Transcription contributed by Leah L. Furnas 1 May 2005

The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV Township Histories
Washington Township by Samuel Harris
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)

Page
698

Washington Township was organized in 1818, previous to that time being a part of Salem Township. A part of the territory included in the township at its organization was afterward taken off the north side to form Massie Township, and a part from the south to form Harlan, leaving it in form an irregular square, containing, in 1881, 21,030.73 acres, valued at $902,394.

The first election was held at William Trotter’s, on the College Township road, about one and a half miles east of the Little Miami River, on the 27th of June, 1818, and resulted in the election of the following officers; Richard Mather, Joseph Robertson and William Penquite, Trustees; Zebulon Sabin, Clerk; Ezra Robertson and William Trotter, Overseers, of the Poor; William Wilkerson and Nathaniel Moss, Constables; William McCray and George St. Mires, Fence

July 4, 1818, summons granted to William Wilkerson, Constable, to notify Henry Reel and Hester, his wife, to depart the township of Washington, by order of the Overseers. Returned duly served.

December 6, 1818, James Wilkerson came forward with his commission as Justice of the Peace, signed by Thomas Worthington, Governor of Ohio, on which was a statement from the Clerk of the Court that he had taken the oath according to law on the 6th of November, 1818.

The following statement, dated March 4, 1819, will show the expense of the township for the first year of its existence as such:

Nathaniel Moss, $3.41; Elisha Cast, $2; John Wilkerson, $1; John A. Vandoren, $2.25; James Wilkerson, $1.95; Joel Drake, $1.50; Timothy Titus, $1; William Penquite, $4; Richard Mather, $4; Zebulon Sabin, $5.50; William Wilkerson, $1.75; Ezra Robertson, 75 cents; Joseph Robertson, $4; total, $33.11.

As no tax had been levied to meet the above expenses, they were not paid until March 10, 1821.

At the second election, held at John A. Vandoren’s, April 5, 1819, the following officers were elected, viz.: John Barkley, Joseph Robertson and Nathaniel Moss, Trustees; C. D. Hampton, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; Elisha Cast and William Wilkerson, Constables; Daniel Thompson and James Farris, Viewers; John A. Vandoren and Robert Cree, Overseers of the Poor; William Wilkerson, Lister, and seven Road Supervisors. Township expenses for the year, $17.75.

1820 – Trustees, Daniel Swallow, William Penquite and Ezra Robertson; James Penquite, Clerk; William Wilkerson and John A. Vandoren, Constables; Seers Crane and William T. Jones, Overseers; John Barkley, Treasurer; John A. Vandoren, Lister; Solomon Veach and Dennis Slawter, Viewers.

This year a township tax was levied. On each head of horses, 12 ½ cents, and each head of cattle, 6 ½ cents, and John A. Vandoren appointed to collect the same. Expenses for the year, $25.75; outstanding debt at the time, $38. 78 ½; amount of tax collected for the year, $39.31 ¼.

1821 – Trustees; Richard Mather, William Penquite and Daniel Swallow; James Penquite, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; William Wilkerson and Robert Cree, Constables, and William Wilkerson, Lister. Jurymen for grand jury, Richard Mather, Christy McCray and Jeremiah Mills. For petit jury, William Trotter, Elisha Cast, John Barkley, Jr.

Tax laid on each horse, three years old and over, 15 cents, and on each head of neat cattle, 5 cents; William Wilkerson, Collector.

An appropriation of $57.56 ¼ was made in 1820 for road purposes, which was disposed of as follows: Ezra Robertson, 6 per cent for collecting, $3.45 ¼; J. T. Robertson expended in causewaying and repairing causeways, $27.11; William Penquite, expended on Montgomery road, $27.

1822 – Trustees, Richard Mather, William Penquite, John Barkley; James Penquite, Clerk; Robert Cree, Lister; William Wilkerson and Robert Cree, Constables; Joel Lewis, Michael Q. Bowen, Grand Jurymen; Daniel Clark, John T. Robertson, Petit Jurymen. Tax on horses, 12 ½ cents, and cattle 6 ¼ cents, for poor fund.

