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TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 501 CHAPTER XIX, BRACEVILLE. The original proprietors of the lands of this township, who received their titles from the State of Connecticut, were Jonathan Brace, Enoch Perkins, and Roger Newberry, and the deed conveying the lands to these persons is dated April 22, 1799. On the l0th of December, 1800, the above persons associated themselves with Justin Ely, who with Jonathan Brace was proprietor of Newton township, and they together conveyed their several interests to Pardon Brown for the purpose of reconveying the same lands to the grantors, which was done the same day, and the five proprietors above named became joint owners of the soil. At a later period the proprietors made a partition of their unsold lands, giving to each one a separate interest in different tracts. In 1802 the township was surveyed into lots or sections one mile square, and by the survey of the Connecticut Land company the township embraced an area of fifteen thousand and four acres of land. The first title deed made by the proprietors to a purchaser was made to Francis Freeman, on November 21, 1803, and is the same land on which Ralph Freeman settled, being the west part of section sixteen, in the southwest part of the township. FIRST SETTLEMENTS. In the spring of 1803, a man by the name of Millan, a "squatter," built a small log cabin on the ledge, on the township line between Braceville and Warren. After completing the cabin he left it for the purpose of bringing his family, but during his absence a fire was started in the woods, probably by the Indians, as it was a common thing in those days, especially on the hunting grounds, and the Millan cabin was burned down, and he, hearing of the disaster, never returned. From this incident the township was called Millantown, which it retained until its organization in 1811, when it was named Braceville, after Jonathan Brace, one of the proprietors, as before mentioned. In July, 1803, Ralph Freeman and William Mossman, two unmarried men, came into the township and erected a log cabin on the bank of the Mahoning river near the former residence of Asa W. Parker, now the resrdence of John Hip- 502 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. pled Mossman had purchased one hundred acres of land on which the cabin was erected ; Freeman becoming owner of the land deeded to his brother, as before mentioned, in section sixteen. They kept bachelor's hall for more than a year, chopping on their lands. They had one cow which fed on browse, and the milk they kept in a gourd ; during the warm weather the handle of this gourd became infested with maggots, and to remedy the evil they cut it off, lhus seriously damaging the usefulness of the vessel. The dishes belonging to the culinary department of this pioneer establishment were necessarily very few, and they partook of their plain fare in the well-known Pennsylvania fashion of "sup and bite." William Mossman sold his interest rn the land to Ralph Freeman and went to Warren, where he married and kept a public house for some years, afterwards moving to near Buffalo. Freeman remained on his farm alone and continued to make necessary improvements, and is therefore entitled to the honor of being the first pioneer settler of Braceville. In 1804 Samuel Oviatt, Sr., of Goshen, Connecticut, purchased about one thousand acres of land in this township, and his sons, Samuel and Stephen, with their wives, moved into Braceville; these two women being the first white women in the township. Their journey was a long and tedious one, being over six weeks on the road, and coming over the Allegheny mountains by way of Pittsburg, to Warren, from which place they were compelled to cut a road through the wilderness, thus making the first wagon trail from Warren to Braceville. In this same year Jacob Earle came to the township. The winter of 1804-5 was one of great destitution to the pioneers of this township, there being as yet no mills and little grain. The Oviatt families subsisted principally on boiled corn and baked potatoes and such wild game as they could get, and for an entire week they subsisted on potatoes alone. At one time, becoming entirely destitute of provisions of any kiiid, just at sunset on a Sabbath evening, while they were reflecting on their destitute situation, as if sent by a kind Providence, a fine turkey gobbler perched upon a tree near their lonely cabin. One of the men seized hrs gun, and though it was now quite dark, he succeeded in bringing down his game, and it is safe to say that that one turkey furnished ample provision for all Braceville. Mrs. Sally (Storn) Oviatt, wife of Stephen Oviatt, was the mother of the first white child born in the township—William J. Oviatt, who moved from here to Wisconsin. An incident is related of Mrs. Oviatt, as follows: One day in the absence of the men a large deer came into the "chopping" near the cabin; she seized her husband's rifle and with unerring aim fired and brought down the game, a noble buck. She look an axe and hurried to where the deer lay, to make sure of the capture, and in her excitement, it is stated that she cut the animal's throat on the back of its neck ; at least this is a standing joke on Mrs. Oviatt in the community. In February, 1805, Joshua Bradford, with his sons, Joshua, Joel, and William, settled on lot fifteen ; and in the spring of the same year Samuel Oviatt, Sr., and his sons, Edward (and wife), Seth, and Mark, also his two daughters, settled on lot twenty-three. At this time a small tribe of Indians, with their chief, Paqua, had a camp in the forks of the Mahoning river, where they remained until the spring of 1806. This is the same tribe with which General Cleveland held a council near Conneaut in 1796. They were friendly and inoffensive, but somewhat annoying lo the whites on account of their constant begging for whiskey and powder. They were especially so to the elder Ovialt, who had brought a quantity of powder for the use of his sons in the new settlement. Early in the spring after the difficulty at Deerfield—an account of which appears elsewhere in this work—this tribe disappeared down the river in their canoes. In searching through their camping-grounds, among other things was found a large iron kettle and other utensils for making maple sugar. The kettle is now kept as