Township History
Residence and Mill of W.L. Lane
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Milford Township was established in 1805 in response to a petition from residents of St. Clair Township. It was named by Robert Lytle, a prominent figure in Butler County's early judiciary and a justice of the peace, who honored his birthplace of Milford in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania, by choosing the township's name.
Since its founding, Milford Township has always been an agricultural community because of the rich soils and abundance of water, including the important tributaries to the Great Miami River: Four Mile Creek and Seven Mile Creek. The three communities in Milford Township also have long histories. |
Collinsville
Matthew Richardson sold the first lot in Collinsville to Charles Collin, an English wagon-maker, who gave the town its name. Among the early business people were Andrew Young and James Sted who owned grocery stores. David McMechan and Thomas Brown were engaged in the dry-goods business. The first school was in a log cabin, and the first schoolmaster was an Irishman, William Hewitt, who taught from 1818 to 1826. He was also a leading member of the Presbyterian Church. In 1811, James Young built a saw mill, and a grist-mill was erected three years afterwards. Later Mr. Young built a large distillery. The Collinsville Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1843 and the Seven-Mile Presbyterian Church at Collinsville was organized in 1810.
Collinsville is an unincorporated place that is part of Milford Township.
Darrtown
In 1814, Conrad Darr laid out Darrtown, and the first settler, Abram Darr, ran a store and an inn. Later he opened his first tavern in 1817 called the “Hitching Post”. This was an important stop for travelers on the Hamilton-Fairborne Stage Coach line. The Hitching Post is still in business today, continuously operating since its opening.
Distilling was an important industry in the area with whiskey as a popular medium of exchange. A log-still house was owned by James Bradberry in 1817 but was later replaced by a stone building. From 1845 to 1852, Mitchel Marshall had a still house that produced fifteen barrels per day. Other early storekeepers were William Davis, a saddlemaker, and Aaron Chamberlain, who made wagons and ran a tavern. The community also had several tailors and hatters.
The tanning of leather started in 1815, supporting a shoe and boot-making industry that continued into the late 1800s. The first school opened in 1806 with George Howard as a teacher. The Darrtown Pike was constructed in 1842, a north-south road that served as an important livestock corridor. Lanes Mill on Four Mile Creek opened in 1848, housing a combination saw, grist, and fulling mill. Lanes Mill was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1980, but was razed because of its structure.
Darrtown is a census-designated place that is part of Milford Township.
For more extensive information about Darrtown, please visit the Darrtown website dedicated to perserving the history of Darrtown.
Distilling was an important industry in the area with whiskey as a popular medium of exchange. A log-still house was owned by James Bradberry in 1817 but was later replaced by a stone building. From 1845 to 1852, Mitchel Marshall had a still house that produced fifteen barrels per day. Other early storekeepers were William Davis, a saddlemaker, and Aaron Chamberlain, who made wagons and ran a tavern. The community also had several tailors and hatters.
The tanning of leather started in 1815, supporting a shoe and boot-making industry that continued into the late 1800s. The first school opened in 1806 with George Howard as a teacher. The Darrtown Pike was constructed in 1842, a north-south road that served as an important livestock corridor. Lanes Mill on Four Mile Creek opened in 1848, housing a combination saw, grist, and fulling mill. Lanes Mill was added to the National Register of Historic places in 1980, but was razed because of its structure.
Darrtown is a census-designated place that is part of Milford Township.
For more extensive information about Darrtown, please visit the Darrtown website dedicated to perserving the history of Darrtown.
Somerville
In early days, Somerville was referred to as “Yankeetown” or “William’s Store”. The Willam’s family operated the first store in 1803 and the first post office from 1824 to 1834. After that, the name Somerville was adopted.
The town of Somerville was laid out in 1831 by Jacob Rowe. In the late 1840s, David Davis cut pork and shipped it to Cincinnati. One of the old pork houses stood on the west side of the old cemetery. Solomon White was the first tavern keeper. John Airy was conducting a tan-yard in Somerville in 1832. The first school was held in a building on Pott’s Run, east of Somerville. William Mack was one of the first teachers. Located on Seven Mile Creek and with a railroad passing near, Somerville was a center for agriculture and graneries.
Somerville was incorporated as a village in 1832. In 2016 Somerville was unincorporated and became part of Milford Township.
The town of Somerville was laid out in 1831 by Jacob Rowe. In the late 1840s, David Davis cut pork and shipped it to Cincinnati. One of the old pork houses stood on the west side of the old cemetery. Solomon White was the first tavern keeper. John Airy was conducting a tan-yard in Somerville in 1832. The first school was held in a building on Pott’s Run, east of Somerville. William Mack was one of the first teachers. Located on Seven Mile Creek and with a railroad passing near, Somerville was a center for agriculture and graneries.
Somerville was incorporated as a village in 1832. In 2016 Somerville was unincorporated and became part of Milford Township.
