Deer Township was erected in 1796. From Gapin's and Moore's surveyors' districts, and comprised the eastern part of Rich/and. West Deer, the greater part of East Deer, part of Hampton, and the whole Fawn and Harrison Townships.West Deer was erected in 1836, from the western part of Deer, as it then existed. Its territory has since been much diminished by the erection of Hampton and Richland.The first settler in West Deer was Benjamin Paul. He made a clearing, built a log shanty, and planted apple-trees on land afterwards settled by James Hazlett and now owned by John Hazlett. Several of his old apple-trees still remain. He was probably there in 1796. He never owned the land on which he squatted, and he left the country quite early with his family. He was a native of Pennsylvania. The Thomases, Thompsons, Porters, Watts, Hazletts, Jacks, Carnahans, and McConnells were among the earliest settlers who came after Paul. Robert Porter was in the township in 1800. He settled on a tract of two hundred acres, now owned by Daniel Simons and others, on the Kittanning road. William Thompson came about the same time. Elias Thomas was then living near where Gray's Mill now stands, and had been some time a resident of the township on Porter's arrival. James Hazlett was an Irishman, and settled in 1799 or 1800. William McClelland was of the same race, and located quite early on land now owned by Joseph Norrison. Andrew Jack settled on land now owned by Hugh McCutchen, and John Carnahan on the tract now owned by his son John, on the Kittanning road.

The first blacksmith in the township, and for miles around, was Robert Glasgow.The first schoolhouse was on land now owned by John Hazlett, and was standing there as early as 1800.Thomas McConnell kept a tavern very early, on the Harmersville road. It stood on land now evened by Samuel Herron, near Deer Creek, and was the first in the township.The first church was Presbyterian, and was on Bull Creek. It was a little log building, and stood there as early as 1S06. Rev. Abraham Boyd was the first pastor. There are four churches now in the township. The United Presbyterian building is near the land o f Joseph Norrison, and was built in 1850. Bull Creek church has been rebuilt.There is one post in West Deer, called Rural Ridge. The first post-office was established at William Porter's house, on the old Kittanning road. William Porter was first Postmaster. A post-office was established at Culmersville about 1850, but was subsequently discontinued. The Rural Ridge office caught fire August 23, 1S74, and everything in it was destroyed.

The usual quiet of West Deer was interrupted by an alleged murder, whichoccurred near Culmersville several years ago. Previous to the late war there was a tavern kept at that place by William Lackey. There was a little house near it,  occupied by a man named Fox. His stepfather, John Fox, lived near Culmersville, and one day he called upon the young man after having imbibed quite freely at the tavern. Some difficulty arose, when the old man struck his stepson a violent blow. The young man was taken sick immediately afterwards, and died, and his physician stated that his death resulted from the effects of the blow. From this circumstance Culmersville was dubbed Brimstone Corners, a name which still clings to it. It is merely a crossroads. There are no villages in the township. The township has six schoolhouses.Of the three post offices, Rural Ridge was first established in 1853. Culmerville dates from January. 1854. Lewis was so named from Jane Lewis, who was appointed to the office in 1883. With the possible exception of Culmerville, there is no village in the township. A murder was once committed near this place, which was afterward popularly called "Brimstone Corners." a name which is not yet quite obsolete.