Jackson Township became a political subdivision in 1815. The name commemorated the victory of General Andrew Jackson over the British at New Orleans. The township name was selected by early settlers including William Brown, Nicholas Haughn, Jonas Orders, William Badger, Woolery Conrad, William Sinnett and members of the Breckenridge, Borror, Strader and Goldsmith families. Jackson Township was the seventh township formed in Franklin County. Its territory was formed from Franklin Township, the oldest township which was created in 1803.

William Foster Breck, the founder of Grove City, once operated a general store on the southeast corner of Broadway and Park Street. He was the first postmaster receiving mail from Columbus by stage coach. He later built and operated a new general mercantile business at the southeast corner of Columbus Street at Broadway. Breck died in 1864 in a farming accident. He is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery.