Jefferson Township, New Paris, Ohio

Jefferson Township Building
201 Cedar Springs Road
New Paris, Ohio, 45346
937-437-0213

Currently serving as Jefferson Township Trustees:
Rick Spahr, Bill Sweet and Meredith Wesler

History of Jefferson Township
Preble County, Ohio

The first settlements in Jefferson Township in Preble County, Ohio were established in 1806 by emigrants from Kentucky and Tennessee. Its name was chosen by admirers of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, whose second term was just expiring.

Of the twelve townships in Preble County, Jefferson is located in its northwest corner. The area is a six mile by six mile square covering 22,005 acres. The terrain reveals the boldest landscape in the county studded with hills and valleys. The east fork of the Whitewater River skirts the west border of the township as it flows into the east edge of the State of Indiana.

As an agricultural region Jefferson ranks with the average townships in the county. It is probable that the six acres of corn planted by Levi Purviance, in the spring of 1806, was the first raised in Jefferson Township. Other crops grown were wheat, oats, hay, some tobacco and sorghum.

In 1817, New Paris was platted as the capital of Jefferson Township. Many descendants of these early pioneers chose to settle in this region and several local residents can still trace their roots to the beginnings of Jefferson Township, Preble County, Ohio.

Source: 1881 History of Preble County