(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY PART THIRD: TOWNSHIPS, TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. CHAPTER L X IX BEDFORD. Location—Surface— Soil — Tinker's Creek—Picturesque Scenery — The Pioneers—The First Settlers—Rapid House-building—Parker's Tavern—A Mighty Hunter—The First Child—First Settler in the Northwest—Getting Plenty of Food—First Permanent Resident at the Center— Other Settlers before 1823—Householders in 1830—Civil Government— First Officers—List of Officers—Cemetery—Town Hall—The Village—Location and Appearance—The Beginning— The Laying Out —The Incorporation— Officers since 1860—Post, Office—Stores—Hotels —Physicians—Bedford Intellingencer—Early Mills— Woolen Factory— Pail Factory— Tannery—Foundry—The Rolling Mill—Machine Shop— Chair Factories—Schools—Union School—Church of Christ—First Baptist Church—Methodist Church—Episcopal Church— Masonic Lodge. The township lies on the Summit county line, east of Independence and south of Warrensville. On the east it is bounded by the township of Solon. It is known in the survey as township number six ill range eleven. When it was organized for civil purposes, in 1823, it reoeived its present name at the suggestion of Daniel Benedict, in compliment to the place of his nativity—Bedford, Connecticut. Along the streams the surface of the -township is somewhat broken, but in other parts it is generally level. Being also quite elevated, Bedford is a very healthy township. Heavy forests originally covered the ground, but these have been generally removed, although the appearance of the country is yet pleasantly diversified by bodies of timber which have been allowed to remain in their primitive beauty. The soil is variable, but is usually a light loam. It is generally free from stones, and may be cultivated with ease. It is fertile, and yields the ordinary products of this part of the State, but dairying has, to a large extent, become the chief industrial pursuit of the inhabitants. Tinker's Creek is the principal stream.* It flows from Solon in a westerly course, south of the center of Bedford, to the Cuyahoga, into which it empties in the township of Independence. Its channel is very deep and rugged, forming in places chasms several hundred feet deep, which have almost perpendicular banks of shale or sand rock, and present a grand and picturesque appearance. Along a part of its course through the township, the scenery for varied and attractive beauty is seldom surpassed. The volume of * For the origin of this name, see page 43. the stream is not so great as formerly, but it yet affords good water power, which has been well utilized. The other streams of the township are small brooks, which flow into this creek from the north. PIONEER SETTLERS. About 1810 the township was surveyed into one hundred lots, numbered from the northwest, but no speedy attempt at settlement followed. In 1813 Elijah Nobles settled on Tinker's creek near the line of Independence, and was probably the first pioneer of Bedford. He was a man of loose business habits, and soon found himself reduced to extreme poverty with a very heavy incumbrance on his land. As it did not seem possible for him to retain his home there, one of the Hudsons, of Hudson, who was related to him, offered him a part of lot forty-six (at the center), if he would make certain improvements on it. With this purpose he moved to what is now the village of Bedford, in November, 1815, and was the first man who lived there. His neighbors in Independence turned out to the number of eighteen, and in a single day built him a cabin from the trees growing on the spot, leaving the family there at night nearly three miles from any other occupied house. Nobles remained all winter at the center, but the following spring he returned to his old place on the creek, and not long after removed to another part of the State. A part of his property on Tinker's creek passed into the hands of Adams & Starr, who built there the first mills in the township, and another part became the home of Cardee Parker who opened the first tavern, (although Nobles may have entertained occasional travelers.) Parker's tavern became quite famous in its way, and after his death, was continued by his widow, who was widely known as Mother Parker. After the canal was built she removed to Independence, and opened a public house there. Several months after the settlement "Of Nobles at the center, Benjamin Fitch, who came to Independence in 1813, squatted on a piece of land in that locality, but after Nobles had left he, too, became discouraged and moved back to the creek. He sold his " betterments " to Wetherby Nye, but the land ultimately became the property of Joseph Goodale, who purchased it of the proprietors. In the course of - (403) - 404 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. the year Fitch returned to the center and built a new cabin on the eastern part of the site of the village, where he lived a number of years, but finally made a permanent settlement on lot fifteen. He was probably the greatest hunter that ever lived in the township, being so uniformly successful that some of his less fortunate neighbors used to " change works" with him-they clearing his land for him while he provided them with game. He was also well known as a maker of splint-bottom chairs, and some of these useful articles made by him, over sixty years ago, are yet in existence in the township. In the latter part of his life he moved to Indiana, where he died. He had three sons, named Joseph, George C., and Andrew G. The latter was born at the center in 1818, being the first child born in that locality. His two daughters yet live in Bedford, Harriet being the wife of W. O. Taylor. Benoni Brown settled in the southwestern part of the township about 1815, but removed in the course of ten years. At the old mill, in the Tinker's creek settlement, Timothy Washburne lived at a very early day, but did not remain long. He was the first blacksmith in Bedford. In this locality also Stephen Comstock settled in 1814, and a• daughter, Sarah, born soon after, was the first child born in the township. The family also comprised two other daughters, and two sons named Charles and Stephen. Stephen Comstock, Sr., was probably the first settler of Bedford who retained a permanent residence. A little later James Orr made some improvements in the same locality, but also removed before 1830. About 1818 Moses Gleeson likewise settled there. He was an enterprising citizen, and reared seven sons, named Edwin, Elias, Charles, William, Moses, Sardis and Lafayette, and three daughters. In April, 1819, Samuel Barnes, of Vermont, came from Newburg, where he had settled in 1817, and located in the northwest part of Bedford, but afterwards settled at the village. He died in N ovember, 1872, but Mrs. Barnes is yet living, and is the earliest surviving settler of the township. They reared a son, Orville, and two daughters. One of them, Cordelia, was born in June 1819, hers being one of the first births in the township. The following year and the year after, Moses Barnum, Abijah S. Barnum and Prentice B. Ross settled on the Newburg road, but at least two of them moved away at an early date. In 1820 Jason Shepard located on lot two, where he lived until after 1830, when he removed to Newburg. It is related of him that while he was out hunting he shot a black bear which was helping himself to the wild honey from a " bee tree," which also became the prize of the hunter; and, returning home, shot a deer and some wild turkeys near his house, which was certainly obtaining a pretty good supply of food for one day. He had a son, Elias, who is yet a citizen of Newburg. John Dunham settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1821, and died there in 1850, leaving seven sons, named Ambrose, Chester, Alonzo, John, Asa, Jehiel and Lorenzo. Of these, Asa, who resides on Dunham street, is the only one living in the township. Wetherby Nye became a resident of Bedford about the same time, and after living in various places finally located in the western part of the township, where he died in 1877. Nathaniel K. Joy lived in the same neighborhood as early as 1822, but soon moved away. On lot four Solomon White was an early settler, locating on the present Libbey farm. Samuel Morton lived in the same neighborhood in 1822, but after a few years moved to Canada. In 1822 Stephen Robinson located on the present Comstock place, on lot twelve, where he died in 1832. He had eight sons, named Daniel, Nathan, Isaac, Ebenezer, Ezra, Nathaniel, John and Newman. The latter is the only one remaining in the township; John lives in West Cleveland; and Ezra in Brooklyn. John White was a neighbor of the Robinsons before 1823, and died in that locality. He reared two sons, named William G. and Charles. Daniel Benedict settled at the village of Bedford in 1821, and was the first permanent resident there. His family consisted of eight sons: Darius, Ralph, Julius, Sillock, Judson, James, Rodolphus, Phinamber and Allison. Phinamber is the only one living in the county, he being yet a resident of the village. A little later Moses Higby settled in the southwestern part of the township, where he remained until his death. Others living in the township before 1823 were Jared Barnes, Barzilla Burk, William Dunshee, La- ban Ingersoll, John Johnson, John Marvin and Peter Comstock. Within a few years came Philo Barnes, Justus Remington, George M. Payne, Luther and Ziba Willis, Daniel Gould, Hiram Spofford, Barney Cobb, Enoch Allen and Nathaniel C. Hains. In 1830 the householders of the township were as follows: John Libbey, Noah Sawyer, Alfred Dunham, Jason Shepard, Charles Goodrich, Enos Hollister, A. S. Barnum, John Dunham, Wetherby Nye, Eli Burke, Alvah Hollister, Hiram Ostrander, Stephen Robinson, James Titus, Julius S. Benedict, Oliver B. Robinson. Daniel Gould, Luther Willis, Darius Warner, William Dunshee, Ralph R. Benedict, Samuel Barnes, Abraham Turner, Joseph Skinner, Joseph Goodale, John White, Justus Remington, Nathaniel C. Haines, George M. Payne, Enoch Allen, James Griffith, Barney Cobb, Daniel Benedict, Hiram Spafford, Benjamin Fitch, Erastus Ives, Jared Skinner, Ziba Willis, Daniel Mora, Moses Kirby, Lyman Eldred, Curtis Wells, Daniel Chase, John L. Willard, Alvin Davis, Danforth Chamberlain, Aaron Warner, John Hill, Mary Ann Parker, Silas Lindsley, Moses Gleason, Peter McArthur, John Schooley, Nathaniel H. Joy, Stephen Comstock, James Hughes, Wm. Currier, Isaac Leach, Isaac D. Leach. After 1830 the immigration was very large, and the township, although yet new, was soon quite BEDFORD. - 405 densely populated. In 1847 Bedford had three hundred and twenty voters. CIVIL GOVERNMENT. Agreeably to an order of the commissioners of Cuyahoga county, the inhabitants of the present township of Bedford assembled at the house of Prentice B. Ross, April 7, 1823, to elect township officers. John Dunham, Daniel Benedict and Aaron Shepard were appointed judges; Laban Ingersoll and A. S. Barnum, clerks. The officers elected were as follows: Trustees, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Laban Ingersoll; clerk, Abijah S. Barnum; treasurer, John Dunham; constables and Esters, Peter Comstock, Darius R. Benedict; fence viewers, Prentice B. Ross, Wetherby Nye; overseers of the poor, Barzilla B. Burk, Stephen Comstock; road supervisors, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Barzilla B. Burk. Jonathan Fisher, a justice of the peace of the county, qualified the clerk to perform the duties of his office. A meeting to elect a justice of the peace for Bedford was held July 19, 1823, when John Dunham received seventeen votes; Daniel Benedict, eleven; and A. Shepard, one. Dunham declined to serve, and on the 9th of August another election was held which resulted in the choice of James Orr; he having received twenty-five votes. The justices in 1879 are A. M. Whitaker and E. II. Hammond. It is impossible to compile even a reasonably full list of those who have served as justices in the intermediate period; even as to other officers it is very difficult, some of the records having been destroyed or mislaid. As near as can be ascertained they-have been as follows: 1823. Trustees, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Laban 1ngersoll; clerk, Abijah S. Barnum; treasurer, John Dunham. 1824. Trustees, Daniel Benedict, John Dunham, Stephen Comstock; clerk, Benjamin Fitch; treasurer, John Dunham. 1825. Trustees, Jason Shepard, Philo Barnes, Stephen Comstock; clerk, Daniel Benedict; treasurer, James Orr. 1826. Trustees, Jason Shepard, Philo Barnes, Stephen Comstock; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, James Orr. 1827 and 1828-records missing. 1829. Trustees, Enoch Allen, George M. Payne, Justus Remington; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, Luther Willis. 1830. Trustees, James Titus, Alvin Davis, Justus Remington; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, Enos Hollister. 1831. Trustees, Thomas Marble, Hiram Spafford, Curtis Wells; clerk, John F. Willard; treasurer, Enos Hollister. 1832. Trustees, Daniel Brooks, William Hamilton, James Titus; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, Enos Hollister. 1833. Trustees, Luther Willis, Augustine Collins, Abial Newton; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, David B. Dunham. 1834. Trustees, George M. Payne, Augustine Collins, Rufus Libby; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, David B. Dunham. 1835. Trustees, Otis Button, Augustine Collins, Rufus Libby; clerk, Enoch Allen; treasurer, David B. Dunham. 1836. Trustees, Otis Button, Augustine Collins, Amos Belding; clerk, Geo. M. Payne; treasurer, David B. Dunham. 1837. Trustees, Daniel Gould, John Culver, Amos Belding; clerk, Justus Remington; treasurer, Geo. M. Payne. 1838. Trustees, Daniel Gould, Matthew Drening, Amos Belding; clerk, Justus Remington; treasurer, Geo. H. Payne. 1839. Trustees, DaUiel Gould, Win. Morse, Matthew Drening; clerk, John P. Robinson; treasurer, N. C. Rains. 1840. Trustees, Rufus Libby, Julius S. Benedict, Matthew Drening; clerk, B. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. C. Rains. 1841. Trustees, Justus Remington, Sidney Smith, J. S. Benedict; clerk, B. B. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. C. Rains. 1842. Trustees, Justus Remington, A. Collins, S. Pease; clerk, B. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. Hamlin. 1843. Trustees, J. Montgomery, A. Collins, John Libby; clerk, B. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. P. Benedict. 1844. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamtin; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, W. B. Hillman. 1845. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, F. H. Cannon. 1846. Trustees, Theron Skeers, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, Wm. B. Hillman. 1847. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, Wm. B. Hillman. 1848. Trustees, Otis Button, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin: clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, Wm. B Hillman. 1849. Trustees, Otis Batton, Asa Marble, Sidney Smith; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, F. H. Cannon. 1850. Nelson Hamlin, Rufus Libby, Chauncy Osborne; clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, F. H. Cannon. 1851. Trustees. Hiram Bacon, Rufus Libby, Hiram Smith; clerk, A. M. Whitaker; treasurer. F. H. Cannon. 1852. Trustees. Hiram Bacon, Benj. Samson, Hiram Smith; clerk, George Fuller; treasurer, F. H. Cannon. 1853. Trustees, Hiram Smith, Asa Dunham, Silas Gray; clerk, L. D. Benedict; treasurer. L. D. Hathway. 1854. Trustees, Julius S. Benedict, Asa Dunham, George Lathrop; clerk, L. D. Benedict; treasurer, L. D. Hathaway. 1855. Trustees, Jacob Flick, Jr., Wm. King, George Lathrop; clerk, Wm. H. May; treasurer, L. D. Hathaway. 1856. Trustees, Jacob Flick, Jr., Caswell Wright, Joel Nelson; clerk, Wm. H. May; treasurer. A. H. Comstock. 1857. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Wm. King, Caswell Wright; clerk, Wm. H. May; treasurer, A. H. Comstock. 1858 and 59. (Records missing). 1860. Trustees, Asa Dunham, James S. Benedict, George Lathrop; clerk, A. M. Whitaker; treasurer, A. H. Comstock. 1861. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Wrn. King, L. Tarbell; clerk, A. B, Hubbell; treasurer. Levi Marble. 1862. Trustees, Win. King, R. S. Benedict. D. D. Robinson; clerk, A. M. Whitaker; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1863. Trustees, James S. Benedict, Sidney Smith, Edwin F. Wheeler; clerk, H. J. Hammond; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1864. Trustees, S. A. Clark, James Egbert, Benj. Lemoin; clerk, Sidney Smith; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1865. Trustees, Horace Herriman, Vincent Salsbury, Benj. Lemoin; clerk, Sidney Smith; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1866. Trustees, Asa Dunham, H. A. Wise, Benj. Lemoin; clerk, Henry Freeman; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1867. Trustees, Asa Dunham. James E bert, T. B. Patterson; clerk. Sidney Smith; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1868. Trustees, Asa Dunham, B. Lemoin, T. B. Patterson; clerk, Sidney Smith; treasurer, Levi Marble. 1869. Trustees, James Egbert, James Mathew, Geo. Laing; clerk, Sidney Smith; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1870. Trustees, James Egbert, James Mathew, Joseph Malhew; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1871. Trustees, James Egbert, Reuben Parkinson, Joseph Mathew; clerk, J. R. Tudor; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1872. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble; clerk. J. R. Tudor; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1873. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1874. Treasurer, R. J. Hathaway. Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1875. Trustees, Asa Dunham, H. D. Lathrop, E. M. Libby; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1876. Trustees, J. C. Walton, H. D. Lathrop, E. M. Libby; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1877. Trustees, J. C. Walton, Johnson McFarland, E. M. Libby; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1878. Trustees. J. C. Walton, Johnson McFarland, H. D. Lathrop; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield. 1879. Trustees, J. C. Walton, Johnson McFarland, H. D. Lathrop; clerk. W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. fl. Wakefield. CEMETERY AND TOWN HALL. In 1857 the township appropriated five hundred dollars to purchase a tract of ground for burial purposes. A lot of three and one-third acres was selected in the southeastern part of the village, which has been well fenced, laid out in blocks, planted with fine trees, and a vault provided. The township also furnished a hearse and provided the services of a sexton. The cemetery contains some very fine monuments, and has become the general place of interment of the people of the township. 