Athens was one of the earliest organized counties in Ohio. This rare history documents the first settlement of the county and the struggles the pioneers encountered in founding a society there. In chapters ranging over the Indian occupation of Ohio, including Lord Dunmore's War; the Ohio Company; Ohio University; and all the individual townships within Athens County, the author blends historical facts, personal recollections, biographies, and statistics to create a detailed and comprehensive picture of the county's history and growth. Featured here are lists of county officials; justices of the peace; trustees of Ohio University; population and agriculture statistics; and, for each township, biographical sketches of prominent residents.