Pioneers began arriving in Ames Township in 1797, making it one of the earliest settlements in the Northwest Territory. As early as 1804, the village purchased enough books to create a library. It is known today as the Coonskin Library because it was financed through the sale of animal pelts. Amesville was a center for commerce and education and was also an important stop on the Underground Railroad, as residents assisted countless slaves from the South on their way to freedom.