Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township

was organized March 8, 1838. Elkhart County bounds it on the north. Van Buren Township on the east, Prairie and Scott Townships on the south, and Scott Township on the west. One small village, Gravelton, was laid out by David Brumbaugh in 1826 on the line of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Tiie same year Mr. Brumbaugh opened a stock of general merchandise, and a postoffice was established with Levi Miller, postmaster. Gravelton contains only a few houses and is an unimportant village. The first settler in the township was Jacob Brumbaugh, who with his family located October 1, 1836, and erected a log cabin. Later in the same year James Simpson, James Martin, Andrew Sheeley, John Leatherman and George Platter, with their families, located on sections 1 and 2 north of the large marsh adjoining the Elkhart County line.

The next summer, Joseph Alexander, Isaac Bliven, David and Samuel McKibbin, with their families, made a settlement on the south side of the marsh. *

The first township election was held at the house of David McKibbin in April, 1888, David McKibbin, inspector. Only five votes were cast, four of wiiich were illegal, the voters not having been residents tlie time required by law. The single vote of Isaac Bliven, elected a justice of the peace, constable, two road supervisors, three overseers of the poor and the inspector of elections.

John, son of Andrew and Mary Sheely, was the first white child born in the township. A child of Isaac and Mrs. Hall died in 1837 and the same day the death of Nancy Crevison occurred. Both were buried on the farm of Jacob Brumbaugh.

David Cripe. John Leatherman and wife, and "William Brumbaugh and wife were the iirt-t members. From the date of organization until the death of John Leatherman in 1867, he was pastor of the congregation. This society erected a church at Gravelton in 1876, and is in a fairly prosperous condition.

In 1838 a Methodist class was organized on the south side of the marsh bj Rev. Ockerman. David McKibbin was for many years class-leader but they were unaljle to maintain a pastor. The first class had the following members, David, Mary, Samuel and Elizabeth McKibbin. Mary and Eve Miller and Ellinor J. Alexander. The organization disbanded in 1864.

The Evangelical Association completed a church building in 1877, and regular services are held. James Martin taught the first school in a log building erected on section 11, in 1S40. There ai-e now eight schools in the township, with 436 scholars in attendance.

was originally a [)art of Jefferson Township, and was organized March 7, 1848. It is bounded on the north by Elkhart County, east by Jefferson Township, south by Etna Township and west by Marshall County. Caspar Hepler and family, Jacob Hepler, Jacob and Henry Yockey were the first settlers, and their location was made on section 11 in the autumn of 1837. The townshii) settled slowly and for two years these pioneers were without neighbors. They made improvements as rapidly as possible and reaped a small crop in 1838.

Township. John Haddock taugl)*- school in a log cabin that stood on the p.c^sent site of the Zinn school-house, in 1840. Dr. John AV. Love practiced his profession in this township at an early day and was for many years a resident physician.

William B. Jones and J. D. Koffel were the first merchants of Scott Township. The latter was also the first postmaster at Millwood, a postoffice being established in 1853. There are six schools in this township with 341 scholars enrolled. Two very small villages, Millwood and Ilepton, are located in Scott Township. The postmaster of Millwood is rather an important personage not only in that place, but also in this county, he being Drainage Commissioner." Some excellent lands lie in Scott Township, and her farmers an noted for enterprise.