TP. 1, S.
AREA 23,040 ACRES

R. 10, E.
POPULATION 1,309

    The Commissioners' records of the 3d of December, 1832, read:  "A petition was presented by sundry citizens of hte original township No. 1, south, in range 10 east, praying to be organized.  Township 1 south in range ten east was accordingly set off, and formed into a body politic and corporate, and the said township shall be called Eagle."
     This township is bounded on the north by Liberty and Findley townships, is bounded on the north by Liberty and Findley townships, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Madison and Van Buren, and on the west by Union, and takes its name from the creek of the same name which runs through it.  It is situated in the first range of townships south of the base line.
     The records of the Land Office show that the first land entered in this township was the west half of the northeast quarter of section 35, by John Woodruff, on the first day of June, 1827.  On the 6th day of June, 1829, Elijah Woodruff entered the north-west quarter of section 13.  This land is now owned by William Yates, and J. Alspach.  On the 7th day of August of the same year, Philip Heakes entered the lands now owned by the heirs of George Arnold in section twelve, and in November of the same year, Geo. Bishop entered the north-west quarter of section 24, now owned by John D. Bishop.  The north-west quarter of section 9 was entered by Joshua Hedges, of Pickaway County, on the 28th of September, 1830, and on the 27th of November, in the same year, Shun Sager entered the west half of the south-west quarter of section 31.  This land is now owned by I. Heldman.  In the later part of the year 1831, entries were made in sections 5, 6 and 8 by Jacob Powell, Peter Powell and John Powelll, all of Fairfield County, O., and by John Bright in section 21.  Other entries followed, and much of the land in the township was speedily taken up.
     The soil of this locality is much of it a sandy loam.  In some parts of clay soil predominates.  The bottom lands along Eagle Creek are exceedingly fertile, and many very valuable farms may by found here.   The surface of the land is generally level, except along the creek, where it is somewhat broken, but not enough to prevent easy cultivation.  Some parts of the township have been, and indeed are yet, occasionally subject to a disease known as "Milk Sickness."  The cause of this disease has never yet been discovered, and is attributed to the character of the soil, and the water, to vegetation, either living or decaying, but each and all of these theories have been discarded as not giving a satisfactory solution of the cause.  Certain it is, however, the cause of the disease, no matter what it may be, is found only in the uncultivated or unreclaimed lands.  It is not known on cleared or cultivated fields.  Hence, perhaps the most rational conclusion is that the cause is some species of vegetation, that disappears when lands are once cultivated.
     The timber is of the prevalent varieties found elsewhere in the county, such as walnut, beech, ash, oak, maple and buckeye.  the timber and vegetation throughout the township was of a very rank growth.
     Eagle Creek and Tiderashy, with their tributaries, furnish an abundance of stock water, adnsufficient drainage in all parts of the township.  Eagle Creek crosses the township from south to north, in the east part, and Tiderashy Creek follows the same course in the western part, thus pretty thoroughly watering and draining and entire surface.  These streams of course are small, adn yet Eagle Creek has furnished water power for mill purposes ever since the early settlement of the township.
     The first settlement made in this township was by John Woodruff in the latter part of 1829, and by John Decker, Benjamin Whitman, Conrad Line, Jacob Zoll, and R. W. McClellon in 1830   These pioneers were followed in 1831 by John D. Bishop, Elias Decker, Amos Crum and others.  These first settlers were for the most part from Fairfield and Franklin counties.  Whitman was from New York, and McClellon from Pennsylvania.  The first settlements were made on or near Eagle Creek, on the east side of the township.  The Nunamakers, Heldmans, and others very soon after made settlements in the west part, and the Powells, and others located on Tiderashy Creek.
     At the first election in 1833, when the township was organized, there were barely electors enough to fill the different offices.  Benjamin Whitman, Conrad Line, George Ricker, John Woodruff and John Decker were voters at that election.
     The first school house built within the limits of the township was in the Bishop district, in 1834.  Mr. John D. Bishop informs me that himself and Benjamin Whitman were the only tax-payers in the district at the time.  Rachel McBride taught the first school in this building.  There are now nine school districts, each one supplied with a comfortable school building, and an enumeration in the township of four hundred and fifty-eight children of school age.
     There were no church buildings in the township until 1840, although religious services had been held, and societies formed before that time.  These societies met for worship in private families, or in the different school houses.  In 1840 the United Brethren Church erected a building on the farm of John Woodruff, on the east side of the creek.  It was of hewed logs, small in dimensions, but sufficiently large to accommodate the religiously inclined of the young settlement.  Of the first members of this church we have the names of Mrs. Woodruff, Conrad Line and wife, and some of the Deckers.
     The first mill was known as Decker's hand mill, and here by a great deal of muscular power, corn could be ground fine enough for mush making.  It was, however, a slow, laborious process.  In 1830 George Bishop erected a saw mill, and in 1833, a flouring mill, still known as Bishop's Mill.  In 1854 John D. Bishop, the present owner of the mill, attached steam power, as the mill previous to that time had been propelled by water.  But after a few years trial he became dissatisfied with this, and removed it, since which time water has again been used as the motive power.  Perhaps no mill in the county has been of more real benefit, when mills were most needed, than has this one.  Not only did the immediate neighborhood patronize it, but people from a distance came here.
     The township is being rapidly developed.  Already it can boast of some of the richest farms in the county.  There are large number of very fine residences, and some of the very best farm buildings in the county.  The soil is rich and when the timber is removed, it easily cultivated.  The people and engaged in agriculture and stock raising.  The number and character of the church and school buildings found here, speaks of its intelligence and morals.  One in travelling over the township cannot fail to observed the steady, permanent improvements being made in all parts, and is struck with the air of thrift and contentment which seem to pervade.