1823 – Trustees, Richard Mather, Timothy Titus, John Barkley; Thomas Jones, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; William Wilkerson, Lister; William

1824 – Trustees, Richard Mather, James Penquite, Ezra Robertson; Thomas Jones, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; John Hoffman, John Wilkerson, Constables; J. Wilkerson, Lister; James Wilkerson, Ezra Robertson, Jonathan Friar, Grand Jurors; John Gray, William Trotter, Petit Jurors; Timothy Titus, William Wilkerson, Justices.

1825 – Trustees, John Barkley, Richard Mather, James Penquite; Clerk, Treasurer and Constables, as last year; John Hoffman, Lister; James Penquite, Richard Mather, Paul Vandervort, Grand Jurors; Samuel Bowman, George St. Miers, Petit Jurors. This year a tax was laid on horses, 15 cents; cattle, 5 cents; one-fourth of 1 per cent on the value of each house.

1826 – Trustees, Samuel Bowman, John T. Robertson, William Wilkerson; Thomas Jones, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer. July 29, 1826, Samuel Bowman was elected Justice to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Timothy Titus.

1827 – Trustees, Samuel Bowman, John T. Robertson, Paul Vandervort; Thomas Jones, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer; William Wilkerson elected Justice of the Peace, October 15.

1828 – Trustees, William Wilkerson, John T. Robertson, Henry Stites; James Penquite, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer.

1829 – Trustees, John T. Robertson, Henry Stites, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer; Samuel Bowman, Justice, elected July 25.

1830 – Trustees, Richard Mather, John T. Robertson, William Morrow; Clerk and Treasurer, same as last year; William Wilkerson, Justice, elected October 16. Expenses of the township for the year ending on the first Monday in March, $29.72.

1831 – Trustees, James Penquite, James Abbott, David Robertson; John L. Williams, Clerk; William H. Robertson, Treasurer.

1832 – Trustees, William Morrow, James Penquite, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; Cyrus Simonton, Treasurer; SaSamuel Bowman, Justice, elected July 21.

1833 – Trustees, Paul Vandervort, William Morrow, Samuel Bowman; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year. At an election held October 19, for Justice, John Wilkerson and Achilles Dicks each received seventeen votes; November 23, John Wilkerson was elected.

1834 – Trustees, Paul Vandervort, David Robertson, William Penquite; John L. Williams, Clerk; William Wilkerson, Treasurer.

1835 – Trustees, William B. Strout, Henry Sherwood, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; William Wilkerson, Treasurer; John L. Williams, elected Justice July 18.

1836 – Trustees, William B. Strout, Henry Sherwood, Paul Vandervort; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year; Henry Sherwood elected Justice November 19.

1837 – Trustees, William B. Strout, George Longstreth, James Lindsay; Christy McCray, Clerk; Joseph J. Reed, Treasurer; John L. Williams, William B. Strout, Christy McCray, Examiners of schoolmasters.

1838 – Trustees and Clerk as last year; John L. Williams, Treasurer; S. Bowman, Justice.

1839 – Trustees, William B. Strout, George Longstreth, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; Samuel Bowman, Treasurer; John Wilkerson, Justice.

1840 – Trustees, Clerk and Treasurer, same as last year.

1842 – Trustees, Samuel Bowman, Robert Cree, William Morrow; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year.

1843 – Trustees, William B. Strout, Paul Vandervort, James Humphreys; Simeon Sellers, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer.

1844 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Simeon Sellers, Robert McCree; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Absalom Glasscock, Justice.

1845 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Paul Vandervort, William B. Strout; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; John Wilkerson and William D. Long, tie vote for Justice of the Peace: December 29, 1845, John Wilkerson was elected Justice of the Peace.

1846 – Trustees, William B. Strout, Paul Vandervort, James Humphreys; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer.

