Washington Township.—This is the central, and largest township in the county, being eight miles in length and six miles in breadth, and was organized in 1809; it originally included the territory of Gasper, and was named after Gen. Washington. The average quality of the land in this township is inferior in native richness to many other parts of the county; but through care and prudent cultivation, they have been rendered productive of all kinds of crops.

Eaton, the county seat, is situated in this township, which renders the lands more valuable than they otherwise would be without their proximity to the town. This is a neat town, handsomely situated on the east bank of Seven Mile, and from its location admits of easy drainage. It is laid out with broad and commodious streets and alleys, crossing each other at right angles, which affords an open view, and presents the site to great advantage. All the principal streets are neatly graded, the gutters stoned and the sidewalks paved. The principal streets and public square are also shaded by young and thrifty maple trees, which, during the Spring and Summer seasons, add much to the beauty, health and comfort of the place, and gives it a fine rural aspect. There are many handsome residences and public buildings of modern style, in the town. Among the attractive business houses are Commercial Row, Stephens' Block, and the lower stories of the Odd Fellows' Hall, which are a credit to the Order. The City Hall is a fine building, and well finished, the lower stories being elegantly arranged for the City Council and Fire Department. But perhaps the chief ornament of the town is the Methodist Episcopal Church, which is a large and commodious brick structure, standing in a beautiful graded lot to itself, with a tall spire pointing heavenward. The town is chiefly indebted to the energy and exertion of Rev. A. Meharry, then in charge of the congregation at this place, for the erection of this church. Many other liberal citizens contributed largely to the work—among whom may be mentioned C. F. Brooke and Brothers, Joseph Walters, Sen., J. T. Deem and Levi Wyatt. The Baptists, Presbyterians, Christians and Universalists, have fine church property in the town, where they severally worship.

The school property in town consists of two fine brick edifices, sufficiently large to accommodate all the children, and are well attended, nine months in the year — The Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad runs through the town, on which are located three Grain and Produce stations and two Planing Mills. The Court House will compare favorably with that of any other town or city in Ohio.

There are many historical sketches connected with this township, which would be of interest to the reader, if they were not so well known; therefore a mere reference will suffice. Fort St. Clair was erected in the winter of 1791-2, under the supervision of Capt. John S. Gano. About 80 acres were cleared around the site, and it is now known as the "Old Garrison." An engagement, or rather a surprise, took place in October, 1793, near the head of Lowrey's Branch, a short distance west of Zion Church, and about six miles north of Eaton, at Ludlow's Spring. On this occasion, Lieut. Lowrey, with ninety men as an escort, in charge of a train of wagons loaded with military stores for Wayne's army at Fort Greenville, stopped at the Spring to water, when the Indians, in close ambush, fired upon them, killing Lieut. Lowery, Ensign Boyd and thirteen others. The dead were buried on the 18th Oct., 1793, a short distance S. W. of Ft. St. Clair, where they remained until the 4th of July, 1822, when the remains of Lieut Lowrey were disinterred, and a funeral oration made by Jonas A. Mendal They were then removed to the northwest corner of the old graveyard adjacent to Eaton, in October, 1843. The entire remains of all who fell in the ambuscade were disinterred and placed in the beautiful mound in the present Cemetery, and a shaft of Rutland marble, suitably inscribed and erected to their memory. This monument was erected to the departed soldiers by the liberal minded citizens of Eaton, and a funeral oration was delivered by Judge Haines; and the late Rev. Charles W. Swain acted as Chaplain on the occasion. This shaft, connected as it is with the early adventures of western warfare, is one of the chief ornaments of the beautiful Cemetery grounds.

Wayne's military road, now called the "Old Trace," runs through the 2d range from Hobson's Choice, north, through Washington township, a short distance east of Eaton, crossing the north road on a bluff near a sycamore tree on the east side of the road. The south end of the Trace has long since been established as a public highway. At the crossing of Banta's Fork is located the far-famed "Forty-Foot Pitch." This point is nearly obscured in legendary story, as to the origin of its name and precise locality. Some say it took its name by a team sliding down the precipice; but the strong probability is that the cliff is marked Forty-Foot Pitch on the military map, and so communicated to the early settlers. There are two tributaries to Seven Mile within this township, the one, Rocky Run, which takes its name from the out crop of stone near its mouth, and the other, Garrison Branch, which takes its name from the main channel running by the Garrison.

Within the township many indications of coal oil crop out, which suggested the idea of hidden wealth, to avaricious individuals. For a time the far-famed Eldorado seemed to be almost in reach of these adventurers, and leases were taken and boring commenced on all sides. Enterprising individuals flocked in from a distance, for oil seepings were found in sufficient quantities to encourage the credulous of a near approach to untold wealth. After sinking a couple of wells to a great depth, and prospecting many others without substantial success, the whole scheme resulted in a failure. The flash stock went down and the oil men disappeared.