Mifflin Township

Mifflin Township

The first settlement of what is now Mifflin Township was commenced about the year 1799 or 1800, by emigrants from Pennsylvania. Amongst the first settlers, were William Read, (afterward Judge Read,) William Simmons, Frederick Agler, George Baughman, Daniel Turne^ Matthias Ridenour, then Ebenezer Butler, and others. In the division of the county into townships, in 1803, this territory was included in, and formed a part of, Liberty Township. In 1811, the township was established and organized with its present boundaries, and named after their old Pennsylvania Governor - Mifflin. It consists of just one of the original surveyed townships, of five miles square, and is designated as township number one, in range number seventeen, of the United States Military Lands. There was nothing remarkable in the settlement of the township ; the population and improvements progressed regularly.

There has not yet been any flouring mill erected in this township, but several saw mills - some that have done a good business, and others that appeared to do well for a time, but were then suffered to run down. Amongst the former, are Dean's old mill, erected over thirty years ago, and now owned by Judge Heyl, and Park's mill ; and amongst the latter, was one erected by Mr. Janney, on Walnut Creek, about the year 1835 or '36, and afterward owned by J. M. Walcutt, Esq., and one erected by A. McElvain, on Alum Creek, about the year 1838 or '39. There is but one town or village in this township, and that is Gahanna, or Bridgeport, laid out part by John Clark, Esq., in 1848 or '49, and called Gahanna, and part by Jesse Baughman, Esq., in 1853, and called Bridgeport. There is a post office in this place, established in August, 1849. Thos. Young, Esq., was the first postmaster, and continued until July, 1853 ; w^hen John T. Baughman, the present incumbent, was appointed. There is another post office on Alum Creek, at Park's saw mill. This was established in 1851. The first postmaster was Jeremiah Lasure, who continued until 1853, when he was succeded by James Parks, Esq., the present incumbent.

The population of this township, agreeably to the census of 1840, was 825. In 1850, it was 1,095. In 1853, the township contained nine school districts, and

There are two churches contiguous to the Yillage of Bridgeport, one a good frame building, belonging to the Presbyterians, and the other a brick, belonging to the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations.

Successive Justices Of The Peace C H After Xxiii

This township consists of just one of the original surveyed townships, of five miles square, and is designated on the original plats as township one, range eighteen, United States Military Lands. Amongst the first settlers in this township, were the Fultons - Hugh and Kobert - John Hunter, Samuel McElvain and family, John Lisle and family, Mr. Henderson and family, and the Hesses; and about the year 1804 or 1805, David Beers and family.

In 1811, it was organized as a township. In 1814, Roswell Wilcox moved into the township, and erected the mills long know^i as " Wilcox mills," but of late 3^ears known as the " Piatt mills," and now owned by the Messrs. Hess, which have been doing a useful business over forty years. Farther up the creek, are George Whip's mills, also doing a good business ; and there are three distilleries in the township doing a pretty extensive business manufacturing liquor, and fattening hogs, etc.

About the year 1846 or '47, Alanson Bull, Esq., sold a few building lots on the road side, which were bought and improved by mechanics. He did not have any plat of his lots recorded, nor did he design it for a regular town, but merely to afford residences for a few mechanics, for the benefit of the neighborhood. It however soon grew into a village, and assumed the name of " Clintonville." There was a post office established here in Oct. 1847, and James Ferguson appointed postmaster, who was succeeded by his son J. M. Ferguson, the present postmaster.

In 1852, Messrs. Solomon and George W. Beers, laid out some lots on the roadside between Clintonville and Columbus, and had their plat recorded, and named the place " North Columbus ;" in which some considerable improvements have been made.

There are in this township three churches and three cemeteries - a Methodist Church and burying place on the Worthington plank road, near the residence of Rev. Jason Bull ; and another about five miles from Columbus, on the Lockwin plank road, near the residence of G. S. Innis, Esq. ; and a church at Clintonville, belonging to the Christian denomination ; and a burying place three or four miles north of Columbus, on the west side of the Olentangy.

1850, it contained 1,186. In 1853, it constituted ten school districts, and contained an aggregate of 370 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 430.