Early Settlement

     There were ten pioneer families who settled in this township at an early day.  These were the families of John Heath, John Rich, Jesse Tomlinson, John Bevington, Washington Mark, John McCollum, and Robert Thomas, who settled in the southwest part, while Jacob Goodwin, John Goodwin, and John Keith settled in the southeast part.  The arrivals in 1846 were largely as follows:  Ferdinand Jackson, Daniel Burris, Samuel Moore, Sylvester Wollery, John Powers, and James Wilson.

Incidents

     The first grist-mill was a horse-power mill on the north bank of Jennings Prairie, and owned by Mr. Clark.  It was afterwards removed by Lewis Culver, and remodelled to grind corn and wheat.  The second mill was built by D. Walters near Venedocia.  The first saw-mill was erected by ex-Gov. William Bebb, of Butler County, near Venedocia.  First gunsmith, John Heath; shoemaker, John McConn.  The first couple married were Lewis Tomlinson and Rachel Boroff; the second Joseph Moore and Jane Keith; and the third, Silas Martin and Sarah Dunkin.  The pioneer school-house was built on the land of Jesse Atkinson, the second on land of John Arnold, and the third on land of Jacob Goodwin.  The "bull plows" were used here, which consisted entirely of wood.  Benjamin Griffin built the first frame, and Mr. Albans the first brick house.  The fir and hoop-pole trade was extensive, and found a market at Delphos.
     The early religious societies were formed at pioneer residences; one organized at John Arnold's, a second at D. Williams', and a third at Reuben Harp's.  These societies were "Methodist, "United Brethren" and  "Christians," or "New Lights," respectively.  The inhabitants are largely Welsh, or their descendants, forming a strong community.  They have two churches in the township, one of which is at Venedocia, and very strong.

Land Entries

Organization

     The township was organized in 1837, forming one of the original townships of this county.  At a session of the commissioners, held at Van Wert, June 3, 1837, the following action was taken: -
     "A petition being presented for a new township to be set off and called York, it is ordered that township No. 2 S., R. 3 E., be organized under the name of York; and ordered taht the qualified electors meet

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at the house of Mr. Wollery on the 15th instant for the purpose of electing officers for said township."

     Abstract of votes cast in York township at the election held Oct. 18, 1840.  Names of electors: -

     We hereby certify that the number of electors at this election amounts to twenty-three.
     John Arnold, Sylvester Wollery, and Joshua Goodwin, Judges.

     At this election Wilson Shannon received seventeen votes and Thos. Corwin five votes for Governor.  For Congress, William Sawyer had seventeen votes and P. G. Goode five votes.  For Representative, Lorin Kennedy had seventeen votes, Daniel O. Martin had seventeen votes, George B. Way had five votes, and John Henkel had five votes.  Daniel Reed had twenty-one votes for commissioner, and David McCoy one vote for commissioner.

Early Settlers.

     Edward Smith must be classed among the early settlers, having come here in the autumn of 1838.  He was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1829.  He married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Levina Coil, of Mercer County, Dec. 11, 1851.   Their family consists of four children, named John, William, Henry, and Rosetta.  Mr. Smith served in Company M, 2d Indiana Heavy Artillery, from Aug. 13, 1863, to Sept. 20, 1865.

     Samuel M. Thomas was born in this county in 1848, being the son of Robert and Mary Thomas, who settled here in 1836.  In 1871, he married Sarah Mortimore, of Mercer County, and has reared a family of four children, named Robert E., Alice, Harry, and Angeline Virtue.

     John F. Tomlinson, one of the oldest citizens of the township, was born in Madison County, May 11, 1818.  Having first settled in Mercer County, he served one term as justice of the peace, and after coming to this county was elected to the same office in 1856, and served until 1874.  In 1857 he married Lydia Worthington, daughter of Abraham Worthington, of Mercer County.  They have eleven children still living.

     Jesse Atkinson, a native of Bucks County, Pa., ranks as one of the oldest settlers of the township, and is at the same time a citizen silvered by age.  In 1853 he went to Kansas, where he has since made his home; but coming here in 1836 and remaining until 1853 entitles him fairly to mention among the settlers of this section.  He was a native of Bucks County, Pa., and married Mary Dine of the same place, in 1820.  They reared a family of ten children, of whom five are still living.  William, the second son, occupies the old home.

     John T. Ross, a native of Franklin County, settled on the Mercer and Van Wert County line in 1835.  In 1851 he married Elizabeth M. Ries, who was a native of Germany.  Mr. Ross served in Company E, Forty-sixth O. V. I., from Sept. 15, 1861, till Aug. 1862.  Apr. 12, 1863, he re-enlisted in the same company, and was finally discharged Aug. 17, 1865.

     John M. Jackson was born in Madison County, Feb. 2, 1835, and was brought to this county by his parents the next year.  His father was one of the earliest chair-makers in this section; and finding sale for his chairs at Fort Wayne, would raft them down the St. Marys River.

     John Bevington, a native of Pennsylvania, was born Sept. 22, 1807, and came to this county in Oct. 1832, thus ranking among the early settlers whose lives were devoted to farming.  He married Elizabeth Heath, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1811.  They reared a family of seven children, named Margaret born Oct. 11, 1828; Henry, born Oct. 7, 1831; Nancy A., born Sept. 28, 1833 (deceased); Rebecca J. ,born Dec. 5, 1835 (deceased); James H., born Jan. 20, 1838 (deceased); Mary, born June 17, 1840; John, born Apr. 9, 1842 (deceased).  Mr. Bevington died July 19, 1841.

     S. J. Rowland, a resident of York Township, settled in this county in August, 1836.  He is one of the substantial farmers of the section in which he lives.  His family consists of three sons, all of whom are at home.

     Lewis F. Ross was born in Mercer County, June 8, 1835.  In 1868 he married Ida E. Roberts, who was born in Knox County in 1852, and has a family of two children.  Mr. Ross has held the office of justice of the peace since 1873.  He served in the war as 1st lieutenant of Company A, Fifteenth O. V. I., from Sept. 10, 1861, to July 25, 1865, by re-enlistment.

Churches.

Zion Welsh Union Church

     This church is also a branch from the Salem Church, which was organized in August, 1863, when they were declared an independent church.  Their church building is 27 by 32 feet, and located at York Township of section 28, five miles southwest of Venedocia.  Their membership is about 60.
     Rev. High Pugh was their first minister, and Rev. J. P. Morgan their present pastor, who has served them for a number of years.  Their Sunday-school is well attended, and a great auxiliary to the church.

Mount Zion United Brethren Church

     This church was organized in 1859, with eighteen members, by Rev. Daniel Hindricks.  They held their meetings in a school-house in the southeastern part of York Township for a number of years.
     In 1867 ot 1868 the society erected a log building 24 by 30 in the southeastern part of York Township, known as the Cottonwood Church, in which they have since worshipped.  Their pastors have been changed every one or two years.  The present pastor is the Rev. James Nicodemus.  Some of the early members were Benjamin Van Eman, Miss Van Eman, Benjamin Goodwin, Charlotte Goodwin, and others whose names cannot be learned.  Present membership about 22.  The church has lost many of its members by removal and by death.

JONESTOWN.

     This village is a station on the Toledo, Delphos and Burlington Railroad, located four miles west of Venedocia, in York Township.  The post-office is known as Tokio.  It contains one grocery store, one saw-mill, and about half a dozen of dwelling houses.

BIOGRAPHIES.

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