine agricultural district, with a rich, productive soil, well adapted for grass and stock-raising. The timber is chiefl}'' beech, sugar, hickor}-, black walnut, cherry and oak, with a few S3-ca- mores lifting their long arms in the air. In its topographical features, it does not present the same variety of hill and dale as some other townships. With the exception of the Whet- stone, but little running water is found within its boundaries ; Ijut good water is obtained at a convenient depth by digging.

Jacol) Foulks settled in Butler Township in the year 1815, and entered land on the Whet- stone. His son Ransom was Ijorn in 1816,

��being the first white child born in the township. The first death, that of his daughter Nancy, also took place at his house in 1818. His son, Henr}' Foulks, laid out the village of La Faj-ette in 1838, and kept the first store. The old homestead farm was sold to E. T. Kirk. Some of the descendants are yet in the neighborhood. James Kirk, son of E. T. Kirk, occupies the premises at present.

The first Justice of the Peace was C3rus Evarts, who was Justice here before Ashland County was made. He was a resident for some time, of the township.

Robert Houston entered 160 acres of land on the Whetstone in 1818. He came from Delaware. In the 3'ear 1824, he was married to Sarah Owens, being the first marriage in the township. Their son, John Houston, is now living in La Fayette. He is running a steam saw-mill, and doing a large business. The first - saw-mill put in operation in the township was on the site of this mill, b}' a Mr. Fairchild, in the year 1839.

Abraham Claberg came to Butler in the year 1815. His nearest neighbor was Jacob Foulks. Only two or three other families were in the township at the time. Occasionalh", Indians were seen. His house stood on the banks of the Whetstone. He had two sons, Jacob and Isaac. Jacob still lives two miles north of La Fayette, and is one of the Com- missioners of this county.

John Owens was born in Ireland, and emi- grated to the United States in the 3'ear 1806, and settled in Pennsyh'ania ; moved to Richland

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