Franklin County Townships

Through the Years - by Louis Reed

1865 – The next township to be formed was called Franklin township in July 1864. This township contained all of that territory included in the Chippewa and Ottawa Indian reservations. Persons using the 1865 census are often confused when looking for someone in the present day Franklin or Ottawa townships, for in April of 1866 the names of these two townships were swapped. This is how the township’s would have appeared in the 1865 census

1865 – The next township to be formed was called Franklin township in July 1864. This township contained all of that territory included in the Chippewa and Ottawa Indian reservations.Persons using the 1865 census are often confused when looking for someone in the present day Franklin or Ottawa townships, for in April of 1866 the names of these two townships were swapped. This is how the township’s would have appeared in the 1865 census

1870 – In September 1867 the township of Greenwood was formed out of the western portion of Ohio Township. In July of 1868 Harrison township was created out of portions of Ottawa and Ohio townships. This is how the townships appeared in the 1870 census.

1875, 1880, 1885 – Appanoose township was created in April 1870 out of the western half of Centropolis township. The 1870 census was taken in June of that year but Appanoose was not broken out in the census but was included in the census for Centropolis township. In January of 1871 Hayes township was formed out of portions of Franklin and Ottawa township’s. In April of 1871 the township of Williamsburgh was formed out of the southern portion of Greenwood township. In February of 1872 the township of Cutler was formed out of the southern portion of Peoria Township, and in March of 1872 the township of Lincoln was formed out of the western half of Harrison township. There were minor adjustments in township lines also. In July 1874 the township of Richmond was formed. This is how the townships would remain in the 1875, 1880 and 1885 census.

1890 to Present – The last townships to be formed were Pomona township in October 1886 out of southern Appanoose township and Homewood township formed in January 1887 out of portions of Williamsburg, Greenwood, Lincoln, and Ohio Townships. This was the last change in townships, their boundaries remaining unchanged to this day.

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