406 - TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. On the 30th of May, 1874, the trustees of Bedford contracted with David Law, of Willoughby, to build a town hall at the village, for $13,500. The hall was subsequently seated and furnished, making the entire cost about $15,000. The building is three stories high, with a Mansard roof of figured slate, and has a very attractive appearance. The lower story is fitted up for townshp offices, and has a room in which the general meetings are held. It was first occupied for this purpose in the spring of 1875. The second story forms a public hall, for lectures, concerts, and other occasions; and the third story has been fitted up by the Masons for the use of their order. The hall is an appropriate monument to the enterprise and progressive spirit of the people of Bedford. PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES. The first roads of Bedford were merely underbrushed paths, but afterwards, when the township was organized, the people went to work in earnest to improve them. The State road, passing through the township diagonally from southeast to northwest, was built about 1830, and at once became a popular thoroughfare, and is still the principal highway of the township. The other highways were ilr due time improved, the low places being turnpiked. At present the roads are in a very tine condition, and in 18'79 were in charge of the following supervisors: William Trimple, C. Wright, George Nichols, J. H. Stohlman, George Laing, David Winders, James Rees, D. Wells and Amos Allen. In the spring of 1849 ground was broken in Bedford for the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad, and in 1852 the road was fully opened for traffic. It has a length in Bedford of about seven miles, and at the village a good station has been provided. The railroad bridge across Tinker's creek is a very fine piece of massive stone masonry, more than one hundred feet high. About the same time that the railroad was built, the Twinsburg and Bedford plank road was constructed; and at a little later date the Cleveland and Mahoning railroad was opened through the northeastern part of the township. The plank road was abandoned about 1860. BEDFORD VILLAGE. This is chiefly situated on lot forty-six, near the center of the township. It is located mainly on the north bank of Tinker's creek, which there flows through a deep gorge, the sides of which are almost perpendicular walls of rock, partly bare and partly covered with trees and shrubs, and presenting a very picturesque appearance. At a bend of the creek, on lot fifty-six, the first effort to start a village was made about 1826 by Luther Willis. He was the owner of water-power which had been employed to operate machinery, but beyond the building of a few houses nothing resulted from the endeavors of the proprietor. After 1830 Hezekiah Dunham became the owner of a large tract of land farther north, and mainly of lot forty-six, a portion of which he caused to be surveyed for a village in December, 1834. The plat was made by John C. Sill, and embraced a number of lots south of the present village park (which was at that time devoted to the public use), and west of the turnpike road. Lots were also set aside for a hall for town meetings, and the several religious societies each received a building site. This liberal spirit, and other inducements held out by the proprietors, caused a number of improvements to be made, necessitating, in 1836, an addition of lots on the east side of the turnpike, which was also made by the Dun- hams. Other additions were made by the owners of adjoining real estate from time to time, until the area of the village has been greatly extended. It is not compactly built, and since the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad located a station here, in 1852, it has partaken somewhat of the characteristics of a suburban village in relation to Cleveland. It is only six miles distant from the limits of that city, and has a population of about eight hundred. The village contains a very fine public hall, a Methodist, a Disciple, a Baptist and a Presbyterian church, an elegant Union School building, a number of comfortable residences, and the various establishments mentioned a little further on. Bedford was incorporated according to the provisions of an act of the general assembly, passed March 15, 1837, which set forth "that so much of the township of Bedford, in the county of Cuyahoga, as herein described, viz.: The whole of lots forty-five, forty-six and fifty-six, and that part of lot fifty-five which lays northeast of Tinker's creek; also a strip thirty-two rods width off the south end of lot thirty- six, and a strip of thirty-two rods width off the south end of lot thirty-five, west as far as the west line of Justus Remington's land, be and the same is hereby created a town corporate, and shall hereafter be known by the name and title of the ` Town of Bedford.'" An election of a mayor, a recorder, and five trustees was ordered to be holden the following April, and yearly thereafter. The mayor chosen was George M. Payne; the recorder, David B. Dunham. All the records prior to 1860 have been destroyed by fire, so that no complete list of officers can be given. The village allowed its first charter to lapse, and on the 3d day of May 1852, a new act of incorporation was granted, with the limits before given, which yet remain as originally fixed. Since 1859 the principal officers have been as follows: 1860, J. C. Cleveland, mayor; A. M. Whitaker, recorder. 1861, J. C. Cleveland, mayor; W. L. Lord, recorder. 1862, L. D. Benedict, mayor; C. A. Ennis, recorder. 1863 & 64, F. H. Cannon, mayor; S. P. Gray, recorder. 1865. B. J. Wheelock, mayor; Sidney Smith, recorder. 1866, R. C. Smith, mayor; H. Freeman, recorder. 1867, A. J. Wells, mayor; Sidney Smith, recorder. 1868, Benjamin Lemoin, mayor; Sidney Smith, recorder. 1869 to 1873, C. A. Ennis, mayor; A. M. Whitaker, recorder. 1874 BEDFORD - 407 to 1875, C. A. Ennis, mayor; L. P. Whitaker, recorder. 1876 to 1877, D. B. Dunham, mayor; W. S. Warner, recorder. 1878, V. A. Taylor, mayor; W. S. Warner, recorder. In 1879 the village officers were as follows: V. A. Taylor, mayor; W. S. Warner, recorder; M. L. Hilliard, C. B. Marble, J. C. Nelson, C. A. Ennis, John II. Gause, J. H. Lamson, councilmen; Robert Forbes, treasurer; II. P. Bredes, marshal. A tax of three and one-half mills was levied on the valuation of the village for all the purposes of the corporation in 1879. POST OFFICE, STORES AND HOTELS. The Bedford post office dates from about 1826. Ziba Willis was the first postmaster. His successor in 1833 was D. B. Dunham, who held the office until 1842. At that time there was one mail per day, by stage; the arrival varied from two to ten hours, according to the condition of the roads. The successors of Mr. Dunham have been J. P. Robinson, R. D. Benediot, Leverett Tarbell, Levi Marble, and the present postmaster, Charles B. Marble. The office enjoys good mail privileges. The first store in the village, and also the first in the township, was opened by David B. Dunham, in November, 1831, in a building which stood at the forks of the road, opposite the present hotel. He occupied that building eight years, when he removed to a fine stone block, which stood just north of his present residence, and which was occupied by him when it was destroyed by fire in June, 1878. In that building was transacted, for a number of years, a business which aggregated more than $100,000 per year, and which madeBedford one of the best trading points in the county, outside of Cleveland. Other prominent merchants have been F. II. Cannon, J. P. Robinson, W. B. Hillman, Paddock & Esselstyne, George M. Payne, Zachariah Paddock, Chester Hamilton, Watson I. Gray, M. B. Dawson, Leverett Tarbell, A. H. Comstock, James Thompson, L. D. Hathaway, L. P. Gray, etc. The present merchant: are Newman Robinson, since 1845; Robert Forbes, since 1865; C. B. Marble, L. C. Rains, Joseph Halls, C. H. Dustin and J. R. Tudor & Co. Enoch Allen had the first public house in the village, about 1829, near the present chair factories. He was followed by Amos Belden and others. In 1832 Calvin Barnes put up a good hotel, north of the park, which was widely known as the '' Checkered House." Among other keepers were Silas Gray and George Lathrop. In 1871 the house was destroyed by fire. In 1832, also, the present "Fountain House" was built by Levi Marble, who kept it a few years, and was followed by Abner Heston and others. The present proprietor is Charles Turner, and it is the only hotel in the place. Formerly hotels were kept in the stone block and at other places; the village having, at one time, had five public houses. PHYSICIANS AND THE PRESS. Dr. J. M. Turner, who came about 1828 and lived a little south of the village, was the first physician and was in practice about five years. Dr. Charles Goodrich came about 1830, but fell a victim to the cholera in 1832; Dr. J. P. Robinson was in practice from January, 1832, till his removal to Cleveland in 1865. Dr. D. G. Streeter came in 1845, and remained until his death, October, 1878, and Dr. S. M. Tarbell was one of his contemporaries. Others, formerly in practice, were Doctors A. W. Oliver, Noble H. Finney, Brainard, — Gerold and B. M. Hutchinson. The present physicians are Doctors C. M. Hawley, N. A. Dalrymple --Daniels, and N. B. Armstrong. The veteran Dr. T. Garlick, for many years one of Clcveland's most eminent surgeons, is a retired citizen of the village. In 1838 John Hammon, of Ravenna, began the publication of the Bedford intelligencer, a small sheet devoted to local news and the interests of the Democratic party. In five years it was discontinued, and the place has since been without a paper. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. The first manufacturing in the township was on Tinker's creek, near the line of Independence. Sometime about 1815 two men, named Adams and Starr, put up a sawmill and a gristmill, both small, at a point about thirty rods above the mills now situated in that locality. The first mills were suffered to go down, and in 1820 Culverson and Boland improved the present site. The mills erected by them soon after became the property of Moses Gleeson, and have since been operated by him and his family. About 1821 Daniel Benedict built a sawmill, and soon after a carding machine, on Tinker's creek, near the State road, at Bedford village.. These were destroyed by fire, but on the site there is now a sawmill, belonging to Henry Wick. Below this point Luther Willis built mills in 1825, which are at present operated by Levi Marble. Near by is a building in which blinds were formerly made and which, at a later day, was a chair factory, but which is at present little used. Farther down the stream, and just inside the corporate limits of Bedford village, Stephen C. Powers built and set in operation a woolen factory, in 1842, which was in operation about fifteen years. Here, also, was formerly a sawmill; but at present the power is unemployed. In 1843 a pail factory was built by Lee Lord and Enoch Allen, which was carried on successfully a few years but was then destroyed by fire. Formerly a brush factory gave employment to a number of men, but after a short season it was removed. As early as 1832 Allen Robinette put up a small tannery which, since 1840, has been carried on by 408 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. Hinman Robinson. About 1845 Robinson & Hillman engaged in tanning on a large scale, but after a few years operation the enterprise was abandoned. About 1840 Comstock, Kirkham & Dickey put up a foundry near the creek, which was burned. It was subsequently rebuilt near the railroad, where it remained in operation until 1868, when it was again destroyed by fire. In 1866 the citizens of Bedford formed themselves into au association for the purpose of establishing a rolling mill. A large capital stock was subscribed, and H. N. Slade chosen the first president. A good mill was built near the railroad bridge, in which from fifty to seventy-five hands were employed. The mill became the property of E. W. John about 1869, and subsequently was owned by the " Leetonia Iron and Coal Company," which also failed. After standing idle a few years, it was purchased by parties resident in Massillon, who removed it to that place, where it is now in operation. During the time it was carried on at Bedford, it is estimated the place sustained a direct and indirect loss of more than two hundred thousand dollars, which was chargeable to that source, while the benefit derived from it was very slight. A machine shop for general iron work was built about 1854 by M. A. Purdy & Son, near the above site, which was last carried on by C. Purdy. In July, 1875, the establishment was totally destroyed by fire. THE BEDFORD CHAIR FACTORIES. These have for many years been among the principal industries of the place, and are the only ones which have survived the mutations of time. In 1851 B. J. Wheelock began the manufacture of cane-seated chairs in the old building by the mill, having at first a force of five men. Changes in the firm followed, and the capacity of the shop was largely increased, more than twenty men being employed. In 1855 B. J. Wheelock and L. F. Osborne built a large factory on the hill north of the old establishment, the latter being continued meanwhile by Lord, Park & Co. and others. In 1858 the new shops were enlarged by the firm of Wheelock & Wright, and about the same time M. A. Purdy & Son erected a new shop devoted to the chair business, in the same locality, and operated it a number of years. In 1867 the different chair manufacturers in the village united their interests and formed the Bedford Chair Company. Another building was then erected to connect the two factories on the hill, the establishment then being made to assume the shape it now has. At that time about fifty men were employed. At present tin factory is operated by Wheelock & Co., on a more limited scale, in the manufacture of single cane-seated work only. As early as 1833 Benjamin Fitch carried on the manufacture of splint-bottom chairs at his home in the northern part of the township, on lot fifteen. Here W. O. Taylor learned the chair-maker's trade, and in 1844 began work on his own account. In 1863 he erected a shop in this locality, in which he shortly after began the manufacture of cane-seated chairs, although still continuing to make splint work. In 1874 his factory was removed to Bedford village, where the business has since been very successfully carried on by W. O. Taylor & Son. At present they occupy a large building more than one hundred feet long, with several capacious wings, in which sixty men are employed, nearly as many more persons being given employment outside of the factory, in weaving and braiding chair seats. The work of this factory has attained a wide reputation, and in 1876 was awarded the medal at the Centennial Exhibition. More than forty styles of single and double-seated cane work are made, and the demand for the wares of the factory is so great that it is taxed to its utmost to supply it. EDUCATIONAL 1NTERESTS. The records of the township are silent in regard to the early condition of the public schools, nothing of interest but a list of teachers prior to 1840 being obtainable. This includes the names of Miss Barnes, H. L. Sill, C. Ruggles, R. Root, W. Johnson, D. Baldwin, M. Smith, Polly Allen, Betsey Predner, Mary Ann Sill, Laura Gould, Mary McCartney, Mariah Peck and L. Ruggles. In 1848 there were eleven districts in the township, having an aggregate of six hundred and sixty-two children of school age. The school fund amounted to $665.40. Thirty years later there were two fractional districts and eight sub-districts, in addition to the Union School of Bedford village. Not including the latter, the expenditure for school purposes were $3,441.56. Thirty-three weeks f school were maintained, and the aggregate enrollment was one hundred and ninety- six boys and one hundred and seventy-five girls. The average attendance was nearly three hundred, all the scholars being engaged in the study of the common branches, except two. The average wages of the male teachers was $36.00; of female teachers, $16.50. There were eight school houses the value of which was set at $10,500. The most of them present an attractive appearance on the outside, and are comfortably fitted up on the inside. In 1879 the board of education was composed of R. J. Hathaway (District No. 4), president; W. S. Warner, clerk; Ozro Orborne, of District No. 1; A. J. Hansay, of No. 2; H. H. Cox, of No. 3; George Laing, of No. 5; F. B. McConnor, of No. 6; Leonard Hershey, of No. 7; S. S. Drake, of No. 8. BEDFORD VILLAGE UNION SCHOOL. The district was originally organized to embrace only the territory within the corporate limits of the village, but in 1874 the bounds were extended so as to include all of lots thirty-six, thirty-seven, forty- four, forty-five, forty-six, fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty- five, fifty-six and parts of thirty-five, forty-seven, BEDFORD - 409 fifty-seven, sixty-five, sixty-six and sixty-seven. In 1873 the present school building was erected, under the direction of a board of education composed of Robert Forbes, R. Moffatt and W. H. Wheelock, and was ready for occupancy in the early part of 1874. It is a very handsome edifice of brick, forty by fifty_ six feet, two stories high, with basement, and cost *15,000. There are four rooms, but at present only three are occupied for school purposes. The schools were attended by two hundred and forty-one pupils in 1878, the average attendance being two hundred and five. Thirty-eight weeks of school were maintained at a cost of nearly *1,600, under the principalship of R. C. Smith. Since 1877 the board of education has been composed of six persons. The present members are J. W. Derthwick, president; N. L. Hillard, secretary; Robert Forbes, treasurer; W. T. Wheelock, M. B. Dawson and J. F. Bently. