although its earliest settlements date back to 1802, the village that became dublin did not begin to take shape until the arrival of the sells family from huntingdon, pennsylvania. brothers peter and benjamin sells purchased 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land on the west bank of the scioto river as a gift for their brother john. in 1808, john sells brought his family to the region, and by 1810 he had begun to survey lots for the new village with his partner, an irish gentleman named john shields. according to historians, shields is responsible for naming the town after his birthplace: