HARRISON TOWNSHIP

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the township is generally conceded to have been George Leas who arrived about 1801 or 1802, and settled near Twin creek, in section 21.

In 1804 the Tillmans located land on Swamp creek, in the eastern part of the township, and in 1805 Tobias Tillman, with his family, a large one, came from Tennessee and settled, forming a strong colony. The next year came Tillman's son-in-law, Alexander McNutt, who settled near Twin creek. Both men had been soldiers during the Revolution and both left large families, McNutt having thirteen children in his family. He was elected as the first surveyor of the county.

About 1804 John Singer came from Virginia. He is said to have walked in and later settled in section 34.

In 1805 John Locke, from Maryland, settled where Euphemia is now laid out and later built the mill at the stone-arch bridge over Twin creek. The same year came Abraham Hapner, from Virginia, and in 1807 Jacob Werts came from Pennsylvania and settled in section 21.

In 1809 John Aikman came from Pennsylvania and settled in section 23. Thomas Wilson and John Ott also becoming residents of the township in that year.

In 1810 Patrick McGriff came from South Carolina and found a home in section 6.

Jacob Kesler, in 1811, settled about a mile south of Lewisburg.

John Wikle came from Pennsylvania and settled at Lewisburg in 1812. Henry Horn, born in Germany, in 1815, settled in section 2/, and became the founder of Lewisburg.

In 1816 John Etzler, from Maryland ; John Brown, from North Carolina ; William Swisher, from Pennsylvania; Henry Cassell, from Virginia, with others, not now remembered, settled in the township.    Within the next five to fifteen years John Schlosser, Peter Studybaker, Christian Disher, Daniel Wolf and Peter Homan became citizens. . Christian Disher was the father of Capt. Mathias Disher, and of Christian Disher who ran a quarry and lime kiln for many years on the old homestead, in section 35, near Lewisburg.

About the same time came Andrew Zeller, Elias Bunger, Jesse Smith David Hoffman and Samuel Dinwidie.    Nearly all of those early settlers left large families and the names given are among the most common in the town­ship today.

About 1807 Zachariah Hole is said to have settled on Twin creek and in 1809 he built the first mill, later owned by Henry Horn; later yet by Perry Turner, and now by E. C. Crider, on Twin creek east of Lewisburg. It has been remodeled several times and is still doing good work.

TROUBLESOME REDSKINS.

In 1812 the Indians began being troublesome and a block house was built on the northwest quarter of section 11, and a greater or less force was sta­tioned there for some two years, among which were companies from the central and southern parts of the county, as well as nearly every able-bodied man in the township. No fighting followed, but scouts were kept out, some­times going long distances to discover signs of the red man, who, also discover­ing them, sought other places where danger to himself was less. A transcript of the discharge given those who served in this home defense is set out in the chapter on the War Record.

At different times, an Indian sneaking through the woods, tried to shoot William Myers, and again John Aikman, but in each instance the flint failed to ignite the powder and the snap caused the white man to seek cover before a second effort could be made. It is said that, later, Myers buried an Indian on his farm, and it may be that he got the drop on the Indian next time, but the Indian couldn't tell and Myers never would.

At one time an Indian tried to break into the house of Mr. Abbott, on Miller's fork, and was brained by Abbott. In 1812 Rebecca Sharpe, a girl, was captured by the Indians and taken north into Darke county, where she was kept about a year, at the end of which time she was brought back and released.

GRAVES AND GRAVEYARDS.

The Lewisburg cemetery, located at the northwest corner of Lewisburg, is the oldest in the township, having been started about the year 1815.