John Morris
John Morris was born in Virginia in 1798. He married Mary A. Clarkson in 1832, and came to Allen, now Auglaize, County in 1833. He entered one-quarter section of land in Union township, one and one-half mile from St. Johns, where he now lives.
When he came here there was not an acre of land cleared in the township, except what had been cleared by the Indians. The land having only come into the market the year before. The most of the Indians had been removed, but a part of them were still here.
He lived in an Indian cabin until he built one for himself. At that time there was not a road laid out in the township. Where St. Johns is now situated there were about twelve or fifteen acres cleared, which had been done by the Indians. The only persons living there were William and Byrd Richardson and their families. Mr. Morris was the first justice of the peace in the township. He served two terms.
The first white child born in the township was John Morris, a son of the above. All of the white settlers that Mr. Morris can remember are William and Byrd Richardson, Charles Lusk, and Bolzill.
From History of Auglaize County, Ohio, with the Indian History of Wapakoneta, and the First Settlement of the County, Robert Sutton, Publishers, Wapakoneta, 1880