Liberty Township
The following history is from the Clinton Herald, July 4, 1976:
The township was organized in 1844, and parts near the Wapsipinicon River running southeasterly through the township and also near clusters of timber were settled early. However, the prairie lands were not completely settled until 1854. The Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad line was built through the township in 1871.
Toronto, named by its first resident George W. Thorne for its Canadian counterpart, became the business and social center of the township because of its mills, the only ones for an extensive area. Thorne set up a sawmill in 1844, a grist mill in 1846, and a store in 1850.
The initial mill was sold about 1868, and then was destroyed by fire in 1909. The town was incorporated in 1909.
(Probably one of the original six townships)
Towns |
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| Hermitage | 01 Oct 1839 - 01 Jul 1840 | Formerly Sanbornton. |
| Massillon | 01 Aug 1844 - 16 Aug 1851 | Moved to Cedar County; another town sprung up on the Clinton County site and named Toronto. |
| Sanbornton | 30 Jun 1837 - 01 Oct 1839 | Renamed Hermitage. |
| Toronto | 13 Sep 1852 - Current | Formerly Massilion |
Cemeteries |
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| 28 | Rosehill | |
| 20 | St. James | |
| 30 | Unnamed | |
Other
1925 Atlas of Clinton County Liberty Twp. Farmer's Directory
Toronto Tidings in the Wheatland Gazette