Lafayette Township

Lafayette Township

In 1830, the lands and chattels whin the present township of Lafayette, were owned Wy Apollos Cook, TL B. Cook, Lucy Day, S. and T. Fowler, Elijah Hubbard, Lemuel Moffatt, Samuel Moffatt's heirs and Wm. N. Sill, comprising an area of sixteen thousand and fifty-one acres, on which they paid a tax of three hundred and thirty-one dollars.

From 1818, to 1832, the lands now in the township of Lafayette were listed and taxed as belonging to Westfield, to which it was attached. In 1832, the township was organized, and at the first election ten votes were given. The first township officers were as follows ; Vivalda Wood, Alexaiflder Barrett and Anson Bellamy, Trustees; Ephraim Harris, Township Clerk ; Vivalda Wood, Treasurer ; and Vivalda Wood, Supervisor ; Abraham Brooks, Justice of the Peace. As office timber was rather scarce, the voters, in their sovereign capacity, imposed upon Vivalda Wood the duties of three offices. At the election, the propriety of electing a Constable was duly considered and vetoed. It was then thought that collections could be made by Abraham alone.

As the number of votes, at the first election, require only a small space they are here given : William Bissett, David Ransom, Ezekiel Slater, Anson Bellamy, Henry F. Hall, Henrv C. Ransom, Vivalda Wood, Alexander Barrett, Epfuim Harris and Edward Starr, who may be considered as first settlers.

On April 17, 1824, Rev. Joel Goo&ell, by invitation, preached in a school house near Isaiah Doanes and organised the first. Congregational Church. The following are the names of the first founders of the church ; Abraham Brooks and Asenath Brooks, Ira Brooks and Fanny Brooks, Peter Brooks, Tabitha Brooks, Roswell Williams and Martha Lucas, Jerremiah Doty and Susan Doty, Mattnw Leffingwell and Eveline Leffingwell, George Wallace^and Emelia Doty, Milo Loomis and Lucy A. Loomis and Rozetta Doane.

In 1835. Pvev. Kellum, of the Mothodist Episcopal Church, preached in the township and organized a class. The number of persons, and names, who formed that class are unknown.

If churches are an index of a prevalent moral and religious sentiment, there is no township of the same age in the county, that has exhibited greater benevolence in contributing to, and erecting churches than Lafayette.

In wealth or natural facilities they will not claim greater advantages than other townships, yet in the erection of churches they have shown a liberality that every observer must commend.

Before the township was ten years organized the citizens of the different christian denominations have, with the aid of other benevolent residents within and near to the township, erected the following church edi- fiees at the probable cost given; Congregational Church, two thousand and two hundred dollars ; Episcopal Methodist, one thousand and three hundred dollars ; Baptist, one thousand and three hundred dollars ; Disciples, one thousand and two hundred dollars; United Brethren, one thousand dollars ; Presbyterian, one thousand dollars.

Each church has a membership "of not less than fifty-five, and the whole combined maybe acknowledged to sustain a reformatory influence over tthe inhabitants of the township.

It is worthy of record that actions at law have never been numerous or of long and angry continuance between the inhabitants of the township, and when men from there are seen in court they are more frequently jurors than parties in actions.

The township is rapidly filling with sober, industrious, economical farmers and mechanics who delight in making home their choice resort ; and the arrangement of the farms, the neat and properly arranged dwellings and barns, and the choice kind of fruit in their orchards give evidence of good taste, and industrious applications.

In 1820, S. and J. Fowler owned four thousand and six hundred acres in the township, on which they, in that year, paid a tax of thirty-four dollars and fortyfive cents. Those among whom that body of land has been subdivided and now owned, can form some estimate of the then value and contrast present advantages an d facilities with those that owners then enjoyed.

Liverpool Statistics Personal Property

If to the foregoing be added the surplus that yearly accrues from the products of oats, clover-seed, grassseed, potatoes, orchards and gardens, it is safe to say that the yearly products of the township amounts to one hundred and sixty three thousand dollars.