FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
This township comprehends thirty sections, or over nineteen thousand acre, of laud. It- lies in the eastern tier of townships, and was formed in June, 1830, from a portion of Van Buren Township. It received its name from the illustrious printer, Benjamin Franklin. and possesses a surface almost a monotonous level, the sameness being broken here and there by occasional gravel drift or cairn.
The soil is extremely fertile, and is composed of a rich alluvial formation of well-nigh inexhaustive durability. Formerly, it was very wet, but has now been nearly all reclaimed by general and thorough drainage. The principal stream is Painter Creek, which flows diagonally across the township. Entering in the southwest corner. it trends to the northeast till it reaches the northeast corner of Section 18, whence it takes an almost due east course, passing out of the township in the southeast corner of Section 9. This, with its tributaries, constitutes the central drainage system of the town. The northern part is drained by tributaries of Greenville Creek and the southeastern by tributaries to the Stillwater.
In the way of improvements, Franklin Township is not in the van, but, since 1870, rapid advance has been made in this respect. The chief products are corn and wheat. The cultivation of tobacco has become a subject engaging considerable attention.
454 - HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
The manufacturing interests are not extensive, there being only three saw-mills in the township.
The German Baptists had the first organization in the township. Philip Younce, a minister of this society, preached the first sermon in this part of the county. Having held meetings for some time at their several homes, the people at length erected a building on land now owned by Samuel Bean, for such use as occasion might require, and the Baptists therein held services.
The Christians were the second religious sect to form an organization in Franklin, and, in time, built them a church on land now owned by John Spidel The sect has now two organizations in the township, the one named, and the other in the northeastern part of the township. This latter society was formed, in 1877. with seventy members, now increased to one hundred.
The "Brethren in Christ" have had a society since 1863. This was founded. with twelve members, by Revs. John Winger and Jacob Swank. The society now numbers thirty-eight members.
The German Baptists now have a fine church building on the farm of John Flory. The above denominations comprise all the religious bodies in the township.
Daniel Oakes is by some accredited with having been the first white man to build a cabin within the limits of Franklin. He came hither from Montgomery County, and settled on the banks of Panther Creek, on land now owned by Hiram Rhodes. Theophilus Penny arrived about the same time as Oakes. and entered land now owned by Jacob Swinger. Eli Inman was the pioneer in the northeast corner of the town, to which he removed from Miami County. Elisha Penny. Christian Newcomer, Martin Brant. Jacob Stauffer. Henry Finnifrock, William and John Hess, Samuel Hall, John Hayworth, John Karl. Gideon Varnum, Jacob Marker, Varnum Aldrich, Charles Birch and John Brooks were all early settlers in Franklin. Hall and Hayworth came in 1824; Eli Inman, in 1826. William Hess. in 1829 or 1830, opened a little stock of goods and groceries. consisting principally of whisky and tobacco, these being disposed of to the settlers : there was received in exchange staves, hoop-poles, skins and pelts.
In 1830, Jacob Marker, an old wagoner, came and settled on land now owned John Swinger. He had a good team of horses, and a strong wagon. and his services were in almost constant demand, hauling staves. etc.. to Dayton. loading back with salt and other goods for the stores on his route, and to those of Greenville. Adams' mill, etc. Until the date of the township's formation in 1839. the settlers voted at New Harrison or Adams' mill, as the little settlement was then called.
The first schoolhouse built in the township was put up by John Hess in 1838. ou the present farm of Hiram Rhodes, on Section 19, on Panther Creek. Prior to this, however, school had been taught for some time in a private house owned by William Hammel, and located on the Swinger farm. The first teacher was David Clevine. There are now in the township seven brick schoolhouses and one frame. There are 655 youth of both sexes in the township, ranging in age from six to twenty-one. Between sixteen and twenty-one• there are 131 persons. The amount paid teachers was $2,111.26 ; contingent expenses, $264.24 ; total, $2,375.50. Value of school property is $8,000. The average wages is $38 and $18, and the average time of school session for the year was thirty-four weeks. There is but one village in the township ; it is known as Vienna. It is situated on the Greenville and Milton turnpike, in the south central part of Franklin, and was laid out in 1870 by George Wright and John Hayworth. The hamlet contains two dry- goods stores, a confectionery and a saloon. There are in Franklin two post offices, and the population in 1870 was 1,366.
On October 23. 1879, Wiley Coulter was shot to death by Monroe Roberson in Vienna. He died on the evening of the next day. Roberson was tried in February, 1880. and March 6. was sentenced by Judge Meeker to be kept in solitary confinement until Friday. July 16. 1880. and on that day to be hanged by the
HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY - 455
neck until you are dead, and may God have mercy on your soul. Such is the penalty to follow an outraged law.