MARTINSTOWN.

      Was laid out on the south-east corner of section 36, by Martin Hollobaugh, in September, 1836.  There were, perhaps, never any lots sold, or streets laid out, as the site was at the cross-roads, and the record of the platting of the town closed up its existence, if indeed it ever had one.

CLEMENT POST OFFICE

     A Post Office of this name was established in 1850, with Amos Crum as Post Master.  The office was located on the Bellefontaine road about six miles south of Findley.  Mr. Crum was succeeded as Post Master by John Swank, who held the office until it was discontinued in 1864.

GEORGE W. ALSPACH.  In the latter part of April, 1834, Mr. Alspach, to use his own language, "landed in Hancock County, Eagle township, at the house of John Powell."  He at once engaged to work for Mr. Powell at $13 per month.  In the fall of the same year he went back to his home in Fairfield County, but soon returned, and went to work for Jacob Zoll.  He says however, "that he took time to select a lot of land, and go to the land office to enter it, but was too late, as it had already been taken up."  After returning to the township, he selected and entered the south-west quarter of section 22.  Mr. Alspach is now living on this same tract of land, which by his industry has been converted into a beautiful and valuable farm.
     Mr. Alspach says he was married in March, 1835, built a cabin on his land, moved into it in May, without a door or window in place.  A blanket served to close the door.  This cabin stood in the woods, with wolves howling them to sleep at night.  His nearest neighbor was Benj. O. Whitman, who lived one mile and a half distant.
     The first settlers in this part of the township, as Mr. Alspach remembers them, were the Woodruffs, Whitman, John Decker, Ebright, William Tanner and Jacob Powell previous to 1834, then came Jacob Zoll, Peter Oman, Moses Elsea, Henry Keel, John Powell, Daniel and Peter Fellers, and J. Alspach.  Mr. Alspach said that at one time he was at a log rolling, or house raising, every day for three weeks.  All the township offices have been filled by Mr. Alspach, including Overseer of the Poor, and Fence Viewer, and yet he never became wealthy holding office.  Mr. Alspach is and always has been an honest, upright man and good citizen.

JOHN WALTERS was born in Rockingham County, Va., June 22, 1814, and in his infancy his parents removed to Kentucky.  His father died in Shelby County, Ky., in 1824, and the widow, and children, of whom there were six, removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, two years later.  Here Mr. Walters, having received such an education only as could he had in a common school of that day, followed the occupation of a farm hand until 1841, having by his industry and economy saved money enough, he made entry of the land on which he now resides, and came to this township, his mother, and other members of the family having preceded him.
     In 1842, Mr. Walters was married to Miss Penelope Woodruff, and at once moved into a cabin on his land, and commenced life in earnest, clearing up and cultivating a fine tract of land.  Mr. W. was the father of seven children, six of whom are now living.  His health is none of the best, but he seems to enjoy life in his old days.  Mr. Walters united with the United Brethren Church in 1842, and has ever since been a consistent member, and was for twenty-five years a class leader, and for the past nineteen years has held a license to exhort.  He enjoys the respect and friendship of all his neighbors, and is a good citizen.
     The following named persons have held the office of Justice of the Peace, having been elected at the dates mentioned.
     Benjamin Whitman - 1833
     Jacob Powell - 1836, 1839, 1850, 1864, 1860, 1863, 1866, 1869
     William Williamson - 1839
     Jacob Miller - 1842, 1845
     W. W. Hughes - 1842, 1845, 1848, 1858
     John Miller - 1848, 1851
     Henry Bishop - 1853
     John Swonk - 1853
     Peter Bender - 1857
     John Wise - 1857
     John Croft - 1867, 1866, 1869, 1872, 1875, 1878
     Abraham Keel - 1863
     Peter H. Powell - 1872, 1875, 1878
     L. W. Scothorn - 1879
     Jacob B. Smith - 1881

     An exhibit of the number of acres of grain sown, and the number of bushels produced, and the number and value of live stock in Eagle township, as returned by the Township Assessor in 1881.