"The first settler on Stone Creek and in the territory that now constitutes York Township was John Shull. He hailed from Somerset County, Penn., and in or about 1806 left his old home, with his wife Elizabeth and six children, and traveled by team to New Philadelphia. Thence he was obliged to cut a road up Stone Creek to the north half of Section 16, Range 2, Township 8. Henry Shanaman, his "hired hand", accompanied him, and assisted Mr. Shull in building the first cabin in the township by the side of a spring near the present dwelling of Gabriel Shull, in the northeast quarter of Section 16. A band of Indians had encamped here, but by making them a peace-offering of provisions, Mr. Shull prevailed upon them to remove about a half-mile further down the creek. John Shull was by descent a German, and of the Lutheran belief. He died in 1833. His wife survived him a few years. They had twelve children - Frederick, Sarah (Bugher), Mary (Casebeer), Benjamin, Jacob, John, Peter, Samuel, Joseph, Gabriel, George and Abram - several of whom still reside in the township."