1847 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Henry Sherwood, Ezra Carpenter; John L. Williams, Clerk: Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Abraham C. Bowman, Justice of the Peace.

1848 – Trustees, Henry Sherwood, William H. Hamilton, Robert Cree; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; John Wilkerson, Justice of the Peace.

1849 – Trustees, Robert Cree, Henry Sherwood, Charles N. Wilkerson; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer.

1850 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Mark M. Boatman, David Robertson; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Thomas C. Nelson, Justice of the Peace.

1851 – Trustees, James Humphreys, David Robertson, Absalom Glasscock; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jonathan Sherwood, Justice of the Peace.

1852 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Absalom Glasscock, Robert Cree; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Euclid P. Glasscock, Justice of the Peace.

1853 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Robert Cree, Ephraim Hathaway; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1854 – Trustees, James Humphreys, Robert Cree, Ephraim Hathaway; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jonathan Sherwood, Justice of the Peace.

1855 – Trustees, James Humphreys, John Penquite, James F. Ward; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Robert Cree, Justice of the Peace.

1856 – Trustees, James Humphreys, John Penquite, James F. Ward; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer.

1857 – Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Charles N. Wilkerson, John Penquite; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Francis Jeffrey, Theodore Cowden, Justice of the Peace.

1858 – Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Charles N. Wilkerson, John Penquite; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Henry Sherwood, District Assessor.

1859 – Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Joseph Nickolson, George Harner; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1860 – Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, George Harner, William Keenan; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William T. Frazee, Francis Jeffrey, Justices of the Peace.

1861 – Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, William Keenan, George Harner; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1863 – Trustees, C. N. Wilkerson, John Penquite, Jonathan Fairis; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Francis Jeffrey, Justice of the Peace.

1864 - Trustees, C. N. Wilkerson, John B. McCray, Wilson Ward; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1865 – Trustees, John B. McCray, Henry Dilatush, George Harner; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William H. Hart, Justice of the Peace.

1866 – Trustees, Henry Dilatush, John B. McCray, William N. Maxey; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace.

1867 - Trustees, Henry Dilatush, John B. McCray, William Kelsey; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Kelsey resigned, and C. N. Wilkerson was appointed Trustee October 3, 1867.

1868 – Trustee, John B. McCray, William Kelsey, Francis J. Sherwood; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace.

1869 - Trustee, John B. McCray, William Kelsey, Francis J. Sherwood; John L. Hizar, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Leander Dunham appointed Clerk, vice Hizar, resigned; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace.

1870 - Trustee, John B. McCray, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward; Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1871 - Trustee, John B. McCray, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward; Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer, John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace.

1872 - Trustee, Francis J. Sherwood, John B. McCray, Wilson Ward; Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Samuel Harris, Justice of the Peace.

1873 – Trustees, Wilson Ward, Francis J. Sherwood, Isaac Campbell; D. W. Hunphreys, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer.

1874 – Trustees, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward, Isaac Campbell; D. W. Hunphreys, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace.

1875 - Trustees, Isaac Campbell, Wilson Ward, John Penquite; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William C. Nixon, Justice of the Peace.

1876 – Trustees, Wilson Ward, Isaac Campbell, Cyrus Madden; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; and a majority for Township house, 5 to 1; Daniel Perrine, Justice of the Peace.

1877 – Trustees, Cyrus Madden, Daniel Perrine, Albert Stubbs; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer; George Morrow appointed Trustee, vice Cyrus Madden, deceased.

1878 – Trustees, Albert Stubbs, Daniel Perrine, George Morrow; Amos S. Williams, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer.

1879 – Trustees, James Stanfield, George Keoble, B. N. Settlemire; Robert Andrews, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer. Tax for building court house, 78; against tax, 154; Assessor of real estate, Lee S. Dunham.

1880 – Trustees, James Stanfield, Bayless Settlemire, Frank Sherwood; Robert Andrew, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace.

1881 – Trustees, James Stanfield, Bayless N. Settlemire, George Keoble; Robert Andrews, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer.