CHAPTER XXX.
MONROE TOWNSHIP
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     THIS township was created March 9th, 1825, and favored with the name of President Monroe.  The surface of the country is broken; it is well watered and thickly timbered; and its citizens have generally been noted for their unflinching democracy and their strict attention to home affairs.  The population in 1830 was 437, and the acres listed for taxation 13,455.  In 1840, it contained 1,258 inhabitants; in 1850, 1,324; and in 1860, 1,084.
     The principal place of business in Monroe Mills, where Davis and the Boyntons for many years sold goods, bought produce, and had a post-office established in 1849.  Schenck's Creek, passing through the east part, has on it several saw and grist mills.  At a very early period James Smith ran a mill upon it; and Jacob Davis, another very useful citizen, erected and operated until his death a good mill, which is yet carried on.  This stream took its name from Gen. W. C. Schenck who owned the lands subsequently improved by Captain Coleman, David Johnson, the Irelands and others.  In 1817, he sold a large part of his tract to various settlers, who made substantial improvements.
     The Colemans were early settlers.  Joseph emigrated from Fayette county, Pa., in March, 1806.

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and lived that year south of Mount Vernon, across the creek, and the next year moved to the place where he died, in 1830, aged 56.  Of his children, Ichabod is the only one now in this county; Joe is living in Nebraska, William in Indiana, and Jess, is dead.
     The Rev. William Thrift and his family were also among the earliest and best settlers.
     Charles Lauderbaugh, of Pennsylvania, in 1828, emigrated to this township, and resided there until his death, in 1854.  He had 12 children; now living, John, Henry, Andy and Jesse, Nelly, Mrs. J. Myers, Louisa, Mrs. C. Wolverton, Rachel, Mrs. Wm. King, and Rebecca.
     In the list of justices, will be found the names of other respected families; the Dixons, Scotts, Clementses, Becks, Adamses, Irvines, Boyntons, Hutchinsons, and Craigs will long be held in remembrance, if not perpetuated by resident descendants in future years.  An the calculation would not be complete without enumerating the family of our old friend Bill Dowds, whose standing salutation is, "What's the calculation?"  There were also Sam. and Elijah, and their families; the Marshalls and Gilcrests.
     Peter Skeen emigrated from Montgomery county, Pa., in 1827; he died in 1855, aged 71.  He was an intelligent and industrious citizens.
     The Youngs were among the early settlers of this township.  Isaac Young was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, in 1760, and served in the Revolutionary war; in 1790 moved to Uniontown, Pa., where he lived for many years, and from thence

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to Ohio in 1830, and to Monroe in 1836, where he resided until his death, in 1842, at the age of 82 years and 19 days.
     Col. H. H.  Young, of Fayette county, Pa., was born in 1794; married Rachel Shipley, and moved to Washington county, Pa, and from thence, in 1835, to where he now resides.  He is the father of five boys and five girls.  Colonel Young, for his ardor in Democracy and Methodism, his hickory pole raisings and marshalship of Democratic processions, will never be forgotten by those who witnessed his zeal in the campaigns of 1836, '40, '44.
     Col. John Armstrong, a very estimable gentleman from Jamaica, who died in 1855; Lemuel Holmes, another good man, now living in Iowa; David Hunt, the Berrys, the Barkers and the Millers, for many years resided in this township.  The name of Hull is also of long standing.

SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE
 

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