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. Soon after 1830 several religious societies were formed in Bedford, which failed to maintain their organization more than a few years. There being no church building in the place, a small framed meeting house was erected about this period by Mrs. Fanny Willis, which was the first place of worship of the several societies organized before 1841. The Disciples were the first to form a society that proved permanent. In May, 1830, Rev. E. Williams visited the village to preach, and for some time came every month thereafter. In August Noel C. Barnum was baptized by Mr. Williams, and in April, 1831, Enoch Allen and six others received the same rite. Preaching was continued by Rev. Messrs. Williams, William Hayden, J. J. Moss and others, and in December, 1833, was organized THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BEDFORD, with twenty members and the following officers: Thos. Marble, overseer; Enoch Allen and George M. Payne, deacons. The following year these were under the ministrations of the Rev. A. B. Green. In 1834 Rev. J. J. Moss became a resident of Bedford, and for five years taught and preached from house to house. In 1837 a great revival prevailed whereby thirty-two persons were added to the membership of the church. In 1835 Enoch Allen and Allen Robinette were elected overseers; Samuel Barnes, N. C. Barnum and W. W. Walker, deacons. The church has enjoyed numerous revivals; in 1843 receiving one hundred and six additions, and in 1848 fifty-four additions-among them being thirty persons who had formerly belonged to the Baptist church. In 1852, under the preaching of Rev. A. B. Green, one hundred and fifteen persons joined at one meeting. The aggregate membership has been very large, reaching nearly twenty-five hundred; and from the Bedford society have originated fifty churches in various parts of the country. At present there are three hundred and twenty-five resident, and one hundred non-resident members. Among those who have originated here as ministers were Irvin A. Searles, Theo. Johnson, Burdette Goodale, Alonzo Dunham, J. P. Robinson, William Robinson, Charles F. Bartlett, Sidney Smith, and a number of others who expound the Word at home. The elders of the church have been, in the order of their election: Thomas Marble, Allen Robinette, Enoch Allen, Sidney Smith, James Young, C. F. Bartlett, R. S. Benedict, S. F. Lockwood, James Egbert,* W. H. Millman, A. T. Hubbell, Alonzo Drake,* R. J. Hathaway,* Hiram Woods and A. C. Hubbell; and the deacons have been Enoch Allen, George M. Payne, Samuel Barnes, N. C. Barnum, W. W. Walker, A. Gray, Charles F. Bartlett, George Comstock, Silvan F. Lockwood, Augustin Collins, Silas A. Hathaway, Daniel Gould, N. P. Benedict, Lee Lord, J. S. Benedict; A. T. Hubbell, D. D. Robinson, N. A. Egbert, Augustus Rincar,* W. W. Wells, M. B. Dawson, J. W. Derthwick,* J. M. Egbert,* V. A. Taylor,* and Johnson McFarland.* In 1856 the church employed its first pastor (the ministers until that period having been evangelists), the Rev. J. 0. Beardsley, who afterwards became a foreign missionary. His successors in, the pastoral office have been J. H. Jones, James H. Woods, A. B. Green, R. Moffit, W. L. Anderson, W. J. Sharp, S. W. Brown, L. Cooley, and E. D. Barclay the present pastor. The meeting-house was erected in 1838. It has since been much enlarged and improved, being at present a very handsome edifice the value of which is estimated at six thousand dollars. The present trustees are Alonzo Drake, V. A. Taylor, Johnson McFarland, John Way, Milo Hathaway, F. R. Hamlin and S. J. Clark; E. A. Ennis is clerk of the board. Many years ago Dr. J. P. Robinson was the superintendent of a flourishing Sunday-school, which has been continued with unabated interest until the present time. It has one hundred and twenty-five members, R. J. Hathaway being the superintendent. For nearly twenty years the board of managers of the Ohio Missionary Society were located at Bedford; Dr. J. P. Robinson being the chairman, and James Egbert, the treasurer. In later years the meetings have been held at Cleveland. THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 1N BEDFORD. This religious body was organized November 18, 1834, with the following members: Stephen Rusco, William Wing, Salome Rusco, Phebe Hotchkiss, Isabella Thomas, Silvan P. Lockwood, Ambrose K. Lockwood, Fanny Willis, Mary Robinson, Marinda Holcomb, Clarissa Dunham, Hannah Wing, Lucretia Hammond and John Hammond, by the Rev. S. R. Willard, who also became the first pastor. Stephen Rusco was elected the first clerk, and Silvan P. Lock- * Now serving. 410 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. wood and John Hammond, the first deaoons. In September, 1835, the church became connected with the Portage Association, sending as delegates the pastor, Rev. Mr. Willard, Deacon Hammond and Stephen Ruse̊. In 1836 John Hammond resigned his deaconship, and John Brainard was chosen in his place. The latter resigned in 1843, and George Morse, John Hammond and Newman Robinson were elected. Augustus Pease also served in this capacity. The present deacons are Newman Robinson and Daniel Cook. The second pastor of the church was the Rev. E. H. Holley, who assumed that relation in February, 1842. The succeeding pastors, with the year in which each began his- service, have been as follows: 1844, Rev. W. Levisse; 1846, Rev. W. G. Johnson; 1850, Rev. Mr. Simonds; 1851, A. Freeman; 1855, Rev. Alonzo Wadhams; 1857, Rev. E. A. Turner; 1859, Rev. Mr. Page; 1860, Rev. Mr. Heath; 1861, Rev. J. L. Phillips; 1864, Rev. Mr. Haven; 1866, Rev. J. B. Hutton; 1867, Rev. G. W. Scott; 1869, Rev. F. Tolhurst; 1875, Rev. Mr. Stephenson; 1876, Rev. S. Early, who yet continues as a supply, and is also superintendent of a Sunday school which has two hundred members. The church reports ninety-five members. In 1839 the present church edifice was erected, and on the 19th of February, 1840, it was consecrated by the Rev. Levi Tucker. It has since been repaired, and is still a comfortable place of worship. The present trustees are Geo. Cowan, Newman Robinson and Frederick Harter. THE BEDFORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. About 1833 a class of Methodists was formed at Bedford, having among its members N. C. Haines, his wife, Rachel, and daughter, Polly; Benjamin Fitch and wife, Daniel Benedict and wife, and others who had formerly belonged to the Reformed Methodists. Revs. N. C. Haines and -- Baldwin, acting in the capacity of local preachers, were the first ministers of the class, which did not increase very rapidly in membership. After ministers Were sent here by the conference, the services were held in the Willis meeting house, which afterwards became the property of the Methodists, and was moved by them to its present location. In a remodeled condition it forms a pleasant place of worship, valued at $2,500. The present trustees are S. M. Hammond, Edward Corkill, A. M. Whitaker, G. C. Tinker, J. W. Hickman and W. T. Wheelock. The church has at present about one hundred members, and the following stewards: G. C. Tinker, J. R. Tudor, W. W. Corkill and A. J. Loockwood. The pastor since September, 1878, has been the Rev. A. T. Copeland. Among other Methodist clergy here were the Revs. Alfred Bronson, S. Warrallo, Ira Eddy, L. D. Prosser, J. K. Hallock, W. F. Wilson, M. H. Bettis, W. French, A. Hall, J. H. Tagg, D. M. Stevens, W. F. Day, L. Clark, A. Foutz, Cyril Wilson, Michael Williams, C. F. Kingsbury, S. Gregg, B. J. Kennedy, B. C. Warner, A. M. Brown, B. F. Wade, J. Beetham and J. H. Merchant. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained by the church, with S. M. Hammond as superintendent. THE BEDFORD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The house of worship of this body was erected in 1861, by a congregation which had been formed previous to that date by the Revs. F. I. Brown and John Andrews, of the Wooster presbytery. There were sixteen members, and Milton A. Purdy and B. J. Wheelock were the first ruling elders. Before the meeting house was built, Rev. William Campbell became the first pastor, the services being held in Hutchinson ball and other places. He served the church in connection with that of Northfield, and the subsequent pastors were also in the employ of both churches. These were the Rev. William B. Marsh and the Rev. William Hamilton, D.D. After the latter confined his labors solely to the Northfield church, many of the members in the southern part of the township withdrew from the Bedford church and connected themselves with the former body. Others removed, and the church was left so weak that for the past six years the meeting house has been unoccupied. Other religious societies have had a brief existence at Bedford village and in the western part of the township, where a meeting house was erected on Dunham street, but all have now become extinct. BEDFORD LODGE NO. 375, F. AND A. M. This lodge received a dispensation October 17, 1866, and a year later was duly chartered with the following members: J. B. Haim, C. N. Hamlin, R. C. Smith, A. A. Benedict, W. H. Sawyer, Levi Case, Enoch Allen, A. J. Wells, J. J. Brittan S. S. Peck, L. C. Hains, Samuel Patrick, E. Cowles and H. H. Palmer. The officers were J. B. Rains, W. M.; L. C. Hairs, J. W.; S. S. Peck, secretary; B. F. Lillie, treasurer; E. J. Parke, J. D.; M. T. Canfield, S. D., and F. Mighton, tyler. The lodge has had one hundred and eleven members, and at present reports fifty-five. In 1874 the upper story of the town hall was fitted up for lodge purposes, at a cost of $1,500. The size of the main hall is thirty by thirty-six feet; the size of that and the banquet hall is thirty-six by seventy feet. The present officers are S. S. Peck, W. M.; S. H. Gleeson, S. W.; William Golling, J. W.; E. H. Hammond, secretary; C. B. Marble, treasurer; J. C. Nelson, S. D.; William Klaner, J. D., and H. Conant, tyler. HON. THEODORE BRECK HON. THEODORE BRECK is a descendant of the old Puritan families of New England, and boasts ancestors who were prominently identified with the early history of the State of Massachusetts. His father, John Breck, was a native of Northampton, Mass., and was, in company with his brothers, engaged at Boston in the importation of iron. He served in the army during the war of 1812, and was commander of the forces stationed at Fort Independence, Boston harbor. He was one of the original purchasers of the Western Reserve lands from the State of Connecticut, and upon its division among the different proprietors was allotted parts of townships in the various counties. In the town named after him in Cuyahoga County he originally held the title-deeds for one-half of its territory. He died in 1827. Theodore Breck's mother, Clarissa (who died in 1831), was the daughter of Rev. Thomas Allen, the first settled minister of Pittsfield, Mass. ; a man of strong and deep religious principles and very patriotic during the Revolutionary war. When Gen. Burgoyne was marching to invade Vermont, Mr. Allen heard of the approach of the British during the Sabbath service, and thereupon leaving his pulpit he hastily formed a company of Minute-Men, and hastened to the support of the Americans. His son, William R. Allen, was president of Bowdoin and Dartmouth Colleges in the early part of the present century, Rev. Thomas Allen's wife, Elizabeth, was a daughter of Rev. Jonathan Lee, the first settled pastor at Salisbury, Mass. His wife, Elizabeth, was the child of Rev. Joseph Metcalf, who was united in 1707 to Alice, daughter of Rev. William Adams. The latter married, in 1680, Alice, daughter of Maj. William Bradford, who was the son of Governor William and Alice (Southworth) Bradford. This shows that Theodore Breck is a lineal descendant of one of Massachusetts' early colonial governors. John and Clarissa (Allen) Breck had a family of six children, of whom Theodore was the third son and child. He was born at Northampton, Mass., Nov. 30, 1808. Receiving an academical course of study, he spent his youth at educational institutions in Hadley and Amherst, Mass. After the death of his father, in company with his two surviving brothers, Edward and John, he moved West to look after the large landed interest left by their parent. He located at Brecksville in .1830, and became engaged in agricultural pursuits and in the mercantile trade, and later on became a notary public. His brothers finally settled in Brecksville, the elder engaging in the practice of medicine, the younger in farming. Mr. Breck was formerly a member of the old Whig party, but joined the Republican party upon its organization, and has since been an active and prominent worker in its ranks. He has been called to serve as county commissioner, 1843. to 1846 ; was appointed to fill the vacancy in the same board in 1875 ; was a member of the State Legislature of 1846-48 ; member of the Senate of 1860-61, and represented his constituents in the 63d General Assembly of 1876-77. In all of his political positions he has given universal satisfaction and gained the respect of the people at large irrespective of party. Mr. Breck is a man of medium height, and though over seventy years of age enjoys the best of health. Although never married, he is rightly called the father of the town of his adoption. His hand has always been ready to help, and his purse to alleviate, the wants of the destitute orphan or the desolate widow, and though he has no posterity to transmit his name to future generations, it will remain green and live in the memory of the people of this county for many years to come. By his many acts of benevolence and kindness he has erected a monument that will long endure. BRECKSVILLE - 411 CHAPTER LXX. BRECKSVILLE. Boundaries—First Proprietor—Soil--First Pioneers--A Garrisoned House —Rattlesnakes— Hinckley Hunt—Settlements on the River—At the Center—Up Chippewa Creek—In the North—Horse Stealing and Counterfeiting—Pioneers before 1826—Prominent Men between 1826 and 1835—First Officers—Items from the Town Book—List of Officers— Town Hall—Tax of 1878—A Log Grist-Mill—Other Mills at the Center —Saw-Mills on the Chippewa—The old Fulling Mill—Tanneries and Distilleries—Village of Brecksville—Its Post Office—stores and Hotels —Schools—First Congregational Church— Methodist Church. BRECKSVILLE is in the southernmost tier of townships in the county. The Cuyahoga river forms its eastern boundary, and beyond it lies the township of Northfield, in Summit county. On the south is the township of Richfield, also in Summit county; while on the west and north lie the townships of Royalton and Independence in Cuyahoga county. It received its name from Robert and John Breck, two of the proprietors, who owned it in common with Reuben Dresser, Lemuel and Asahel Pomeroy, Ebenezer Hunt, Asa White and Welch & Hinckley. The township contains seventeen thousand one hundred and fifty- six acres of land, the surface of which is broken by high hills and deep hollows in the eastern and central parts; but in the south and the west forms an elevated plain. It was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in some localities a liberal supply of the common forest trees may yet be found. The soil varies from a stiff clay to a sandy loam and is most adapted to the raising of the various grains and grasses, the latter being the principal product. Dairying largely engages the attention of the people, although much mixed husbandry prevails. The principal stream, aside from the Cuyahoga, is Chippewa creek, with its tributary brooks. That creek flows east through the township, a little north of its center. It has a small but fertile valley and in some localities its banks form high and almost perpendicular walls of shale, while in others the channel is an unbroken mass of sandstone, its banks being fringed with evergreens and tangle wood, which gives them a wild and picturesque appearance. It affords a limited water power. PIONEER SETTLERS. Brecksville was surveyed in 1811 by Alfred Wolcott, Esq., and in June of that year the first settlement in the township was made, by Seth Paine and Melza r Clark, who came from Western Massachusetts. The former located on lot sixty-four, in the extreme southwestern part of the township, and died there before 1818. He had a family of two sons—Oliver N. and S. White— and two daughters. One of them, Aimira, married Melzar Clark, who soon after removed to Royalton. After his death the widow married Henry Bangs of that township. At the breaking out of the war of 1812 the few inhabitants, for a time, kept up a little garrison at the house of Seth Paine, but as the rumors of Indian hostilities became more alarming most of the people fled to Hudson, where they remained until the danger was over. After the war only a few straggling Indians were seen, and these soon abandoned the country, leaving the settlers in undisturbed possession of their homes. These were of logs, often without a nail or board, and contained but the simplest furniture and household utensils. A single article was often made to do service for cooking, baking and washing, and it is said that, in the absence of any other vessel, one of the pioneer mothers was obliged to milk her cow into a jug. Rattlesnakes were unusually abundant in the township, and would sometimes intrude themselves through the puncheon floors of the cabins of those living near the Chippewa-as many as thirteen of those unpleasant reptiles having been killed in one place. Game, also, was very abundant. We have described the great Hinckley hunt on page sixty-six of the general history, but we add a few facts not known when that description was written. It originated at the house of Seth Paine, in this township in December, 1818. A meeting was held and officers appointed; Cary Oakes being captain for Brecksville, John Ferris captain for Royalton, Judge John Newton for Richfield, and 'Squire Freyer for Brunswick. As remembered in Brecksville, the number of deer killed was three hundred and sixty-five; of bears, seventeen; of wolves, five. These figures differ a little from those previously given, but either set shows a very good day's work. In 1811 another settlement was made in the northeastern part of the township, by Benoni Brown and Samuel, Almon and Charles Wolcott; most of whom moved away at an early date, the former going to Bedford township. The following year Edward Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, located on the river, above the settlement just mentioned, rearing there six sons, named Andrew, Joseph, George, William, John and Thomas, some of whom yet live in the township. About the same time William Moody, Thomas Timmins and John Breen located in the same neighborhood. The latter lived at the mouth of the Chippewa and had four sons, named John, Joseph, David and Cyrus. Andrew Dillon was also an early settler on the river. His sons growing to mature years were