Gasper Township

Transcribed from Directory of Preble County, O., for 1875 by B. F. Morgan

Gasper Township.—This, a smaller township, was dissevered from the south end of Washington, by the Commissioners, in 18—. The township of Washington, in which the county seat is located, was originally 12 miles in length and 6 miles in breadth. The voting precinct being at Eaton, as many thought it inconvenient to the citizens in the southern part to transact their township business so far from home, on this account they petitioned the Commissioners to create a new township; but this proceeding, for a time, failed. Finally, an old German by the name of Gasper Potterf renewed the effort for a new township, and one of the arguments used by him to secure success was, that in all probability Eaton would soon become a large town, and be the center of much wickedness, and thereby increase the township taxes, and that it was unfair to compel those at the south end to participate in their payment. And, among other causes assigned for a new township, Mr. Potterf urged on the consideration of the Commissioners, that the strong probabilities were, that a large number of illegitimate children would be born at the county seat, and become a charge on the township, and he therefore insisted that it was manifestly unfair that the southern end of the town ship should assist in their maintenance. The novelty of Mr. P.'s arguments produced no little merriment on their presentation before the Board of Commissioners; and— more by way of a joke than from any public necessity, they dissevered twenty-four sections from the south end of Washington township, and named it Gasper, after the persistent German. Such is the origin of Gasper Township.

Seven Mile creek also runs through Gasper, from north, to south, which affords a capital mill site within its limits. This mill site was early improved by Gasper Potterf, and was a point of great importance to the settlers at an early day. Since that time it has changed hands several times, and is now disused, and in possession of: Martin Ware. The Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad also runs through this township, and is used by the inhabitants as a means of travel and transportation. The citizens have erected a Township House, where they hold elections and transact their township business generally. The lands in this township are reasonably productive, and well improved. Many thrifty farmers reside therein, who are provided with comfortable homes. They are a moral and industrious people, but have few churches, or places of worship. Antioch is one of the principal houses of worship; but this is not well attended. There is also a Universalist Chuch in the N. W. part of the township—in the Dooley settlement. Their schoolhouse facilities are reasonably fair—but hardly up with the age. It is purely a rural district, and the citizens for a support, depend almost exclusively upon agricultural pursuits. Among the old settlers of this township were the Potterfs, Albaughs, Crawfords, Sprowels, Enochs, Dooleys and Shidelers.

Transcribed from The Ohio Gazetteer, by John Kilbourn

Gasper, a township of Preble county, immediately south of Washington Township. It was named after a Casper Potter, an early and wealthy German settler. But the county auditor, in making the record of the name and establishment thereof, by mistake, recorded it Gasper.






		Transcribed from Directory of Preble County, O., for 1875 by B. F. Morgan Gasper Township.—This, a smaller township, was dissevered from the south end of Washington, by the Commissioners, in 18—. The township of Washington, in which the county seat is located, was originally 12 miles in length and 6 miles in breadth. The voting precinct being at Eaton, as many thought it inconvenient to the citizens in the southern part to transact their township business so far from home, on this account they petitioned the Commissioners to create a new township; but this proceeding, for a time, failed. Finally, an old German by the name of Gasper Potterf renewed the effort for a new township, and one of the arguments used by him to secure success was, that in all probability Eaton would soon become a large town, and be the center of much wickedness, and thereby increase the township taxes, and that it was unfair to compel those at the south end to participate in their payment. And, among other causes assigned for a new township, Mr. Potterf urged on the consideration of the Commissioners, that the strong probabilities were, that a large number of illegitimate children would be born at the county seat, and become a charge on the township, and he therefore insisted that it was manifestly unfair that the southern end of the town ship should assist in their maintenance. The novelty of Mr. P.'s arguments produced no little merriment on their presentation before the Board of Commissioners; and— more by way of a joke than from any public necessity, they dissevered twenty-four sections from the south end of Washington township, and named it Gasper, after the persistent German. Such is the origin of Gasper Township. Seven Mile creek also runs through Gasper, from north, to south, which affords a capital mill site within its limits. This mill site was early improved by Gasper Potterf, and was a point of great importance to the settlers at an early day. Since that time it has changed hands several times, and is now disused, and in possession of: Martin Ware. The Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad also runs through this township, and is used by the inhabitants as a means of travel and transportation. The citizens have erected a Township House, where they hold elections and transact their township business generally. The lands in this township are reasonably productive, and well improved. Many thrifty farmers reside therein, who are provided with comfortable homes. They are a moral and industrious people, but have few churches, or places of worship. Antioch is one of the principal houses of worship; but this is not well attended. There is also a Universalist Chuch in the N. W. part of the township—in the Dooley settlement. Their schoolhouse facilities are reasonably fair—but hardly up with the age. It is purely a rural district, and the citizens for a support, depend almost exclusively upon agricultural pursuits. Among the old settlers of this township were the Potterfs, Albaughs, Crawfords, Sprowels, Enochs, Dooleys and Shidelers. Transcribed from The Ohio Gazetteer, by John Kilbourn Gasper, a township of Preble county, immediately south of Washington Township. It was named after a Casper Potter, an early and wealthy German settler. But the county auditor, in making the record of the name and establishment thereof, by mistake, recorded it Gasper.
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