The village of Clarksville was laid out in 1830 by James Clark in what was then Kickapoo and Pottawatomie territory. It was located on the North side of the Mackinaw creek. At one time, it was thought that Clarksville would become a flourishing town.

George Wallace built a flouring mill near the site of Clarksville in 1836. The mill could not he used in dry weather as it depended entirely on water power. Wallace later gave up his mill to a Mr. Denson, who died of cholera in 1855. After this, the mill went down.

Jonathan McAfferty ran a steam sawmill on land later owned by A. A. Stewart. Here large quantities of ties, wood and bridge stuff were sawed out and delivered to Hudson for the Illinois Central railroad that was being built about 1850.

Joseph Bartholomew was an early settler and an Indian fighter. It was under his direction that the old block house was built in section 13 of Money Creek Township. He now lies buried in Clarksville cemetery.

The first school in Money Creek township was taught in a house erected for school purposes on the east bank of Money Creek. Built of logs, the only windows were openings where a log had been cut away, covered with greased paper, making a sort of semi-transparent slit. This, and the light from a fireplace, much better at smoking than burning, was the only light it had. First teacher was Lindsey Scot who received $4 per pupil for a three month term. He had 14 to 16 pupils. However, he received free board, going from the home of one pupil to another. Other early teachers were W. F. Bishop, Auston White and J. Dow.

Probably the first preaching in the Township was by Isaac Messer, a local man belonging to the church of the United Brethren in Christ; with meetings being held at the Valentine Spawr residence. Other early preachers were Rev. John Dunham and James Eckles. In 1856, the U. B. church was built.

The Jacob Spawr residence was the first meeting place for the Methodists in the early 1830's. They later built a church but abandoned it when they joined the Towanda congregation.

The Christians had services in Money Creek Township as early as 1835 with James Robinson, a traveling clergyman, being their first minister. They also built a church in 1857.

Early roads in this township were exceedingly crooked as they followed Indian trails, as is common in timber land, rather than following section lines as roads do in prairie land.

The origin of the name Money Creek is shrouded in mystery, with two theories afloat - one concerning a legend regarding the hiding of some money at Smith's Grove by someone who died and left it buried there. This story was circulated very early and may have given rise to the name as applied to the creek. Again it is said that some Indians found a piece of money along the creek and gave it the name of Money Creek.

Jacob Spawr was an early Justice of the Peace. Some of the early settlers were Louis Soward, who settled here around 1825; the John Trimmer family who came in 1826, buying land from the governinent at $1.25 per acre. Mr. Trimmer died a short time later, but his widow and children stayed on. Jacob Harness came around 1826; also Jacob Spawr - and his father, Valentine Spawr came the following year. Other early settlers were the John Steers, the Van Bushick family, the M. N. Barnards, the Moats family, the Stretch family, the Benjamin Ogdens and John Ogdens. Also, Dr. Ethan McAfferty, William Wilcox, John Wiley, William Young and Adam Hinthorn are mentioned as early settlers.