George, .Peter and James. About the time the canal was built many deaths were caused in this locality by billions diseases. On the 1st day of January, 1812, Walter Wait and his brother-in-law expectant, Lemuel Bourne, built the third house in the township, near the present center, raising the walls that day and completing it soon after, without using any boards or nails. Although in midwinter, the weather was very pleasant, and they did not suffer in consequence of having to live several days without doors or windows to their cabin. Wait soon after moved away, but Bourne settled south of the center, where he resided until his death, in 1874, at the age of eighty-three years. He 412 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. had three sons, named William, Isaac and Rawson; and two daughters, named Harriet and Mary. The same season John Wait, Chester Wait and Benjamin Wait also settled in that part of the township. The last named was the first adult that died in the township, and in 1813 the wife of John Wait became the mother of the first child—a son, who on reaching manhood moved to Michigan. About the same time Bolter Colson settled in the south part of the township, where he resided until 1878. He had five sons, Orrin, Chandler, Lyman, Thomas and Newton, the last two being still residents of the township. To the center of Brecksville came, in 1812, Lemuel Hoadley and .Hosea Bradford, the former building there the first mill in the township, the following year. Bradford, who was a shoemaker, lived on the public square. Both removed to Olmstead in the course of eight or ten years. Up the Chippewa Eli and Abijah Bagley located the same year. The latter had two sons, named Russia and Nathaniel. John Adams, Rufus Newell and Aruna Phelps were also settlers of the township, about this period, in the Chippewa Valley. In 1813 Aaron Rice, with a large family, moved from Franklin county, Massachusetts, to the southwestern part of the township. He had seven sons, named Silas, Aaron, Seth, William, Moses, Myron and Peter, and three daughters. his son-in-law, Ebenezer Rice, came soon after. The latter had three sons, named Dexter, Ebenezer and Aiken. Joseph and Oliver Edgarton came a year or two later. The former had a numerous family, the sons being Joseph, Elias, Erastus, Oliver, and Onick and Austin (twins). Calvin, Cary and William Oakes came with their families by ox-teams from Massachusetts in 1816, the journey consuming forty-two days. Cary Oaks had five sons, named Caleb, Henry, Francis, Isaac and Cary. The sons of William Oakes were George and William. The same year came Josiah Wilcox and his sons Ebba, Ambrose and Orrin, also from Massachusetts. Ebba Wilcox had a son named Freeborn. Ambrose died in 1834, leaving four sons, named Edwin, Whitney, Miller and Charles. Orrin had one son named Josiah. Asa Fenn lived in the same neighborhood, and also died in 1834. He had three sons, Anion, Plympton and Learno. The same year died Aaron Barnes, another early settler in that neighborhood, who had two sons named Giles and Jesse. In the southern part of the township Lyman J. Frost was one of the earliest settlers, and a short time later John Pomeroy and Eli Osborn were added to the list of pioneers. In 1817 Jedediah Meach settled in the northern part of the township, and about the same time came Daniel O'Brian. Both moved away, but the following year Dr. Isaac M. Morgan came to that locality and resided there until his death. He had three sons, Charles, Harris and Consider. A son of the latter, Moses I., now occupies the homestead. Jacob Fuller and his sons Abel, Mathew, Calvin, Quartus, Wilhs and Samuel, Warren Cole, George W. Marsh, and William, Samuel, Isaac and Abel Varney, were all early settlers in the northern and western part of the township. On the Warren Cole place, which is at present occupied by Emmet Boyd, afterward lived G. B. Slier- ring, whose connection with a gang of horse thieves and counterfeiters made his place a resort of vicious characters, and a receptacle of stolen property at hours of the night when his more honest neighbors were asleep. At home Sperring maintained an eminent respectability, but he was at last suspected and arrested. While being taken to Cleveland Ile effected his escape to Canada. On his farm was discovered an underground stable for secreting stolen horses, and in the house were many evidences of the manufacture of counterfeit money. West of this place Daniel Green settled about 1818, and lived there until his removal to Sandusky. He had three sons, named William G.., John L. and Charles. A few years later Joseph Hollis, from St. Lawrence county, New York, settled in this neighborhood, but removed to Seneca county. He had two sons named Giles and George W., the latter being at present a resident at the center. At this place in 1817 settled Joseph, Allen and Alexander Darrow; the latter being the father of Nathan, John and Alvah Darrow, all of whom moved away, though some are now living in adjoining townships. At a little later period Ezra Wyatt settled at the center, and purchased the interest of Lemuel Hoadly in the mill property. He had five sons, named Nathaniel, Eliphalet, Darius, James and Lorenzo, some of whom yet live in the county. Besides the foregoing there were among the pioneers of Brecksville, before 1826, David McCreary, Orrin Abbott, Joseph Burnham, Thomas Patrick, Andrew Benton, John Johnson, Chester Narmore, John Jenkins, Lewis Adams, Joab Rockwell, Thomas Scott, Gersham Bostwick, Joseph McCreary, John G. Joshin, T. C. Stone, Isaac Packard, Elisha Tubbs, John Pomeroy, Darius Robinson, Johnson Patrick, John Guilford, Reuben Durfee, Alonzo Castle, Chaunoey L. Young, William Breckenridge, John Randall Robert Donaldson and Jonas Haynes. Among the prominent settlers who were in -the town-. ship before 1835, and who have not already been named, were David Ring, Edward Rust, Augustus Adams, Joseph H. Breck, Theodore Breck, Moses Hunt, Verarms, Lester and Charles Dewey, John Day, Hugh Stephenson, John Dunbar, William Goodell, James Foster, Thomas Sanderson Belah Norton, Martin Chittenden, Charles B. Bostwick, Edmund M. Bartlett, besides others whose names appear in the church history. CIVIL ORGANIZATION. The qualified voters of Brecksville met at the house of Eli Bagley, April 3, 1815, to choose township officers as follows: Trustees, Aaron Rice, Lemuel Hoadley, Edward MOSES HUNT. Moses Hunt was born in Stratford, Orange Co., Vt., Aug. 5, 1809, and was the youngest son of Moses and Judith (Roberts) Hunt, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the former being born in Hopkinton, Jan. 19, 1774, the latter at Stratford, July 31, 1773. In the winter of 1812 his father moved to Northampton, Mass., but being compelled to gain his livelihood by day labor, he was not able to give his children any educational advantages. During his childhood Moses was obliged to live out in various families of Hampshire County; but on arriving at the age of manhood, seeing no prospects of bettering his condition of life in the Eastern States, he made up his mind to emigrate to the West, and in 1833 settled in Brecksville, on a farm of one hundred acres. With no other capital except health, strength, and ambition he commenced the battle of life. The country at that time was a wilderness, and the pioneers had many obstacles to overcome, but Mr. Hunt, by energy, economy, and industry, prospered. He resides at present on his original purchase, which he has increased to one hundred and fifty acres, and has made farming his sole occupation in life. He was married, May 27, 1834, to Emeline, daughter of Charles B. and Cynthia Dewey, who were early corners to Brecksville, having removed from Chesterfield, Hampshire Co., Mass., to that town in 1834. Their daughter was born in Springfield, Mass., Oct. 8, 1811. Mr. Hunt's parents settled in Brecksville in 1837. His father died Dec. 24, 1839, and is buried in the town ; his mother returned to Massachusetts, where she died in September, 1866, in her ninety-fourth year. The result of Moses Hunt's marriage was three children, one of whom died in childhood. Chauncey P. was born March 31, 1835, and has been twice married, the last time (Nov. 7, 1866) to Harriet S., daughter of Lemuel Bourn. Mr. Bourn was one of the early settlers of Brecksville, coming in 1810, prior to which date but one family had located there. Chauncey at present resides at home with his parents. Sarah Emeline was born Nov. 26, 1837; is the wife of Louis T. Rust, a farmer of Brecksville, and has a family of three children. In politics Mr. Hunt is a Republican, and although often solicited by his fellow-citizens to occupy positions in their gift, he has always declined political honors. Has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Brecksville for almost fifty years, and has held the office of deacon for about thirty years. Deacon Hunt is loved and respected by all. Though now advanced in years he enjoys the best of health, and it is the daily wish of friends and neighbors that he may be permitted to be among them for many years to come. BRECKSVILLE - 413 Johnson; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, John Adams; constable and lister, Ebenezer Rice; poormasters, Hosea Bradford, Aaron Rice; fence viewers, Ebenezer Rice, Walter Wait, Hubert Baker; road supervisors, Lemuel Bourne, Hosea Bradford, Hubert Baker, Ebenezer Rice. Charles Wolcott had been elected constable but he refused to serve and was fined two dollars, which was applied toward paying for a township book, which had been purchased by Lemuel Hoadley for three dollars and seventy-five cents. We transcribe some further notes from the old township books, which may be interesting. In March, 1816, Seth Paine's heirs sold an estray ox for twenty-five dollars and seventy-five cents, charging the township twelve dollars for his keeping. Tbe balance was turned over to the treasurer, who reported that he had settled the account of Lemuel Hoadley, and that there now remained unappropriated in the treasury, twelve dollars-a very good exhibit indeed. At an election held in October, 1815, to choose county officers, seventeen votes were polled. In March, 1816, Aaron Rice, Eli Bagley and John Wait were chosen grand jurors; Silas Rice and Charles Wolcott, petit jurors. A week later the trustees had a meeting to settle with the road supervisors: They reported "that Hosea Bradford and Ebenezer Mee had done their duty, and that Lemuel Bourne and 'Hubert Baker were deficient." At an election for justice of the peace, held February 17, 1817, John Wait received twenty-nine votes; Hosea Bradford, one; and Edward Johnson, one. In November, 1817, the overseers of the poor, Calvin Oakes and Aaron Rice, commanded Silas Rice, the constable "to order Hubert Baker to depart from the township of Brecksville without delay." He served the writ, receiving therefor thirty-seven and a half cents. Later that season and the following year as many as fifteen person were warned to depart from the township in order to prevent their becoming public charges. From 1815 to the present time (1879) the principal officers of the township have been the following: 1816. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Lemuel Headley, Hesea Bradford; clerk, John Wait ; treasurer, John Adams. 1817. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Lemuel Hoadley, Wm. Oakes; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, Hosea Bradford. 1818. Trustees, Edward Johnson. Bolter Colson, Wm. Oakes; clerk, John Wait ; treasurer, Calvin Oakes. 1819. Trustees, John Jenkins. Isaac M. Morgan, Thomas Patrick; clerk, John Wait; treasurer. Alex. Darrow. 1820. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Isaac M. Morgan, Ebba Wilcox; clerk, Nathan B. Darrow; treasurer, Alex. Darrow. 1821. Trustees. Edward Johnson, Isaac M. Morgan, Ebba Wilcox; clerk, Nathan B. Darrow; treasurer, Edward Johnson. 1822. Trustees. Edward Johnson, Daniel Green, John Jenkins; clerk, Martin Chittenden; treasurer, Edward Johnson. 1823. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Daniel Green, Aaron Rice; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, Charles Wait. 1824. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Daniel Green, Aaron Rice; clerk, Isaac Packard; treasurer, Martin Chittenden. 1825. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Daniel Green, Andrew Dillow ; clerk, Nathan B. Darrow; treasurer, Martin Chittenden. 1826. Trustees, Aaron Rice, Daniel Green, Andrew Dillow ; clerk, Johnson Patrick; treasurer, Martin Chittenden. 1827. Trustees. Edward Johnson, Daniel Green, William Oakes; clerk, Nathan B. Darrow; treasurer, Charles B. Bostwick. 1828. Trustees, Andrew McCrary, Daniel Green, William Oakes; clerk, William G. Green; treasurer, John Wait. 1829. Trustees, Andrew McCrary, Aaron Barnes, Aaron Rice, Jr.; clerk, William Breckenridge; treasurer, Charles B. Bostwick. 1830. Trustees, Jacob Fuller, Aaron Barnes, Aaron Rice. Jr.; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young. 1831. Trustees, 1saac M. Morgan, Andrew Dilow, Aaron Rice, Jr. ; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young. 1832. Trustees, Joseph McCrary, Thomas Patrick, Ebba Wilcox; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young. 1833. Trustees Joseph McCrary, Edward Rust. Belah Norton; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy Young. 1834. Trustees, Andrew Dillow, Ebba Wilcox, Aaron Rice, Jr.; clerk, Charles Morgan; treasurer, Darius Robinson. 1835. Trustees, James S. Foster, Ebba Wilcox, Edmund M. Bartlett; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Charles Morgan. 1836. Trustees, Isaac M. Morgan, Eli Osborne, Asa Fenn; clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Theodore Breck. 1837. Trustees, Joseph Bardwell, Lemuel Bourne, Charles Morgan; clerk, Theo. Creek; treasurer, Daniel Currier. 1838. Trustees, Aaron Rice. Jr., Russia Bayley, Charles Morgan; clerk, Theo. Breck; treasurer, Daniel Currier. 1839. Trustees, Aaron Rice, Jr., Wm. Burt, Charles Morgan; clerk; Theo. Breck; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell. 1840. Trustees, Aaron Rice, Jr., Albert P. Teachout. Charles Morgan; clerk, George W. Oakes; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell. 1841. Trustees, Aaron Rice. Jr., Andrew Dillow, Charles Morgan, clerk, George W. Oakes; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell. 1842. Trustees, Ebba Wilcox. Samuel Wallace, Hugh Stevenson; clerk, A. J. Snow; treasurer. C. L. Young. 1843. Trustees, John Fitzwater, Moses Hunt, Eliphalet Wyatt; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Anson Dwight. 1844. Trustees, John Fitzwater, Moses Hunt, Cary Oakes; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Anson Dwight. 1845. Trustees. C P. Rich, Lorenzo Wyatt, Cary Oakes; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Anson Dwight. 1846. Trustees, C. P. Rich, Lorenzo Wyatt, I. H. Ballow; clerk, Geo W. Oakes; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell. 1847. Trustees, C. P. Rich, John Fitzwater. I. H. Ballow; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell. 1848. Trustees, E. M. Bartlett, Edward Rush, Wm. Barr; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, John T. Mack. 1849. Trustees, C. B. Rich, John Fitzwater, Russ Snow; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, John T. Mack. 1850. Trustees, C. B. Rich, John Fitzwater, Russ Snow; clerk, George W. Oakes; treasurer, John T. Mack. 1851. Trustees, C. B. Rich, John Fitzwater, I. H. Ballow; clerk,. Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, C. C. Chapin, Jr. 1852. Trustees, C. B. Rich, John Fitzwater, Moses Hunt: clerk, Wm. W. Wright; treasurer, C. C. Chapin, Jr. 1853. Trustees, C. B. Rich, Aaron Rice, Moses Hunt; clerk, Wm. W. Wright; treasurer, C. C. Chapin, Jr. 1854. Trustees, C. B. Rich, Aaron Rice, John Fitzwater; clerk, John Coates; treasurer, C. C. Chapin, Jr. 1855. Trustees, Theodore Breck, Moses Hunt, John Fitzwater; clerk, R. W. Fairchild; treasurer, C. C. Chapin, Jr. 1856. Trustees, Theodore Breck, Moses Hunt, John Fitzwatar; clerk James H. Coates; treasurer, C. C Chapin, Jr. 1857. Trustees, Theo. Breck, Orrin Miller, Peter Goodel; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, John S. Thomas. 1858. Trustees, Moses Hunt, Orrin Miller, Peter Goodel; clerk, George W. Oakes; treasurer, John S. Thomas. 1859. Trustees, Moses Hunt, John Fitzwater, Charles Bateman; clerk, Asa Reynolds; treasurer, John S. Thomas. 1860. Trustees, Moses Hunt, Peter Dillow, Levi Booth, Jr.; clerk, E. H. Ely; treasurer, M. N. Young. 1861, Trustees, Moses Hunt, Peter Dillow, A. K. Skeels; clerk. Asa Reynolds; treasurer, M. N. Young. 1862. Trustees, Moses Hunt, Peter Dillow, O. W. Newcomb; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, M. N. Young. 1863. Trustees, Daniel Stocker, Peter Dillow, O. W. Newcomb; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, William Barr. 1864. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Francis Oakes, C. M. Allen; clerk, Chas. S. Burt: treasurer, J. H. Coates. 1865. Trustees, H. H. Snow, O. W. Newcomb, C. M. Allen; clerk, Chas. S. Burt; treasurer, J. H. Coates. 1866. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Peter Dillow, F. Oakes; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, J. H. Coates. 1867. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Peter Dillow, F. Oakes; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer. J. H. Coates. 1868. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Peter Dillow, Alonzo Watkins; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, J. H. Coates. 1869. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Emmet Boyd, Henry Ingham; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, Theodore Breck. 1870. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Emmet Boyd, Henry Ingham; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, Theodore Breck. 414 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. 1871. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Moses I. Morgan, Julius White; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1872. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Moses I. Morgan, Julius White; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1873. Trustees. Henry M. Oakes, Moses I. Morgan, Julius White; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1874. Trustees, L. F. Wyatt, L. E. Ring, Julius While; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1875. Trustees, Andrew Butler. L. E. Ring, Ira Fitzwater; clerk, Chas. S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1876. Trustees, Julius White, M. I. Morgan, Ira Fitzwater: clerk Chas, S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1877. Trustees, Julius IN hite, Lewis T. Rust, 1ra Fitzwater; clerk. Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates. 1878. Trustees, Julius White, M. I. Morgan, Ira Fitzwater; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer. James H. Coates. 1879. Trustees, Julius While, J. A. Fitzwater, Ira Fitzwater; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, H. E. Barnes. On the 29th of April, 1872, the legislature empowered the trustees of Brecksville to borrow money to build a town hall, and to issue the bonds of the township for the payment of the same. Under this act money was procured to build a very fine hall on the north side of the public square, at Brecksville Center. It is constructed of brick, with a shapely belfry, and was completed in 1874, at a cost of four thousand five hundred and twenty-two dollars. In 1878 the trustees of the township made the following levies: For township purposes, three-tenths of a mill; for roads, one and one-fourth mills; for grading hills, two-tenths of a mill; for bridges, one-tenth of a mill; for it poor fund, four-tenths of a mill; and for a vault, one mill. The latter has been erected at the center, and the cemeteries controlled by the township indicate a careful attention. Brecksville has good roads, and the streams are well bridged. The Valley railroad will pass through the township and supply rapid communication; just across the river good shipping facilities are afforded by the canal. MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. Owing to the limited water power, but little manufacturing has been carried on in the township. The first machinery of any kind operated by water-power was in the loggrist mill, put up at the center by Lemuel Hoadley in 1813. The burr stones were of common granite, found in the woods near by, and may yet be seen near the site of the old mill. In 1820 Ezra Wyatt put up a famed gristmill at this point, and also built a sawmill. In the course of time Robert Pritchard supplied steam power. Only a gristmill is operated there at present. It was built by the present proprietor, Thomas Dunbar, and is supplied with two runs of stone. Below this point, on the Chippewa, sawmills were built in former days, by Ambrose & Ebba Wilcox, by Young & Alien, and by Abbott & Bostwick. Above the center sawmills were also erected by Rufus Newell and Samuel Varney. All have been discontinued. In the northern part of the township, on a small brook, John Randall built a gristmill which is at present operated by Antoine Eckenfells. Near this place, on the west side of the State road, is a large building in which Jackson Janes once had a cloth-dressing establishment. Subsequently wooden ware was made there, but the building has long been unused. Tanneries have been carried on by Darius Robinson, above the center; by Seward & Higgins, at that place, and by George Curtis, on the Spring brook, but these, too, have long since passed away. Joseph Edgarton and Ely Osborne had distilleries many years ago, and George Foote carried on the manufacture of buckskin mittens at the center. For the past eight years a cheese factory has been successfully operated there, and this and the mills at present constitute the only manufacturing interests of the township. THE VILLAGE OF BRECKSVILLE. This is on the south bank of the Chippewa near the center of the township, and is sometimes called Brecksville Center. It is the only village in the township. It has a pleasant location, and contains the town hall, a very handsome school building, a Presbyterian and a Methodist church, a number of fine residences, and the stores, etc. noted below. T. J. Allen was the first postmaster of the Brecksville office, which received at that time one mail per week. The successive postmasters have been Chauncey L. Young, Asa Reynolds and J. H. Coates. The office at present has three mails per week from Cleveland, distant seventeen miles. Charles Morgan had the first store in the place, at the stand now occupied by J. H. Coates. The intermediate merchants there were William Towsley, E. and T. Breck, Breck & Humphrey, and Ailing & Fairchild. The brick store was put up by Chauncey L. Young about 1857, and Young & Clark were the first to engage in the mercantile business. J. J. Barms is the present occupant of that stand. A drug store and a harness shop were opened in the same building several years ago by Chauncey Ellsworth, and are still carried on by him. The first public house was kept by Isaac Packard in a log building which stood on the site of the Presbyterian church. Ezra Wyatt also entertained travelers at his house near the mill. John Randall built the present tavern in 1839, but it was first used as a residence. George N. Hollis has been an innkeeper there many years. Dr. Chester Wait was the first physician of the township, and was in practice from about 1813 until his removal to Brooklyn. Dr. Isaac M. Morgan came in 1818, and practiced until his death. In the same period Drs. Gibbs and Cleveland followed their profession. Dr. Edward Buck was in practice many years before his death in 1859, and bad a contemporary in Dr. William Knowlton. The latter was followed by his son, Augustus, and he in turn, by another son, the present Dr. William Knowlton. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. The first school in the township was taught at the center by Oriana Paine, and was attended by children MOSES MATHEWS, a worthy son of old Vermont, was horn at New Haven, Addison Co., Feb. 16, 1804, his parents being Joseph and Polly Mathews. His father was engaged in farming, and in that occupation, in connection with bricklaying and plastering, Moses passed his early years. In 1823 he left his native State for Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., but filially located at Madrid, in that county, where he purchased property. While a resident of St. Lawrence County he was married, June 23, 1824, to Miss Betsey Perry, a native of the town of his birth. She was born Feb. 4, 1805. In 1832 he became satisfied that he could improve his condition in life by emigrating West, and in that year he settled in the town of Parma, Cuyahoga Co., where he remained till 1838, when he removed to Brecksville, and purchased a farm of ninety acres. He has been successful in accumulating wealth, and is emphatically a self-made man. His landed property at one time amounted to two hundred and twenty-two acres, but he has made a partial distribution among his children, and now resides on one hundred and forty acres, a part of which was his original purchase. The result of his marriage was three sons, viz. : Henry, born May 16, 1825, who was a soldier in the late war, held the rank of first lieutenant, and died July 27, 1869 ; George, born Sept. 7, 1826, and now a farmer, residing in the town of Royalton ; Joseph, born Sept. 7, 1828, and now residing at Denver, Col. Losing his wife Feb. 24, 1870, Mr. Mathews was married again, June 18, 1871, to Miss Arasis A. Rannals, a native of Logan Co., Ohio. Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, having cast his first presidential vote for Andrew Jackson. He is one of the oldest men in Brecksville, and, though nearly fourscore years of age, is as healthy and rugged as many a man in the prime of life. He is in truth a worthy example of the hardy pioneers who overcome the dangers and obstacles of frontier life. BRECKSVILLE - 415 from the Hoadley, Adams, Bradford and Wait families. Mrs. Benjamin Wait was also an early teacher there. In 1819 a good log building was put up in this locality for school and church purposes. In 1826 the township had three districts, No. 1 having thirty-seven householders; No. 2, twenty-five householders; and No. 3, twenty householders. These districts were soon after divided so as to provide schools in every neighborhood. The buildings were at first of logs, but as the country was developed these were superseded by framed houses; and nearly all these, in turn, have given way to neat and comfortable brick edifices. The one at the center was erected in 1874, at a cost of $4,000, and is a model of architectural beauty. For its size it has no superior in the country. In 1878 the township reported nine buildings, valued at $12,000. Ten schools were maintained at an expense of $2,387.75. Twenty-eight weeks of school were taught by nine female and seven male teachers, whose average wages were $30.00 per month. The pupils enrolled numbered; of boys one hundred and eighty, of girls one hundred and twelve, and the average attendance was eighty-three per cent. THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL (OR PRESBYTERIAN) CHURCH. In the summer of 1816 the Rev. Wm. Hanford, in the employ of the Connecticut Missionary Society, began preaching in Brecksville, and on the 13th of July organized the First Congregational Church of Brecksville, with sixteen members, namely: John Adams, Lemuel Hoadley, Chloe Hoadley, John Wait, Bolter Colson, Harriet Colson, Hannah Paine, Lyman J. Frost, Oriana Frost, Zelpha Wait, Lucy Wilcox, James Dickson, Mary Dickson, Joseph Rice, Orrin Wilcox and Abigail Wilcox. These elected Lyman J. Frost as the first clerk. No deacon was chosen until October 1, 1821, when Bolter Colson was ordained to that office; and the church had no regular pastor until 1840, when Rev. Newton Barrett was ordained and installed. The Rev. Wm. Hanford supplied the church until 1823, coming from Hudson every four weeks, and under his ministration the membership increased to forty-six. The next supply was the Rev. Isaac Shaler, who continued until 1829. For the next four years the Rev. J. H. Breck was the supply; but in 1833 he was succeeded by Rev. Joseph Pepoon, who remained until 1834. That year came Rev. Chester Chapin, and continued until 1837. On the 7th of April, 1840, the Rev. Newton Barrett was installed as pastor, and maintained that relation until 1848. Since that time the pastor and sup plies have been the following: 1848-52, Rev. W. S. Kennedy; 1853-4, Rev. Lucius Smith; 1855-8, Rev. C. B. Stevens; 1859-61, P. S. Hillyer; 1862-6, Rev. Thomas Towler; 1868-70, Rev. Hubbard Lawrence; 1871-4, Rev. G. C. Reed; 1875-9, Rev. J. McK. Pittinger, and since May, 1879, Rev. John M. Davies. The first meetings were held at the house of Hosea Bradford, near the square. In 1819 a log schoolhouse was built, on what was afterwards known as the Deacon Hannum place, which was used until the fall of 1830, when a small framed house was built for a church, at a cost of $200. A better place of worship being demanded, the "First Congregational Society" was formed, under the laws of the State, on the 21st of June, 1834, to attend to the temporal affair: of the church. The first officers were Belah Norton, Wm. H. Judd and Wm. Breckenridge, trustees; William Oakes, secretary; Philip Gass, treasurer; and Darius Lyman, collector. In addition to the foregoing the constitution was signed by Bolter Colson, Moses Hunt, Cary Oakes, E. M. Bartlett, Peter Goodell, Moses Boynton, Francis Oakes, Augustus Adams, William Burt, Theodore . Breck, Giles Kellogg, Otis Pomeroy, C. Hannum, Jason Jones, Edward Rust, John L. Thomas, and others. The present trustees of the society are L. T. Rust, O. P. Foster, O. P. Hunt, Michael Rudgers and B. Van Noate; L. E. Ring is the clerk, and J. H. Coates treasurer. In the fall of 1834 the meeting house was removed to a place near the present cemetery by a committee composed of Thomas Patrick, Jared Clark, Dorus Lyman, Daniel Currier and William Burt. Ten years later, work was begun on the present church edifice, under the direction of the following building committee: Augustus Adams, Cary Oakes, Theodore Breck, Joseph Bardwell and E. M. Bartlett. It was completed at a cost of about $3,000, and was dedicated October 30, 1844. Subsequent repairs have rendered the house comfortable and attractive, and together with the parsonage, erected in 1842, it constitutes a very good church property. In 1876 the church became Presbyterian in form, and so remains to this day. The present ruling elders are Henry Dunbar, Moses Hunt and Talcott Starr. The former is also clerk of the session. The church has a membership of one hundred and five, and since 1833 has regularly maintained a Sunday school, which at present has one hundred and thirty members. L. T. Rust is its superintendent. In 1866 Augustus Adams, a member of the church, donated $500 to the American Tract Society, on condition that that body should furnish thirty dollars worth of books yearly to the Sunday school in question. A very good library is maintained. Some of the other religious denominations held public worship in the township at quite an early day, and some time after 1830 the Methodists organized themselves into a class, the names of whose members, owing. to the absence of records, cannot be here given. In 1836 the present meeting house at the center was erected, and has been the place of worship of the METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH of Brecksville, and some of the adjoining townships, ever since. It has lately been repaired, and is a corn- 416 - THE TOWNSHIPS OP CUYAHOGA COUNTY. fortable place of worship. The trustees who control it are A. Watkins, A. C. Hitchcock, L. F. Wyatt and James Cleveland. The three first-named are also the stewards of the church. The society at Brecksville has been connected with other Methodist stations in Richfield and Royalton in forming a circuit, but at present is only connected with the church in the latter township. The circuit is supplied by the Rev. Moses B. Mead, of Baldwin University. The membership of the church is small, numbering but sixteen persons. The class leader is L. Norvill. The Sunday school has sixty members, A. C. Hitchcock being the superintendent. CHAPTER LXXI. BROOKLYN. Boundaries and Soil—First Private Proprietors—" Granger Hill "—The First " Squatter "—The First Permanent Settler—Isaiah Fish, the First Child—Going Ten Miles to Work—Abundant Rattlesnakes—E. & M. Fish—The Oldest 1nhabitant—The Brainards—A Fish and Brainard Settlement—First Framed House—An Avalanche of Emigration—More Brainards— Fears of Paupers—Trying to mortgage a Farm for Flour— First Settlers at Brighton—Some More Brainards—The Aikens—Other Settlers—Early Mills—Civil Organization—List of Officers—Brooklyn Methodist Episcopal Church—First Congregational Church—Brighton Methodist Church—Church of the Lady of the Sacred Heart—Disciple Congregation —Early Schools—Present Schools— Brooklyn Village Schools—West Cleveland Schools—Brooklyn Academy —Brighton Academy — Brighton Village—Brooklyn Village—Ils Officers—West Cleveland—Its Officers--Industrial School Farm—Linndale—Cemeteries—Post Offices—Cleveland Dryer Company—Lake Erie Dryer Company—Other Manufactures— Nurseries —Railways—Glenn Lodge I. O. O. F.—Glenn Encampment—Brooklyn Lodge F. & A. M.—Militia Companies—Brooklyn Hook and Ladder Company. BROOKLYN township, which joins the city of Cleveland on the west and south, is a part of range thirteen, in which it is township number seven. It included originally all that part of the territory of the city of Cleveland lying on the west side of the Cuyahoga river, which, along with what now comprises Brooklyn, was set off from Cleveland township to form the township of Brooklyn. Prooklyn's boundaries are the city of Cleveland and Lake Erie on the north, the townships of Parma and Independence on the south, the city of Cleveland and Newburg township on the east, and the township of Rockport on the west. It contains four villages, Brooklyn, West Cleveland, Brighton and Linndale, of which the former two are incorporated. The Cuyahoga river skirts the eastern part of the township on the east, and separates it from Newburg. Its other water courses are unimportant creeks, which, though once valuable as mill streams, are now of m use for that purpose. The land is generally fertile and farms are valuable, especially near the Cleveland line, where attention is given to the cultivation c) fruit and garden products; the former industry being profitably followed near the hike shore, and the latter near Brooklyn village. In the division of the Western Reserve, as narrater: in the general history, the greater part of Brooklyn, including the present West Side of Cleveland, fell t( Richard and Samuel Lord and Josiah Barber, from one or the other, or all, of whom the early settlers purchased their farms. EARLY SETTLEMENT. A grassy slope overlooking the Cuyahoga river from Riverside cemetery, and known to this day as Granger Hill," is the spot where the territory subsequently occupied by the township of Brooklyn received its first white settler. Granger was a " squatter " from Canada, but when he squatted upon his Brooklyn land is not exactly known. He was there, at all events, in May, 1812, when James Fish entered what is now Brooklyn township, as the first of the permanent white settlers of that territory. Granger had with him his son, Samuel, and the two remained until 1815, when they sold their improvements to Asa Brainard and migrated to the Maumee country. James Fish, above mentioned, had been a resident of Groton, Connecticut, and, having purchased a piece of land of Lord & Barber in the present township of Brooklyn, he set out from Groton in the summer of 1811 with an ox-team and a lumber wagon, in which rode himself, his three children, his wife and her mother. He journeyed west in company with a large party of pioneers, but the only ones besides himself destined for Brooklyn were his two cousins, Moses and Ebenezer Fish—the latter of whom made the entire trip on foot. -Arriving at Cleveland early in the autumn, after forty-seven days on the road, James Fish decided to pass the winter in Newburg, while Ebenezer and Moses remained in Cleveland. Early in the spring of 1812 James went over from Newburg alone and put up a log-house that cost him just eighteen dollars, and in May of that year he took his family to their new home. Their log cabin was, of course, a rude structure, and its furniture was in keeping with the house. The bedstead—for there was only one at first-was manufactured by the head of the family, and was composed of roughly hewn pieces of wood, fastened with wooden pins, and having in lieu of a bed cord a net work made of strips of bark. This bedstead is still in the possession of Isaiah W., a son of James Fish, who resides in Brooklyn village upon the place originally occupied by his father. Isaiah W. Fish, just mentioned, was born in Brooklyn, May 9, 1814, and was the first white child born in the new settlement. James Fish began at once to clear his land, but while waiting for a crop his family