North Liberty  

The principal village in the township is that of North Liberty. This was laid out in 1821-22 by James Foster. The building of the Mercer and Butler turnpike through the region, thus opening up a way for better communication between the settlers and the communities round about, was chiefly responsible for the establishing of the new town. The first house erected was put up by Robert Waddell. It is still standing, and is at present [1888] used for a post-office. Jacob Snyder mentioned elsewhere, began the first blacksmith shop.

James Stewart, the first innkeeper, built his tavern in 1823. It was a nice little hostelry, and was visited by many guests.

The post-office, under the direction of the first postmaster, Robert Shaw, was established in 1840. The succeeding postmasters are given elsewhere.

The original school-house, erected in 1828, a plain, log structure, was superseded in 1840 by a frame building, octagonal, in shape. This in turn gave way in 1869 to the present [1888] two-story brick building, which amply accommodates the forty or fifty pupils in attendance at the temple of learning.

History of Mercer County, 1888, page 558

Landowners Map of North Liberty from the 1873 Atlas