Originally the
boundary line between Greene and Salem townships was the canal. In
November, 1856, when Sugar Grove township was created, territory on both
sides of this water way was taken to make the new township. The name was
suggested by a grove of maple trees that stood near Kennard.
The first
settlers came about 1798. The Roberts colony
located on various tracts of land which by the later township boundaries
lie in both Salem and Sugar Grove. In the country east of the Shenango
and on both sides of the Little Shenango many of the families who have
been most prominently identified John
Leech, the founder of Leech’s Corners or Salem village, a soldier
in the war of 1812, a member of the state legislature, and for over
thirty years a justice of the peace and otherwise prominent in the early
affairs of Mercer county, settled at the site of Leech’s Corners May,
1802. A postoffice called Salem was established at this cross-roads in
March, 1832, William Leech being the first
postmaster. The office was continued under this name until 1864, was
discontinued awhile and in April, 1868, was re-established under the
name of Leech’s Corners. The office was abolished a few years ago. John
Leech was the first merchant at this place, and a church, school,
sawmill and grist mill and a few shops represented the substantial part
of the town’s growth.
This township has
three railroad lines. Where the Lake Shore crosses the Bessemer is the
little village of Osgood, and on the other side of the river, at the
junction of the Lake Shore and Erie, is Amasa station.
The principal
center in the township is Kennard, where a postoffice was established in
March, 1864, with William C. Keene as
postmaster. He continued in office over twenty years. A store was at
this place about eight years before the railroad came. United Brethren
and Methodist churches were established here in the sixties [1860s].
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 172-173........