Source:
History of Western Ohio & Auglaize County
with
Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Pioneer and Prominent Public Men
by C. W. Williamson
Columbus, Ohio
Press of W. M. Linn & Sons
1905

CLAY TOWNSHIP
Page 712

     The following from the Commissioners' Journal of Allen county is the official record of the organization of the township:

     "Session of Allen county Commissioners, Dec. 1, 1834.

     A petition was then presented to have original Town six South, Range seven east, made the limits of their township, and said township to be designated and known by the name of Clay.  Petition granted, and bonds given, and advertisements written for an election to be held at James H. Coleman's for township officers on the 20th inst. (Dec.)"
     Pursuant to the order of the commissioners an election was held at the house of J. H. Coleman on the 20th of December, 1834, when eleven votes were cast.  James H. Coleman, Thomas Beers, and John Rogers served as judges, and Richard Henry and Joel Bayliff as clerks.
     The following persons were elected to the respective offices:  Trustees, John Rogers, David Vonblaricom, Thomas Beer; Clerk, Richard Henry; Treasurer, Joel Bayliff; Constable, Thomas Beer; Fence Viewers, James H. Coleman, Thomas Reed, Thomas Beer; Overseers of the Poor, William Copeland and Samuel Bechdolt.
     Richard Henry was sworn into office by John Morris, justice of the peace of Union township.
     The voters at this selection were: Richard Henry, Joel Bayliff, David Vonblaricom, John Rogers, William Hinton, Thoams Beer, Thomas Reed, Byrd Richardson, James H. Coleman, William Copeland, and Samuel Bechdolt.
     Clay township is six miles in length from east to west, and five miles in width.  It therefore has an area of thirty squares miles.  It is bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by Goshen township and Logan county, on the south by Shelby county, and on the west by Pusheta township.
     "The soil of the township is largely of black loam, except in the immediate vicinity of St. Johns village, where the ridge, is known as St. John's Ridge, crosses the northwestern corner, where it reaches its highest elevation.  The surface of the township, however, is flat, and required an immense amount of artificial drainage to prepare it for cultivation."  There were long years of waiting before the flats were capable of yielding the bounteous crops for which the township is famous at the present time.  The system of ditch improvements inaugurated thirty years ago, and persistently carried on, year after year, has resulted in the complete drainage of the township.  The vast products of corn and other varieties of grain attest the wisdom of the ditch improvements.  Five years later public road improvements were commenced, and have kept pace with the other developments of the township, until nearly every public road in the township is a graveled pike.
     Among the first settlers of the township may be mentioned John Rogers, John Corder, William Richardson, Charles LUsk, Peter Princehouse, Richard Henry, Benjamin Runyan, James H. Coleman, Edward Williams, and Andrews Perkins.

Page 714

     The following roll of purchasers of United States lands is also an authentic pioneer record: