Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 22 April 2005

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

Page
673

When the first settlers of whom we have any account came to this township, they found the land covered with forests, and in most parts with a dense undergrowth of "bush," as it was called by them; and to reach the interior of the township, "ways had to be cut through this ‘bush.' "

In 1807, when John Liggett and party settled in this township, they were compelled to "hack a way through this bush " from near Mounts Station on the Little Miami River to near where Rossburg now is. It is probable that these ways continued to be used as highways until permanent roads were established.

The earliest road established by authority of law, in the township, of which there is any record, was laid out in 1809, about four years after permanent settlements are known to have been made. In that year a road was laid out by the County Commissioners from Waldsmith's Mill, near Milford, to Smalley's Mill, on Todd's Fork, near where Clarksville now is, William Runyan, James Hill, John Leaman and others being petitioners for the same. A survey and plat of this road are preserved, but as the monuments were "mile trees," which no longer exist, the exact line of the road as laid out is not certainly known. The writer has recently had occasion to examine carefully the records of the early roads in this vicinity, and it is his opinion that this road, which was known as Smalley's Mill Road, was laid out practically on the line afterwards followed by the old State Road of 1822.

In the same year, 1809, a road was laid out from McCray's Mill (now Stubb's Mill, three miles west of Morrow,) "by way of First Creek to the Salt Works in Clermont County." This road followed First Creek from a point near Rossburg to the Clermont County line, and passing through what was then the most populous part of the township, was instrumental, no doubt, in drawing considerable custom to the mill of McCray & Co., by whom the road was probably projected and obtained.

This condition of things, which contributed so liberally to the interests of McCray & Co., was destined, however, to be of short duration, for, in the following year, 1810, we discover the enterprising spirit of Isaac Stubbs, who owned a mill at Millgrove, petitioning for and obtaining a road from his "mill by way of Salem," (Roachester,) "Todd's Fork, Second Creek, to Goodpastures on First Creek, and there to intersect the road from McCray's Mill to the Salt Works," etc., thus tapping the feeder to McCray's Mill, and, undoubtedly, drawing largely on his trade, as Salem was the chief trading point south of the river. This road still remains.

The old State Road (now abandoned) from Columbus to Cincinnati, was surveyed and established through this township October 10, 1822. A small portion of this road from near Black Hawk, by way of the residence of Israel Lundy, Esq., and the old site of Edwardsville, yet remains. The general line of the road was a little east of the present turnpike, and the old grade is in many places easily traced. This road was abandoned and vacated when the Goshen, Wilmington and Columbus Turnpike was built.

The Rossburg and Morrow Turnpike Company was incorporated about 1860, and built and completed their road about the same time. It has also become a free road, and there is now no toll road in the township.

In the last few years several new pikes have been constructed under the assessment laws of the State, and several are now in process of construction, making this township compare very favorably in this respect with other townships in the county.