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THIS was made a township in 1821 ; taken from Athens, adjoining it oil the east, and its northern line is the State line ; its western line is Windham, and on the south is Rome and Sheshequin. Surface broken and high table land mostly, and its largest valley is along the Susquehanna river, which touches its northwestern border.

Thomas Park, who was the first settler, built his house on the river bank, in 1800, near the State line. This man, faithful to the best pioneer precepts, had a Jolly household of children: Daniel, Samuel, James, Amos, Joseph, Elijah, Benjamin, Sally, -Mary, Elizabeth and Susanna, by the first wife; and by his second wife he had three children. His son, James, was the first white child born in the township.

Two years after Park's arrival, 1803, came Eleazer Merrill and his son, Hiram ; first stopping at the Shoonover place, and next February he built and moved into his log , cabin, where he permanently remained. Mr. Merrill reported that, in addition to Parks, he found here, on his arrival, a man named William Drown, who, soon after his arrival, perished in a snow storm. Hiram Merrill made his farm in the southeast portion of the township. So wild was the country for a long time, that one of the Merrill children, about three years old, was lost and was not found, though hundreds were hunting, for forty-eight hours.

Solomon Merrill, brother of Eleazer, came in 1806 and settled the Shoonover place, but only lived on it about three years, then went to New York, but in time returned and bought the Thomas McAfee place.

In 1805 Silas Wolcott came from Ithaca, and settled on the Satterlee creek, and for two years operated the Satterlee mill, when he purchased of Park and improved the Wolcott farm.

Thomas Munn married Molly Wolcott, who bore him twelve sons and one daughter, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Munn settled the Herman Morse farm. Josiah White was the next, coming in 1808, when eighteen years old. He served in the War of 1812-15. He cleared a large farm and became a prominent citizen.

Two brothers, Ruloff and Samuel Campbell, had preceded this White, coming in 1807. Samuel settled on the Row n Munn farm where he built a sawmill, the first in the township.

Daniel Bush, an early settler, built the first gristmill in Cotton Hollow, near David McKinneys. There were four of the McKinney boys who came soon after White - Harry, Joseph, David and Samuel. About the same time came George Headlock.

It is supposed Alsop Baldwin came about 1807, and improved the farm where he died an old man, and the farm passed to his daughter, Mrs. Evans, in 1873. Samuel Ball came near the same time as White. Christopher and Doane Shoonover settled near Mr Park's. Henry McKinney settled in the township in 1824; purchased Mrs. Hewlett's farm. His sons, John, Ira, Lewis, Samuel and Benoni, came with him.

James Brown and William Loomis were early settlers, as wer John Moore and Joseph Greek. William Cotton came when a lad, and lived in the township over seventy years. Peter Turner and Richard Struble were early settlers. Zenas Cleveland came in 1816, and lived to be ninety-four years of age-poor, blind and bed-ridden, many years before he died-a soldier in the War of 1812-15. It-was for this Cleveland family that Cleveland, Ohio, was named. With Cleveland came Nathaniel Hotchkiss, Joseph Nichols and Russel Marsh, who settled Litchfield, in 1816, and soon after, Paul Apgar settled near them and opened a blacksmith shop. At South Hill John Moore was the first settler. Absalom Adams came to what is now- Litchfield soon after Apgar started his blacksmith shop.

John Marks, Neff, Tappan and Beach were early comers.

Orsan Carner, a preacher, came in 1823, and settled the Henry Brink place.

There are two gristmills in the township: A. C. Hunt's, on the Wappasening, and Snell's , in Cotton Hollow, and at both Litchfield and at South Litchfield is a store. For thirty years the increase of population has been no more than the natural increase from births.

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