Oblong and Oblong Township: In the western part of Crawford County lies a prairie which on account of its peculiar shape was named Oblong, by earlier settlers who located near Oblong and the same name applied to both Village and Township. The township contains an area 56 square miles, being 8 miles in extent from North to South, and 7 miles from eastern to western limits. Waterways in the Township are Big Creek, North Fork, Dog Wood, Willow and Muddy Creeks.

The settlement of Oblong Township dates back to the year 1830, when Lot Watts arrived from Tennessee, locating in the South part of the township and made the first entry of land in section 6 about a year after his arrival, being a man of considerable note and recognition in his community and as a compliment to him it was called "Watts Precinct" at the first election he was called to the office of a Justice of the Pease and later he was elected Associate County Judge. His brother Robert Watts, came about a year later and located in the same community on what was later the William Wood farm where he lived until 1871 when he died.
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Robert L Watts was born 11 May 1789. He served in the War of 1812 in the Tennessee militia and lived in Crawford County from about 1818. He died in 1871 here and has descendants heare to the present time.

-from Watts Cemetery marker