Journal-News.com

The Legislature appointed James Silvers, Benjamin Stites and David Sutton County Commissioners on April 15th, 1803, and instructed them to select a seat of justice. They selected the town of Hamilton as the county seat and set up the county offices. The first associate judges appointed for Butler County were James Dunn, John Greer and John Kitchel. On May 10th, 1803 these Judges held their first session. John Reily was appointed Clerk Pro Tem and they divided the county into five townships. The first five townships were: Liberty, Fairfield, Lemon, Saint Clair and Ross.

Originally, Liberty Township was larger than it is now. The boundaries in 1803 began at the southeast corner of section No. 14 of the second township in the second range on the south boundary line of the County; thence north to the Miami River; thence northwest up the Miami River to the northern boundary of fractional section no. 10 of the second township in the third military range; thence east to the eastern boundary of the county; thence south to the eastern boundary of the county to the southeast corner thereof; thence west with the southern boundary of the county back to the beginning point.

On January 21st, 1804 the Legislature passed a law to provide for the incorporation of townships. This law also empowered the County Commissioners to alter the boundaries of townships and set up new ones. Because of this law and the choice of the residents in the area, the present 13 townships in Butler County were formed.

On December 2nd, 1805, Wayne and Milford townships were formed from part of Saint Clair township. On December 7th, 1807, Reily township was formed from part of Saint Clair township. On May 7th, 1810, Madison township was formed from part of Lemon township. On March 4th, 1811, Morgan township was formed from part of Ross township. On August 5th, 1811, Oxford township was formed from part of Milford township. On December 2nd, 1811, Hanover township was formed from parts of Reily and Saint Clair townships. On June 2nd, 1823, Union township (now WestChester township) was formed from part of Liberty township.