The family remained here until 1862, when their claim was purchased by J. Chandler returned to his old home in Ohio after his wife and two children, coming back to his claim with them after a few months' absence. This was the first house build in Towanda township. A small log cabin was soon built on the bank of the little creek near the spring, in which he spent the winter of 18. Chandler was so pleased with the country in general and the Whitewater valley particularly that he decided to settle here. Following the stream down to a point near the large spring flowing from the hill on which Towanda is now located, Mr. Their description of its beauty and apparent adaptability for settlement so interested him that in company with two others leaving the train of returning gold miners, they proceeded south, reaching the head of the Whitewater in September, 1858. On reaching a point north of what is now Butler county, he chanced to meet a party of Indians, traders, who were returning from a trip through the southern part of their territory of Kansas. Here he remained until 1857, when, not having acquired the wealth he hoped for, he started on his return home, following part of the way the old Santa Fe Trail. Chandler, a native of Ohio, who had been stricken with the gold fever and had joined the forty niners and crossed the plains to California in quest of the yellow metal. The first white settler in Towanda township was C. Avery, trustee Henry Comstock, clerk Milton Snorf, treasurer Stark Spencer, justice of the peace Amos Adams, constable. The first election in the township was held April 6, 1869, and the following were elected: W. They were as follows: Henry Comstock, trustee John Wentworth, treasurer, and James N. The first township officers were appointed on April 14, 1868. Towanda township was bounded as follows: Commencing at the southeast corner of section 12, township 27, range 4, west to county line north to northwest corner of county east to range line, between ranges 4 and 5 south to place of beginning. On August 23, 1867, Butler county was divided into four townships.
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