USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 101
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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. The balance was turned over to the treasurer, who reported that he had settled the account of Lemuel Hoadley, and that there now remained unappropri- ated in the treasury, twelve dollars-a very good ex- hibit 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 trus- tees had a meeting to settle with the road supervisors. They reported " that Hosea Bradford and Ebenezer Rice had done their duty, and that Lemuel Bourne and Hubert Baker were deficient."
At an election for justice of the peace, held Febru- ary 12. 1812, John Wait received twenty-nine votes: Hosea Bradford, one; and Edward Johnson, one.
In November, 1817, the overseers of the poor, Cal- vin Oakes and Aaron Rice, commanded Silas Rice, the constable "to order Hubert Baker to depart from the township of Brecksville without delay." Hle 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 pub- lie charges.
From 1815 to the present time (1879) the principal otlicers of the township have been the following:
1816. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Lemuel Hoadley, Hesea Bradford; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, John Adams.
1817. Trustees, Edward Johnson, Lemuel Hoadley, Wm. Oakes; clerk, John Wait; treasurer. Hosea Bradford.
1×18. Trustees, Edward Johnson Bolter Colson, Wm. Oakes; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, Calvin Oakes.
1×19. 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.
1-21. Trustees. Edward Johnson, Isaac M. Morgan, Ebba Wilcox; clerk. Nathan B. Darrow; treasurer, Edward Johusou.
1422. 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.
1×25. 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.
1838. Trustees, Andrew Medrary, Daniel Green, William Oakes; clerk, William G. Green; treasurer, John Wait.
1829. Trustees, Andrew MeCrary, Aaron Barnes, Aaron Rice, Jr : clerk, William Breckenridge; treasurer, Charles B. Bostwick.
1830. Trustees, Jacob Fuller, Aaron Barnes, Aaron Rice, Jr ; clerk, W'm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young.
1831. Trustees, Isaac M. Morgan, Andrew Dihow, Aaron Rice, Jr. : clerk, Wm. G. Green; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young.
1832. Trustees, Joseph MeCrary, Thomas Patrick, Ebba Wilcox; clerk. Wm. G. Greeu; treasurer, Chauncy L. Young.
1833. Trustees Joseph MeCrary, Edward Rust. Belah Norton; clerk, Wm. G. Green: treasurer, Chauney Young.
1834. Trustees, Andrew Dillow, Ebba Wilcox, Aaron Rice Jr .; clerk, Charles Morgan; treasurer, Darius Robinson.
1835. Trustees, James S. Foster, Elba Wilcox, Edmund M. Bartlett; clerk, W'm. 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, Dreck; treasurer, Daniel Currier.
1838. Trustees, Aaron Rice. Jr., Russia Bayley, Charles Morgau; clerk, Theo. Breck: treasurer, Daniel Currier.
1439. Trustees, Aaron Rice, Jr., Wm. Burt, Charles Morgan; clerk; Theo Breck; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell.
1440. 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.
1×2. Trustees, Ebba Wilcox. Samuel Wallace, Hugh Stevenson; clerk, A. J. Snow; treasurer. C. L. Young.
1843. Trustees, John Fitzwater. Moses Hunt, Eliphalet Wyatt; elerk. Geo. W. Oakes: treasurer, Anson Dwight.
1844. Trustees, John Fitzwater. Moses Hunt, C'ary Oakes; clerk. Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Anson Dwight.
1845. Trustees. (' P. Rich, Lorenzo Wyatt, Ciry 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, Johu Fitzwater I. H. Ballow: clerk. tieo. W. Oakes; treasurer, Joseph Bardwell.
1×48. Trustees, E. M. Bartlett, Edward Rush, Win. Barr; clerk, Geo. W. Oakes; treasurer, John T. Mack.
1849. Trustees, C. B. Rich, John Fitzwater, Russ Snow: clerk, dieo. 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. (. 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.
1454. 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'hapin, Ir.
1856, Trustees, Theodore Breck, Moses Hunt, John Fitzwater: clerk James H. Coates: treasurer. 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.
1×60. Trustees, Moses Hunt, Peter Dillow, Levi Booth, Jr .: clerk, E. H. Ely; treasurer, M. N. Young.
1561. Trustees, Moses Hunt. Peter Dillow, A. K. Skeels; clerk. Asa Reynolds: treasurer, M. N Young
1×62. Trustees, Moses Hunt. Peter Dillow, O. W. Newcomb: clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, M N. Young. .
1863. Trustees, Daniel Stocker, Peter Pillow, 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. Crates.
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.
1×69. Trustees, H. H Snow, Emmet Boyd, Henry Ingham; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, Theodore Breck.
1870. Trustees, H. H. Snow, Emniet 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 White; 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. J. Morgan, Ira Fitzwater; clerk Chas,
S. Burt; treasurer, James H. C'oates.
1877. Trustees, Julius White, Lewis T. Rust, Ira Fitzwater; clerk. Charles S. Burt ; treasurer, James H. C'oates.
1878. Trustees, Julius White, M. I. Morgan, Ira Fitzwater; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, James H. Coates.
1829. Trustees, Julius White, J. A. Fitzwater, Ira Fitzwater; clerk, Charles S. Burt; treasurer, H. E. Barnes.
On the 29th of April, 1822, the legislature em- powered 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 bel- fry, and was completed in 1874, at a cost of four thousand five hundred and twenty-two dollars.
