EARLY HISTORY

Among the early settlers of the township but few are now living, and still fewer are those who yet reside within its limits. Among them we may mention Mr. Edwards, who opened a farm on section 18, in 1849 ; Mr. L. F. Jobusch, who settled here in 1851, and Mr. E. C. Bartlitt, who opened a farm the same year ; Henry Lee, William McKee, Isaac Artz, and R. IL Wirger, still residing here, came about, or prior to, the latter date. Joseph, William and Mary Ann McKee, all children of John McKee, are the only persons now living in the township who were here in 1841.

Township organization was adopted in this county in 1853, and the first election of township officers, of which a record is found in the town records, was held at the house of John McKee, April 4, 1851. John McKee served as chairman, Isaac Jones as moderator, and E. C. Bartlitt as clerk. At this election twenty-seven votes were cast, and the following is a list of officers elected : supervisor, David Braucht ; town clerk, E. C. Bartlitt ; assessor, John S. Moore ; collector, John Ashbaugh ; overseer of poor, John Artz ; commissioners of highways, L. F. Jobusch, Jacob Sprecher, R. H. Winger; justices of the peace, John McKee, John L. Candor; constables, William McKee, Israel Artz ; overseers of highways, Edward Clifford, George Smith.

At the general election in the fall of the same year but sixteen votes were cast. At this time a vote was taken "for or against the county of Mercer taking one hundred thousand dollars stock in the Warsaw & Rockford Railroad," resulting nine for and five against. James E. Willett, John McKee, and Henry Lee were judges at this election, and E. C. Bartlitt and R H. Winger clerks.

 

History of Mercer and Henderson County

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