The Asylum Land Co., a syndicate of land speculators, secured a large tract embracing the whole of Jackson Township and the adjoining portions of Sugarloaf, Greenwood, and Pine, and of Lycoming and Sullivan counties. This discouraged settlement because of the fear of defective titles. In 1800 Jacob Lunger settled in Green Creek. In the autumn of 1805, Abram Whiteman made an improvement at the headwaters of that stream, about four miles from the North Mountain, and the same distance from the southern boundary of the township. Jonathan Robbins, formerly a resident of New Jersey, entered this township about 1810, having settled in Sugarloaf in 1795. In 1811, Paul Hess located north of Waller on a tract of 240 acres. At this time Levi Priest was living southeast of Waller, and George Farver on land bought in 1809 by John Conrad Farver from James Barber. These families comprised the population of the township at this time. Subsequent immigration was drawn principally from Greenwood, although several families came from New Jersey and the lower counties. The familiar names of Yorks, Golder, Waldron, Everhart, Campbell, and Parker may be mentioned among this number.

As early as 1819, the township was visited by ministers of the Baptist denomination on their missionary tours through this section. Joel Rodgers and Elias Dodson regularly held monthly services, preaching in houses, barns, in the open air, in the woods, and in the school houses. Subsequent to this, Samuel Chapin, Brookins Potter, and Merrit Harrison made excursions from Huntington, Luzerne County, and maintained the appointments in Jackson for several years. They all labored without compensation. They were plain, earnest men, and supported themselves by farming at their homes. Elders William S. Hall and J. Edminster preached occasionally 1845-49. Waller was called "Hilltown" in 1846.

The first organization of the Evangelical Association was at upper Jackson in 1846. The first class consisted of George Hirleman, Henry Wagner, Michael Remly, David Remly, and Frederick Wile. It was formed by Reverent James Seybert.