From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883
As mentioned above, in speaking of the surface and soil, this township has no large stream within its territory; yet, from the flatness of the country and the nature of its soil, it is generally well watered for stock purposes. There is very little water-power for mill or manufacturing purposes, and very little demand for such, as this is strictly an agricultxiral and stock raising township, having but comparatively little timber of value, but possessed of a deep, rich soil, well adapted to the raising of stock and the cultivation of grain, and these have monopolized the capital and attention of her people.
The largest stream is Deer Creek, which passes through the southwestern corner of the township, entering the township from Oak Run and running in a southern or southeastern course about half a mile, thence it turns south and continues about one mile and enters Pleasant Township. The next largest stream is Opossum Run, known in an early day as Plum Run. It takes its rise on the George Hume farm, and takes a general southeast course to near the line of Franklin County, thence takes a southern course and enters Pickaway County. Its present name was given it by John Phebis and Isaac McHenry, two of the early settlers who came up the creek from Yankeetown, in Fayette County, seeking a location. As they were traveling up the stream, they were suddenly startled by a large opossum with a large brood of young ones clinging to the old one; these they killed, and on their journey returning they came upon another which they also killed, from which circumstance they gave it the name Opossum Run, by which it has ever since been known.
A little southwest of the last-mentioned stream is Lubbergut Creek; it takes its rise in the southern portion of the township, and runs in a southeastern course and enters Pleasant Township. Its name originated as follows: A large fleshy man by the name of Mantle, who weighed 480 pounds avoirdupois, and who lived near the creek, was accustomed to almost daily cross the creek on a foot-log. Two neighbors thought they would have a little fun with the ponderous and weighty Mr. Mantle, so they sawed the foot-log from the under side nearly through, and the next time Mr. Mantle attempted to go across on the log, down went the log, Mr. Mantle and all, and gave him quite a wetting in the creek, since which incident the creek has ever been known by the euphonious name of Lubbergut Run or Creek. West of this is a small stream called Tortle Run, which rises on or near F. L. Young's farm, runs southwest and enters Pleasant Township. There are no other streams of any size within the limits of the township.