A Little Ohio History
Ohio is a fine example of a prairie township, as it originally contained but little timber land, neither had it many low places; on the contrary, it is high and rolling and possesses a deep rich soil that yields bountiful harvests. One of the oldest landmarks in the county is Dad Joe Grove. Here was the home of Joseph Smith, familiarly known as Dad Joe. His cabin was on the old Galena and Peoria road, and was one of the relay stations where refreshments were served to the travelers and fresh horses were supplied to the old stage coach line that daily passed that way on the trips from the south to the lead miens in the north. This house stood isolated and alone for many years before another home was located within the township, the nearest house being some twelve miles away. If the history of that early resting place could be correctly and truthfully told no doubt it would reveal many a heart-throb and many a weird scene, for in those days the traveler took no little chance in his long and tedious journeys across these uninhabited prairies. In 1846 Dad Joe sold this place to T. S. Elston.

The second house erected was that of William Cleveland, which was built in 1846, on section 20. Soon after this F. G. Buchan built on section 3. In 1847 some of the Ross family came to Ohio. John and Andrew settled on sections 22 and 27. From this time on the Rosses have been among the prosperous and honored citizens of that community. Ohio was not settled as early as the townships farther south, as the people at that time were afraid of the open prairie and gathered around the groves where they could get fuel and timber for fencing and building purposes, and Ohio being mostly prairie, it was considered too bleak and unprotected for actual settlement; but after a time some of the more venturesome began to locate upon the treeless acres and they soon found that they were in the garden spot of the state, if not of the globe; for truly we believe there is no richer heritage upon this great round world than that which has fallen to the present generation who live upon the subdued prairies of Illinois. In 1846 William Garton settled up section 36; Leonard Strong on 35, and Aaron Brokaw on 34. In 1848 John Kasbeer settled on the farm he still owns, section 28. D. P. Smith, Isaac Brokaw and Mitchell Shiffles came in 1849. This township has an enterprising and thorough going citizenship, the people have taken advantage of their opportunities and have become independent in their financial affairs.