York Township

York Township

Although the township was not r rganized as early as 1826, yet a goodly portion (fourteen thousand one hundred and thirty seven acres) of the lands comprised within its present limits, were on duplicate for taxation. In that year Fanny Chapman, Elijah Hubbard, James Mather, Samuel Mather's heirs, Thomas Mather, Thomas Sill and William N. Sill, owned fourteen thousand one hundred and thirty-seven acres, valued at $29,936, on which a tax of $295,62 was paid. At that date there is no report of any personal property being listed and returned for taxation.

In 1S30 George Wilson, of Monroe county, New York, settled in York township, made the first puichase and erected the first cabin in September, and may be called the first settler. In the next month (October, 1830,) Levi Branch, Lawson Branch, Bufus Stickney, Ezekiel Bruce, Solomon Hubbard, E. Munger and John Dunsha, removed from Sweden, in Monroe county, New York, and settled in the township.

The first religious meeting ever held in the township was in the house of Mr. Branch. It continued at intervals, for seven weeks, and a marked change in actions was visible in all who attended those meetings.

Prior to the coming of the first settlers, they had been notified by letters that the Norwalk Boad was located through the township, and was a good turnpike road ; and that Mallet Creek abounded with speckled trout. Upon their arrival they found it necessary to make their own road, and as for trout they never found any of the speckled tribe but could daily see plenty of speckled frogs in the swampy lands without visiting Mallet Creek. Prior to the clearing- of the level lands there were many swamps and pools ot water.

The first death and burial in the township was a son of John Dunsha. The first school was kept by Theodore Branch in one part of Levi Branch's dwelling. Kev. S. V. Barnes was the first preacher that addressed a congregation in the township. The place of congregating was for several years at the house of Levi Branch.

L. Branch owned the only team, and spent most of the first winter, after the arrival of the foregoing settlers, in making roads and traveling to Wooster, Portage and other places, to procure provisions. In the winter of that year a goodly number of settlers came in, and by the following spring there was quite a community.

April 2nd, 1832, the township was organized by electing Levi Branch, Thomas Brintnall and Sylvanus Thun, Trustees; Philo Fenn, Treasurer; and Alexander Forbs, Clerk. At that election twenty votes were cast, which was then thought to be rather a large election.

Alexander Forbs was elected Justice of the Peace in 1832, and during his legal term was hardly ever annoyed by litigants seeking legal redress for supposed grievances.

York township has, in twenty-nine years, thrown off every appearance of ever having been a fishing pond of " speckled trout," and become one of the prime townships in the county for grazing and agricultural purposes. Its rapid advances can be evidenced from examining the statistics here given for 1861.

York Statistics Persona L Pro Pert Y.

If the sums that accrue from the yearly growth of all other articles, be added to the above, the total will amount to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars.