Elk Township, so named
because of many elk having been found there when the
county was new, is in the southern tier of the
county, and is township 91 north, range 4 west, of
the fifth principle meridian. It is bounded on the
north by Volga, on the east by Mallory, on the south
by Delaware County, and on the west by Lodomillo
Township. Elk Township contains a great deal of
timbered land, but much has been cleared off, and a
good portion of the soil is now under cultivation.
The first man to settle in the township and enter
a farm was Lemuel Johnson, who located on the
northeast quarter of section 2. He afterward removed
to Ohio. Among the first settlers of the township
were Dennis Quigley, A. G. Lewis, John Garber, Joseph
Grimes, Thomas and James Cole, William Beyer, John
Rowan, Chris. Sarver, Mark W. Lovett, and Davis
Bagby. My Lovett is still living on the farm he
entered in 1848.
The first blacksmith shop was built by Isaac Otis
and son, in 1852 on section 10. The first store was
opened by Isaac Otis and Son in 1852, on section 10,
and the same pioneers built the first gristmill, in
1855. A saw-mill had been built on section 10, in
1848 by Joseph Grimes and James Cole. Isaac Otis,
Jr., built a woolen mill in 1860, which does a good
business.
Elk Township is inhabited exclusively by an
agricultural community, and contains no villages.
There is but one post-office, and that one, Wood
Centre, is on section 29.
There are three Methodist Episcopal churches in
the township each of which is doing good work, though
with a small membership. There is also an Adventist
church. All of these churches have regular services.
The first birth in the township was that of John
Lewis, now dead. The first marriage was that of Jacob
Rounds and Phoebe Quigley. The first death was that
of William Beyer.
The first school-house built in Elk Township was
constructed of logs, in 1850, and was on the
southeast quarter of the southeast half of section
24. It is still standing. The first teacher was David
M. Zearly. This was before the township was
organized. J.B. Bloodsworth was the Treasurer, and he
and John Lockridge were two of the first three
Directors. Philip Fishel was the third Director.
There were then not more than ten scholars in the
whole district. There are now nine schools in the
township, and eight school-houses. One school is
taught in a church. There are 400 children of school
age in the township, and the value of the school
property is $5,925.00. The present Directors are:
District No. 1, John J. Hagaman; No. 2, Fred Craig;
No.3, Wm. Woodall; No. 4, John Taylor; No. 5, C.
Hinkle; No.6, James Flemming; No. 7, George White;
No. 8, A. B. Durphy. The Secretary is F. T.
Pilkington the Treasurer is Elias Hall.
The first Justice of the Peace after the township
was organized were Isaac Otis, Sr., and William
Wooster. Before the township was organized the first
Justice was Joseph Grimes.