must needs have something to eat. Mr. Fish had no cash, and so he used to go over to Newburg two or three times a week, and work there at farming for fifty cents a day. Thus he managed to reach the harvest season, when from the first fruits of his land he secured a little money. It is, however, a question whether he could have carried his family through the winter, had it not been for the assistance of his wife, who to her other duties added that of weaving coverlids, by which she earned a goodly sum, and in which she became so ISAIAH W. FISH The first known ancestor of Isaiah W. Fish was John Fish, who is supposed to have emigrated from England and settled at Mystic, in Groton, Conn. His son was Capt. Samuel Fish, and his son was also Samuel Fish. The son of the latter was Capt. John Fish, and his son was Joseph Fish, grandfather of Isaiah W. The first person who settled in what is now the village of Brooklyn was James Fish, father of the subject of this sketch, who came from Connecticut in the year 1811, being forty-seven days on the road. He was a native of Connecticut, having been born in Groton, in June, 1783. In 1812 he built a log hut, on the site of which stands a handsome farm-house now occupied by his son, Isaiah W. At the, time of his settlement, being in straightened circumstances, he was obliged to walk to Newburg, a distance of five miles, daily, where he worked days' work, receiving in payment for the same sundry provisions at the rate of fifty cents per day. Some time afterwards he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, but not being able to pay the taxes on the same, though small, he sold all but fifty acres to Aziah Brainard. Subsequently he took up eighty acres one mile north of his first purchase. It is related that during the progress of the battle of Lake Erie he was at work cutting logs, and the distant roar of cannon could be distinctly heard. Thinking of how they would lose their hard- earned homesteads should victory be on the side of the English, he became so nervous that he quit work and entered the cabin, where the " women folks" were assembled. They knew nothing of the desperate combat that was being carried on so close to them, and exclaimed : " How it do thunder I" " Yes," replied Mr. Fish, " but it is home-made thunder." Mr. Fish lived to the extreme age of ninety-two years, his death occurring in September, 1875. He had shared all the privations and dangers of the first pioneers, and lived to witness the wonderful growth and development of the country which he had found an unbroken wilderness. As a citizen he was quiet, sober, and industrious, working for the good of his family and the community in which he lived, but shrinking from public notice. He was an earnest Christian, and for thirty years a member of the Methodist Church. In 1805 he married Mary Wilcox, daughter of Elisha Wilcox, of Stonington, Conn. They had eight children, namely,— Mary, James, Elisha, Sally, Isaiah W., Lydia K., Joseph L., and .John P. The first four were born in Connecticut ; the fifth, Isaiah W., was the first white person horn in Brooklyn, his birth occurring on the 9th of May, 1814. His early lrfe was mostly spent in working on his father's farm. He received but a limited education. February, 1837, he married Matilda Gates, daughter of Jeremiah Gates, of Brooklyn. He then engaged in farming in partnership with his father, with whom he resided until the death of the latter. He has been prominently connected with the religious, civil, and educational interests of the town. For fifty-two years he has been a member of the Methodist Church, and has labored actively in the cause of Christianity. For a period of twenty-three years he has been a regularly ordained minister, and has preached the gospel without receiving any pecuniary compensation, his services being freely given. He has also been for many years a teacher in the Sunday-schools. Has been president of the school board for four years, and has always been active in the support of schools and of charitable institutions. In politics he is a Republican, and, although he has never sought political preferment, he has been elected to various local offices of trust, the duties of which he has discharged with uniform ability. The result of his first marriage was three children,—Lucy A., Charles, and Buell B. Mrs. Fish died in February, 1850. He was again married, on the 5th of July, 1850, to Mary A. More, of East Cleveland, by whom he has two daughters,— Mary M. and Louisa S. ; also one son, James, deceased. BROOKLYN - 417 celebrated that she found the demand far beyond her power to supply. When Mr. Fish set out for Newburg on his periodical journeys, he left his family the sole occupants of a wilderness in which there were no residents nearer than Cleveland, and, knowing full well their fears and the good reasons for them, he returned to them faithfully each night, albeit, his trips were always made on foot, and covered ten long miles. Such trips, too, he frequently made on subsequent occasions, when, needing flour or meal, he would shoulder a two bushel bag full of corn, trudge to the Newburg mill, and get back with his meal the same day. Mr. Fish was a great hunter and slayer of rattlesnakes, which were found in immense numbers, and occasionally reared their ugly fronts through openings in the rude floors of the settlers' cabins. It is told of one of Mr. Fish's farm hands in the early days, that on narrowly escaping the attack of a rattlesnake he joyously and thankfully exclaimed: " What a smart; idea it was in God Almighty to put bells on them things!" Mr. Fish lived a useful and honored life in Brooklyn, saw cities and villages rise where once he trode the pathless forest, and at the age of ninety-three passed away from earth, on the old homestead, in September, 1875, his wife having proceeded him twenty-one years. Ebenezer and Moses Fish, who have already been mentioned as spending the winter of 1811-12 in Cleveland, followed James Fish to Brooklyn in the spring of 1812, and settled upon eighty acres lying just south of James Fish's place—Ebenezer locating on the north side of what is known as Newburg street, and Moses on the south side. Neither was then married, but, as both expected to be, they worked with a will to prepare their land for cultivation, both living in a log shanty on Ebenezer's land. Ebenezer was one of the militiamen who guarded Omic, the Indian murderer who was hung in Cleveland in June, 1812, as related in the general history. Both also served a few months in the forces called out to guard the frontier during the first year of the war of 1812. Returning to their clearings, they vigorously renewed their pioneer life. Moses was drafted into the military service, but he was far from being strong, and therefore Ebenezer went in his stead, serving six months and taking part in an engagement at Mackinaw Island. After the war closed Ebenezer returned to Connecticut, where he was married and where he remained six years before resuming his residence in Brooklyn. There Mr. Fish has ever since lived, and in his ninety- third year is still a dweller upon his old homestead ; the only one now living of the little band of pioneers who began the settlement of Brooklyn. Of the children of Moses Fish, Ozias and Lorenzo reside in Brooklyn, while others are in the far West. Following the Fish families in 1813 came Ozias Brainard, of Connecticut, with four grown daughters and four sons, Ozias, Jr.', Timothy, Ira and Bethuel, of whom Ozias, Jr., and Ira had families. They settled on the Newburg road, near where Brooklyn village now is, on adjoining places, and all resided in Brooklyn during the remainder of their lives. David S. Brainard, a son of Ozias, Jr., now resides in Cleveland near the county infirmary. At this time, as will have been observed, Brooklyn township was peopled exclusively by Fishes and Brainards, and it used to be a common story in Cleveland that "the visitor to Brooklyn might be certain that the first man he'd meet would be a Fish or a Brainard." Ozias Brainard, Jr., put up the first framed dwelling in Brooklyn, on the place now occupied by his son David, and Asa Brainard raised the first framed barn, which is still in use on the farm of Carlos Jones, the erection of which, in 1818 or before, was the occasion of a hilarious celebration. Asa Brainard also built the first brick house in the old township of Brooklyn at what is now the junction of Columbus and Scranton avenues, where he opened the first public tavern in that township, about 1825. The autumn of 1814 witnessed a large and important accession to the little settlement when six families, comprising forty persons, came thither from Connecticut within a week; thirty-one of them landing within the same hour. These were the families of Isaac Hinckley, Am Brainard, Elijah Young, Stephen Brainard, Enos Brainard and Warren Brainard, all of whom had been residents of Chatham, Middlesex county, Connecticut. All exchanged their farms there with Lord & Barber for land in "New Connecticut," and all set out for that unknown land on the same day. The train consisted of six wagons, drawn by ten horses and six oxen, and all journeyed together until Euclid was reached (forty days after leaving Chatham), where Isaac Hinckley and his family rested, leaving the others to push on to Brooklyn, whither he followed them within a week. It appears that the trustees of the township of Cleveland-to which the territory of Brooklyn then belonged—became alarmed at the avalanche of emigrants just described, and concluding that they were a band of paupers, for whose support the township would be taxed, started a constable across the river to warn the invaders out of town. Alonzo Carter, a resident of Cleveland, heard of the move, and stopped it by endorsing the good standing of the newcomers—adding that the alleged paupers were worth more money than all the trustees of Cleveland combined. Isaac Hinckley settled in the southeast on lot seventy-nine, near where the line between Parma and Independence intersects the south line of Brooklyn, in the heart of a thick forest, " a mile from anybody" as his son, Abel, now says. The first table the family used there was made by Mr. Hinckley out of an ash tree. Moreover, although he owned three hundred and sixty acres of land, he had no money to buy flour, and, being in great need of breadstuffs, he offered to mortgage a hundred acres of land as security for a 418 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. barrel of flour. The Newburg miller, however, preferred the flour to the chance of getting the land, for the former would bring money more readily than the latter. Nevertheless something to eat was procured in some way, for Mr. Hinckley lived on the old place until 1851, when he died at the age of seventy- eight. Asa Brainard located near the site of the infirmary, Stephen Brainard on a place adjoining. Mr. Abel Hinckley's present residence in Brooklyn village, and Enos and Warren Brainard near where the Wade House (on Columbus street) now stands. The first settlers upon what is now known as the Brighton side of the creek were also Brainards. Two brothers, Amos and Jedediah, with a cousin named Jabin, started, with their families from Connecticut and traveled westward together as far as Ashtabula, where Jedediah, an old man of seventy, fell ill (in consequence, doubtless, of having walked all the way from Connecticut) and died. Sylvanus, his eldest son, who had a family of his own, took charge of his mother and her children, and, with Amos and Jedediah, continued the trip to Brooklyn, where they arrived in the summer of 1814. Amos located about a mile south of what is now Brighton village, where he owned three hundred acres of land. Sylvanus and Jabin settled near by. Amos had three sons and one daughter, Amos B., William, Demas and Philena—all of whom save Demas died in the township. Demas is now a hale old man of eighty-eight, and resides on a farm a mile southeast of Brighton—the place which he made his home in 1818. George and Thomas Aikens, brothers of Mrs. Amos Brainard, had preceded that gentleman by a year or more, and had taken up land on the Brighton side, but the Aikens family did not occupy it until some time afterward. This land Amos Brainard cultivated for the Aikens, and on that farm, by Dennis Brainard, the first ground was broken on the south side of the creek. Cyril and Irad, sons of George Aikens, lived on the place after a time. Cyril died there and Irad in Black River, whither he moved at an early day. George and Thomas Aikens resided on the Brooklyn side, near the site of the infirmary, where George Aikens, the grandson of the former George, now resides. One of the stirring citizens of early Brooklyn was Diodate Clark, of Connecticut, who settled in the township in 1815, and was afterward a man of some prominence in its history. He was the first male school teacher in Brooklyn, and was a wide-awake business man. Ile eventually became concerned in large enterprises in Cleveland, where it is said he was the first to engage in the lime trade: He died on his old homestead in 1877. James Sears, of Connecticut, settled in Brooklyn in 1817, and still lives—now aged eighty-upon a farm two miles west of Brooklyn village. He worked at first in Cleveland, and boarded with Asa Brainard. After a time he took up a farm and has lived upon it ever since. Jeremiah Gates, originally from Connecticut, made his home in Delhi, New York, in 1815, and in 1816 walked from that place to Brooklyn for the purpose of examining the country. Satisfied with its appearance he walked back to Delhi (having occupied six weeks in the entire journey), married there, and in company with his wife, his brother Nathaniel, and another man (who soon returned east) set out for Brooklyn. A horse and wagon conveyed them to Buffalo, where they took a vessel and thus made their way to Cleveland. Jeremiah was too poor to buy land, and for the first two years after his arrival in Brooklyn worked in Philo Scovill's sawmill. In 1819 he assisted his brother Nathaniel in the erection of a sawmill at what is known as five-mile lock. In 1820 he bought a farm in Brooklyn and there continued to reside until his death, in 1870. His widow survives him, and lives on the old place, in Brighton village, aged eighty-five. Richard and Samuel Lord and Josiah Barber, of the firm of Lord and Barber before mentioned, removed to that part of Brooklyn which is now the west side of Cleveland as early as 1818, and resided there until they died. Edwin Foote was among the early residents of Brooklyn, as was his brother William, who remained but a short time, however, before removing to Cleveland. Edwin settled on lot ninety, in the southeast corner of the township, and devoted himself to fanning and gardening, in which latter occupation he was especially successful. Ansel P. Smith, who set up the first wagon shop in Brooklyn, came out from Connecticut, in 1830, with his brother-in-law, Timothy Standard, an old sea captain, and together they opened a store in Brooklyn village, the first one in that locality. After an experience of five years they gave up the venture-Smith going west and Standard back to Connecticut. After that, there was not much done in the mercantile line in Brooklyn village until 1843, when A. W. Poe opened a store and conducted it successfully for thirty years.. A Mr. Huntington, from Connecticut, opened a store in Brighton in 1840, where John Thorne, a Frenchman, had previously started a blacksmith shop. Epaphroditus Ackley, a miller, settled on Walworth run in 1814, worked a while in Barber's mill, and moved away after a residence of some years. Asa Ackley, of New York, located at a later period near where the infirmary now stands, and opened the first blacksmith shop on the Brooklyn side. In the foregoing sketch of Brooklyn's early settlement it has been the aim of the chronicler to treat principally of such incidents and persons as were identified with the first decade of the township's history. After that, settlers multiplied so rapidly that the newcomers obtained no distinctive place in the records of the time. Those who lead the van in the settlement of a new country usually form but a handful, whose numbers may be easily counted, and whose BROOKLYN - 419 progress may be easily traced; and they, too, are the ones around whom settles the peculiar interest which always attaches to the "pioneers" of a locality. Brooklyn, being adjacent to Cleveland, shared to some extent the prosperity of that city, and its progress, after about 1825, was quite rapid. Although shorn of 'a large part of its original territory, by the annexation of Ohio City to Cleveland in 1854, and by subsequent minor encroachments, it is still numerously populated, and is not only a prosperous but a quite wealthy township. EARLY MILLS. The first sawmill put up in Brooklyn township was erected by Philo Scovill, of Cleveland, in 1817, on Mill creek, about two miles west of where Brooklyn village now is. Mr. Scovill not only furnished lumber to the early Settlers, but also made window sashes and doors. Lord & Barber (the great land proprietors,) put up a similar mill there not long afterward, and about the same time a third sawmill was built on the same creek by Warren and Gershom Young. In 1819 Nathaniel Gates built a sawmill on the creek, at what is known as five-mile lock. The first gristmill in the old township is supposed to have been built by one of the Kelleys, of Cleveland, on Walworth run, near where the Atlantic and Great Western railroad now crosses that stream. The next one, known as Barber's mill, built in 1816, was run by Elijah Young for a while, and stood about a half a mile above Kelley's. There were some other establisbments on Walworth run, but they do not concern I he history of the present township of Brooklyn. ORGANIZATION. Brooklyn township was organized June 1, 1818, and embraced originally "all that part of Cleveland situated on the west side of the Cuyahoga river, excepting a farm owned by Alfred Kelley." Since then a large portion of its territory has been restored to Cleveland. It is said that when the township was about to be organized Captain Ozias Brainard was anxious to call it Egypt " because so much corn was raised there," but the idea met with no favor, and the name of Brooklyn was adopted because it sounded well, and not from any desire to honor the place of that name in New York, since nearly all of the early settlers came from Connecticut. The first book of township records was destroyed by fire, and the list of township officers here given dates necessarily from 1837. Since that time those officers, with the years of their election, have been as follows: TRUSTEES. 