As its name indicates, this is the central sub-division of Guernsey county.  It was organized in 1822 as a separate township.  In extent of territory, it contains about twenty-three sections.  It is four miles from east to west and six miles from north to south.  It is surrounded by five townships, Cambridge, Jefferson, Wills, Jackson and Richland.  Centerville is a platted place within the township's limits, but never has been of much importance.  The National pike runs from east to west across this township in a diagonal course. 
     Concerning the early settlement of this township, it might be considered that the list of the aged persons living there in 1876 - Centennial year - was a good index of the early families and hence will here be inserted:
     Hugh MILLER, Joseph EAGLESON and wife, James EAGLESON, Katherine EAGLESON, John LUZADDER, Nero GILSON, Benjamin SIMPSON, Nancy McCULLUM, James SPENCE, Joseph GRIFFITH, James DUNGAN, Martha PATTERSON, Mary KENDALL, Elizabeth BOYD.  These persons had in 1876 reached the age of seventy-six years and many upwards of that.  Many of their children and grandchildren still reside in this township and are the farmers, stockmen and business factors of today.
     WILLIAM NORRIS, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, born in the 1805, removed to Ohio with his young wife in 1834, settling in the north part of Centre township, Guernsey county, where he soon after died.  He had a son, William, Jr., who became a well known citizen of the township.
     JOHN THOMPSON emigrated to this county at a very early day and located on the banks of Leatherwood creek, in Centre township.  He was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in March, 1807, and died here in 1859.  Of their six children, four survived to manhood and womanhood.
     Among those brave souls who braved the dangers of this then new wild country in 1820, were William and Mary (Robinson) Thompson, born about 1787 in Washington county, Pennsylvania.  In 1819 they came to Centre township and were delighted with the country and its promises for the future as a home-building place for them.  After making a preliminary trip, he brought his family on and erected a cabin.  The trip was made, with great danger, in a wagon all the way from Pennsylvania.  Within a few years he had cleared up a hundred and sixty acres and purchased more land and built a saw and grist-mill on Leatherwood creek, the first within Centre township.
     ALEXANDER EGLESON was born in Ireland in 1783, and came to Pennsylvania in 1819 and to Centre township in 1830.  He and his family became substantial and well-to-do farmers of this county.
     In 1841 came SAMUEL NELSON and wife from Pennsylvania, their native state, and located in Centre township and here they reared a worthy and industrious family.
     THOMAS and AND (PURSELY) WARNE emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio in Wills township first, then moved to Muskingum county, but in 1812 returned to Guernsey county, settling in Centre township.  Their log cabin home was once surrounded by water during a flood and the family were removed on horseback.  Mr. WARNE was drowned while on a trip to Stillwater, where he had gone to procure funds with which to prosecute his claims for a large estate in the East.  He reared a large and highly respected family of sons and daughters.
     Ireland furnished another sturdy son for the settlement of Centre township, in the person of JOHN BOYD, born in Antrim, 1818.  His parents and sister left for America in 1832 to seek a home in free America, and after two weeks in the city of New York, landed in Centre township as soon as they could well make the trip.  The father was JAMES BOYD.
     STOUT PATTERSON was among the hardy pioneers of this township.  He was known as Sr. Patterson and his son as Stout, Jr.  The father was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, as was his good wife.  They bought and paid for forty acres of land in this township and there they reared a family, lived and finally died.  They came here in 1808, hence were truly "first settlers" in Guernsey county.
     WILLIAM CLIPPINGER is another pioneer who must not be omitted in Centre township settlement.  He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1781 and his wife in 1779; both died in 1835.  He and his son William erected a rude log house and partly cleared up a small farm tract before moving the family here.  At the time of his death, he had bought and paid for one hundred and fifty-seven acres.
     ISAAC McCOLLUM was born in New Jersey in 1802, moved to Centre township in 1819 and lived here until overtaken by death. A son of this gentleman, Grey McCollum, served in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during two years of the Civil war and was twice wounded and finally taken prisoner and laid in Libby prison pen for six months, but later came home and became a good farmer and held the old homestead.
     Craig is a hamlet midway between Cambridge and Washington, and consists of about a dozen houses and a general store.  It had a postoffice at one time, but it is now discontinued.