History of Beavercreek Township by Frank B. Zink

(Adapted from Robinson’s 1961 Rural Directory)

Beavercreek Township is one of the original four townships in this section of the state. It extended as far north as Lake Erie. It is a beautiful valley, fertile, well timbered, rolling and picturesque. It is noted for its fine farms. The high ridge separating Beaver Creek and Mad River is a particularly fine fruit section.

The Pennsylvania and CH & D Railroads and the Dayton and Xenia Traction ran from west to east across the township. The Dayton and Xenia Turnpike was first built from Dayton to Alpha about 1858 and was later completed to Xenia, this affording the chief means of communication with market between these cities. This was built by a joint stock company and kept up in repair by collections made in the common way at the tollgate. Good roads extended throughout the township.

Beavercreek Township is the cradle of Greene County, for it was the little log cabin built by Benjamin Whiteman, occupied by Peter Borders, a short distance south of the log mill of Owen Davis erected in 1798 on Beavercreek that the first meeting of the associate judges of Greene County met May 10, 1803. It was at this first meeting of the judges that the county was laid out by the order of the court and their boundaries designated.

In Beavercreek was the first mill north of Cincinnati where corn was ground for the settlers. It was called the Alpha Mill from the first letter of the Greek alphabet. The courthouse, mill and two block houses built for defense were near enough together to be enclosed in a stockade should the Indians become troublesome. The old log courthouse was the first licensed tavern in the county. It was located on what is now the A. Z. Heller home a short distance south of Alpha.

The first school in Beavercreek Township was a log structure on the Jacob Coy farm on Shakertown Road. Later Beavercreek had eleven one room elementary schools and two, two room schools and a High School. In 1932 Beavercreek consolidated their schools into one fine school now known as Beavercreek Main.

According to “The Beavercreek Chronicles”, it is believed the Shawnees were the first historical Indian tribe to seasonally inhabit Beavercreek, following the animals and avoiding their enemies. From the Great Lakes area, the Miamis migrated to our area – hence the name “Miami Valley”. They arrived while the Shawnee were gone. In the mid-1700’s, a group of Shawnee arrived from Florida to seek protection from the Creeks and Seminoles. The two tribes lived in peace until 1770 when the Miamis abandoned their territory.

The Shawnees had built their famous village, “Old Chillicothe” (now called Old Town on Rt. 68 between Xenia and Yellow Springs). Since Old Town is so close to Beavercreek, it is safe to assume that hunting parties, including the great warriorTecumseh, came to Beavercreek to hunt and fish. It is believed their prime hunting ground was along Fairground Road. For more information on Native Americans in Beavercreek, a copy of “The Indians Of Beavercreek” is at the library!

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