Page 683
This was one of the original subdivisions, and embraced a much larger area than it does to-day. It was erected April 30, 1810, and under that date we find the following: "Ordered, that all tract of land comprehended in the following boundary be and the same is hereby created into a separate township, to be known as Jefferson Township, and is bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the lower corner of Calvin Cary's Survey, or on the Franklin County line north of Cary's; thence on a straight line west to the Champaign County line; thence south along the said line until it intersects Deer Creek Township line; thence with said line east to Franklin County; thence along said line to the place of beginning." This erection was subsequently declared void, and a second one made June 11, 1811, on which date the Commissioners "ordered that all that tract of land comprehended within the following boundaries be and is hereby erected into a separate township, by the name of Jefferson, and is bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the south corner of Darby Township, thence with the south line of Darby Township westerly to a point running south will strike the east boundary of Mark's Survey, on Little Darby Creek; thence southward to where the State road, leading to Franklinton, crosses the Glade Run Branch of Deer Creek; thence easterly so as to include all the inhabitants of Darby Creek in said township, continuing to Franklin County line; thence with said line to place of beginning." The Commissioners continued to organize different townships, taking a part from Jefferson at various times, giving it different shapes, until its present area and formation was reached. it is very irregular in shape, stretching for about five and a half miles from north to south, and about five and a fourth from east to west. Its northern boundary is Canaan Township. On the east it is for several miles washed by the waters of Big Darby Creek, but, when near the southeastern corner, Franklin County stretches west of the creek, forming a part of the eastern as well as about one mile of the southern boundary, whilst the remainder of the southern boundary is formed by Fairfield Township, and on the west it is bounded by Deer Creek and Monroe Townships.
From Atlas of Madison County by J.A. Caldwell, Condit, Ohio (1875)
It is bounded on the south by Franklin County and Fairfield Township, west by Union and Deer Creek and Monroe, north by Canaan Townships, east by Franklin County. Jefferson like the rest of the townships of the county, was composed of oak openings and prairies. The soul is fertile producing large crops of corn, wheat, oats and grass; wool is a staple product of the township, together with beef cattle, horses, sheep and hogs; the timber is mostly oak, with some hickory and elm. The township is watered by Big Darby on its eastern boundary, and Little Darby through the center, and their tributaries, and it has some fine springs along the aforesaid streams. West Jefferson in the southern part of the township, on the national road, located on the west bank of Little Darby, is a thriving village. The Little Miami Rail Road passes by the place, affording a good shipping point for th eproduce and stock of the surrounding country.
From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)
Jefferson township lies in the east central part of Madison county, being one of the boundary townships. It is bounded on the north by Caanan township; on the west by Deer Creek and Monroe townships, and on the south by Fairfield township. On the east it is washed for several miles by the waters of Big Darby creek, but when near the southeastern corner, Franklin county stretches west of the creek, forming a part of the eastern as well as about one mile of the Southern boundary.
Jefferson township was one of the original subdivisions and embraced a much larger area than it does at the present time. It was erected on April 30, 1810, and under that date is found the following commissioners' record: "Ordered, that all that tract of land comprehended in the following boundary be and the same is hereby created into a separate township, to be known as Jefferson township, and is bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the lower corner of Calvin's survey, or on the Franklin county line north of Carey's; thence on a straight line west to the Champaign county line; thence south along the said line until it intersects the Deer Creek township line; thence with the said township line east to Franklin county; thence along said line to the place of beginning." This erection was subsequently declared void, and a second one made on June 11, 1811, on which date the commissioners' records show the following: "Ordered that all the tract of land comprehended within the following boundaries be and is hereby erected into a separate township, by the name of Jefferson, and bounded as follows, viz: Beginning at the south corner of Darby township; thence with the south line of Darby township westerly to a point running south will strike the east boundary of Mark's survey, on Little Darby creek; thence southward to where the state road, leading to Franklinton, crosses the Slade Run branch of Deer creek; thence easterly so as to include all the inhabitants of Darby creek in said township, continuing to Franklin county line; thence with said line to place of beginning." The commissioners continued to organize different townships at a later date, taking a part from Jefferson at various times, giving it different shapes, until its present area and formation was reached. It is very irregular in shape, stretching for about five and a half miles from north to South, and about five and one fourth nmiles from east to west.
Jefferson township is, for the most part, rather level and was originally a non-productive region, covered with stagnant water, producing much fever and ague, which retarded the early settlement. It has sufficient elevations and depressions to afford excellent facilities for underdraining, which, of late years, has received no small amount of attention, at present there being thousands of rods of tile buried beneath the surface. Through the medium of the underdraining, the citizens of Jefferson township have rendered it a fine and productive farming country. It has been freed from the early diseases and is a very healthful and productive township and a desirable location. The northern portion of the township is level, but as it nears the central part it becomes more rolling, and finally empties the water from the flats into the Little Darby. The southern portion slopes toward the south and east, emptying its waste waters into the Big Darby through the Little Darby, which flows through the central and southeastern part of the township.
That part of the county from which Jefferson township was formed was composed of oak openings and prairie land. The soil is of a deep clay loam, capable of the highest fertility, and produces fine crops of wheat, corn, oats and hay. Wool was a staple product of the township in the earlier settlements and is not altogether abandoned. Cattle, horses, sheep and hogs are raised in abundance. Special attention is given to raising cattle. The timber of the township, of any value, consisted mainly of oak, hickory and elm, although there were other varieties existing, such as sycamore and the timbers of lesser value found along streams. The more valuable timbers, such as walnut, poplar, etc., were lacking. The township is watered or rather drained by the Big Darby on the eastern boundary, and Little Darby through the center, and their small tributaries, the largest being Price's run. Along the last-named stream are numerous springs of excellent water, some of which possess mineral substance. There are also many picturesque spots along its banks. Little Darby, the principal stream traversing the township, enters the territory about half a nmile north of the Urbana pike and, with its irregular course to the Southeast, makes a total distance within her limits of about ten miles. It passes out of the township southeast of the village of West Jefferson and one mile and a half South of the National road.