This township was organized, Mar. 8, 1853, with a territory of twenty-nine and one-fourth square miles.  It was formed by detaching portions of Wayne, Meigs and Tiffin townships, the larger portion from Wayne.  Its lines are very irregular.
     It was named in honor of John Oliver, a prominent and influential citizen and a county commissioner at the time.
     The first election was ordered held at the house of William B. Brown, in Unity, on the first Monday in April, 1853.
     The surface is mostly high and rolling, with a soil of reasonable fertility.  The principal stream of water is the Chery Fork of Brush creek.
     It is divided into seven sub-districts with well managed schools in each.
     There are three villages, Harshaville, Unity and Dunkinsville, with a post office at each.

FIRST SETTLERS.

     John Clark, was probably the first settler in Oliver township.  He came in the fall of 1806, and settled, west of, and adjoining the village of Harshaville, on Cherry Fork.  This property is now owned by his son, John Clark.  The next year, 1807, Robert Finley settled the adjoining farm, now owned by N. C. Patton.  Gen. Saml. Wright came in 1808, and settled where the village now stands.

     This is one of the most fertile townships in the county, with well cultivated farms and an industrious, thrifty people.  There has never been an assignment made by any of its citizens.

VILLAGES - HARSHAVILLE.

     Though this place was never regularly laid out as a town, yet the enterprises and good judgment of W. B. Harsha, the proprietor of the excellent mills of this place, that bear his name, have attracted to it, a class of people whose intelligence and cultivated tastes, have built up quite a little village.  The general enterprise of the citizens, and their bright tasty houses make it one of the prettiest little towns in the country, which is attested by the many views of their residences and business houses that adorn our work.

BUSINESS OF HARSHAVILLE.

     This village contains one dry goods store, and the mills - were particularly described on another page; one blacksmith shop, two harness shops, one shoe shop.

STORES.

     In 1849, Mr. G. A. Patton opened a store in the village, which has done a successful business since.  This store is first-class in every department, and is the only establishment of the kind ever kept in the place.

UNITY.

     This little village is situated on the pike leading from Grace Run on the North Liberty and Tranquility pike, to Dunkinsvile, some four miles form the latter place.  It was never laid off as a town but has grown up by lots being sold from time to time, by George Clark, to suit purchasers as they wanted to buy.  The first lot was sold in the spring of 1846 to the U. P. church, for a meeting house and cemetery.  This church was called Unity house?, by common consent that name has been applied to the village which has grown up by it.
     The second lot was sold to Thomas and Samuel McClanahan, who started the first store, in 1848.  This store was on the lot now occupied by W. B. Brown as a residence.
     In February, 1851, the store was sold by Jacob Poole, who in July of that year, removed to Ripley, taking with him his dry goods, selling the groceries to W. B. Brown who filled in a general assortment of goods and continued the business until 1874 when he sold out to his sons, J. W. and H. H. Brown, who have since continued it.
     The village contains one dry goods store, one blacksmith shop, one shoe shop, one steam saw and grist mill.

STEAM MILLS - UNITY.

     This mill is a good substantial building put up in 1850, by McClanahan & Fiser, as a saw mill.  They afterwards put in a pair of burrs for grinding corn.  In 1853, they sold it to Frederick and Conrad Plummer.  They continued it until 1855, when they sold to Isaac and Cyrus Plack.  These parties run it until 1862, when it was burned.  They rebuilt and in 1864 sold to Brown & Blake.  In 1870, Mr. Brown became sole proprietor and has since continued the business alone.

McCLANAHAN'S MILL.

     This mill, located on Trebur's Run, some two miles west of Dunkinsville, was built some ten or twelve years ago, by J. B. McClanahan who is still the proprietor.  It is well constructed and does a fair business.

DUNKINSVILLE.

     This place is situated on the pike between West Union and Jacksonville, about six miles N. E. of the former place.  It is a village of little enterprise.  It was laid out with 18 lots, December 14, 1841.  It contains one small dry goods store, one blacksmith shop, two cooper shops, fourteen houses and seventy inhabitants.

POST OFFICES - DUNKINSVILLE.

     This is the oldest office in the township.  It takes its name from the village.

