been legally defined, but were designated as Indian and Story. The records are obscure and have probably been changed or amended at times, but subsequent to that time and before April, 1854, the following seems to have been about the number and extent of the various townships:
1st. Indian Creek consisted of township 82, ranges 21 and 22.
2d. Union, township 82, ranges 23 and 24.
3d. Washington, township 83, and west half of range 23, and all of range 24.
4th. Franklin, township 84, west half of range 23, and all of range 24.
5th. LaFayette, township 85, and west half of range 23, and all of range 24.
6th. Nevada, which practically comprised all of the rest of the county, though the territory of the present townships of Lincoln and Warren were not formally recorded as part of the township till May 21, 1858.
In 1857 Collins was organized; and in 1858, Milford, Palestine, Howard and New Albany, some of them with boundaries somewhat larger than at present, came into organized existence. In 1866 Lincoln received its name; and in 1867 Grant and Sherman were baptized. In 1872 Warren and Richland came in; and during the same year other boundaries were adjusted, and each congressional township became a civil township. In this condition they now (1876) remain, and with no desire it is presumed for any further change.
New Albany Township received its first settlers in 1855. These were John Lee, George Waltz and Al. Dalton. In 1856 Messrs. Griffin, John McBarnes and Joshua Cooper arrived, after which there was but little settlement for a number of year. About the close of the war there began to be considerable accessions, and now nearly all the land in the township is occupied. The first school house was built in 1865. Hon. J. L. Dana furnished the following notice of Colo: It was laid out and recorded as a village on the twenty-second day of May, 1865, by J. L. Dana. In July, the following year, Blair's addition to Colo was laid out. From May, 1865, until the present time improvements have continued to be made, and many substantial residences and business houses have been erected. The first resident of the town was David Leonard, who was soon followed by J. H. Voorhies, S. L. Bailey, George H. Richardson, J. W. Bishop, Isaac S. French and C. W. Gross.
There are two churches (1876) in this place; one erected in 1872, by the Church of God, and the Methodists erected the other church in 1873. Both are very neat structures, and seem to be well attended.
The first school in Colo was taught by Miss Huldah Bailey, in a school house which was built in 1866, and since removed into the country. In 1870 the people of Colo built their present substantial frame school house, having two large rooms, in which is taught a