Washington County

Fairfield township has six postoffices, namely: Qualey. Cutler, Layman, Dunbar, Virgin and Napier.

Fairfield township was organized in December, 1851. The first trustees were Peter B. Lake, John Burfield and James Smith; township clerk. Charles H. Goddard; treasurer, Peter B. Lake; assessor, Torrens Gilmore; constable. Augustine Stephens. The first justices of the peace were Torrens Gilmore and Augustine Stephens.

The earliest settlers in Fairfield were David Ewell, Joshua Shuttleworth. William Dunbar; all these came in from Virginia about 1814. The path afterward followed by the "State Road" was the first passageway into this district. Other settlers were Walter Kidwell, Daniel Dunbar (a soldier of the Revolution), both from Fairfax County, Virginia; Carmi Smith of New York, Phineas Dunsmoor of Townsend, Massachusetts, William Moore from Pennsylvania, Moses Campbell from Ireland. Joseph H. Gage from New Hampshire, William Thompson from Guernsey County, Ohio, and Owen Clark from Ireland.

The first school house near the Lake farm, known as Lake's school house, was opened about 1819. The next school, near the Dunbar farm, was built in 1840. The first church was erected by the Methodist Episcopal society on the site of their present church at Fishtown, about 1824. About 1863 a new church was built by general subscription but was burned within a year. The present Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1864. The Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church was erected in 1867. In the same year the building now owned by the Universalists was erected; this denomination has a building at Fishtown erected a year later.

Cutler on the Marietta, Columbus & Cleveland Railway was laid out in 1857, being first named Harshaville in honor of Dr. John M. Harsha, whose cabin was the first built at this place. The name was later changed to Cutler in honor of William P. Cutler. The first store was kept by Harvey Smith. In 1857 the first hotel was erected by A. A. Campbell.

Dunbar is on the line of the M., C. & C. Ry., and has a postoffice.

Wesley P. O. is one of the old offices in the township.

James Lake kept the first store in Fishtown (Layman P. O.) in 1837, in the store of Carmi Smith.

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