Early Settlers of Washington Township
Washington township was one of the last of those made in-the year 1870, when
the County Court, on March 10th, divided the county into sixteen municipal
districts, each being a congressional township of six miles square. Washington,
as may be guessed, was named after the "Father of his -country."
The first white men who located in this township for a permanent home were John
Williams and James Munn; both came from Kentucky to Daviess county, but Williams
was a native of North Carolina and Munn, of Tennessee. They settled in the north
part of the township, on section thirty-three. They both located on that section
in 1836. D. N. Foster, generally called Nelson, came in 1838, and brought his
wife with him. They came from Franklin county, Indiana. William Taylor came the
same year, but from Kentucky. There were a number came in 1839, but the largest
number who came in one year for a decade was in 1840.
Rev. Jonathan Smith, the first minister who settled in the township, came on
November 11th, 1840. The reverend gentleman is still living and on the claim he
bought and afterward entered the land for purchase, and is still
highly respected and beloved elder in the Baptist Church. Wilson Poe, Joel
Dowell, Joseph Gillespie and William Hardin, all came in that year or a year
later. Cabins began to spring up all over the township. The timber first
received a majority of the settlers, but the prairies soon began to find
purchasers. But to this day the timber land is the choice of a majority of the
farmers of Washington township. An old log burned out comprised the milling
facilities. Millport and then Gallatin was the post office, and the latter
place, after the county was organized, became the principal trading point. John
Williams had a carpet made of deerskins and placed upon his floor, and soon
others followed his example.
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