a relic, and is supposed to have belonged to General Parsons, who had used it in his operations at the old salt works in Weathersfield in 1789. FIRST ELECTION OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. The first election for justice of the peace was held April 22, 1812, and Fowler Merwin was declared elected, Solomon Oviatt being the opposing candidate. The election was contested and set aside on the ground that the successful candidate was the only clerk of election. On the TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 503 30th of May following another election was held wrlh the same candidates in the field, resulting in the election of Solomon Oviatt. This election was also contested and set aside on account of informality. Forty votes were cast. The above are the only cases of contested elections or in which any election was set aside for any reason, whatever, in this township. On the 4th of July following a third election was held, and the good people of Braceville becoming wearied of the contest between the two candidates for the office, and determining to have a justice of the peace they went into the election with that kind of patriotism common in early days on 4th of July occasions, embracing all the elements that the day and occasion usually required, and succeeded in electing Robert Freeman as the first justice of Braceville. When the result of the election was officially announced three cheers were given by the crowd, and the newly elected candidate was borne upon the shoulders of the inspired electors, into the school-house, where he made a very laconic speech, of which there is no further report, and according to the custom of the times called in a "jug and grog." This would seem a remarkable mode of procedure in Braceville now, but it was then the invariable rule for the successful candidate in any election to "treat." Robert Freeman, Esq., lived with his son Ralph, and was affable and courteous rn his manner, amiable in disposition, kind and generous as a neighbor, and prominent as a citizen. He was chairman of the organization and first election of the township; was one of the first trustees, and held the office of justice of the peace until his death, being the first adult person that died in the township, He was first interred on the Freeman farm, but was afterwards removed and placed in the public cemetery at Braceville center. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. Robert Freeman, July 12, 1812; Auren Taft, May 1, 1813, three and one-half years ; Edman Oviatt, September 1, 1813, six years ; Philoceles Lewis, May 5, 1819, six years ; Samuel Oviatt, July 22, 1820, six years ; Hervey Stow, August 4, 1825, three years ; Warren Arnold, June 20, 1826 (resigned); Seth Oviatt, September 2, 1826, three year ; William Benedict, August 28, 1828, eighteen years ; Benami Johnson, August 22, 1829, six years; William Griswold, August 2, 1835, two years ; Uriah Merwin, November 10, 1837, six years ; George Lyman, June 16, 1838, nine years ; Franklin E. Stow, May 30, 1846, six years ; Ancil Bosworth, April 5, 1847, three years ; Parker Boynton, April 1, 1850, three years ; Allison A. Preston, May 1, 1852, three years ; Augustus Elwell, October 13, 1857. CONSTABLES. Harvey Allen served as constable of Braceville from 1820 to 1845 ; he was known as the standing constable of Braceville. He was pleased with the office and made an excellent offrcer, and might have served his township many years more had he not moved to Wisconsin where he has since died. Jacob S. Smith was elected in 1844 and served seven years. He was an efficient officer, and in 1859 was elected commissioner. John H. Clark served as constable from 1850 to 1860. The people of Braceville do not allow the question of politics to exclude a worthy man from holding township offices, and though the township is largely Republican, Franklrn E. Stow as township clerk, and Nathan O, Humphrey as treasurer, each held their respective offices nine years, both being Democrats. LOCATION-SURFACE FEATURES-POPULATION, Braceville township is located in the southwestern part of the county-town four north, and range five west, and is bounded on the north by Southington, east by Warren, south by Newton, and on the west by Portage county. The soil consists generally of sand and clay, productive of the ordinary cereals and superior quality of hay, and the surface generally rolling, is well adapted to all kinds of agricultural pursuits and grazing. The timber is of the general order, and varieties commonly found in this section of the State-oak, maple, etc. The Mahoning river takes its winding zig-zag course from the central part of the south line, and flowing westward across the southeast corner, enters Warren township from section six, north of the central part of the west boundary line. The northern part of the township is drained by Eagle creek and its tributaries, which takes its rise in the extreme northwest, and flowing in a southeasterly direction and crossing the west boundary in the north part of the township, and enters Warren where it empties into the Ma- honing. 504 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. The Atlantic & Great Western railroad extends from east to west almost directly through the center, making the main station at Braceville. The Cleveland & Mahoning road enters about the central part of the west line, and takes a northwest course through the township, with a station at Phalanx, directly north of Braceville. The Narrow Gauge extends through the central part of the township from north to south, connecting the stations Braceville and Phalanx, thus affording ample railroad facilities. The population of the township is almost entirely rural, there being no incoporaled towns, nor extensive manufacturing interests to collect communities of any considerable size. Braceville center is the most important point of trade and local settlement, and has two churches, two small stores, a post-office, a wagon and smith shop, a town house, and a number of dwellings. The township does not vary materrally in the census reports of the past thirty years. In 1860 it was 1,049 ; in 1870, 958, and according to the last enumeration (1880) was 1,019. POST-OFFICES. Since the day of railroads, telegraphs, and other means of communication, the post-office loses some of its importance to the public, but in early times, when the