William Maxwell
William Maxwell was a native of New Jersey. It is quite possible that he for a short time lived in Kentucky before he came across to Cincinnati. In that city, which was then only a cluster of a few log huts, he printed the first newspaper ever published in the Northwest Territory. Maxwell succeeded Abner Dunn as the second postmaster at Cincinnati. In 1799 he with his family left the little village of Cincinnati and came north, settling on what is now known as the Maxwell farm in Beavercreek township, this county. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives of the First General Assembly of Ohio, which met at Chillicothe, March 1, 1803, and he favored the law erecting Greene county. By an act of the Legislature he was appointed one of the first three associate judges of the county on April 6, 1803. He resigned his office of associate judge on December 7, 1803, was chosen sheriff of Greene county and served until 1807. He took an active interest in organizing the state militia and held the rank of major in 1805. On his farm in Beavercreek township, he devoted himself chiefly to cattle raising. His death occurred in 1809 and his grave is located on the old Maxwell farm, about one and one-half miles southeast of Alpha.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918