Milford Township

Milford Township

In 1S33, Jacob Bulls settled in this lownship and buill him a log house on Section 4. About the same time Richard Rice came and camped on Seelion 3, and remained one winter. Miiiott Goodsell. Esq,, now living on Section 4, came in with his lather, Cnpt, Styles Goodsell, and settled in lhat section in 1835. In lhat year Minolt Goodsell and Jacob Bulls erected a log school house at Mud Corners, in Seelion 3. Tlte school was taught by Orris Danks.

Col. Wm. Cochran was chosen Inspector; Capt. Styles Goodsell and Capt. Sylvntius Hatch were elected Judges ; and Wm. B. Dunn and Wm. Searls. Clerks.

I'hc Township .if Springfield was organized first, and Milford was under the direclion of the Supervisors of that town up to the lime of their own township organijation.

Res.Of A.Gilham S. Greenfield Tp Residence Of G W. Wallace

line Hull', by Elder Conlcy, who was the lir-i preacher. Mr. Mclisvi Barry wo, probably I he iic-r while person lo dcpnri (hut life among the settlers. Mr-. Fitch gave Mrtl he first while child in 1836, which soon nfici died m I numbers as to almosi paralyie the growth of the country, and render ihc "arm of the law" prove rlesi lo reach the riminals In iSsi, the Legislature pasted "An net to aulhorifc the formation of lodge ,i complaint ihnt they had lost certain properly. \ committee was appointed to investigate .lie charges which might I* made, nnd when itiflieicnt evidence ..as gathered lo point lo ihe criminal, llic " Riders' were indructcd to bring him in fur cinminalion, and ivhal he slated wo- laken ilown hy ilit secretary, and .,11 thai would implicate others in lhai or an)

Ii] ihi n gulators and not allowed to sec his friends, nnd .ifier a lime was again brought in lo -v.- if he had weakened, In this wnj a clue wa ohlainci thcrs, which was followed up by their nrrc«i , and n litis

Mr. John Ryason was one of the first (.cltters in this township. He purchased land or. Section 24. in October, 1835, and willed on ii in the Spring 1B36 Aumnglhc enrly settlors were John Nelson, Obadinh Uwrcncc, taw-mill tin lluclt Creek, Scelion 15. Since lhai time n grist-mill has been built. Messrs Fleck, Fi hei 8 Camp arc ihc present (Aug, r, 1874) owners born March 17, 1S37. Home niithorilics claim thnt Mrs. Montgomery gave hi Hi, to triplets in Ihc Fall of 1S36, making (htm Ihe firsi bom in the township, At any rale, il seems lo hnve been a very prolific lime.

The lirsi school buildings creeled were on Sections iS and 23, but it is uncertain which look precedence. Samaniha Ovcrackcr laugh 1 'he first school -"! Scelion 18, nnd Elizabeth Clark ihe one on Seelion 23.

\- near as . an be wecrlained, ihis lownship was- first settled in ihc Wintci ol 1S31-3, by William MtConuell, who iocnlcd on Section )6, A lew ahoul the same lime from Elkhart County, and ihe Haw Paid., among whom were Prislcy, Cnhoon, Newhousc, Nelson, Dempsey and Park. Mr. Si van settled on Set lion 20 in 1835 ; lames Taylor on Section 23 in tS |6 Harvc) ' oldrcn on Section 13 in the Spring of 1S37.

This and Newberry Township were settled by a religious sect who are called "Amiih" who believe in extreme simplicity of dress and manners, who eschew politics, war (for any cause), and :ill gaudy or showy colors. They arc generally good fanners, and have ihc faculty, superlatively developed, ol iccumillaling "filthy lucre" and real estate.