 Jefferson Cross became the first justice of the peace elected to office in the township and Solomon Despain who located in Waynesville in 1830 before locating in Harp Township in 1837 became the first blacksmith to set up shop.Despain was also a Baptist preacher.Despain built his smithy on land owned by William Garrison Wright who had married Tyre Harp's daughter Leah in 1834.