Thomas and John Deeds, referred to in the sketch of Pleasant Valley, probably made the first claim, erected the first cabin, and broke the first ground in this township. Of them the earliest permanent settler, N. C. Tenney, a cousin of the Tyrrells, of Ward's Grove, purchased his claim in October, 1836, in the northwestern part of the township. Here he remained until 1842, when he went to Nauvoo, and is now a Mormon Bishop in Utah.

In September, of the year 1837, the stepfather of Mr. Tenney, John Gates, Phebe, his wife, and S. B. Gates, his son, settled in the township, where John Gates afterwards died, leaving his wife and son the two oldest residents of the township. In November, 1839, James Parkinson, with his family and brother, Isaac W. Parkinson, came to this vicinity and purchased a cabin and claim of a man whose name has been forgotton. James afterwards died; his children and brother, a bachelor, still live there, and are prominent residents. Dr. Peckham and wife, both of whom are now dead, came in November, 1839, bringing Mrs. Peckham's son, Delson Tiffany, still a resident of the township, who has served it in the capacity of Supervisor, and, in many other ways, been a highly useful citizen. Jacob Troxel settled, about 1839, on land in both Berreman and Pleasant Valley Townships, although his house was in the one last named. He built the first school-house, on the bottom road, near the township line, on section 7, afterward entered by S. B. Gales. There are now school-houses on sections 16, 5, and a combined church and school-house on section 29.

The first death remembered was of Dr. Peckham, who was mortally injured while building his house, by falling from a beam, in 1840. His funeral sermon was preached at the house of John Gates, by Elder Giddings, who lived on Yellow Creek, in Stephenson County. Mr. Giddings preached the first sermon in the township, although there was about that time some preaching by Lyman Clark, afterwards " one of the chosen twelve " at Salt Lake, and by other Mormon advocates.

Religious instruction was also dispensed by " Uncle Billy Johnson," a settler who paid his traveling expenses by retailing, after the sermon, thread, pins, and other notions.

The first church building erected was the Methodist, a substantial frame chapel, of tasty appearance, on sections. No response has been received to an inquiry concerning the date of erection of the United Brethren Church, situated on the northeast corner of section 5.

The first birth in Berreman Township was a daughter of Mrs. James Parkinson, now Mrs. Jacob Clump. As before stated, the only post-office established was by Isaac W. Parkinson, who is now postmaster, although there have been several changes. The office is called "Willow," and located in Peter Bishop's store, which was the first general store opened in the township. There is now another near by, kept by Israel Soil, since 1876.

After the township was separated from Pleasant Valley, at the February meeting of the Board of Supervisors in 1857, Arthur Mahorney was made the first Supervisor. He named the township after a friend in Tennessee. The present officers are :

Supervisor, Isaac W. Parkinson, Jr.; Town Clerk, George W. Schmeck; Assessor, Delson Tiffany; Collector, Charles Robinson; Commissioners of Highways, N. W. Calhoun, George Ray, and Taylor Williams; Justices of the Peace, Jacob B. Klump and Lafayette Wagner; Constables, Columbus Tiffany and Henry Collins. The population of Berreman Township in i860 was 415, and in 1870, 559.