Shelby County History

Washington Township
 Location & Features | First Families | Other firsts | Churches
(for a larger view of the map, click here)
    Washington Township was originally named Grayson by Col. Jesse Wilson, in honor of the county in VA where he was born.  The name was changed to Washington a short time later.
    The soil is generally of a rich clay loam and gravel.  It is productive with good cultivation.  The Miami and Erie Canal and it's feeder both cross Washington township.
 
 
 
First Families of Washington Twp. 
(this list is by no means complete - others were settled in the area that I do not have listed)
as early as 1805 James Thatcher built his cabin and brought his family to settle in this township.
1806 John, Joseph, & David Mellinger and Thomas Earl 
March 1807 John Wilson
1808 Samuel Marshall
1810 Samuel McClure
1811 Richard, James, & John Lennox along with their mother and sisters
 
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Other Firsts
 
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Churches
 
 
M.E.  Church Organized in 1825/26 at the house of James Thompson.  The meetings were held at James Thompson's house for a few years and then they were held at the house of John Legg for about 3 years.  In 1838, a hewed log church was built on the land of John Legg and dedicated under the name of Ebenezer Church.  In 1872, the church was abandoned and members transferred to Lockinton or elsewhere. 
Lockington Society Organized in December 1847 by Rev. Jacob W. Young.  In 1850, a frame church was built.  In 1872, many members of the abandoned M.E. Church transferred over.
U.B. Church Organized about 1844 at Rock Run by Rev. James Winters.
Disciple Church Organized in Lockington in 1871 by Elder John M. Smith.  Services were held in a school house for about 1 year when they bought the same building and reseated, papered, painted it, and dedicated it as a place of worship.
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Information was gathered from the following sources:
"History of Shelby County, Ohio" by R. Sutton & Co. 1883
 
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©1999 by Tina Hursh