mail-carrier was the only means of communication, its importance was well known and appreciated. In 1816 the first post-office was established at Braceville, of which Auren Slow was appointed postmaster, and on the 1st day of January the first mail for Braceville was received. The first postmaster served until 1850, when he was succeeded by Franklin E. Stow, who served until he was succeeded by G. C. Reed, who was followed by Isaac Ingraham, after which F. E. Stow again took the office, which subsequently passed to the hands of the present postmaster—Seth Lee. SCHOOLS. The people of this township early sought means for the proper education of their children, and as early as Braceville had any organization whatever she had a school. The first regularly organized school in this township, and among the first in Trumbull county, was taught by Hervey Stow at the center of Braceville, and though the township has not been able to sup port schools of higher grades than the common district schools, yet these have been supplied from time lo time with ample facilities for an ordinary district school education, and the township now supports eight schools, situated in various localities of convenience throughout the township. A TERRIFIC TORNADO. The year 1860 will ever be remembered by the people of this locality as the year of the tornado. On July 23d of that year a tornado, of which the following is an account left among the papers of Franklin E. Stow, visited Braceville: In the fore part of the day the clouds indicated rain, with a gentle southwest breeze. About o'clock A. M. the wind lulled away and it became extremely hot and sultry. The first indication of an approaching storm, about 12 o'clock, was observed in the excited state of the clouds. Two dark clouds were seen rapidly approaching each other, one from the north and the other from the West; they came together and instantly a dark body was seen to fall rapidly toward the earth, about one mile northwest of Braceville Station, on the farm of Heman Rood, where the work of destruction commenced. The stoutest trees were twisted off and scattered like wisps of straw, rocks torn from their beds, fences swept away and scattered in every direction. The storm raged, whirling and roaring, and moving in a southeast direction with great rapidity. The first building in its course was Dr. Manly's farm-house, occupied by Gillette Griffin, which was torn to atoms. In the house were Mrs. Griffin, two children, and Mrs. Charles Mason; it was thrown six rods over a wood-pile seven feet high, and while the building was moving Mrs. Griffin jumped out and had her collar bone broken. Mrs. Mason and the children were buried in the ruins, the former having her skull fractured and was otherwise bruised ; the children sustained but little injury; one of them, however, was so entangled in the ruins that it could not be extracted until the frantic mother ran to the station for help. Next was the house of Charles Mason, about twenty rods distant from Manly's, which was torn to fragments ; the heavier timbers were scattered over a space of two acres, while the lighter materials were scattered far and wide. The power and whirl of the wind is shown in TRUMBULL AND MA HONING COUNTIES, OH IO - 505 the fact that the first of these houses was taken lo the south and the other to the northeast. The course of the storm was southeast, through Manly's woods, crossing the railroad, and into the woods belonging to F. E. Stow, upturning the strongest oaks, twisting and whirling the trees in every direction. Passing through the woods it struck with ils greatest force the railroad station-house and an adjoining grocery store of Lucius Wood, the station agent. These buildings were raised several hundred feet high, and were revolved together, grinding and bursting into thousands of fragments, that were borne by the winds into regions unknown. The station- house contained several tons of freight. A box of hardware, containing bolts, buckles, etc., was slrewn over the ground for a distance of half a mile; a bolt was found over half a mile distant driven inlo a tree to the depth of an inch; a two- pound weight was found over half a mile away; pennies and quarters were found in many places, and a hand-saw was carried over a mile distant, Opposite the station stood the dwelling and grocery of George Smith. The dwelling was raised from its foundations, carried several rods, and dashed to pieces, Mr. Smith was absent, but arrived home in time to give his family warning of the approaching storm. They immediately fled from the house, and when the storm came he clung to the woodpile; his son John held to a stump, and while clinging there for his life the violence of the wind would throw him off his feet, and he was repeatedly struck and badly bruised by falling rails, limbs of trees, boards, etc. Charles Moren fled from the grocery and took shelter under the station-house, and as it raised from its foundations he was stunned by falling debris, and was afterward picked up several rods distant. Mrs. Jeremiah Galvin, living a few rods from the station, ran out with her umbrella to meet her little son but was overtaken by the storm and a limb or a rail was driven against her with such force as to carry her several rods and crush her skull, causing instant death. A freight car loaded and standing on the track was thrown a distance of sixty feet and totally wrecked. Another car was carried five hundred feet and dashed to atoms. The large brick house and frame barn of Mr. Wood were unroofed. Money packages from the express office amounting to $700 were given to the winds and never found. Continuing onward in its mad career, upturning and crushing the forest trees like reeds for a distance of two miles, it next spread devastation on the farm of Jesse Benedict, uprooting and destroying a large orchard. Among the trees of this orchard was the first tree planted in the township, having stood the blasts of fifty-five years. Deep furrows were plowed in the hardest ground, unripened fields of oats were mowed as with a scythe, and potatoes in the ground, hills, and all, were taken off to an unknown market by the swiftest express. Mr. Benedict's house and barn were unroofed and otherwise damaged. The large frame dwelling of William Benedict was unroofed and shattered, the west side was pierced with rails and boards, presenting the appearance of