Prairie Township is located in the north part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Delaware county, on the east by Stony Creek and Blue River, on the south b}- Liberty and Henry, and on the west by Jefferson townships, and contains forty square miles. It is watered by Blue River, Stony Creek, and their tributaries.

This township derived its name from the low, wet prairie land that is to be found in portions of the township ; yet the greater part of the township is rolling upland. This was the fourth township to be settled in the county. It now has four towns or villages, viz : Hillsboro, Luray, Springport, and Mt. Summit.

The present population of the township is about 1750. The value of all taxables, both real and personal, is near one million dollars.

Some of the first settlers were Benjamin Harvey, Barclay Benbo, John Harris, Samuel Howard, Wm. Harvey, and Uriah Buella.

Township Trustee, Henry Rieman ; number of school houses, II ; value of school property, $8,000.

CHURCHES

Christian Church, Mt. Summit ; pastor in charge, L. L. Dale ; membership, 43; value of church property, ;^3,ooo; Sabbath School superintendent, N. F. Williams ; average attendance, 70.

Church of Christ, Little Blue River ; three miles northeast of Newcastle; evangelist, Joseph Franklin; membership, 160; value of church property, $2,000.

Methodist Church, Luray; pastor in charge, J. H. Luse ; membership, 62 ; value of church property, ^400 ; Sabbath School superintendent, W. P. Patterson ; aver, attendance, 35.

Beech Grove Union Sabbath School ; one mile west Luray ; superintendent, John Holsinger ; average attendance, 40.

R. Baptist Church, Lebanon ; two and a half miles northeast of Mt. Summit; A. A. Cole, pastor; membership, 37; value of church property, ;$1,000.

Springport Union -Sabbath School; J. V. Veach,. superintendent ; average attendance, 45.

SECRET ORGANIZATIONS

Mt. Summit Grange, No. 1895 ; organized April 24th, 1874; membershp, 14; W. F. Smith, Master; Gordon Smith, Sec'y.

Springport Grange, No. 112; organized April 19th, 1873; membership, 63; J. M. Vance, Master; Henry Rieman, Sec'y.

Springport Lodge, No. 377, L O. O. F. ; membership, 27 ; value of Lodge property, $550.