Where Allen Township Came From
At the time Union County was organized, the land that became Allen Township was originally part of Union Township. In 1822, when Liberty Township was formed, most of this area fell within Liberty’s boundaries.
On June 5, 1827, the Union County Commissioners created a new township to be called Allen Township. The original legal description set boundaries beginning at the southeast corner of Liberty Township and running north six miles, west to Liberty’s west line, south to the Champaign–Union County line, then east and north back to the starting point.
Early Surveys (1797 and after)
The earliest known land surveys within the territory that would become Allen Township were completed in October 1797. Additional early surveys followed in the late 1790s and early 1800s, including a 740‑acre survey for Henry Whitning (Survey No. 102) dated June 6, 1813 along the southern border of the township.
(For the website: publish a short summary here, and offer the full list of survey entries as a downloadable document.)
The Land: Streams, Soil, and “Flat Woods”
Early descriptions of Allen Township note a landscape of level and gently rolling ground, with rich bottomlands along streams. The Big Darby Creek is the principal stream, flowing through the township and briefly through Champaign County before reentering and crossing the southern edge. Buck Run is the other major creek, rising in the northern-central area and flowing southeast. Buck Run receives Bear Swamp Run, which originates in Bear Swamp in the northeast part of the township.
In the 1800s, parts of the township included wet, timbered tracts such as Crane Swamp and Bear Swamp—later improved by ditching and drainage. The region’s dense timber and swampy lowlands contributed to the nickname “Flat Woods.”
Samuel & Sarah Allen son of Daniel Allen
Wilson Reed Allen son of Daniel Allen
Early Settlement
Although Allen Township was not settled as early as some southern townships in the county, pioneers began arriving in the early 1800s. Within fifteen years of the first permanent settlers, Allen Township was becoming well populated.
One of the earliest settlers was Henry Vangordon, who arrived around 1820 and settled along Buck Run. A native of Pennsylvania, Vangordon played an active role in township government, serving as one of the first voters, trustees, and as township treasurer.
Daniel Allen and the Township Name
Allen Township was named in honor of Daniel Allen, a respected early settler and community leader. Allen emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio around 1813, and settled in Allen Township around 1820–1821. He hosted early religious gatherings in his home and served as one of the township’s first trustees.
Local records and historical sources commonly record Daniel Allen’s death as August 2, 1832, following an accident involving a load of oats. He was among the first buried at Buck Run Cemetery.
Early Government
When Allen Township was formed in 1827, township government was the primary local authority. Early offices included:
- Three Trustees
- Clerk
- Constable
- Justice of the Peace
- Overseers of the Poor
- Fence Viewers
- Highway Supervisors
Many of these roles evolved or disappeared over time, but the township structure remains a vital part of Ohio’s local government today.