1837, Samuel H. Barstow, Diodate Clark, William Allen; 1838, S. H. Barstow, William Allen, Samuel Tyler; 1839, William Burton, Martin Kellogg, Russell Pelton; 1840, Martin Kellogg, Russell Felton, William Burton; 1841, Jonathan Fish, Russell Pelton, Martin Kellogg; 1842, Martin Kellogg Jonathan Fish, Benjamin Sawtell; 1843, Ezra Honeywell, William Hartness, Philo Rowley; 1844, Morris Jackson, Ezra Honeywell, Philo Rowley; 1895, Samuel Tyler, Samuel Storer, Levi Lockwood; 1846, Samuel Storer, R. C. Selden, Levi Lockwood; 1847, R. C. Selden Samuet Storer, Philo Rowley; 1848, Martin Kellogg, Benjamin Sawtell, Seth Brainard; 1849, James Sears, Benjamin Sawtell, Ambrose Anthony; 1850, James Sears, Francis Branch, Ambrose Anthony. 1851, Ambrose Anthony, James Sears. Francis Branch; 1852, Francis Branch, Ambrose Anthony, James Sears; 1853, Ambrose Anthony, James Sears, Francis Branch; 1854, John Morrill, James Sears, Homer Strong; 1855, Clark S. Gates, John Goes, James Sears; 1856, David S. Brainard, Martin Kellogg, John L. Johnson; 1857, D. S. Brainard, Alfred Kellogg, J. L. Johnson; 1858, C. L. Gates, Alfred Kellogg, James Sears; 1859, Alfred Kellogg, James Sears, John Reeve; 1860, James Sears, John Reeve, Alfred Kellogg. 1861, Francis S. Pelton, John Reeve, Martin K. Rowley; 1862, Thomas James, James W. Day, M. K. Rowley; 1853, Joseph Marmann, Alfred Kellogg, Levi Fish; 1864, Alfred Kellogg, Levi Fish, William Lehr (resigned in November, and James Sears appointed. The latter resigned in December, and Francis S. Pelton was appointed). 1865, Jacob Siringer, F. S. Pelton, John Ross; 1866, Jacob Siringer, John Ross, Jacob Hum; 1867, Jacob Siringer, John Ross, Marcus Dennerlie; 1868, Jefferson Fish, Samuel Sears, Bethuel Fish; 1869, Jefferson Fish. Samuel Sears, David S. Brainard; 1870, Jefferson Fish, John Myers, Samuel Sears. 1871, Robert Curtiss, John Meyer, Daniel W. Hoyt; 1872, John Meyer, Erhart Wooster, Robert Curtiss; 1873, Erhart Wooster, J. C. Wait, Carter Stickney; 1874, Robert Curtiss, D. W. Hoyt, J. C, Wait; 1875, John Williams, John Schmehl, William S. Curtiss; 1876, John Williams, Charles E. Terrell, Seymour Trowbridge; 1877, C. E. Terrell, Seymour Trowbridge, Charles Miller; 1878, Sanford R. Brainard, William Thomas, Francis H. Chester; 1879, William Thomas, S. R. Brainard, Charles Miller. CLERKS. 1837, C. L. Russell; 1838 and 1839, Samuel H. Fox; 1840 '41 and '42, Francis Fuller; 1843 and 1844, John II. Sargeant; (In September, 1814, Sargeant removed, and George L. Chapman was appointed.) 1845, Charles Winslow; 1846 to 1854, inclusive, C. E. Hill; 1855, F. W. Pelton; (Resigned in July, and C. E. Hill appointed.) 1856, Bolles M. Brainard; (Died in August, and Charles H. Babcock appointed.) 1857, C. H. Babcock; 1858, Frederick Dalton; 1858, Joseph B. Shull; 1860 and 1861, Charles H. Babcock; 1862 and 1863, Henry Fish; 1864, H. Chester; 1865 and 1866, Frederick W. Wirth; 1867, F. H. Chester; 1868 and 1869, Edwin Chester; 1870, Edward F. Fuller; 1871, B. J. Ross; 1872 to 1877, inclusive, William Treat; 1878 and 1879, Charles N. Collins, TREASURERS. 1837, Ozias Brainard; 1838, C. E. Hill; 1839, Ozias Brainard; 1840 James Ray (Resigned in November, and C. E. Hill appointed.) 1841 and 1842, C. E. Hill; 1843 and 1844, David S. Brainard; 1845, Bethuel Fish; 1846 and 1847, D. S. Brainard;, 1848 and 1849, Bethuel Fish; 1850, Francis Fuller; (Died in August, and Bethuel Fish appointed.) 1851, Elam Cor, bin; 1852 to 1854, inclusive, S. J. Lewis; 1855 to 1857, inclusive, William Wilson; 1858 to 1860, inclusive, Carlos Jones; 1861, Benj. R. Beavis; 1862, D. S. Brainard; 1863 and 1864, Ozias Fish; 1865 and 1866, F. H. Chester; 1867 to 1869, inclusive, Jacob Schneider; 1870 and 1871 Carver Stickney; 1872, John Duncan; (Died in April, and George J Duncan appointed.) 1873 to 1875, inclusive, G. J. Duncan; (Removed in November, and F. II. Chester appointed.) 1876 and 1877, F. H. Chester; 1878 and 1879, Russell A. Brown. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1836, George W. Marsh; 1837, C. L. Russell, William Burton; 1838, Benjamin Doud, Heenan A. Hurlbut; 1840, C. L. Russell; 1841, Benj. Doud, Samuel Tyler; 1842, Scott W. Sayles; 1843, J. H. Sargent; 1844, Benjamin Sawtell; 1845, Andrew White, Ezra R. Benton, Henry L. Whitman; 1847 Homer Strong, Samuel Storer; 1848, H. L. Whitman; 1850, Homer Strong, J. A. Redington, Samuel Storer; 1852, Ezra Honeywell, Wells Porter; 1853, Charles H. Babcock; .'855, Austin M. Case, Daniel Stephan ; 1856, Chas. H. Babcock; 1857, Felix Nicola; 1859, Chas. H. Babcock; 1860, Felix Nicola; 1862, Chas. H. Babcock; 1863, Felix Nicola (resigned in December, 1864); 1865, Benjamin R. Beavis, John Reeve; 1868, Chas. H. Babcock, John S. Fish; 1871, Joseph M. Poe, Chas. H. Babcock; 1872, Ambrose Anthony; 1874, Chas. H. Babcock, (resigned in October, 1874,) William Treat; 1875, Ambrose Anthony; 1877, William Treat, Charles N. Collins; 1878, Ambrose Anthony; 1879, C. N. Collins and W. Treat, CHURCHES. According to the best recollection of Brooklyn's early settlers, the first religious services in the township were held by a traveling Univeralist preacher whose name has been forgotten. He preached the funeral sermon of the mother of James Fish ill 1816, and preached twice in Brooklyn after that event. About that time Rev. Messrs. Booth and Goddard, Methodist circuit riders, preached in Brooklyn, and under the auspices of the latter, about 1817, THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF BROOKLYN was organized in a log house which stood in the rear of the site of the present Methodist Episcopal Church 420 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY. and which was used as a town house and a place of worship for both the Methodists and the Congregationalists. The first Methodist Episcopal class, however, had already been formed in 1814 at the house of Ozias Brainard, where the Methodists used to assemble for weekly prayer and conversation, before the coming of any minister. Ebenezer Fish, Sylvanus Brainard and Seth Brainard were the first three members of the class, which, however, was shortly increased to sixteen. Ebenezer Fish was the first class leader, and when it was agreed to divide the class into two sections—a part, meeting on the north, and a part on the south side of the creek—Seth Brainard was chosen as the second class leader. The first presiding elder was Charles Waddell, and the early ministers of the church were Rev. Messrs. James Taylor, John Crawford, Solomon Menier, Adam Poe, H. O. Sheldon, James McIntire, — Dickson, Elmore Yokum, — Hazard, — Howe. The- later pastors have been Rev. Messrs. N. S. Albright, Joseph Mattock, Alfred Holbrook and the Rev. Mr. Hoadley, the latter being the pastor September 1, 1879. The church has now a membership of one hundred. The trustees are A. W. Poe, J. W. Fish, Ozias Fish, H. Richardson, R. Pelton, L. G. Foster, S. R. Brainard and J. Tompkins. The class leaders are George Storer, S. Strowbridge, J. Tompkins, W. Woodard, S. Wallace, A. W. Poe. The Sunday-school has about one hundred scholars, and is in charge of T. K. Dissette. The congregation worshiped in the log town-house until 1827, when a framed church-edifice was erected upon the site of the present structure. The latter was built in 1848, the old one being moved, and being now used as a private residence. THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. This is located at Brooklyn village and was organized July 23, 1819, with the following members: Amos Brainard, Isaac Hinckley and Sallie his wife, James Smith and Eliza his wife, and Rebecca Brainard. The organization took place in the town-house, and was effected by Rev. Messrs. Thomas Barr and William Hanford, who were sent for this purpose by the Cleveland presbytery, to which the Brooklyn church was attached. Previous to the organization Isaac Hinckley-who was the first deacon chosen by the church—used to conduct religious meetings at the house of Moses Fish, where the Congregationalists often-assembled for worship. The membership was not increased until October 3, 1819, when Ozias, Mary, Ira and Phoebe Brainard were taken into the fold. The Cleveland presbytery supplied preachers occasionally for somc years; services being held, as a rule, once a fortnight. We learn from the records that down to 1847 the ministers who preached for the church were Rev. Messrs. William McLain, T. I. Bradstreet, Randolph Stone, B. B. Drake, ____ Fox and ___ Foltz. In 1847 the congregation—being much reduced in strength—ceased to assemble for worship and remained inactive until 1851, when public services were renewed under the ministry of Rev. Calvin Durfee, who was followed successively by Rev. Messrs. James A. Bates, E. H. Votaw and J. W. Hargrave, the latter being now in charge. In April, 1867, the church united with the Cleveland Congregational conference, having till that time been attached to the Cleveland presbytery. In 1830 the congregation left the old loghouse and worshiped in a new church which was built in that year. It is still used, being one of the oldest church buildings in Ohio, but will probably be vacated in November of this year (1879) for a new and handsome brick church, now nearly completed. The church membership is now eighty-four. The deacons are Hiram Welch, A. S. Hinckley and Ebenezer Fish, and the trustees are M. L. Mead, I. N. Turner and Ebenezer Fish.' BRIGHTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. For some years previous to 1844, the Methodist residents of Brighton and vicinity worshiped at the church in Brooklyn village, but in that year they effected a church organization of their own. They purchased the building previously used by the Reformed Methodists, and there they still worship.* The present membership is eighty. The trustees are Asahel Brainard, Charles Gates, Leonard Fish, H. C. Gates, George Brainard, Demas Brainard, Thomas Davies, Martin Oviatt and Albert Ingham; the stewards are J. K. Brainard, Abel Fish, Luther Brainard, Charles Gates, George W. Brainard, William Avann and Asahel Brainard; the class leaders are George W. Brainard, William Avann, Thomas Davis, J. M. Brainard and Russell Brainard. The pulpit is being supplied at present by Rev. E. H. Bush. THE EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH. This is a German organization, located at Brighton, which was formed about 1840. Pubhc worship was first held in a school-house a mile east of Brighton village, the first minister being Rev. Mr. Allard, of Cleveland. In 1844 the church erected at Brighton the substantial house of worship now used. About one hundred families comprise the congregation, which is under the charge of Rev. Mr. Locher. The trustees are George Riedel, Caspar Janney, Martin Walter, Gottleib Merkel and Christian Haas. CHURCH OF THE LADY OF THE SACRED HEART. This Roman Catholic church was organized at Brighton in 1875, by Rev. P. F. Quigley, D.D., in which year a handsome brick house of worship, cost- * The Reformed Methodists had seceded from the Methodist Episcopal church of Brooklyn, and started a church on the south side of tbe creek in 1840, but dissolved three years later. The prominent members were Julia and Ogden Hinckley, Cyrus Brainard, and Joseph and Matilda Williams. BROOKLYN - 421 ing $10,000, was built. Although Brighton then contained many Catholics, their number has latterly been materially lessened by removals, and for nearly a year (since December, 1878) the church has been opened but once for public worship. The last pastor of the church was Rev. T. Marshall, who succeeded Father Quigley in 1877. THE DISCIPLE CONGREGATION. Early in 1879 a number of the members of the West Side Disciple Church, residing in Brooklyn village— (among the prominent ones being H. Brown and Wm. Towsley)—agitated the subject of organizing a church in Brooklyn, and in May held their first meeting in the Brooklyn Opera House, on which occasion a large number of persons participated in the exercises. An independent church has not yet been formed, but regular Sabbath meetings have been held in the Opera House since that time, the congregation, for the present, being attached as a mission to the West Side church, whence the preaching is supplied. About forty members are included in the congregation, and it is probable that a church will speedily be established. SCHOOLS. Miss Dorcas Hickox, sister of Abraham Hickox, a blacksmith of Cleveland, taught school in Brooklyn as early as 1818, in the house of James Fish. She had eigbt or ten scholars, of whom Isaiah W. Fish is still living. Miss Hickox, who was probably the first school-teacher in those parts, taught but one summer. Who her immediate successor was is not clear, but it is moderately certain that Diodate Clark wielded the birch not long after Miss Hickox's time, and a famous pedagogue he was. After Clark, Stephen Brainard taught in a little log school-house on David Brainard's place, and then Lyndon Freeman, of Parma, was for a while the leader under whom the aspiring youth of the day climbed the rugged ]lights of learning. Apart from the villages of Brooklyn and West Cleveland—which manage their own school affairs— the township has now five school districts and six schools, with an average attendance, of one hundred and seventy-two, out of an enrollment of two hundred and sixty-four scholars. The number of teachers employed is seven, and the yearly expenditure for school purposes about $3,300. The members of the board of education are Frank H. Chester, Carver Stickney, Henry Perrin, Claus Fiedmann and J. Featherstone. The value of school property in the township districts in 1879 was $13,500. Brooklyn village, which under the union school law has managed its own school affairs since 1869, has a fine brick school-edifice, in which there five departments, including a high school. The daily attendance of pupils averages one hundred and seventy-six, and the teachers— including the superintendent-number five, to whom $2,400 are paid yearly. The village of West Cleveland has three schoolhouses—on Detroit street, Jones street and McCart street—with five schools and five teachers. The attendance averages nearly three hundred, and the cost for school support is nearly $4,000 yearly. The present board of education is composed of Messrs. Alex. Forbes, M. B. Nixon, G. B. Mills, W. P. Rannev, A. W. Fairbanks and Oliver King. THE BROOKLYN ACADEMY. In the year 1840 Moses Merrill, a New York schoolteacher, and sometimes Methodist preacher, happened to visit Brooklyn about the time certain of its prominent citizens were agitating the subject of starting an academy. They secured Merrill to teach for them, put up a framed building on the lot now occupied by the Brooklyn village school, called it the Brooklyn Academy and opened it as a select school of somE pretensions. It flourished for several years as an important institution of learning, but gave way eventually- before the rapid strides of the public school system and disappeared. The old academy building is now used in part for the village post office. THE BRIGHTON ACADEMY, was founded by Samuel H. Barstow about 1840, when Brighton was regarded as a place with a brilliant future before it. The brilliant future failed, however, to reveal itself, and the Brighton Academy went down within a brief season. BRIGHTON. The village of Brighton was laid out originally upon land occupied by Warren Young's farm, and additional surveys were made from time to time. Its progress • was unmarked by special incident until 1836, when, under the influence of the energy of Samuel H. Barstrow, matters began to look up. Speculation in lots began to grow earnest, and to further stimulate the spirit of the hour, Mr. Barstow procured the incorporation of the village. At the first election, early in 1837, twenty-three votes were cast for mayor, Nathan Babcock receiving fourteen and Sam'l H. Barstow nine. A. S. Palmer was . chosen as recorder, and a Mr. Clemens as. marshal and street commissioner. In less, than a year, however, Brighton came to a stand-still. When the next election time came the villagers concluded that the new departure was a failure, and declined to hold an election, and the charter went by default. Since that time the progress of Brighton has been slow, yet in all it has been considerable. It has a population of perhaps eight hundred, is abundantly supplied with stores and hotels, has three churches, and does a small business in the manufacture of wagons. The stores have a good trade with the surrounding country, which contains numerous thrifty and substantial farmers, many of whom are Germans, as are also many of the villagers. BROOKLYN VILLAGE. Brooklyn Village (originally called Brooklyn Center) was laid out in part in the year 1830 by Moses Fish, an early settler and the owner of considerable 422 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY land in what is now the center of the village. Fish laid out twenty-five lots, and directly afterward Ebenezer Fish, his brother, also a large land owner, began a survey for the same purpose. He sold off only a few lots, however, before disposing of the residue of his property to Betts & Bibbens, land speculators, who platted an extensive tract. This was the first work of importance in the way of starting the village. Later, at various times, it was followed by numerous additional surveys by a dozen different parties, some of whom hare yet to realize on their investments. Although the village began thus early to push itself into notice, and thrived apace, it was not incorporated until August 5, 1867. The persons who have served as village officials from that date to 1879, inclusive, are as follows: 1867. Mayor, Bethuel Fish; recorder, Leonard Foster; trustees, A., W. Poe, J. S. Fish, Adam Kroehle, C. B. Galentine, Geo. Storer; marshal, John May. 1868. Mayor, Bethuel Fish ; recorder, Leonard Foster; treasurer, Levi Fish; trustees, A. W. Poe, Adam Kroehle, Seymour Trowbridge, L. C. Pixley, J. M. Curtiss; marshal, O. M. Wallace. 1869. Mayor, Seymour Trowbridge; recorder, Wesley Trowbridge; treasurer, John S. Fish; trustees, Lewis Roberts, Eliphalet Wyatt, Alanson Clark, A. P, Wirth, Geo. Storer; marshal. Samuel B. Root. 1870. Mayor, Seymour Trowbridge; clerk, Wesley Trowbridge; treasurer, J. S. Fish; council, I. W. Fish, Henry Fish, Wm. Towsley, Lewis Roberts, A. P. Wirth, J. M. Poe; marshal, 0. M. Wallace. 1871. Mayor, Seymour Trowbridge; clerk, Wesley Trowbridge; treasurer, J. S. Fish; council, Lewis Roberts, A. P. Wirth, J. M. Poe, S. D. Phelps, L. C. Pixley, J. H. Storer; marshal, M. J. Truman. 