Franklin Township

Franklin Township

6805 State Route 219
Celina, OH 45822
Phone: 419-268-2139

Township Officers
Trustees
Neal E. Klosterman
Joseph Karafit
Ronald J. Brookhart

Fiscal Officer
Lee Ann Dorsten

Email to:

Franklinclerk@bright.net

Phone:

419-268-2139

________________

Zoning Inspector

Gary Schwieterman

Email to:

Franklintwp@bright.net

Phone:

419-268-5820

Franklin Township House

Located at:

6805 State Route 219

Celina, OH 45822

Mailing Address

Franklin Township Trustees

PO Box 90

Montezuma, Ohio 45866

Trustee's Meeting

Franklin Township complies

with Ohio Sunshine Law with

regards to posting all meeting

dates and times.

_____________

3rd Wednesday

January - November

6:30 p.m.

2nd Wednesday

December

6:30 p.m.

Unless otherwise posted

SECTION 4

History of Franklin Township

Franklin Township covers (22) twenty-two square miles and is bordered by the irregular shoreline of Grand Lake, once known as the Grand Reservoir, to the north. Its east borderline is Auglaize County, with the west border Butler Township and the south border Marion Township. It is approximately (6) six miles in length, stretching from State Route 127 on the west to The Auglaize/Mercer County line. It covers nearly (3 1/2) three and one-half miles from its northern most boundary to its southern most boundary.

The township was organized December 7, 1841 with the first elections held on Christmas Eve 1841. The first settlers to Franklin Township were Stephen Sprague, Abraham and John Miller, and the Lacey, Beauchamp, and Johnson families. The Botkin family settled on the Big Chickasaw Creek. Other early settlers to the township were William Winter, the Ballinger, Bennett, Brandon, Long Preston, McGee, Buxton, Selby, Dabbelt, Dammeyer, Burdges, and Trim families. Isaac Ellis, another early settler, was the chief fur buyer in this part of the country. Descendents of these early settlers still reside in the township and the county.

At the time of settlement, the Big and Little Chickasaw Indian tribes occupied the township. Two township streams currently bear their names. The citizens of the township and the Indians lived peaceably. The Indians never gave settlers cause for alarm. They lived along side one another for many years.
This township was, and continues to be, one of the county's best farming districts. Grains were the crops of choice. From the beginning of settlement, the residents of the township belonged to the important Mercer County fair board.

After the Grand Reservoir was dug, it was an abundant supply of fish. Wild ducks and geese were also plentiful. This gave individuals the prosperous vocation of shipping ducks, geese and fish. It was through this vocation that many farmers paid for their homes and farms. Fish, at this time, went for a very high price, making it an important business.

Once the fish and game resource was exhausted, a new wealth was discovered. Oil and natural gas were discovered in the township. More wells were drilled in Franklin Township than any other township of the county. Natural gas proved to be more profitable and many large wells were drilled. This proved to be such a profitable venture that many towns in this part of the state were supplied with gas from these wells. Two pipelines supplied Celina, Greenville, Piqua, Springfield and all nearby towns. The gas era was short lived, with towns reverting to coal and wood.

Zoning Inspector

Gary Schwieterman

Email to:

Franklintwp@bright.net

Phone:

419-268-5820

Zoning Meetings

By Appointment

The Franklin Zoning Board complies

with Ohio Sunshine Law with

regards to posting all meeting

dates and times.