WHEAT RIDGE.

     This office was established at Unity January, 1851, with the above name, from Wheat Ridge, a tract of country known by that name on account of its excellent and heavy crops of wheat, Unity being situated on this ridge.  William B. Brown was appointed first post master, which position he held until December, 1863, when he was succeeded by Cyrus Black, who died in May, 1864.  June 30, 1864, G. A. Patton was appointed to succeed Mr. Black, deceased.  Mr. Patton, who lived in Harshaville, two miles distant, removed the office to that place, and "Unity was left out in the cold."  September 30, 1865, the name of the office was changed from Wheat Ridge to Harshaville and the office restored at Unity with the old name of "Wheat Ridge," and William B. Brown again postmaster, who is the present incumbent.

HARSHAVILLE.

     This office was, as stated above, established here June 30, 1864, with G. A. Patton as post master, who has held the position ever since.

UNITY CHURCH, UNITED PRESBYTERIAN.

     At a meeting of the Presbytery, held Apr. 18, 1846, a petition was presented by Samuel Clark and thirty others, asking to be set off as a separate congregation, giving as a reason, their distance from a place of worship.  Their petition was granted and Rev. John Graham was appointed to preach in the neighborhood of the petitioners, and preside at the election of elders.
     Previous to the meeting of the Presbytery, the initiary steps were taken for the organization of the congregation and Messrs. Samuel Clark, High McSurely and George Clark, were elected ruling elders.
     At the meeting of the Presbytery, held Aug. 1, 1846, Mr. Graham asked the appointment of elders to assist him in the examination and ordination of the elders elected, whereupon Matthew McCreight and William Finley were appointed.
     Before the next meeting of the Presbytery held Oct. 7, 1846, the organization was complete.
     The meeting had up to this time, been held at the house of George Clark.  The first meeting after the organization was held July 27, 1846.  At this meeting George Clark was chosen Treasurer, and James B. McClelland, Clerk.  A contract was also made with George Clark and J. B. McClelland, to build a house of worship for $225.  The original plan of the house was afterwards changed, making an additional cost of $95.13.  This was for only the shell of the building, the plastering and seating was another expense.  Everything was completed and the house ready for use and the first services held in it in October, 1847.  The services on this occasion were conducted by Rev.A. Atan.  At the same time he, assisted by Rev. Robert Stewart, pastor of Cherry Fork congregation, held the first communion.  The house on this occasion was crowded to its utmost capacity.
     A call was made for A. W. McClanahan a licentiate at that time under the care of the A. R. Presbytery, of Chillicothe.  He accepted it Sept. 28, 1849, pastor of the united charge of Unity and Decatur.
     At the time of the installation of the first pastor, forty (40) members had been received into the communion of the church and fifteen infants had been baptized.
     After a pastorate of over two years, he offered his resignation of the Unity part of his charge and the relation was dissolved Sept. 10, 18_1.
     During Mr. McClanahan's pastorate, thirty-six (36) persons were received into the communion of the church, and thirteen (13) infants baptized.  Also the following ruling elders were elected, ordained and installed, namely: Messrs. Nathaniel Kirkpatrick and John Platter.
     Mr. McClanahan, deceased a few years after he severed his connection with the congregation.
     During the interval between the resignation of Mr. McClanahan and the installation of another pastor, fourteen persons were received into the church, two adults and nineteen infants baptized.
     In a little over a year, Feb. 25, 1853, the Presbytery granted the request of the congregation for the moderation of a call, which was made out for Rev. James Arbuthnot which was accepted Apr. 9, 1853.  He was installed October 10th same year.
     Apr. 15, 1868, a petition was presented to the Presbytery, by commissioners from the congregation of Unity and West Union, asking to be made one pastoral charge and that the time of Rev. James Arbuthnot be equally divided between both congregations.  After a pastorate of over twelve years,

