Orion Township

This excerpt was taken from the History of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, page 843.

Mr. John Wolf and family came to this township in 1828, and settled upon sec. 18. John Orendorff and Wm. Ulmer came into this neighborhood about the same time. Of this family we speak in the personal sketches. Sarah Motsinger was the first child born in the township. The first school was taught by Patsey Brown upon sec. 18. The first school-house erected was in 1833, and Esquire S. N. Breed, now of Canton, taught the first school in it. The first preaching done was in Mr. Wolf's house. Ozias Hale was the first resident preacher. He had charge of the Duck Creek Baptist Church, which is now the First Baptist Church of Canton. John Orendorff erected the first frame house and burned the first kiln of brick. The first saw and grist-mill was erected upon the west branch of Copperas creek by Gabriel Walling.

The township is mostly covered with timber land bordering upon the three branches of Copperas creek with their various little tributaries. At the north line of section 35 Copperas creek divides, and what is known as the East Branch of Copperas creek flows east and north through the township, and what is known as the Middle Branch flows southeasterly. Near the southwest corner section 26, what is known as the West Branch of Copperas creek enters the Middle Fork.

There are 9,931 acres of improved land in the township, and 13,529 acres of land which is not in cultivation. This is not exceeded by any other township in the county except by Liverpool, which has a much larger area.

Rawalt Station was laid out by Jonas Rawalt, upon his land on section, 30. It is on the line of the T., P. & W. Ry., and only a few miles from Canton.

Breed's Station is another little place upon the line of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Ry. in this township. It is upon the southwest quarter of section 27, and laid off by C. G. Breed.

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