About Peru Township

Overview

Peru Township is one of sixteen townships in Morrow County, Ohio. Located in the southwestern part of the county, the township covers 23.4 square miles of mostly rural farmland and small communities. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, Peru Township is home to 1,496 residents.

Click here to view official census data

Elected Officials

Your township trustees are neighbors you can count on to keep things running smoothly in Peru Township. They look after our roads, cemeteries, and township property, and make decisions about how tax dollars are used. If you have a question, concern, or an idea to share, the trustees are here to listen.

The Fiscal Officer takes care of township finances, making sure records are accurate and funds are managed responsibly.

Frank Darst

Chairman

295 County Road 226
Marengo, Ohio 43334

419-560-5832
740-747-2156

Term Ends December 31, 2025

Art Close

Vice Chairman

1287 Township Road 221
Marengo, Ohio 43334

1234
740-816-3349

Term Ends December 31, 2027

Ken Blankenship

Trustee

1181 Township 221
Marengo, Ohio 43334

740-972-4194
[email protected]

Term Ends December 31, 2025

Paul Hinkle

Fiscal Officer

3751 Twp Rd 21
Marengo Ohio 43334

419-253-4962
419-210-0204

Term Ends March 31, 2028

Township Employees

Bob Hickson

Brief History

Peru Township was organized in 1817 and named after Peru, New York, the home of many of its early settlers. Originally part of Delaware County, it became part of the newly formed Morrow County in 1848.

The first cabin in the township was built in 1810 by Cyrus Benedict.
The first brick houses were built in 1828 by David Osborn Sr. and Reuben Benedict.
In 1816, William Benedict and David Osborn Sr. built the first sawmill on Alum Creek.

Faith and community life played a large role in Peru’s early days. The Society of Friends (Quakers) held their first meetings in 1813 at the home of Phebe Buck. By 1815, a meeting house had been built.

The Underground Railroad

The Alum Creek Friends were active participants in the Underground Railroad. They provided safe shelter and assistance to those escaping slavery and traveling north to freedom. A National Historic Underground Railroad marker was dedicated on September 9, 2001, at the Alum Creek Friends Church in Marengo to honor their efforts.

Escaping slaves were sometimes brought directly from the creek, up through a hidden tunnel, and into one of the homes that served as a station. These secret passageways offered shelter and protection as travelers made their way toward freedom.

Aaron L. Benedict operated a central station in the township, while other members of the Benedict family also served as station masters, providing aid and hiding places. Several of these homes are still standing in the township today.

One of the most notable figures from this movement was Richard Dillingham, a Quaker school teacher born in Peru Township. Dillingham was arrested for helping enslaved people, and he later died in prison. His sacrifice was honored by well-known abolitionists including Harriet Beecher Stowe, Levi Coffin, and John Greenleaf Whittier, who regarded him as a martyr to the cause of freedom.