Washington County

There are four villages in Decatur township: Fillmore, Decaturville, Hope and Prosperity.

Decatur township was established November 30, 1820. The first settler, Joseph Lovdell, came in 1816, soon followed by the Johnsons, Dufer, Fairchild, Bachelor, Dunn, Giddings and Ballard families who formed the "Lower Settlement" now known as Fillmore P. O. on the State road. The "Upper Settlement" Decaturville P. O., was made soon after. The Methodist Episcopal Church first entered Decatur township, a log cabin being built in the eastern part of the township about 1840. The United Brethren began a society here before 1850, two classes holding services in the abandoned Methodist Episcopal buildings at Decaturville and west of Fillmore. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847, a building being erected in 1849 and rebuilt in 1856. A Baptist church (colored) was erected in 1856. The first flouring mill was erected by Hiram Fairchild about 1821, south of Fillmore. In this township lived Peter M. Garner, Creighton J. Loraine and Mordecai E. Thomas, whose abduction by Virginia officers in 1845 almost caused a war between the States of Ohio and Virginia.

 Source: History of Marietta and Washington County, by Martin R. Andrews, MA, 1902, Transcribed by C. Anthony