Wayne Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was created as a separate township in May 1878 as a result of a vote of the inhabitants of Jefferson Township.
The following explanation is from William Henry Egle‘s History of the Counties of Dauphin and Lebanon of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, published in Philadelphia in 1883 by Everts and Peck:
This was the last created township in the county and the first erected under the Constitution of 1874 which directed that in case a division of a township is desired, the whole question must be submitted to the popular vote of legal voters within the township. There were in favor of a division of the township of [Jefferson Township] one hundred and seventeen, and sixty-five against a division. At the court in May 1878, his honor Judge Pearson [decreed the separation].
“Beginning at a pine stump on land of Jacob Miller, formerly John Shoop, and on the line between Jackson and Jefferson Township; thence by land of said Jacob Miller south nine and a quarter degrees east forty four perches to a pine-tree at forks of public roads; thence south thirty-eight degrees through woodland of Samuel Shoop and others east one hundred and twenty perches to a stone corner of lands of Christian Hoffman and John Werner; thence south twenty and a half degrees east through lands of Christian Hoffman fifty-four perches; thence by the same bearing on what is termed the Old Ball or Sawyer Line six hundred and ninety-four perches to a chestnut-oak tree on the summit of Peter’s Mountain line between Rush and Jefferson Townships; and that they consider the division of said township necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants as regards assessments, roads, elections, schools, etc.
“John K. McGann
“George W. Enders
“William H. Fitting“