having been bombarded with cannon. The chambers of the dwelling were rifled of clothing, a bureau and chest with their contents were carried completely away and never found. Two feather-beds and a pair of woolen blankets were picked up seven miles away. The gale then visited the Mahoning river, following the channel for nearly a mile, filling the stream with trees and branches, and sucking up the water and whirling and dashing it into foam and spray against the banks, and killing a great number of fish, from the minnow to the pike weighing several pounds. Leaving the river it tore up the orchard of Asa W. Parker, unroofing his house and barn. The dwelling of a German family named Kramer, in which were five persons, was demolished. Kramer and a small child were slightly injured, the wife had her collar-bone broken, and John Carpenter was thrown some sixty feet from the dwelling into a pile of stone and rubbish and severely injured. Continuing in the same direction through a corner of Warren and Lordslown, throwing down and unroofing buildings and doing great damage, it spread consternation and wild alarm throughout the whole country. At a distance of about fifteen miles from the beginning the wind rose gradually higher in the air, appearing like a dense cloud filled with branches of trees, leaves, shingles, boards, etc. Passing a little south of the village of Niles and over Girard, rising higher and higher, spreading wider, but moving slower the furlher it went, scattering the accumulated 506 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. fragments, which descended over the townships of Hubbard and Coitsville and as far into Pennsylvania as New Castle, a distance of thirty-five miles from where the storm began. Way-bills from Braceville station, shingles, pieces of boards, etc., were scattered profusely over the whole country, where the fallen rubbish marked the path of the storm. It commenced with the width of about ten rods, rising and falling as it advanced, varying the width and lessening the violence, being about forty rods in width where it left the earth. In 1823 a similar tornado visited this locality, commencing near Jesse Benedict's, overturning a barn, rooting up an orchard, and going north towards Champion, but confining its ravages to the forests. CEMETERY. The burial grounds at Braceville center were first laid out on grounds donated by Hervey Stow, to which his son, Franklin E., afterwards made valuable improvements, and beautified the grounds. The grounds were laid out in 1812, and the first interment was that of Saber Lane, wife of Isaac Lane, who died January 27, 1813. The cemetery is now under the jurisdiction of the township trustees, and is at present a well-kept and beautiful resting place for the dead, and many of the names of leading men and the old pioneers, who have ample mention in this history, may be found on these marble slabs. "Men die but their works live forever." RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. The first religious organization of this township was called the Bible Christian church, that for a few years held religious services in the old log school-house at the center, which was presided over by Father Ross, and hrs followers were locally denominated Rossites. Among those who belonged to this organization as zealous workers were Hervey Stow and Edman Oviatt. Barney C. Allen was here baptized" in the faith of his father and mother "--by the venerable Ross, when but a small boy, but he yet remembers that he knelt on the floor and was copiously showered with water ; he remembers also that he had a very strong mental objection to the quantity of water thought to be necessary for his case. In 1812 Rev. William Penn, a Presbyterian, preached in the log school-house and organized a society. This organization continued for many years, built a church, and, no doubt, effected many moral reforms and accomplished much good, but was finally disorganized, and the building which they erected now serves as the town hall at the center. In 1814 the Congregational church of Braceville was organized, and was composed at this time of five members--Comfort Stow, William McWilliams, Rachel and Theda Stow, and Mary Ovratt. For seven years the responsibilities of committeeman, clerk, and deacon devolved upon Comfort Stow. Meetings were held in the school-house, now town hall, at the center, under the ministration of Revs. Joseph C. Curtis, Benjamin Fen, William Hanford, Joseph Treat, and others. In 1834 a society was formally organized, auxiliary to the church, and a house of worship was erected in 1835. The church has had several seasons of revival—notably among these was the one held in 1836, at which time twenty-seven were added to the church. In 1837 a call was made to Rev. Selden Haynes, who served one year, and was succeeded by Rev. Perry Platt in 1839, who did much to unite the church, endeared himself to the people, and at his death was buried in the Braceville cemetery. At this time the church numbered seventy-two members, but dissensions having already crept in were inflamed by the agitation of the slavery question, and the church in 1876 voted to sell its property and loan the funds to the American Missionary society. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In 1816 an itinerant Methodist preacher in the person of John McMann, found his way to this locality, and succeeded in organizing a class of that denomination. As remarked elsewhere, Hervey Stow and Edman Oviatt about this lime were working together to effect a permanent organization of the Bible Christian church, but failing in this, Mr. Stow united with the Methodist, and his name appears first upon the church record. He was class-leader, steward, and trustee of the new church organization, and his house for twenty years was the regular preaching place, and for sixty years the itinerant preacher's home; and the public singing of the congregation was led by him for twenty-five years. The circuit to which the Braceville church belonged TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 507 was called Mahoning circuit, and embraced what now constitutes several districts. In the early days such men as Elliott, Finley, Eddy, and a host of well-known pioneer itinerants threaded the wilds in the cause of the Master, and found ready welcome at the Braceville charge. The first church building was a large log house of hewn logs, substantially put together, and strong puncheon floor, of well-known pioneer architecture. Hervey Stow and Hervey Allen made the trip to Pittsburg in a road wagon, camping out on the way, to procure the glass and nails for this building. This house was occupied as a place of worship until the present house was built in 1838, which was remodeled in 1874. When the class was organized at Newton Falls, the same ministers that served Braceville also preached there, and among the names of the ministers the following are those who are now remembered : Father Davis, Arthur M. Brown, T. B. Tate, G. W. Maltby, Lewis Clark, J. W. Lowe, E. B. Lane, Milo Butler, J. M. Plant, H. M, Loud, R. W. Crane, G. W. Chesboro, J, K. Hallock, H. B. Henderson, J. B. Grover, John H. Tagg, John Graham, Hiram Kellogg, E. D. McCreary, H. M, Chamberlain, C. C. Hunt, C, R, Waters, J, K. Shaffer, N. C. Brown, E. M, Nowlen, C. V. Wilson, and J, B. Corey. Among the presiding elders were Ira Eddy, B. O, Plimpton, Hiram Kingsley, H, N. Stearns, Moses Hrll, John Graham, J. Tribby, and A. D. Morton. On June 15th, 1878, a reunion of the ministers of this circuit was held at Braceville, and was a meeting of great interest, and continued from Saturday until the next Tuesday evening. The programme consisted of special discourses, addresses to young people, memorials, reminiscences of early times, of pioneer members and pastors, This was was an occasion long to be remembered by the members of the church and the community in general. Among the ministers who returned on this occasion to the scenes of their past labors, to renew pleasant memories of the past were T. B, Tale, W. H. Wilson, J. Tribby, H. P. Henderson, C. V. Wilson, J. B. Corey, H. M. Chamberlain, J. B. Grover, S. Graham, A, I). Morton, Stephen Heard, F, A. Archibald, R. M. Bear, J. Crum. Letters of regret at not being able to attend were received from G. W. Chesboro, D, Prosser, J. H. Tagg, J, K. Shaffer, and C, C. Hunt. The meeting was held under the ministerial management of C. R. Waters, the pastor in charge. The church at Braceville is now enjoying a good degree of prosperity, and bids fair to long continue to bear a good share in the moral and religious work in this commumty. THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. The church building of this denomination is located on the center road in the north part of the township. The class was organized in 1857 and was composed of Eli Smith and wife, John Weaver and wife, Henry Fuhlwaler and wife, Benjamin Roberts and wife, Samuel Simpson, and others. The first meetings were held in the old schoolhouse that stood where the new school-house now stands, on Eagle creek. The following ministers have served this congregation : William Miller, Benjamin Smith, J. Noel, David Traver, I. M. Moody, J. Excell, Ebons Holchkiss, Rufus Smith, C. Casterline, H. F. Day, and J, Shreffler. The present building was erected in 1875, under the direction of Jason Heard and Eli Smith, building committee, and was dedicated June 4, 1875, by Bishop Glossbrenner. THE DISCIPLES (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH, BRACEVILLE CENTER, The members of this congregation in appreciation of the importance of preserving the his-, tory of the church, lalely appointed a committee consisting of Rev. J. S. Ross, Mrs. Lucinda A. Smith, and Mrs. Oliver M, Benedict, to gather the important facts connected with the early history of the congregation, and have them properly recorded. Free access to these records was cheerfully granted by Rev. Ross, and from the labors of this committee the following facts are noted. During most of the year of 1867-68, Rev. J. N. Smith was employed one-half his time at Newton Falls; the remaining portion was secured to the District Missionary society of the denomination. Eliab W. Bosworth, of Newton Falls church, was corresponding secretary of the society district, and was authorized to direct the labors of Rev. Smith. In January, 1869, he 508 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. arranged with Rev. Smith to hold a series of meetings in the town hall of Braceville center; which began early in the monlh, lasting over three Lord's days, and resulted in lhe conversion of the following persons: David Hagar, Julia Benedict (wife of George), Nancy and Martha Joy, and Mary Matthews; also Heaton and Elizabeth Joy were reclaimed. The converts were baptized in the Mahoning river opposite the residence of George Benedict. While the meeting was in progress the question of organizing a church at this place was talked of among those interested, at various times, and as the meeting was still successfully protracted the feeling in favor of an organization grew stronger and definite action was finally resolved upon, when it was announced that Edward Shaffer, of Southington, and Solomon Brown, of Newton Falls, had declared their intention of uniting with the new organization at Braceville. On the following Lord's day—January 31, 1869—the church was organized with the following charter members: Edward S. Shaffer and wife (Sarah), Belle and Loma Shaffer, Seth and Susan Lee, David and Eleanor Hagar, Ezekiel and Elizabeth Woodward, Morley H. and Eliza Wirls, Heaton F. and Mary E. Joy, Julia A. Smith, Nancy and Martha Joy, Julia and Olive Benedict, Lucinda A. Smith, Lavina L., Mary E., and Salome Matthews, Maggie Austin, Lauriston Lane, Lucy (Woodward) Lane, Mary Levings, and Mary Wilson. Immediately after the organization John S. and Martha A. Myers, Frank Poreman, and A. Smith, were received into lhe church. At the first election the following officers were chosen: Edward Shaffer and Solomon Brown, overseers ; Seth Lee and Ezekiel Woodward, deacons. Solomon Brown did not become a member of the Braceville church, and Seth Lee was elected in his place as overseer. The following ministers have served this congregation: Rev. J. N. Smith, who organized the church, lived at Newton Falls, and moved from here to Lanark, Illinois; Rev. A. W. Olds, very soon after the organization was employed here for afternoon services, preaching in the morning at Newton Falls, where he resided; Rev. I. A. Thayer held services every fourth Lord's day from some time in 1869 to April, 1870. He was then just beginning his ministry, and offered to serve the congregation for what they might be able to pay or raise for him. During the winter the