Page XXIV -

     This township is composed of thirty-six full sections, six each way.  The surface is somewhat hilly; the soil is a sandy loam and red clay, well adapted to the growth of wheat, and grain of nearly all kinds is raised.
     Chickamauga creek rises in the township and runs southeast, through the town of Gallipolis, emptying into the Ohio river at the lower part of town.  Campaign creek runs for a short distance southeast, through the northeast part of the township, and empties into the Ohio river just below Addison.  Barren creek rises near the center of the township, runs nearly west, and empties into the Big Raccoon.  Trace creek enters from the north, runs southwest across the northwest part of the township, and finds an outlet in the Big Raccoon.
     By petition of the early settlers, the township was laid out and organized June 2, 1812.  About nineteen votes were cast at the first election, which was held at the house of Charles Buck, the last week in September following, when Patrick Read was elected a justice of the peace.
     In the year 1800 Charles Mills came to the township; Michael Womeldorff in 1801; David D. Varian in 1807;  and Stephen Sisson in 18b19.  Thomas Sawyer erected a cabin in 1803, and the same year a settlement was begun on section thirty-five.  David, a son of John and Mary (Richardson) Glassburn, was the fist child born in the township.   Among the early settlers, besides those above mentioned, were John Glassburn, 1804; David Glassburn, born in 1805; William Watkins, 1811; James D. Sprague, 1812; Lewis Denney, 1814; Jacob Fee, born in 1822; Peter Jarsan 1824; John Cherrington, 1825; Andrew Watts, 1834; and Daniel Coverstone, 1835.
     In 1815 Samuel Denney built a log grist mill, upon Barren creek, on section twenty-seven, which was run by water, and contained one run of stone.  Moses Fee, at an early date, erected a frame saw mill upon the same creek, on section thirty-four, and run an upright saw by water power. 
     In 1810 a school was taught by Miss Barker, in a log cabin sixteen feet square, which had an opening in the walls, covered over with oiled paper, to admit light.  This was the only school in the township at that time.  Now there are thirteen comfortable school buildings - nine for white pupils, who have an enrollment of 459, and four for colored children, with 145 in attendance.
     Pine Grove postoffice was the first one established, located in the village of Porter, of which George J. Paine was postmaster.  There are now four within the township - Pine Grove, Heatly, Evergreen, and Kerr's Postoffice.
     In 1815 the first religious services were held, and a sermon delivered at the residence of William Miller.  At that time there was no organized religious society.  Now there are seven churches - three Methodist Episcopal, two Baptist, and two colored Baptist.
     The village of Porter was laid out on March 1st, 1830, by Joseph Fletcher, surveyor, and it is now yet incorporated.  Charles Russell was the proprietor.  It is located on section twenty-four, one mile northeast of the Columbus, Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad, and in 1880 had a population of 172.
     The village of Evergreen was laid out in 1855, by Henry Graham, surveyor, and John Cherrington, original proprietor.  It is located on section fifteen, on the Columbus Hocking Valley & Toledo Railroad, and is not yet incorporated.

See Page XXVI - Cheshire Twp. -

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