the last three in connection with West Union, Mr. Arbuthnot, on account of the infirmities of age, tendered his resignation May 8, 1866.
     During Mr. Arbuthnot's pastorate ninety-two person were received into the church, six adults and eighty-three infants baptized and two ruling elders, namely, Archibald Leach and Jonathan McCreight, were elected, ordained and installed.  The church building was also repaired.  Several members of the church sustained serous losses by Morgan's raid, aggregating seven or eight thousand dollars.
     It was during this pastorate that the union between the Associate and Associate Reformed churches was consumated forming what is now known as the United Presbyterian church.  By this union, this congregation was enlarged by members of the Associate church residing in its bounds.  It was also during this pastorate that a Sabbath School was organized in this congregation.  This took place at a meeting held Mar. 27, 1857, by choosing Cyrus Black Superintendent and W. B. Brown, Assistant Superintendent, G. A. Patton, Librarian and J. W. McClung and A. R. Leach a committee to procure books for a library.
     During the interval between this and the installation of the next pastor, forty-three persons were added to the church, eight adults and twenty-two infants baptized, and teh following elders were elected, ordained and installed, namely: Messrs. N. C. Patton, W. B. Brown and W. B. Harsha.
  The Presbytery at a meeting held Sept. 12, 1866, granted the request of the congregation for the moderation of a call, which was made out for Rev. J. Stewart, and was by him accepted Sept. 10, 1867, and he was installed June 22, 1868.
     After serving nearly three years Mr. Stewart tendered his resignation, which was accepted, Jan. 10, 1871.
     During this pastorate fifty-four were received into the church, thirteen adults and thirty-four infants were baptized.  The Sabbath school reached 200 members.  During the short vacancy five infants were baptized.  The Sabbath school reached 200 members.  During the short vacancy five infants were baptized.
     At a called meeting of the Presbytery held Sept. 2, 1871, the moderation of a call was granted and on the same day made out for Rev. J. P. Finney and was by him accepted September 27th, same month, and on the 19th of October he was installed.

LICK FORK, BAPTIST CHURCH.

     Previous to 1840, there had been occasional preaching, in the neighborhood of this church, by Baptist ministers, who were passing through the vicinity.  In the winter of 1840, a church was organized under the preaching of Elders Spohn and Griswold, with a membership of thirteen.  Rev. David Spohn was chosen pastor and remained two years, in which time the membership had increased to fifty.  Rev. William Algood was the next pastor.  After him the church was left without a pastor from October, 1844, until June, 1846, when Rev. h. S. Kelly, took charge and remained nearly three years, at the expiration of which time the pulpit was again vacant until October, 1819, when Rev. William Calahan was called to the charge.
    During this year, a council of the church was called to consider the propriety of ordaining Bro. F. Fear to the work of the ministry.  The council decided not to ordain him on account of his unwillingness to devote his whole time to the work.
     June 19, 1849, Elder Calahan tendered his resignation, which was accepted, and the church again left without a pastor.  It was supplied alternately by Elders Spohn, Fear andGabriel until September, 1854, when another council met and assisted by Elder Spohn ordained F. Fear to the work of the ministry.
    After Mr. Fear's ordination, he was called to the pastorate of the church in which capacity he served more than three years.  After the expiration of Elder Fear's labors, Elder Wallace accepted the pastoral charges.  During his brief pastorate 36 members were added to the church.  In May, 1861, Elder Wallace was succeeded by Elder A. B. White who continued to labor with them until June, 1863, when he resigned and Elder Trichler was called and labored with them until 1864.  Elder Storer next took charge.  He remained only six months when he resigned and was suc-

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ceeded by Rev. F. Fear who supplied the desk until October, 1867, when a council was called to confer with the churches of WEst Union and Winchester relative to employing a pastor which resulted in calling Elder W. Haw.

HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

     After its organization and after years of waiting the congregation built themselves a comfortable log meeting house on the ground now occupied by the present building.
     In 1856, they decided to sell the old house and apply the proceeds to the erection of a new one.  The same year it was begun and a new frame house 34x44, built.

LIST OF PASTORS.

     The following is believed to be a correct list of pastors since the organization of the church:

CHURCHES.

     This township has four churches within its limits; the U. P. church at Unity, the Regular Baptist church and U. B. church, on Wheat Ridge, and the Methodist Episcopal church at Dunkinsville.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH - WHEAT RIDGE.

     No history furnished by this church.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - DUNKINSVILLE.

     No history furnished.