church gave him a donation in addition to what was paid him from time to lime. The donation party was held at Dr. Rice's, where William Oliver now lives. The following year he held services in the morning and evening every alternate Lord's day, and received another donation aggregating $70 and over. He resided in Southington, where he labored half his time, and also practiced medicine, being a physician of the Eclectic school. Rev. Morgan P. Hayden, a student of Hiram college was engaged the following year each alternate Lord's day, and was paid $6 per visit. During this fall Rev. N. N. Bartlett held a protracted meeting, which resulted in nine additions to the church. Afterwards he was engaged here one-half his time until 1872. He lived at Niles, where he also preached. In the fall of 1873 Rev. D. P. Thayer was engaged for services each alternate Lord's day, mornings and evenings. At an early period Rev. Bartlett had suggested the building of a church, and about March, 1874, a meeting was called to decide the legal status of the organization, which met at the house of Augustus Elwell, and selected the following trustees : James Burnett, Seth Lee, and H. F. Austin. Efforts were made to purchase the old Presbyterian church, but were unsuccessful, and a purchase was made of the north side of the present lot for $200, to which, afterwards, an addition was made. The present church building was erected in the summer of 1874, and Rev. D. P. Thayer served the congregation the first year in the new building until 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. 0. C. Hill, a professor in Hiram college, who held services here until the following August. The present pastor, J. S, Ross, began his work here in the fall of 1875, preaching his firsl sermon September 5th. He was at this time employed in the United States railway mail service, and the congregation engaged Elder Lyman Streator to hold a series of meetings which resulted in two accessions. In 1877 Elder I). C. Henselman held a meeting, with ten accessions; and in the winter of 1877-78 the pastor began a series of evening meetings, resulting in sixteen accessions to the church.. Other special efforts have been made from time to time; especially during the last winter, wilh the assistance TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 509 of Elder 0. A. Richards, when twenty-five were received into the membership of the church, and lhe congregation is now enjoying a commendable degree of prosperity. PHALANX FLOUR-MILL. In the year 1811 Eli Barnum erected the first flour-mill on the site of the present Phalanx flour- mills on Eagle creek, in the northwestern part of the township. It afterwards passed into the hands of the Phalanx company, then to William Bail, of whom W. P. and A, E, Goodrich purchased. In 1865 A. G. Rood & Co. came into possession and operated about eight years, when the present company, F. A. & A. G. Rood, began operations. The capacity of the mills is about sixty bushels of wheat per day; has two run of stone—one for wheat and the other a chopper. They also have a saw-mill attached, and both propelled by water-power received from Eagle creek. THE TRUMBULL PHALANX COMPANY. In 1846 a company of about one hundred and fifty persons settled in the northwestern part of the township, and was known as the Trumbull Phalanx company. This company purchased the Eli Barnum flour-mill and five or six hundred acres of land, built a tannery, repaired the mill, erected a wooden bowl factory, wagon-shop, shoe-shop, and operated various other industries. They erected one very long frame tenement house and several log dwellings for the accommodation of their families, and built a large schoolhouse for educational purposes, and in which they held religious exercises and the free discussion of religious beliefs, The company was organized on the " mutual " plan, each one sharing equally from the dividends made from the proceeds of the various industries, and each person receiving credit for work done. The company continued in operation here for about four years, when for some reason not now known was disbanded. But while here this was a place of considerable business activity as well as a resort for neighborhood social gatherings and other popular amusements common to rural neighborhoods. From this company the locality received the name by which it is known and which it has transmitted to the railroad station and post-office. The station known as Phalanx is located on the Cleveland & Mahoning railroad, and has but one store ; it is a point for transferring coal and other railroad business. Phalanx post-office, of which Mrs. Samuel Barnum is postmistress, is located in convenience to this community. THE CHEESE-BOX FACTORY. This manufactory is located in the northern part of the township on the center road, and on the farm owned by the proprietor, Michael Templeton, who has operated in this locality for twenty nine years. He first began making cheese boxes by hand, lhen horse power until 1870, when he began at the present location, where he is now extensively engaged using steam power, propelled by a forty-horse power engine. The capacity of the mill is about two hundred boxes per day. The saw-mill is used in connection with the factory, and also in doing general custom work. EAGLE CREEK CHEESE FACTORY. This factory is located near the Phalanx Flour-mill, and was first operated in 1872 by Charles Prentice, who continued about two years, when he sold to Mr, Peck, who worked the factory but one season, and sold to Walter Morton, who operated here until the past fall, when George Bear took possession, who operated with considerable success, using in the best season six or seven thousand pounds of milk per day, and realizing good prices for his product. There is another factory in the township located east of the center, but it is not now in operation, SETTLEMENT NOTES. The second family in Braceville was that of Samuel Oviatt. He removed from Goshen townshrp, Connecticut, in 1805, and built a log-house across the river from where his grandson, Henry H., now lives. His father, Samuel Oviatt, Sr., came out a few years afterward and located where his son had settled, the latter then building the home west of the river, where he always lived afterward. He built, in 1808, the first frame barn in the township, which is still on the place, and in good preservation. His