LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - History of Decatur Township (published 1882, 1887)
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From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio
Hardesty 1882 
 
From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio
1887 D.J. Lake & Company


Decatur township is in the northwestern part of Lawrence County. Much of the
land is hilly and covered with forests, with the valleys used for small
farms. Both Wayne National and Dean State Forests are partially within the
township. Pine Creek is the largest waterway.

State Route 93 runs north through the center of the township. There are no
industries, since the cement plant ceased operation in 1988. Mining was once
an important occupation, however,there are currently no mining operations.
The pig-iron furnaces, Olive on the northern edge, Vernon in the center,and
Buckhorn in the northwestern part were within the township. The
Dayton-lronton Railroad served the furnaces. The Buckhorn Furnace was sold
to Salle Brothers for $575 in 1914. The remains of Olive Furnace may be seen
while traveling Route 93.

Other early landowners were Henry Phillips, W.C. Anderson. John and Sarah
Armstrong, Cader Powell. Dominic Werner, and W.D. Kelley. Much of Decatur
Township was once owned by Hiram Campbell and W.N. McGugin. The wedding of
Nannie Scott, daughter of the manager of Vernon Furnace, and Marshall Field,
founder of the Marshall Field and Company of Chicago took place in Decatur
Township. The home where it took place burned in 1964.

Decatur Township once operated several schools including a high school. It
was consolidated into the Rock Hill System in 1965. One elementary school
housing K-5 remains in the township on the site of, and using the remodeled
high school with an addition. It is near the old Vernon Furnace site.


Early Settlers are:  
ANDERSON, W. D.
ARMSTRONG, John
ARMSTRONG, Sarah
CAMPBELL, Hirum
KELLEY, W. D.
McGUGIN, W.N.
PHILLIPS, Henry
POWELL, Cader
WERNER, Dominic

Name                      Post Office   Occupation     Nativity            Date of Settlement    
                                                                                                 
Campbell                  Iron          Pig Iron                                                 
Campbell                                Manufacturer                                             
Morris, Jefferson         Campbell      Farmer         Virginia                 1850                  
Patterson, Olive                                       Gallia Co., OH                            
Patterson, C.F.           Furnace       Physician      OH                       1881                  
Phillips, John Steece     Mine Boss                    Lawrence Co., OH         1845