School Land Election Poll Lists

The Land Ordinance of 1785, adopted by the U.S. Congress (under the Articles of Confederation), set aside one square-mile section of each township (Section #16) for the maintenance of public schools in that township. The following poll records, filmed from the files of the Allen County Auditor, were created during special township elections on the question of selling the school lands. The proceeds were used to fund the township schools.

Note that the future Scipio Township used part of Section #17 as school lands since its Section #16 is fractional due to the position of the Ohio State Line.

• Cedar Creek Twp., 1839
• Eel River Twp., 1838
• Lake Twp., 1840
• Maumee Twp., 1875
• Perry Twp., 1839
• Scipio Twp., 1842 (then still part of Springfield Twp.)
• Washington Twp., 1839