brother, Stephen Oviatt, and his young bride, they having been married the day they left Connecticut, came out at the same time. They lived in Braceville a short time, and then moved to Milton. Lucretia Oviatt, daughter of Samuel Oviatt, Jr., was 510 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. the fist female chrld born in Braceville, born about 1807. Samuel and Lois (Beckwith) Oviatt were the parents of nrne children who grew to maturity of whom but four are now living, as follows: Mrs. Joseph James, in Charlestown, Portage county; Mrs. Thomas Douglass, of Warren, Ohio; Mrs. Nathan Wilson, of Ravenna, Ohio; and Mrs. Lucina Mitchell, living in Wisconsin. Moses L., the second child, who occupied the homestead until his death, was born in Connecticut, March 30, 1802. He married July 26, 1825, Lovina Purple, of Parkman, Geauga county, born July 25, 1803. They first settled at Newton Falls, where he operated a saw-mill and also engaged in farming. He afterwards settled on his father's place, which he purchased and occupied until his death, April 20, 1869. His wife survived him ten years lacking four days. They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom lived to reach manhood and womanhood, except one. The following are the survivors: E. L. Oviatt, of Marshalltown, Iowa; Mrs, Harriet L. Stow, of Braceville; Julia L. Humphrey, of Paris, Portage county; Ancil P., in Ravenna; Cornelia, wife of Comfort Ernest, of Warren township; Henry H., occupying homestead in Braceville; and Jemima (unmarried), in Ravenna. E. L. served in the Union army in the war of secession, and was a prisoner one year at Belle Isle and Andersonville. Henry H., born in August, 1844, married Esther A., daughter of B. C. Allen, and has three children living and two deceased. Comfort Stow was born in Middletown, Connecticut, June 27, 1762. In 1783 he was married to Rachel Goodwin and in 1810 with his wife and oldest son, Hervey, removed to Braceville, Trumbull county, Ohio. The most prominent member of the family in this county was Franklin E. Stow. He was born in Braceville January 2, 1813. His father was Hervey Stow and his mother Lucretra Oviatt, who came to Braceville as early as 1805. Mr. Stow learned surveying, and in April, 1834, was appointed deputy county surveyor, and in 1835 was elected county surveyor, and re-elected in 1841. In 1842 he was elected juslice of the peace, serving four terms; appointed postmaster in 1845, which office he resigned in 1850, when he was nominated for Stale Representalive. In 1856 he was again appointed postmaster which position he held until his death. In 1851 he was elected a representative to the State Legislature and served with fidelity and ability. In 1847 he was appointed district assessor for the purpose of valuing real estate. His district comprised six townships. His valuation was not changed by the board of equalization but was taken by them as a standard for the remainder of the county. In the fall of 1861 he raised a company of infantry which was attached to the Nineteenth regiment as company G. At the battle of Shiloh he distinguished himself for gallantry. He was subsequently prostrated by sickness as a result of that battle, and died on board the steamer Shenango, Tennessee river, April 30th. His remains were brought home for burial. He was married on the 15th of May, 1837, to Miss Mary Amy Heath, of Sandisfield, Massachusetts. One son was born in 1844. Mrs. Stow still resides in Braceville. Ezra Roper was born in Connecticut in 1784; came to Ohio in an early day, and settled two miles west of the center of Braceville. He served in the War of 1812, and was wounded. He was twice married, first, to Abigail Lawson, by whom he had two children—Mary and Lorinda. His first wife died March 15, 1834, aged thirty-seven. He married for his second wife Lois Bristol, of Nelson, Portage county-, and by this marriage had five children—Charles, living in Nelson; Lois (Doty), in Cleveland; George, at Braceville center; Aaron, rn Youngstown, and Francis, in Cleveland. Ezra Roper died June 7, 1850. George Roper was born in 1841; married in March, 1862, Emeline Tousley, and has three children. He located at Braceville cenler twenty years ago, where he has carried on general blacksmithing and carriage and wagon-making for the past thirteen years. Samuel Craig, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Baxter) Craig, born January 18, 1811, in county Monaghan, Ireland, came to the United Slates in 1836, landing at Quebec. He came to Warren in July the same year, and worked on the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal as stone-cutler, which occupation he followed many years. He purchased the farm in Braceville now owned by William Anderson, about 1839, and erected the first house in that part of the township, which was then entirely a wilderness. He resided in Warren two years, afterwards purchasing where TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO - 511 he now lives. He married in Pennsylvania in 1841, Margaret Darling, born in New York State in 1822. They are the parents of nine children, of whom five survive, viz: Samuel B., Benjamin, Josiah W., Maggie (Daugherty), and Charles F, Robert A. Walker was born in Baltimore, Maryland, December 27, 1790, and went to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he married Abbie Griswold, removing afterwards to Beaver county, where he resided until 1832, when he removed to Warren township, Trumbull county, Ohio. He had purchased land in Weathersfield and Warren a number of years before his removal. He resided in Warren, where he first settled, some twelve years, then moved to Braceville, and settled where George Benedict now lives. He afterwards moved to the northeast part of the township, where he spent the balance of his life. He died May 20, 1868. In the early part of his life he followed the trade of stone-mason. His wife died three years previous to his own death, Their family numbered pine children, all of whom grew to mature age, The survivors are Susan (Bartman) in Canfield, Mahoning county; Rachel Ann (Regal) at Bald- win's corners, Mahoning county; Elisha in Braceville, Trumbull county; J. P. in Cass county, Michigan; Abby (North) in Braceville; Robert A, in Jackson county, Michigan; William H, in Brookfield, Eaton county, Michigan. Elisha Walker was born in 1822, July 4th, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and