Wayne Township

Wayne Township

Prior to 1837 Wnyue township bad been a part of Green and Hlcbland townships. In that year this township was formally established by an act of the county commissioners. Wayne township la situated in the southeastern part of Clinton county and is bounded on the north by Richland township, on the west by Green township, on the south by Highland county and on the east by Fayette couuty. It is located in one of the most fertile districts of Ohio and the early settlers found this a very desirable place to settle. This township has an elevation of about one thousand two hundred feet above the level of the sea and. although the topography is marked, it is comparatively level. It was known for a number of years as "the flats." but, by judicious drainage, it has become one of the most healthful and desirable parts of the county. It is very well watered and drained by several small streams and tributaries.

This township contains nineteen thousand eight hundred and thirty-four acres of laud and at present the acreage of tillable land is very great. The soil is composed of natural drift and ulluvial formation, having been covered, as it was, for centuries with a dense forest, which, through the decay of so much plant and animal life, has left the soil very rich. This has been Increased through the efforts of the farmers, making Its soil doubly rich. This township received its name from Gen. Anthony Wayne, who led an expedition through this township prior to 17»4. In his march through this section of the state, he cut a trail which was used by the pioneers for niauy yearB.

As Wayne township wns not made a separate township until 1S"J7. many settlers, and. In fact, all of the early settlers, were located here before the township was organized. Among the first to make |>ernmnent settlements In tbis part were William Moore, who came to this township from Bourbon county. Kentucky, and settled about the year isoli. Among the pioneers who had settled here prior to 1SI0 were. John Jackson, from Tennessee; Edward Curtis, from Virginia; Joseph Books, Thomas Stell. John Oxley. Moses Paris. Stephen Martin. Thomas Draper. John Allen and Jesse Roxley. From 1S10 to 1*20 the settlers came in great numbers from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

Another rather reliable source gives the first settler as John Jackson, who has been mentioned previously. Mr. Jackson. It seems, came to this county In ]S03 and settled on the Middle branch of I^ee's creek, on one of the Kansdale surveys. No. 1.(127. At the dale of Mr. Jackson's settlement there were only about ten families within the boundaries of what Is now Clinton county,

John Bowater Bales, better known to the early settlers as Borter Bales, settled on the West branch of I^e's creek. Mr. Bales built a mill where the mad from New Lexington to I.eesburg crosses the West branch. John Walters, uncle to John Walters, who settled on Todd's fork, and Nathaniel Po|>e were located near I^esbnrg at this time. Evan Evans and James Smith were also early settlers on lice's creek.

Edward Curtis settled In the year 1805 on the north bank of Lee's creek. Mr. Curtis reared a large family and contributed to the early growth of the towushlp. John Allen came In 1S07. as did David Carter and Thomas Draper.

Benjamin Logan was probably the next settler In this township, and located on the East branch of Lee's creek. Mr. I/ignn came from Tennessee, bringlm; Mike Fry. the rail-splitter, with him; this, however, was not the same Mike Fry who came with Thomas Dalley and Woolards In 1819.

Thomas Adams was one of the settlers known as a "squatter"; that is, one who enters upon land belonging to another, without any title. Mr. Adams settled on the Gallatin survey, but the date has not been definitely fixed.

John Lyon, Sr., and Richard Lyon were also among the early settlers. Others who settled about this time were, Robert Antrim und family, David Carter, Kdward Curtis, Jr., William Elliott and wife, Thomas Hardwick, Joseph Orice, David Stokeabury, the Thrallkill family, James Sinclair and family. This completes the early settlements In this township, all of which were made be/ore the township really existed.

The following are the otllcers of Wayne township in 1915: Trustees, Frank Dabe, George Wilson and Joseph Wlnfleld; clerk, Roy Grove; treasurer, David Babb. Population, one thousand and fifty-two.

Center vllle was laid out on December 4, 1816. The proprietor of the town was Timothy Jones, who emigrated to tills county from the state of Virginia. The principal street. Main, was laid off fifty-four poles long and four poles wide, and Its parallel alleys are lifty-four jioles long ami one pole wide. Middle street 1b fifty-four poles long and throe poles wide. The parallel alleys are the same length and one pole wide. Main street runs north forty-five degrees west, and Middle street runs at right angles to Main street. There were thirty-two lots in the original plat. These are laid out six poles In frout and run back twelve poles. A stone is placed at the southeast corner of lot No. 2, and at the southwest corner of lot No. 16. Centervllle Is the voting preciuct of Wayne township. This is the largest town in the township aud, situated, as it Is, in the center of a good farming community, it bas nu extensive trade.

When the jtostotfice was placed here it was given the name of Lee's Creek. Babb Brothers have a very modern and up-to-date general merchandise store. They reach the country patrons through three huckster trucks which have dally routes to different parts of the county. Oscar Jones is the postmaster and also keeps a general merchandise store. The saw and grlst-inill is owned and operated by W. D. Jerrells. Fred Webb Is the village blacksmith and C. I. I'idgeon Is the restaurant keeper. The village is supplied by one physician, C. A. Shaeffer. The imputation, according to the lart census, was one hundred and thirty. Centervllle. although not on a railroad, is supplied with a postoflJce, and receives a closed mail pouch dally from Sablna.

Centervllle has a first-grade high school, which was erected at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. This town, as the name Indicates, Is located In the center of the township. While It has suffered from the lack of a railroad through It. It is still a thriving village.

Memphis is the only other town In the township. This hamlet Is situated In the eastern part of the township and Is merely a cluster of houses nt a cross roads.