In the spring of 1834 William Dickens, Noble Hously, Enoch Cyfus, and Elihu
Chandler came from McDonough County, Illinois to what is now Danville and Danville Township.  In the fall of the same year, Azariah Gregg and William Sawtelle came in from Ohio County, Virginia, and others soon followed.  The township became rapidly settled and on October 19. 1835.  Rev.  John Logan, from McDounough County, Illinois, came to the settlement and preached to the few scattered inhabitants.  The next day he organized a church which was named the regular Baptist Church of Long Creek, Naomi Housley,  William and Hephsibah Manly, and Jane Lamb.
     The Long Creek Methodist Church was organized in the month of February, 1839.  The first trustees, being appointed in 1837, were Warren Dee, Francis Moore, Azariah Gregg, William Blakeway, and John M. Gregg.  They were appointed to erect a suitable church, the land being deeded by William Moore.  The contract was let for a brick house, 40 feet by 28 feet, the total cost being $900.75.  The first quart meeting was held
December 11 and 12, 1847.  Rev.  William Hurburt was the pastor.
     Danville Methodist Church was organized in 1857 during the pastorate of Rev.  Briggs.  The first church building was erected just east of Four Corners--"Danville Center" - in February, 1857, its total completed cost being $1,000.00.  The building committee and board of trustees were Joseph Farrell, J.A. Stewart, N.C. Wright, James McCormick, G.W. Hunter, and Savannah Dowler.  This building was dedicated in 1857 and known as Danville Center on the Augusta Circuit.
     The Congregational Church of Danville was organized June 29, 1839, by Rev. Rueben Gaylord and Asa Turner.  The Congregational Church first worshiped in a log house and in 1844 built the first church edifice in the township.  The present church was erected in 1868.

     The residents of Danville Township had few children and the settlement was too scattered, so that the first school was not held in Danville until the summer of 1837.  A log school house had been erected at that time on Section 20, in which Cordelia Terrill taught one term of school.  The first school building was erected in Old Center, which was later to become known as Danville, in 1851, and was a one-room building, and is now known as the Luther Amsbaugh home.  This building was replaced by a two-room square top building in September 1877, which was destroyed by fire in 1910 and temporarily replaced by the Tabernacle building, which was placed to the north until a new brick building could be built.  This was the first High School in Danville, and was occupied in September 1912.  This building was enlarged tin 1920 and again in 1951.

     The first couple in Danville was Jacob Heart and Margaret Eslinger; the first death was that of Mrs.  Jagger at the age of 83.  Dr.  Jeremiah Hall was the first physician, and Alfred Clark was the first Justice of the Peace, being appointed by Governor Lucas in 1838;  Walter Seymour was the first town clerk; the first sore was operated by Mr.  Cohorn, and the second was kept by David Pritchard and Deacon Porter's House.
     The township rapidly settled around Old Center, which was the center of the township.  A village of quite some size grew up, but was never laid out as such.  The village of Danville was laid out in 1854 one-half mile north of Old Center by Ansom Messenger and his sister, Harriett Messenger, on the land pre-empted by their father in 1855.  Mr. Messenger established the first store here.  The village of Danville was moved to its present location when it became known that the railroad was going to be built at that location.  The township comprises all of Township No. 71, range 4 west, and is one of the best agricultural regions in the county.