Butler Township

Butler Township

Butler township lies in the extreme southwestern corner of DeKalb county. It was six miles square at the beginning, and was organized as a civil township on the 5th of September, 1837. In 1876, however, twelve sections were taken from the northern side for the new township of Keyser, and the township was reduced to the dimensions of four miles by six. It is bounded on the north by Keyser township, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Perry township, Allen county, and on the west by Swan township, Noble county. Cedar creek, running across the northeast corner down through the center, and Black creek, running through the western part, supply water to the locality. The soil is very rich for agricultural purposes, although certain small localities are below the standard.

Organization

The first regular meeting of the county board of commissioners was held on September 4, 5 and 6, 1837, and was attended by a full board. The second day of the session it was "ordered that the congressional township 33 north, range 12 east, be and it is hereby organized as a civil township, to be known by the name of Butler township." It was also resolved "that Andrew

Surface be appointed supervisor for the road district No. i, comprising the whole of Butler township, and all the lands in said township shall be assigned to the same district." The first election was appointed to be held on the first Monday in April, 1838, at the home of Robert Work.

Early Settlement

Among the early pioneers of Butler township were Peter Fair and his two sons, Abram and Charles; Charles F. C. Crouse, George DeLong, and Andrew, Jacob and John Surface. These settlers first came into the township in October. 1834, with a four-horse team and wagon. From Squire Caswell's they were obliged to hew their path ; Caswell's place was in Allen county, beyond Huntertown. Much of the way was too narrow to allow their fourhorse team to pass. In the same year Lewis Holbrook, Lyman Holbrook. Joseph Stroup, Henry and Michael Miller emigrated into the township; and in the spring of 1836 came William Surface, John Gregg and James Bell. Sanford Bassett came in 1838, and John Noel, John C. Clark, John Embry and Henry Fair in '39. In 1841 George Ensley, of Auburn, moved into the township. The Moodys, Works and Hoffmans were also identified with the early growth of the township.

First Officers

The first justice of the peace was William Day, and he was elected in April, 1838; George Ensley was the second man to hold this ofifice, which was a very important one in those days. Prior to i860 other justices were: Silas Hand, George Munroe, William McAnnally, Job C. Smith, G. R. Hoffman, O. C. Clark and E. S. Hanson. Early constables were Stephen Clark, Abram Brown, William Young. Peter Simons, Uriah Wigent, David Trussell, James Forbes, Jehu Bricker, James McAnnally, R. B. Showers, John Noel and Martin Bigler. The trustees for the first years were: Jacob Shull, C. Probst, Henry Clark, I. N. Young, P. Simons, John Grube, J. V. Keran, George Munroe, George Ensley, Uriah Wigent, S. Hutchins, J. Clark, G. R. Hofifman, Daniel Hoffman, George Gordon and James Goetchius.

In 1913 Butler township is accounted a progressive and rich township and is well up in the scale with the other fourteen townships of DeKalb county. Discussion of the agricultural, religious, education and other phases of hr history is written in the respective chapters on those subjects. (11)