In 1818 the trustees of the township made the fol- lowing levies: For township purposes, thee-tenths of a mill; for roads, one and one-fourth mills; for grad- ing hills, two-tenths of a mill; for bridges, one-tenth of a mill; for a 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 manu- facturing 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 grist- mill 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 & Allen, and by Abbott & Bostwick. Above the center sawmills were also erected by Rufus Newell and Samuel Varney. All have been discon- tinned. 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 buikling has long been unused.
Tanneries have been carried on by Darins Robin- son, 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 manufac- ture of buckskin mittens at the center. For the past eight years a cheese factory has been successfully op- erated there, and this and the mills at present con- stitute the only manufacturing interests of the town- ship.
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 Brecks- ville office, which received at that time one mail per week. The successive postmasters have been Chaun- cey L. Young, Asa Reynolds and J. II. Coates. The office at present has three mails per week from Cleve- land, distant seventeen miles.
Charles Morgan had the first store in the place, at the stand now occupied by J. Il. Coates. The inter- mediate merchants there were William Towsley, E. and T. Breck, Breck & Humphrey. and Alling & Fairchild. The briek 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 Ells- worth, 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 Presby- terian 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 resi- dence. 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 pro- fession. Dr. Edward Buck was in practice many years before his death in 1859, and had a contempo- rary in Dr. William Knowlton. The latter was fol- lowed by his son, Augustus, and he in turn, by an- other 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
MOSES MATHEWS, a worthy son of old Vermont, was born at New Haven, Addison Co., Feb. 16, 1804, his parents being Joseph and Polly Mathews. ITis father was engaged in farming, and in that occupa- tion, 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 finally located at Madrid, in that county, where he purchased property. While a resident of St. Law- rence 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 re- mained till 1838, when he removed to Brecksville, and purchased a farm of ninety acres. He has been successful in accumulating wealth, and is emphat- ically a self-made man.
His landed property at one time amounted to two
hundred and twenty-two aeres, but he has made a partial distribution among his children, and now re- sides on one hundred and forty aeres, a part of which was his original purchase. The result of his mar- riage 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, re- siding 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. Politi- cally he has been a life-long Democrat, having east 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 over- come the dangers and obstacles of frontier life.
415
BRECKSVILLE.
from the Hoadley, Adams, Bradford and Wait fami- lies. 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 super- seded 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 18;4, at a cost of $4,000, and is a model of architectural beauty. For its size it has no superior in the country.
In 18;8 the township reported nine buildings, val- ned at $12,000. Ten schools were maintained at an expense of $2,382.45. 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 aver- age 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, Ly- man J. Frost, Oriana Frost, Zelpha Wait, Lucy Wil- cox. JJames 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 Rey. 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 continned 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 Bar- rett was installed as pastor, and maintained that rela- tion 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, Rov. (. B. Stevens; 1859-61, P. S. Hillyer; 1862-6, Rev. Thomas Towler: 1868-20, Rev. Hubbard Lawrence: 1871-4, Rev. G. C. Reed; 1875-9, Rev. JJ. McK. Pit- tinger, 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 school- house 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 8200. 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 affairs of the church. The first officers were Belah Norton, Wm. H. Judd and Wm. Breckenridge, trus- tees: William Oakes, secretary; Philip Gass, treas- urer: 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, Fran- eis 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. II. 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, JJared 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 83,000, and was dedi- cated October 30, 1844. Subsequent repairs have rendered the house comfortable and attractive, and together with the parsonage, erected in 1842, it con- stitutes a very good church property. In 1826 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 mem- bership of one hundred and five, and since 1833 has regularly maintained a Sunday school, which at pres- ent has one hundred and thirty members. L. T. Rust is its superintendent. In 1866 Augustus AAdams, a member of the church, donated $500 to the Ameri- can 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 organ- ized 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 com-
416
THE TOWNSHIPS OF 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 Brecks- ville 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 eireuit is supplied by the Rev. Moses B. Mead, of Baldwin University. The mem- bership of the church is small, numbering but sixteen persons. The class leader is L. Norvill. The Sun- day school has sixty members, A. C. Hitchcock being the superintendent.
CHAPTER LXXI. BROOKLYN.
Bonndaries 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 Oldlest Inhabitant The Brainards-A Fish and Brainard Settlement-First Framed Ilouse-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-Its Officers-West Cleveland - Its Officers-Industrial School Farm-Lindale-C'eme- teries-Post Offices-Cleveland Dryer Company-Lake Erie Dryer Company-Other Manufactures-Nurseries-Railways-Gleun 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 Cleve- land 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, Brooklyn'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 fonr 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 ereeks, which. though once valuable as mill streams, are now of no use for that purpose. The land is generally fertik and farms are valuable, especially near the Cleveland line, where attention is given to the cultivation o: fruit and garden products; the former industry being profitably followed near the lake shore, and the latte near Brooklyn village.
In the division of the Western Reserve, as narratec. in the general history, the greater part of Brooklyn, including the present West Side of Cleveland, fell to Richard and Samuel Lord and Josiah Barber, fron.
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 Ilill," is the spot where the territory subse- quently occupied by the township of Brooklyn received its first white settler. Granger was a "squatter" from Canada, but when he squatted npon his Brooklyn land is not exaetly known. Ile was there, at all events, in May, 1812, when James Fish entered what is now Brooklyn township, as the first of the perma- nent 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 Manmee country.
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