"The hills are dearest which our childish feet

Have climbed the earliest; and the streams most sweet
Are ever those at which our young lips drank,
Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy bank."

-Whittier.

ONROE township was organized in 1812, and

Mincluded a square block in the northwest

corner of the county, embracing the present townships of Monroe, Liberty, Bennington and Hartford. In 1815 a line was drawn east and west, through the centre of this square and the north half called Bennington. In 1827 Liberty township was created out of the east half of Monroe, leaving the latter township in its present shape. Under the first organization of Monroe-that is, when it was separated from Granville townshipEsquire Moses Foster was the first justice of the peace, and C. L. Graves the first constable.

In an

The soil is about the same character as that of St. Albans. The altitude is somewhat greater; the land undulating and sloping to the southeast, is better adapted to grazing than to cereals. early day it was well timbered with all varieties of hard wood. It is fairly watered by the Raccoon fork and its tributaries. The head-waters of this stream are in this township.

Few, if any, traces of Mound Builders exist within its limits; but the Wyandot Indians once lived here in considerable numbers. They built a town called "Raccoon Town," a mile or more above Johnstown, on Raccoon creek, where they resided until 1807, when Charles and George Green purchased their possessions, and thereafter occupied and cultivated the lands.

The Indians remained some time after this, in the township, except a small number, who erected a few small huts on, or near, the Brushy fork, not from the present boundary line between Mc

Kean and Granville townships. These last named remained until after the commencement of the War of 1812.

George W. Evans, generally known as Washington Evans, and Lucy, his wife, came from Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and were the first settlers. Their daughter subsequently married Matthew Clark. Their son, John, ought to be considered the first white child born in the township, but from the necessities of the case, was born at the house of John Evans, a brother of Washington, who lived near St. Louisville.

The Greens who bought out the Wyandots, were Virginians, and accustomed to frontier life. Mahala Green, daughter of George and Diana Green, born in the autumn of 1807, was the first white child born in the township. She subsequently married Bazil Butt.

Mrs. George Green, yet living in this township at the age of ninety-two, is the mother of seventeen children, and rejoices in one hundred grandchildren, seventy great-grand children, and a number of great-great-grandchildren.

A family named Steinmetz, was the fourth family in the township. Elisha Willison and Jacob Baker soon followed, and in 1815 there were about twenty-five families in the township.

In 1813 Dr. Oliver Bigelow, from New York State, who owned the southwest quarter of the township, laid out the town of Johnstown, which, however, until 1815, made little or no progress. In the latter year N. Alden, Henry Hoover, William Sellers and, probably, others made improvements in the town. From that time until 1830, the town and township increased rapidly in population. The town never grew, however, up to the expectation of its founders, and probably there

are few if any more people there at the present time than in 1830. Although the houses are mostly strung along on either side of the main highway, the town was laid out in the form of a square with a large public square in the center, as were the towns generally in the county. This square, at present, looks like a vacant field. Trees have, however, been set out around it, which, if cared for, will one day beautify it. The census, just completed, makes the population two hundred and seventy-eight. There are five stores of different kinds, three wagon shops, two harness shops and three blacksmith shops.

The churches number three, and the union school building contains four rooms, and three teachers are, at present, employed.

More than two-thirds of a century this little town has lived without that great civilizer the railroad, but it has come at last. The track was recently laid, and although no passenger train has yet made its appearance, construction trains are running, and just now (September, 1880) a neat, little depot building is being completed.

Moses Foster, the first justice of the peace, died in 1815, and Dr. S. A. Bigelow, who died in 1821, was the second justice.

The first marriages were those of Ned Hatfield to Miss Timants, and Regnal Green to Sarah Willison.

There are six churches in this township. Among the first of these was the Monroe Baptist church, one mile north of Johnstown, organized in 1819, by Rev. George Evans. The original members of this organization were Jacob Baker, Richard Orpret, Washington Evans and wife, M. Hoover, John Clark and Abram Barlow. For ten years services were held in the private dwellings of the members and in the neighboring schoolhouses.

In 1830 the present brick church was erected at a cost of six hundred dollars. Rev. Eli Ashbrook was one of the earliest ministers in this church, serving five years. He was followed by Elders Darrow, Berry, Gildersleeve and Lyman. Rev. Hanover is present pastor. The present membership is twelve.

The Baptist church of Johnstown was organized in 1839, by F. R. Freeman. The original mem

bers were William Beers, Eli Pratt, James Hoover, Simeon De Wolf, F. R. Freeman, John Clark, Julius Freeman, John French, William Gisesell, Mary Peck, Irene Baker, Eva Violet, Lucy Morgan, Anna Crosby, Betsey Morgan, Elizabeth Dolph, Lavina Beers, Rebecca Best, Mary Clark, Minerva Hoover, Mary Downing, Rachel Phillips, Barbara Shoemaker, and Annetta Baker.

The present church was erected in 1869, at a cost of four thousand dollars.

Among the early pastors of this church were Elders Griswold, Sedgwick, Macy and Miller. The present pastor is D. W. Fields; the present membership, thirty.

The Sunday-school, organized in 1869, has a membership of fifty. Mrs. Lenora Adams is present superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal church, known as Monroe Chapel, was organized in 1837, in a school-house, in which the services were held until the erection of the present church, in 1840. The organization was effected principally through the influence of Uriah Heath, and the original members were Joseph B. Crammer, John Robison, Henry Heckathorn, Thomas Leitew, William Miller and Mr. Cole.

The church is a weak one' at present, numbering about six members; but a good Sabbath-school is sustained, with a membership of thirty-five; this was established about the time the church was erected.

The first Presbyterian church of Johnstown, was organized July 15, 1837, by Joseph Matthews. A few of the original members were David Conway, John Follett and Henry Le Duc. A church was erected in the same year in which the organization was effected, costing about one thousand two hundred dollars. The church is not strong one, having, at present, but twelve members. The pastor is Edward Garland.

Methodist Episcopal church of Johnstown.This is among the oldest in the township, having been organized in 1820 by the well known Russel Bigelow, who, at that time, had charge of the Columbus circuit. Mr. Bigelow organized many of the early Methodist churches in Central Ohio.

The organization took place at the residence of George Green, who with his wife and Rignal, and

Charles Green and their wives constituted the first members of this organization. The first Methodist meeting was held in Peter Stephen's tavern, and for five years this society held meetings at private houses and the school-house. In 1825, their first church edifice was erected. It was a small frame, and cost about three hundred dollars. In 1842, a quarterly meeting was held in Jacob Foulk's new barn, at which thirty persons united with the church, and much interest was manitested. A new church was erected this year at a cost of about one thousand dollars. Both of these church buildings are yet standing; the first being used as a dwelling. Russel Bigelow ministered to this church during its early years. The present pastor is F. S. Thurston. The church records show a membership of fifty-four.

A Sunday-school has, for years, been connected with the church, and at present numbers about

forty, including scholars and teachers. George Foulk is superintendent. Jacob Foulk and wife, who are yet living, were very early members of this church. They are pioneers, and are now looking back through the mists of something more than eighty years.

The United Brethren in Christ.--This church was organized in 1863, by Rev. William McDaniels, assisted by Silas Priest, Benjamin Clouse, Benjamin Green, Joseph Smith and Elisha Green. They held meetings in what is known as the Kaw school-house, the first few years, and, in 1866, erected the present church edifice. It is a neat, substantial building, and cost one thousand one hundred dollars. At present the membership is sixty-seven. The organization of the Sundayschool was coeval with that of the church, and now embraces sixty-three members.