married in 1834, Lucy Ann Humphrey, who died in October, 1867. He again married in March, 1868, Maria Clark (Richards), born May 14, 1832, By the first marriage four children were born, viz: Franklin D., Abbie S. (Benedict), Robert Norris, Mary E. (Woodward). The result of the second marriage is one daughter, Effie B. Mr. Walker first settled in Warren township west of Leavittsburg, afterwards removing to Wyandot county, but after a short time returned to Trumbull county, locating in Braceville, where he has since resided. John G. Gretzinger was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, April 28, 1811, and came to America about the year 1839, He went to Pittsburg, Baltimore, and other cities, following his business, which was that of butchering. He came to Trumbull county about 1842, and after residing in Warren township purchased a farm in Braceville, on Eagle creek, where he resided until his death, which took place October 2, 1880. Mr. Gretzinger was a hard-working and industrious man. He was sick and helpless the last twenty years of his life. He was first married in 1842 to Mrs. Rebecca Fry, who died in 1853. By this marriage he had six children, of whom five are living. He again married in 1856 Paulina Crouse, of Columbiana county, born in Wurtemburg, Germany, February 21, 1832, and coming to this country in 1855. Four children were the result of this marriage, three of whom are living —Paulina (Brown), Henry W., and Mary A. In the spring of 1882 Mrs. Gretzinger left the farm and removed to the center of Braceville, where she now lives. Luther Matthews, son of James Matthews, was born in Liberty township, Trumbull county, Ohio, May 15, 1819. January 7, 1847, he married Lavinia Lightbourn, daughter of Joseph and Eleanor (Kyle) Lightbourn, who was born in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, June 29, 1825. Joseph Lightbourn was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1795, came to Trumbull county in an early day, and located in Youngstown. He died in 1824, His wife survived him until October, 1856, After their marriage in 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews settled on the place where she still lives, which they cleared up and improved. Besides general farming he also dealt in live stock. He died December 1 r, 1877. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are living—Ella S., born November 21, 1847, now the wife of Frank Brown, and residing in Meadville, Pennsylvania ; Frances M., born October 30, 1849, wife of C. P. Rodenbaugh, of Kent, Ohio; Mary E., born March 18, 1852 ; Alfred E., May 4, 1866; Luther E., August 30, 1870. William Ernest came to Trumbull county with his mother and step-father when fifteen years of age, in the tall of 1833. The family settled in Champion township. He was born in 1818; married in 1839 Nancy Leonard, and located in Warren. He learned the carpenter trade, and has followed it ever since. He has always been a hard-working, industrious man. He has three children, viz : Henry H., Comfort A., and Mary I., wife of John C. Pew, of Lordstown, Henry was born in Warren, Ohio, April 14, 1840, mar- 512 - TRUMBULL AND MAHONING COUNTIES, OHIO. ried Fidelia McKibbin, of Braceville, and until recently has lived in that township; has one child, Rowley Ward. Comfort A., born February 10, 1842, married Cornelia Oviatt, of Braceville, and has three children, viz : Albert, Hattie, and Jessie. Christian Gleich was a native of Germany, and emigrated to this country with his parents when about eight years of age. His father, John Gleich, was a soldier under Napoleon, and was wounded in several engagements. He settled, on coming to Trumbull county, in Warren township, afterwards removing to Braceville. He died in Indiana at the age of ninety-three or ninety-four, having removed to that Sate in 1867. Christian Gleich marrred about 1847, Caroline Smith, of Braceville, and settled soon after where his son George now lives. He was engaged in farming and dealing in live stock during his life. He died in 1871, in the fiftieth year of his age. His widow is still living at Phalanx. They were the parents of five children. Two sons and two daughters are living, as follows: George, on the home place (married Almira C. Heintzleman, and has four children); Caroline .(Weaver)o in Braceville; Frank, at Phalanx; Eliza Ann living with her mother. Edward was killed by the kick of a horse in June, 1875, in his fifteenth year. George Gleich, who occupies the home place, is engaged in farming, and is an exlensive dealer in live stock. John G. Barkley, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States in an early day and settled in Warren township. He married Christina Houseman, also born in Germany. He worked on the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal, and also followed farming. He lived on Duck creek, one mile south of Leavittsburg, and died there in 1848. His wife survived him, and died May 21, 1867. They were members of the Lutheran church. Gottleib D. Barkley, their second son, was born in Warren township, Trumbull county, in 1843; married Emma Josephine, daughter of Thomas Craig, of Warren township, and settled where he now lives in Braceville. He has one child living, and one deceased--John C., and Lucy J. James Burnett was born in Kent, Portage county, Ohio, September 11, 1820. His father, Samuel Burnett, was born in Pennsylvania, May 1792, and came to Ohio in 1804, locating in Portage county. He married in Trumbull county, Isabel Matthews, and removed to Weathersfield about 1835, and to Braceville in 1856, where they lived until their deaths—he died in August 1869, and his wife in 1861. James Burnett learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at his trade in Austintown, now Mahoning county, two years, then setlled in Braceville, Trumbull county, where he remained until 1871, when he removed to Warren, purchasing the Dr. Leavitt place, where he still lives. For the past three years he has followed farming and stock-raising, owning two farms of one hundred and fifty-three and one hundred and thirty-five acres each. He was married December 29, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Lightbourn, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, January 11, 1820. Two children were born of this union—Mrs. Reuben Johnson, born November 20, 1847, and Mrs. S. A. Elwell, December 20, 1854.