The land that became the township was divided among nine or ten shareholders, one of whom, General Henry Champion, originally owned much of the property and had acquired all of the township land by December 1798.

The first permanent settler was William Rutan, who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1806.

Henry Champion died in 1825, with the western half of the township going to his son, Aristarchus Champion and the eastern half to his son-in-law, Henry C. Trumbull.

In 1826, both hired a surveyor to sell the land at market price.

[5] The township is governed by a three-member board of trustees, who are elected in November of odd-numbered years to a four-year term beginning on the following January 1.