NEW BERLIN- New Berlin township was taken from Island Grove and established as a separate political township in 1869. It comprises parts of government townships 14 and 15 north, ranges 7 and 8 west, and is in the middle of the western tier of townships of the county. It is bounded on the north by Island Grove, east by Curran, south by Loami and Maxwell and west by Morgan county. The land of this township is nearly all prairie, and it is watered by several small streams. The farms, like those in Island Grove, are generally large, well stocked and well improved. The earliest settlers here were mostly from Kentucky. Among these were John Foutch, John and Thomas Rhea and a Mr. Johnson, and later on Joseph Smith, Henry Yates and others;. New Berlin village was laid out and platted in 1838. It is on the line of the Wabash railroad (the first to be built in the county), and is the local center of trade in the township, having a population of 533. Bates station is also an important shipping point for grain and stock.

Population of the township, including the village - 1,177.