1872. Mayor, E. H. Bush; treasurer, H. Fish; clerk, L. G. Foster: council, L. C. Pixley, J. H. Storer, S. D. Phelps, A. W. Poe, Ozias Fish Adam Kroehle; marshal, Shelby Luce. 1873. Mayor, Wm. Towsley; clerk, L. G. Foster; treasurer, H. Fish; council, Adam Kroehle, A. W. Poe, Ozias Fish, Jas. Gay. L. C. Pixley, Wesley Trowbridge, marshal, Shelby Luce. 1874. Mayor, Albert Allyn; clerk, R. W. Whiteman; treasurer, J. S. Fish; council, Wesley Trowbridge, L. C. Pixley, Jas. Gay, E. Wyatt, F. Clifford, J. Schneider; marshal, Shelby Luce. 1875. Mayor, Albert Allyn; clerk, R. W. Whiteman; treasurer, J. S. Fish, council, E. Wyatt, F. Clifford, J. Schneider, Jas. Towsley, Calvin Allyn. Carlos Jones; marshal, Shelby Luce. 1876. Mayor, Henry Ingham; clerk, R. W. Whiteman; treasurer, R. A. Brown; council, Jas. Towsley, Calvin Allyn, Carlos Jones, A. Mandeville, Aug. Esch, Theodore Paul; marshal, A. L. Van Ornnm. 1877. Mayor, Henry Ingham; clerk, R. W. Whiteman; treasurer, R. A. Brown; council, Aug. Esch, A. Mandeville, Theo. Paul, Lewis Roberts, Thos. Quirk, M. H. Farnsworth; marshal, A. L. Van Ornum. 1878. Mayor, J. S. Fish; clerk, J. H. Richardson; treasurer, Russell Brown; council, M. H. Farnsworth, Thos. Quirk, Lewis Roberts, J. W. Naff, Chas. Robinson, Peter Vonder Au; marshal, A. L. Van Ornum. 1879. Mayor, J. S. Fish; clerk, J H. Richardson; treasurer, Russell Brown; council, J. W. Naff. Char. Robinson, Peter Vonder Au, I. N. Turner. J. H. Storer, G. R. Davis; marshal, A. L. Van Grimm. Brooklyn village is now a thriving place of about fifteen hundred inhabitants, contains many fine residences, has some important manufacturing establishments in and near the borough, and will doubtless improve in various ways after the completion of the Valley railroad. WEST CLEVELAND. The village of West Cleveland, with a population of one thousand five hundred, joins the city of Cleveland on the west, having its northern front on Lake Erie. That portion of Brooklyn was not settled until a comparatively recent date, and had at first nearly all its habitations along the line of what is now Detroit street. That thoroughfare is still the main avenue of West Cleveland. It stretches, within-the village, two miles and a half west of the city limits, and is embellished with many handsome suburban residences of Cleveland merchants. West Cleveland was incorporated in 1870, as a defensive measure—so it is said-against a prospective absorption by Cleveland. As the village records, down to a very late date, have been lost, we can only give a list of the mayors and clerks, as follows: 1870—mayor, H. W. Davis; clerk, Charles M. Safford. 1872-mayor, S. F. Pearson; clerk, Charles M. Safford. 1874—mayor, William Mitchell; clerk, Alfred Lees. 1876—mayor, Alex Forbes; clerk, Alfred Lees. 1878—mayor, L. H. Ware; clerk, John Hawley. Although the village is quite populous, it is so closely allied to Cleveland in a material sense that it is simply a city suburb. Its inhabitants are mostly engaged in business in the city, and attend religious worship there. There is no religious organization in West Cleveland, and but one place where religious services are held-a mission chapel where Sabbath meetings are maintained under the auspices of the Young Men's Christian Association, for the benefit of all denominations. THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FARM. This is located on Detroit street, in West Cleveland, and covers sixty-one acres, upon which there are substantial buildings. In 1868 the widow of Simeon Jennings gave to the Children's Aid Society of Cleveland eleven acres of land and the buildings upon it, to be used as an industrial school farm. The society obtained by donations suffrcient money to purchase fifty additional acres, and since that date the place has been devoted to the noble purpose of providing for destitute and homeless children, training them in useful knowledge and eventually placing them in comfortable homes. During 1878 the children received numbered one hundred and forty-seven, of whom eighty-eight were placed in good homes. The average number of children in the institution is forty. LINNDALE. Linndale, is a station on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad, and was at one time a place regarding which many bright anticipations were indulged in. Three hundred acres of land were purchased, in 1872, by Robert Linn, and others of Cleveland, a town was laid out, building lots were freely sold and Linndale made a promising start. The Linndale Stove and Hollow Ware Company expended seven thousand dollars in erecting a foundry there, began operations on a oapital of fifteen thousand dollars, and with a force of fifty hands soon gave a business appearance to the place. Quite a number of dwellings went up, a newspaper called tirt Linndale Enterprise, under the editorship of Mr. Robinson, was called into existence, and a hotel and several stores went into operation. Unhappily, however, for the project, the financial crisis of 1873 stopped the growth of the new town, MARTIN KELLOGG was born in Easthampton parish, Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., on the 16th of February, 1793. His ancestors were Irish, and settled in this country at an early date. His father, whose name was also Martin, was a native of Marlboro', Conn., having been born there about the year 1765. He was a man of great integrity and enterprise; was often called upon for advice and counsel, and, although not a member, was a constant attendant and liberal supporter of the Episcopal Church. He married Rachel Hosford, daughter of Dudley Hosford, of Marlboro', by whom he had six children, viz.: Rachel, Martin, Joel, Alfred, Rechelsea, and Lucy Ann. The latter is the only member of this family now living. Mr. Kellogg died in Easthampton in 1825. His wife survived him twenty-five years, and died in January, 1850. The subject of this sketch received a common- school education, and, until he reached his majority, remained upon his father's farm. He was then employed in laboring by the month, which he continued for four years. In 1817 he came to Ohio, and remained one year. Returning to Connecticut, he was married, on the 2d of June, 1818, to Laura Adams, daughter of Benjamin Adams, of Colchester, New London Co. They at once set out for Ohio, in company with the families of Judge Barber, Mr. Watkins, Mr. Branch, and Mr. Ansel Young. They traveled the entire distance with ox-teams, the journey consuming forty days. Arriving at Cleveland in July, Mr. Kellogg settled in Brooklyn, on the place now owned by his son Alfred, and situated on Scranton Avenue. He immediately commenced clearing his farm, and, although subjected to all the hardships of pioneer life, was never discouraged. At the end of a comparatively few years he possessed a comfortable home, and on account of its location his land subsequently became very valuable. In 1856 his wife died, and he was married on the 8th of March, 1860, to Mrs. Laura Walker, who died July 17, 1863. He only survived her a little more than one month, his death occurring on the 25th of August following. Mr. Kellogg was a man of staunch integrity and high moral character ; an enterprising citizen, and one who took an active part in forwarding local improvements and the best interests of the community in which he lived. Formerly a Whig, when that party gave place to the Republican organization he naturally gravitated to its ranks. Although taking an interest in political movements, he never held nor sought public office. Mr. Kellogg had four children,-Alfred, Horace, Charles M., and Sanford B., all deceased except Alfred, the eldest, to whom this memoir and the accompanying portrait are due. BROOKLYN - 423 which at its best contained about eight hundred inhabitants. The land company, which had absorbed Mr. Lion's interests, failed to meet its payments on the land; purchasers became alarmed concerning the titles and many of them forsook the place. The company forfeited its lands to the original owners and Linndale staggered under the blow. The paper suspended, the hotel and stores closed, and the Linndale Stove Company, which maintained a somewhat longer struggle for existence, went down in 1875 in utter failure. Wm. Buckholz, who had a small manufactory of portable feed-mills, carried on his business in the town until the spring of 1879, when he removed to Cleveland. Since 1875, Linndale has been a very small and very quiet village, but faith in its future still animates some sanguine hearts, and certainly there is nothing improbable in its becoming a prosperous town. CEMETERIES. The first burials in the old township of Brooklyn were made in a lot near the present graveyard on Scranton avenue, in Cleveland. These burials were four in number, and the next one—that of Mary Wilcox, mother-in-law of James Fish, was made in 1816, upon a half-acre lot owned by Mr. Fish. That lot Mr. Fish subsequently donated to the township for use as a public graveyard, and it is now a part of the Scranton avenue cemetery. The four graves above referred to were obliterated long ago, and occupied it is thought, a spot of ground now traversed by the avenue. The next public burial ground was laid out in 1844, east of the Methodist church in Brooklyn village. There are now six or seven burial grounds in the township, including Riverside cemetery, a sketch of which will be found in the history of Cleveland. POST OFFICES. A post office was established in Brighton in 1836, which until 1867 was the station for Brooklyn village. It is known as Brooklyn post office, and has had as postmasters, from 1836 to 1879, the following: Samuel II. Barstow, Geo. W. Hibbard, William J. Case, C. H. Babcock, G. Woodruff, Daniel Selzer, A. Van Derwyst and Chas. Huhn. Brooklyn Village post- office was not established until 1867, since which time the posmasters at that point have been J. M. Poe, A. W. Poe, E. II. Bush, Samuel Sears and John Reeve. West Cleveland post office was established in 1877, C. E. Terrell being the first appointee. His successors have been Messrs. Beebe, Sweeny, and Oldfelder; the latter being the present incumbent. THE CLEVELAND DRYER COMPANY. This company, which is carrying on an extensive manufacture of super-phosphate near Brooklyn village, originated in 1863, when P. B. Bradley and Coe Brothers, under the name now used by the corporation, began to make super-phosphate on Mill creek, near the line of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad. There they employed about twenty men in their works, which were destroysd by fire in 1874. After that event the partners organized "The Cleveland Dryer Company" as a corporation, with a capital of $50,000, and built the works now used by it, on the line of the proposed Valley railroad. The company occupies eleven acres of land at that point, employs fifty men, and confines itself to the manufacture of the Buckeye and Forest City brands of super-phosphate. THE LAKE ERIE DRYER COMPANY. This is a firm composed of G. W. Dart and W. H. Gabriel, manufacturers of the Excelsior super-phosphate and pondrette at a point about a mile east of Brooklyn village. The works cover about two acres on the creek, and give employment to twenty men. A Mr. De Mar was the first to start these works, about 1865, being succeeded in 1869 by Joseph Cook, who sold out in 1876 to the firm now in possession. OTHER MANUFACTURES. Davis & Wirth are somewhat extensively engaged at Brooklyn village in the manufacture of boots, shoes and slippers, and employ an average force of twenty men. Davis & Richardson inaugurated the business at Brooklyn in 1864. After them Davis, Pelton & Co. continued it; being followed by Davis & Wallace Brothers, who dissolved in 1870. Mr. Davis then taansferred his business to Cleveland, whence in January, 1879, he returned to Brooklyn, and in company with Mr. Wirth renewed the manufacture of bootsand shoes in that village. Adam Kroehle carries on a large brick tannery at Brooklyn village, in which he tans about ten thousand hides and skins annually, employing ten men. Mr. Kroehle has conducted the business since 1862, when he purchased it from Mr. Storer, who started it about 1840. E. Jorns has a small tannery at the foot of Brooklyn village hill, where he turns out about twenty hides weekly. On the Brighton side of the creek, Charles Mueller has a similar establishment of like capacity. NURSERIES. Ebenezer Fish inaugurated the nursery business in Brooklyn, in 1840, but did not develop it to any extent until he placed it in charge of Wm. Curtiss, who, after expanding the trade and making it profitable, became Mr. Fish's partner. He afterward bought him out, extending the business still more and eventually establishing numerous nurseries in the township, to which he gave the general name of the Forest City Nurseries. In 1859 he took in his brother, J. M. Curtiss, as a partner, who upon the death of William Curtiss, in 1860, assumed control of the business, and so extended it that between the years 1865 and 1875 his annual sales reached as high as sixty thousand apple and peach trees alone. In 1875 he sold his interest in the nurseries to M. A. Wilhelmy, who has since then controlled them. 424 - THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY . RAILWAYS. Brooklyn is crossed in a diagonal direction, from northeast to southwest, by the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Indianapolis railroad, its only station in the township being at Linndale. The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern railroad crosses West Cleveland, and also bears southwestwardly, but not so far to the south as the former road. The Rocky River railroad runs along the northern end of the township, parallel with the lake, to Rocky river. A street railway connects Brooklyn village with Cleveland. The Valley railroad, to run from Cleveland to Canton, is now in process of construction, passing across the eastern portion of this township. The entire distance is graded, and it is now expected that trains will run between Canton and Cleveland by the first of January, 1880. The owners have donated thirty- one acres of land in Brooklyn to the company, as a site for its car-shops, depot, etc., and it is confidently believed that the completion of the enterprise will bring a decided increase of prosperity to the township. GLENN LODGE, I. O. O. F. Glen Lodge, No. 263, was organized in Brighton, March 21, 1855, with ten charter members. The present membership is one hundred and thirteen, the officers being as follows: George Schmehl, N. G.; J. C. Wait, V. G.; Walter H. Gates, R. S.; William Treat, P. S.; George Reidel, treasurer. GLENN ENCAMPMENT, I. O. O. F. Glenn Encampment, No. 181, was organized at Brighton in 1874, with ten charter members. In June, 1879, it was removed to Cleveland, and named Cleveland Encampment, after an organization which had previously existed in that city, but which had been suspended. The present officers are J. J. Quay, C. P.; J. S. Wood, H. P.; P. Shackleton, S. W.; W. H. Newton, J. W.; Wm. Treat, scribe; C. Stickney, treasurer. BROOKLYN LODGE, F. & A. M. Brooklyn Lodge, No. 454, was organized October 18, 1871, with the following charter members: E. T. Ellsworth, Henry Richardson, Samuel B. Root, C. H. Babcock, G. R. Davis, John Lane, Frederick Wirth, Wm. Willson, Wm. Woodard, Ozias Fish, Chas. Mueller, C. W. Quirk, J. IL Storer, E. H. Bush, I. N. Turner, Thos. Quirk, Henry Fish and Theodore M. Towl. The Worshipful Masters of the lodge have been E. T. Ellsworth, C. H. Babcock, Henry Fish, R. H. Wirth, T. M. Towl, George R. Davis and D. W. Hoyt, the latter serving two terms. The present membership is thirty-eight, and the officers are as follows: D. W. Hoyt, W. M.; T. S. Davis. S. W.; A. L. Sausman, J. W.; G. R. Davis, treas.; J. H. Storer, secy.; F. Cosgrove, S. D.; W. C. Towns, J. D.; Geo. J. Duncan, tyler; E. H. Bush, chaplain. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesdays of each month, in the Masonic Hall, Brooklyn village. MILITIA COMPANIES. The Brooklyn Light Artillery was organized by Capt. Sidney Andrews in 1858, with twenty-eight men and one gun—a brass six-pounder. The command built, in 1858, the structure in Brooklyn village, still known as " The Armory," and occupied by Davis & Wirth as a shoe factory. After two years existence as a militia company, it entered the three months service in 1861, as a part of the First Ohio Light Artillery. Mention of the services of that regiment are made in the general history. After be_ ing mustered out, so many of the men volunteered into other commands that the company could not be kept up. The "Brooklyn Blues" were organized in February, 1876, by S. G. Cosgrove, as an independent company of infantry. It then numbered forty men. The first officers were S. G. Cosgrove, captain; R. W. Whiteman, first lieutenant; B. F. Storer, second lieutenant. Upon the organization of the Fifteenth Regiment Ohio National Guards, the "Blues" joined that command as Company B, and as such are still known. The company now numbers thirty-five men, its officers being T. K. Dissette, captain; W. C. Towns, first lieutenant; B. F. Storer, second lieutenant. Company B is equipped with Springfield breech-loading muskets, and owns its armory at Brooklyn village. BROOKLYN HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY NO. 1. Brooklyn village boasts a fire company, numbering thirty uniformed men, and having for apparatus a Babcock fire-extinguisher and a hook and ladder truck. No. 1 was organized in 1876, with thirty men. William Beaser was the ohief; Frederick Wirth, the first assistant, and John Sweisel, the second assistant. William Beaser is the present chief; John Sweisel, the first assistant, and H. B. Wallace, the second assistant. ABEL S. HINCKLEY. Abel S. Hinckley was born at Chatham, Middlesex county; Connecticut, on the 5th of April, 1803. He is descended from Samuel Hinckley, who came from England in 1635, and settled at Barnstable, Massachusetts, and whose grandson, Gersham, removed to Lebanon, Connecticut in 1712.. John Hinckley, a son of Gersham, settled at East Hampton, Connecticut, and died there at an advanced age, leaving a large family of children. Isaac, the oldest of this family was the father of the subject of this sketch. He was born at Chatham, on the 31st of May, 1773. He removed to Brooklyn, Ohio, in 1814, and became prominently connected with the interests of the town, holding various local offices and positions of trust. He was one of the founders of the Congregational church of Brooklyn, and for many years was one of its deacons. He died on the 9th of March, 1851, respected and regretted by all who knew him. His wife was Sarah Shepard daughter of Abel Shepard, of Chatham, Connec-