Welcome to
Wayne County
Ohio

PLAIN TOWNSHIP

Source: History of Wayne County, Ohio : from the days of the pioneers and first settlers to the present time - Indianapolis, Ind.: R. Douglass, 1878, 887 pgs.
CHAPTER XX.
(Contributed by Sharon Wick)

     PLAIN TOWNSHIP was organized in 1817, and was so named from the plains, or glades, which, to a large extent, constituted its timber growths at the time of its first settlement, and which cover large areas of its surface at the present time.  Its population in 1870 was 1,837.  The list of officers of the township appears on the records as follows:

     Justices of the Peace - George McCauley, July 12, 1832; William Kean, April 19, 1833; Benjamin Rogers, May 30, 1835; William Kean, January 20, 1837; Clinton Wilson, January 30, 1837; James A. Hill, June 4, 1838; C. Wilson, January 13, 1840; H. Edwards, January 13, 1840; Jonas May, January 13, 1840; H. Edwards, December 17, 1842; L. H. Upham, December 17, 1842; M. Kauffman, December 24, 1842; M. Kauffman, December 20, 1845;  Eli Jones, December 20, 1845; C. Wilson, April 12, 1848; M. Kauffman, December 16, 1848; Benjamin Eason, December 16, 1848; James Henry, April 11, 1850; George Young, October 19, 1850; J. H. Downing, November 5, 1852; James Henry, April 19, 1853; D. C. Martin, December 1, 1853; James Henry, April 28, 1856; B. F. Zercher, November 12, 1856; G. W. Horn, April 22, 1857; Abram Soliday, April 19, 1859; B. F. Zercher, October 20, 1859; A. Funk, April 17, 1860; J. K. Forbes, April 13, 1861; James Henry, April 21, 1862; A. Funk, April 17, 1863; D. C. Kean, April 15, 1864; James Henry, April 12, 1865; H. W. Walton, April 11, 1868; Samuel B. Kelley, October 20, 1869; H. W. Walton, April 10, 1871; S. B. Kelley, October 12, 1872; Abram Soliday, April 15, 1873; H. W. Walton, April 14, 1874; William Mellinger, April 12, 1875; Abram Soliday, April 13, 1876.

ROBERT EASON -

JOHN FOLGATE -

WILLIAM GOODFELLOW -

BENEDICT MELLINGER, SR. -

WILLIAM and HENRY ROUCH -

WILLIAM SIDLE -

JOHN TRYON -

TOWNS IN PLAIN TOWNSHIP.

     Millbrook received is title from General Thomas McMillan, who named it and surveyed it.  It was laid out by Elijah Yocum, Aug. 10, 1829, the plat and certificate recorded next day, and found in County Records, p. 315, vol. 7.  The carding mill to the east of was originally a grist mill, built by McMillen in 1816, for John Nimmon.

     Blachleyville was laid out by William B. and William Blachley, Dec. 16, 1833, after whom it was named.  It was surveyed by George Emery, the plat and certificate recorded March 12, 1834, and found on page 210, vol. 11, County Records.

     Jefferson was laid out June 30, 1829, by Stephen Williams and Alexander Hutchinson, and was surveyed by Peter Emery the plat and certificate recorded July 2, 1829, which can be found on page 276, Book G.  It is favorably situated, four miles west of Wooster, and does considerable business.  It had from an early period find mail facilities, the coach line extending from Wooster to Ashland.  This line having been vacated, it was restored two years ago, Charles Lessiter conducting it for one year, when it passed into the hands of Joshua Warner.  George Waggoner is the Postmaster.

     Reedsburg was laid out by William Reed, after whom it was named, Dec. 13, 1835, and surveyed by George Emery, the plat and certificate being recorded Jan. 4, 1836, and found on page 527, vol. 13.  The first settlers of that neighborhood were, Matthias Starn, Joseph Mowery, John Peters, William Hagerman, and others.

     Springville was laid out by David Brown and surveyed by John A. Lawrence, Dec. 16, 1844, plat and certificate recorded Dec. 4, 1845, the record being on page 33, vol. 28.  It was formerly called Buffalo, or Health's Corners.

     Remains of Buffaloes and Cedar Trees - Between Springville and Millbrook the land-owners in plowing, but more especially in ditching, come in contact with the remains of cedar trees.  Half a century ago immense logs were taken out, three feet from the surface, that had lain there for ages, and were sawed into boards.  Trees were found three and four feet in diameter.  More recently, in ditching in the low lands directly south of Millbrook, have been found more of these cedar relics.  What is mysterious about this is the fact that there are no cedar forests in that section, nor have we any knowledge of them from any source whatever.  South and east of the village on the old Culberson farm, and the one where James Bruce lives, were found buffalo skulls and horns, and remains of human bodies of immense size, were found buffalo skulls and horns, and remains of human bodies of immense size.  Here was a field for the naturalist, antiquarian, archeologist, ethnologist, and man with the encyclopedia, and sweet Gonzales, ever smiling James.

JACOB KISTER -

JOSEPH G. YOCUM -

CHURCHES OF PLAIN TOWNSHIP.

     Reformed Church of Reedsburg -
     Lutheran Church -
     Baptist Church of Millbrook.
 PAGE 650

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