was long known as the farm of Calvary Ross. Thomas Vest and sons, Merriman and Joe, lived south of Ontario. Eli and Michael Deal and John Wheeler were also on their claims. Fred Echard and Squire M. Cory were occupying their respective claims. Evan C. Evans and his brother, William D., arrived only a few days in advance of O'Brien, while Henry C. Cameron, John Vest, James Jenkins, Frank Thompson and William Thompson arrived soon after. Echard, O'Brien and Cameron were soldiers of the Mexican war. John J. Keigley was about a year in advance of all those previously named, except Cory. His place was near the mouth of the creek that bears his name. The Arrasmiths were in the north part of this settlement at an early day. Presley R. Craig, with his sons, Isaac H., Elisha B. and B. F., settled near O'Brien in March, 1853. In that year there were many accessions, the names being given elsewhere.
In June and July, 1853, S. P. O'Brien assessed the taxable property of the county, including that of the immigrants of that year, and listed 109 families. Many of these were camping in shanties or wagons, and busy turning prairie sod for future bread. The lists were made on loose sheets instead of a permanent book, and these have doubtless long since been destroyed. The lists of the following, year, 1854, are well preserved and safely stored among the county treasures.
In the spring of 1852 Robert Bracken, Samuel Smith, Jesse Smith and Daniel Prime selected lands near Skunk River, in the northwest part of Howard Township. John Smith and Daniel Prime were their close neighbors, but were west of the township line, and therefore in Lafayette Township. These were followed the next year by the father and brothers of the Smiths, and by Jonah Griffith, H. L. Boyes and Joseph Broughard.
The assessment rolls for 1854 show the names of many others, some of whom may have come in as early as the fall of 1852, but most of them in 1853 and the early part of 1854. All are entitled to mention as early settlers. Among those not heretofore mentioned who settled on East Indian Creek might be named William L. Birge, Barnet, John and James Broughard, John C. Belcher, Ephraim Bowen, Joseph Brubaker, Jeremiah Cory, Sr. and Jr., T. C. Davis, I. S. French, Robert John Harmon, Nelson S. and Marion Harmon, William R., Arthur A., Mathias and Noah Hand, H. J. Hackathorn, Jeremiah and A. J. King, Abner Lewis, George Livingston, James Mitchell, Hiram Mitchell, S. A. Marler, James N. Moore, Zimri Pearson, Austin Prouty, Adolphus Prouty, Frederic Pearce, John G. Sellers, Nathan Webb, John G., John S. and Christopher C. Wood. The names of Anderson Deter, J. W. Logson, C. P. McCord, Benton Warner and Robert Warner appear as citizens of the present Collins Township. Deter was in the southeast corner of the county, and attempted to start a town to which he boldly challenged competition by naming it " Defiance." The others were his neighbors, except Mr. McCord, who was on Section 3, and nearer to the settlers on Indian Creek.
Among the settlers of the summer of 1853 were William Dunahoo and a Mr. Johnson. The latter settled at Johnson's Grove, the most northerly timber on East Indian Creek. His memory is perpetuated in the beautiful grove that bears his name. He built the first cabin therein, in which he was assisted by his neighbors, as was the universal custom. Isaac and Samuel Hague were among those who gave him assistance.
Also on the rolls of 1854 is the earliest authentic record, and not subject to dispute or subtraction, of a poll tax assessed to citizens in