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��HISTOKY OF KICHLAND COUNTY.
��Bear's Marsh Creek waters the northern part, running west into the Sandusky River.
This territory was largely used by the Dela- awares as a hunting-ground, quite a band of that tribe under the chief Wingenund, having, for many years, a permanent camp on the San- dusky River, near Leesville. The great, dark woods and thick undergrowth formed excellent hiding-places for wild animals.
The township was first settled by white men about 1820, the first settlers generally follow- ing the Indian trails across Sharon Township, which soon became public highways. The wave of civilization gradually advanced from Mifflin Township, in the eastern part of the county, in 1809, to Sharon and Vernon, in 1818 and 1820.
The settlers generally came from Western Penns3'lvania, but a few were from New En- gland, and, in later years, a large number of European Germans settled in this part of the country.
The first settler was George Byers, in 1820, and the next, so far i^s known, was George Dickson, in 1822. Dickson was a single man, but returned to Pennsylvania, married, re- turned here with his wife in 1823 and is yet a resident. The next settlers were Eli Arnold, William McClelland, Jonathan Dickson, Dennis Orton and James Dickson.
In 1826, the township polled ten votes.
Andrew Dickson and William McClelland were the first white children born in the town- ship, February, 1826.
The first assessment was made in 1823, b}^ Adam Aumend, there being at that time only three families in the township, and but two of these had any property subject to assessment.
��The first orchard was planted in 1825.
There are two small towns within its limits, West Liberty and De Kalb. The former is located on Loss Creek, on the southeast quar- ter of Section 17, and was laid out Ma}' 28, 1835. It contains at present but one store and a few dwelling-houses.
De Kalb was laid out November 21, 1838, on Section 5, by David Anderson. It is about the size of West Liberty. When the Mans- field, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad passed across the northeastern part of the township, in 1871, a station-house was erected a short distance from De Kalb, called "De Kalb Station." The little business of the place is now generally transacted at this station.
A church called the "Liberty Church," or " Church of God," is located in the northern and eastern part of the township, and was or- ganized in 1850, by Elder William Adams. A few of the first members were Christopher Shade, Daniel Baker and wife, and Joseph Tomblesou and wife.
The early meetings of the society' were held in the schoolhouse. A frame church building was erected in 1860, at a cost of $800. A few of the early ministers were William Adams, William Shaffer and David Shiiner.
The present minister is William Burchard, and the membership is about thirty.
A Sunday school was organized about the time the church was erected. Samuel Dean was the first Superintendent. He was suc- ceeded by Solomon Gross, who was Superin- tendent many years. This school is yet in suc- cessful operation, with a membership of about fifty.
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