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Monroe County, Ohio
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SUMMIT TOWNSHIP

Source:
History of Monroe County, Ohio
- Illustrated -
A Condensed History of the County;
Biographical Sketches: General Statistics; Miscellaneous Matters &c.
Publ. H. H. Hardesty & Co, Publishers
Chicago and Toledo
1882

Page 220

     This township was organized June 4, 1850, and contains 23 sections, of which 9 are in original township 5, and eight in township 6, of range 6, and two in township 6 and 4 in township 7, of range 7.  It is bounded on the north by Seneca and Malaga, on the east by Centre, on the south by Wayne and Franklin, and on the west by Franklin and Seneca.  In the Geological Survey of Ohio, Prof. Andrews says:  "This township is well named, for it is upon a very high ridge, from which the water flows into Will's creek, on the northwest and west, into Sunfish creek on the east, and on the land of George Feiock, and half-mile southwest of the village of Lewisville, is one of the highest points in the county.  It is one hundred and thirty feet above the upper seam of coal, and about three hundred and forty to three hundred and sixty above the lower coal found on the south fork of Will's creek.  A distant knob, in the direction south, 25° east, is a little higher.  On the land of Wm. Smith, section 18, coal has been mined to a small extent, and some has been taken to Woodsfield.  On the land of J. R. Fisher, on Sunfish creek, north of Wm. Smith's, a stratum of iron ore, nine inches thick, is reported by Hon. J. O. Amos.  It is thought to be about fifty feet above the Woodsfield (Evans) seam of coal.
     The first settlers in the township were Ephraim Rucker and Mollie McGuire.  Rucker was a Virginian, and the McBrides, Pennsylvania.  The McGuire settlement was made just north of the present village of Lewisville, and was known as Mollie's Garden.  Rucker settled in the western part of the township.  Rucker and the McGuires built the first cabins, about 1814.  The following were the first, or earliest settlers; Ephraim Buckner, James Benson, Michael Crow, Wm. Craig, Philip Cline and Edward Coulter, from Virginia; John Hamilton, Jacob Wise, David Ayres, Ephraim Dearth, Thomas Scott, James Allen, Robert Smith, and Thomas Allen, from Pennsylvania; Henry Benson, Barak Fisher and Alexander Ferrel, from Maryland; Robert Stewart, John McBride, Robert Hannahs, and Hugh Henderson.
     The first election was held at Lewisville, Sept. 7, 1850.  There were, probably, as many voters in the township then as now.  The first vote cast was by Lemuel Rucker.  Michael Crow and George W. Watson, were the first justices of the peace.  Mr. Watson, however, was elected in Centre, before the organization of Summit.  First trustees, Barnet Mann, John H. Ayres and Jacob H. Hamilton; first assessor, Isaac Barnhart; first treasurer, Wm. Milligan; constable, Philip Weber.
     About 1830, or sooner, Francis Allen built the first grist-mill, about one and a half miles north of the site of the present town of Lewisville.  It was a horse-power draft mill.  About 1835, a Mr. Miller built a water grist-mill on Sunfish, about two miles northeast of Lewisville, and was afterward known as Baker's mill.  About 1835, Ephraim Rucker built a saw-mill on the headwaters of Will's creek, some three miles west of Lewisville.
     About 1825, Philip Cline taught a school about two and a half miles northwest of the site of Lewisville, with some thirty scholars.  The house was the primitive style, and the school a subscription school, at one dollar and fifty cents for a term of three months; twenty-six days to the month, and the pay, generally, in corn, at eighteen cents per bushel.
     The first postoffice was in the southwestern part of the township, and called Shannon.  It is now called Lecompton.  The only other postoffice is in the village of Lewisville, and the name of the office the same as the town.
     The first religious services were held at the house of John Hamilton, in the northwestern portion of the township, by the Baptists.  The first society organized was by the Presbyterians, about the year 1830.  They erected a log building, and, about 1853, tore it down and erected a frame, on the same site.  It was again remodeled in 1881.  Rev. McCandlas was the first minister.  This church is known as the Buchanan Presbyterian Church.  Among its first members were Wm. Buchanan and wife, Robert Smyth and wife, Robert Smith and wife, Wm. Pickens and wife, James Graham and wife, Robert Cooper and wife, and Archibald Cooper and wife.  The second church organized was on the head water of Will's creek, by the Episcopal Methodists.  Rev. Leeper was the first minister.  Among the first members were Jacob and Mary Wise, Jacob Wise, junior, and wife, James Wise and wife, and John Dearth.  This church was known as the Wise M. E. Church.  There are now in the township five churches; one Presbyterian, two Lutheran, one German Methodist, and one English Methodist.
      The town of Lewisville was laid out in 1837, by Barak Fisher and John Burton.  Population, in 1880, reported at 120.  The population of township, including the town, by the census of 1880, was 914.  The present justices of the peace of Alex. Buchanan and Henry J. Bender.
    
The school statistics for the township, for the year ending Aug. 31, 1881, were as follows:  Total school moneys received within the year, $2,987.78; paid teachers within the year, $1,600.75; paid for fuel, etc., $178.66; balance on hand Sept. 1, 1881, $1,208.37; No. of school houses, 6; No. of school rooms, 7; value of school property, $4,500; No. $36.00, ladies, $22.00; No. of pupils enrolled, 243.

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