In 1799, John Matthews, surveyor and civil engineer, on behalf of the United States government surveyed the lands comprising Hamilton township and the early records speak of it as ''Matthews' Survey," a term still used in conveyance descriptions.  These lands came into market in the year 1800, and in that year and the year following they were taken up in the usual form of "entries" in vogue in that date, and settlements began.

The Early Settlers.

     Among the very earliest settlers were John Dill and Michael Fisher.  Only a little later came Percival Adams, Thomas Morris, the Worthingtons, the Stewarts, the Johnstons, James Culbertson, the Stombaughs, George W. Williams, and Robert Shannon with his six sons named respectively, Samuel, Hugh, John, James, Joseph and William.
     Hamilton township was formally organized in 1807, and at that time embraced within its boundaries the territory from which Madison township was subsequently erected.  The township is about eight miles in length, north and south, and four miles wide, east and west, the width varying with the curving; and meandering of the Scioto river.  When the original division of

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the county was made in 1803, this territory was part in Liberty and part in Harrison township.  It was also generally regarded as containing a greater proportion of first class land than any like quantity of territory anywhere in the county.  Later, when the canal was located through it greatly enhanced its natural advantages, especially in water powers.

Milling Interests.

     Shortly after the. completion of the canal, the Hartwell Mills, at the Four Mile Lock was erected, and subsequently the Cottage Mills were erected in 1841 by Messrs. Hibbs and Dalzell.

Lockbourne and Shadesville.

     In 1831, Colonel James Kilbourne, acting as agent for Joel Buttles, Demas Adams and others laid out the town of Lockbourne, which soon grew into a considerable village with good church building, school house, stores, warehouses with a population comprising about seventy families, two or three physicians and a like number of taverns, saw and grist mills, etc.
     The Lockbourne postoffice was established in 1837 and Nathan G. Smith, 1837; Zebulon Marcy, 1838; John H. Stage, 1839; C. M. Porter, 1849; Dr. A. N. Boales, 1851; Dr. J. R. Marshall, 1853; John A Sarber, 1854; and J. H. Haire, 1856-58, were the pioneer postmasters.  Lockbourne was incorporated by an act of the legislature in 1839-40, but the citizens never availed themselves of its provisions.
     Hon. Adin G. Hibbs laid out the village of Shadesville in 1853 and was made the first postmaster of Shadesville; the other pioneer postmaster, Joshua Hartzel, holding the position till past the half century.

Population Stationary.

     The population has remained almost stationary since 1840.  In that year the population, including the villages of Lockbourne and Shadesville was one thousand two hundred fifty-eight; in 1850, one thousand four hundred eighty-five; in 1858, one thousand four hundred ninety-eight; in 1900, one thousand five hundred; in 1908, one thousand four hundred ninety-three, estimated.  The soil of the township is productive, the highways, as throughout the most of the county, are well kept and the farms bespeak care and thrift.

Among the Later Pioneers.

     Among the prominent heads of families of the second growths, so to speak of the pioneers may be mentioned, William Dunning, William Irwin, David Spangler, Thomas Morris, John B. Johnson, Percival Adams, John Stipp, George Hays, Joseph Murray, William Champ, M. Fisher, John Landes, William Jacobs, William Shannon, Adin G. Hibbs, Rev. N. S. Ransom, Rev. J. D. Smith, Rev. Thomas Woodrow and Rev. W. Maynard.

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