The pioneer settler in Noble County were early attracted to Jefferson Township, which presented even at that early day many advantages, with but few of the inconveniences common to much of the other territory, with the exception of such highly favored localities as Perrys Prairie. The surface was gently rolling, with but few marshes or swamps; the soil a rich, black loam, with a clay sub-soil, capble of producing excellent crops of grain and clover, and suitable also for orchards, while there was a large and valuable growth of timber, such as black walnut, poplar, oak, cherry, ash, beech and hard maple, with occasional trees of other species. The first land entered in the township was the northeast quarter of section 5, by a man named Miller; but the first actual white settler was David Herriman, from Richland ZCounty, Ohio, who located on the northeast quarter of section 12. After residing there for a year, Mr. Herriman sold his land to Samuel C. Spencer, who came from Huron County, Ohio, in 1838, Mr. Herriman leaving the state. Mr. Spencer resided on this farm for many years, and finally sold it to George Harvey, removing to a tract 1 1/2 miles southeast of Albion. In October, 1836, a number of settlements were made in sections 10 and 11, by a party which came from Richland County, Ohio, and included Lewis and Benjamin Potts, Jehu Foster, James Thompson and Manassa Thompson, and also James Skinner from Huron County, Ohio. These men were accompanied by their families, and at once started to make improvements. Stephen Barhan came in 1837, and for a while worked out for others until he had earned enough money to buy land of his own, which he developed into a good farm. In 1839 John Peabody settled in section 15, where he remained until 1848, when he sold his farm to Joseph P. Riddle and removed to Allen County. Other early settlers who came betwen [sic] 1836 and 1838 were John Call, Alfred Martin, John Grubb, Martin Smith, Henry Carothers and Smith Ashley. The earliest abins erected by these settlers and others were built of small round logs, the cracks or crevices between them being filled in with clay, while the floor was of puncheons, or split logs with the face smoothed. The furniture was confined to the most necessary articles and was chiefly home-made. Corn, potatoes, buckwheat, and a few other easily utilized food crops were first planted, and after that wheat and other grains and vegetables, all of which the township still produces in great profusion. The numerous small streams and springs afforded good facilities for stock raising, an industry that was early begun, and has been since continued by the farmers with profitle results. In early days the stock was turned loose and allowed to rove through the woods, in spite of the risk from wolves. When wanted the animals had to be hunted, the cows at least every evening. This unrestrained freedom caused many of the swine to become wild, so that at times, pork had to be obtained, like any other game, with the rifle.
The governmental affairs of the township began with the spring electiong of 1838, when James Skinner, Lewis Potts and Jehu Foster were chosen as trustees; John Call as justice, and Alfred Martin, constable. These men rendered good service without reward and were unanimously re-elected. For a number of years the pioneers of Jefferson Township obtained their supplies at Fort Wayne, thirty miles distant, several days being required to make the trip. At a later date, Kendallville and Albion became the markets. About 1867 Ephraim Foster opened a small general store on his farm, which proved a convenience to manay of the residents and a source of profit to himself. The settlers got their grinding done at Stoufer's Mill situated on the Elkhart River, two miles northwest of Goshen in Elkhart County, a distance of about thirty-five miles. The first saw-mill was erected by Samuel C. Spencer, in 1846, on a small stream called Buck Creek, in section 20, and the mill was in use for quite a number of years. Two steam saw-mills were later erected, one by George Inscho, in the center of the township, and the other by Thomas Hudson, near the southeast corner, both of which did a good business. Perhaps somewhat later, a blacksmith's shop was opened at Baker's Corners, by Uriah Turmbo. Schools and churches also appeared, an account of which may be found in other chapters of this volume.
A number of mounds have been found in Jefferson Township, some containing skeletons, or human bones, together with ashes and charcoal, and occasionally implements and ornaments, supposed to be relics of that primitive and mysterious people called the "Mound-Builders." About 1838, after the death of the little child of Alfred Skinner--the first death in the township--Mr. Skinner's brother James kindly tendered an elevated spot on his farm, lying south of the Kendallville road, as a buryingplace, and soon another of Mr. Skinner's children was laid by the side of the first. Other burials afterwards took place there, and a beutiful cemetery was finally devellped, filled with costly marble slabs and monuments. Another and later cmetery was laid out near the Rehobeth Church, artistically arranged, and beautified with tasteful monuments.
There are no towns or villages in Jefferson Township, but the Albion county seat is contiguous to the western part, the township of Albion having been formed of two sections from Jefferson and two from York Township.
Robert M. Waddell, History of northeast Indiana: LaGrange, Steuben, Noble and DeKalb Counties, Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1920, Noble County, pgs. 444-445.