USA > Ohio > Mahoning County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 61
USA > Ohio > Trumbull County > History of Trumbull and Mahoning counties with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Vol. II > Part 61
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The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio rail- road barely enters the township across the south- east corner. Various coal-road branches are ex- tended to the coal banks in the different locali- ties.
The surface of the township is generally roll- ing; the soil generally clay, but in the northwest part somewhat more gravelly soil is found. The Yankee creek bottom lands, consisting of a black loam, are especially productive. The southern part of the township is somewhat broken, and in this part are situated the coal mines.
ORGANIZATION.
The township from its organization up to 1810 formed, with Vienna, one election precinct. On May 14th of the above year the qualified electors of the township were notified to meet at the house of Constant Lake, for the purpose of electing the usual township officers for the new township of Brookfield. The election board consisted of Diament Whitier, chairman; Wil- liam Cunningham and Anthony Patrick, judges; Henry Gandy and Jacob Hummason, clerks. The following officials were then chosen by ballot and were declared elected "according as the law directs :" William Cunningham, Anthony Pat- rick, and John D. Smith, trustees ; Isaac Flower, Jr., treasurer and constable ; Jacob Hummason, clerk and lister ; Henry H. Gandy, appraiser; Diament Whitier, Timothy Alderman and Clark Rathbun, supervisors; Robert Hughes and Ben- jamin Bentley, overseers of the poor ; Johnson Patrick and James Montgomery, fence viewers.
On the 8th day of November, 1810, Isaac Flower, Jr., appeared before Robert Hughes, associate judge of the county, and took the re- quired oath as the first justice of the peace of Brookfield. It is stated as a probability, how- ever, that Judge Hughes officiated as justice of the peace here before the township was formally organized, but the first elected justice of Brook- field was Isaac Flower, Jr., as above stated.
POPULATION AND INDUSTRIES.
The population of the township in 1870 was 2,657 ; in 1880, 2,569, showing a decrease.
Coal mining is carried on quite extensively in various localities. Coal was first discovered and used for domestic purposes prior to 1838, in which year General Joel B. Curtis opened the first mine from which coal was shipped. Sever- al mines are now operated in the township.
In former years, about 1826, John Myers and Franklin Peck built the only woolen-mill in which wool was carded into rolls, and cloth was fulled. The machinery was propelled by oxen on a tread-wheel. William Montgomery after- wards came in possession of this mill, and con- tinued its operation until some time in 1847.
Lawrence Smith erected the only blast furnace in the township about 1836. It was a quarter- stack, and was located near the center. The fur- nace had a foundry attached at which were
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manufactured plows, stoves, and hollow-ware. The ore was obtained principally from the farm of Timothy Roberts, in Hubbard, and char- coal was used exculsively for smelting and also for melting the pig and scrap-iron for casting. It was obtained from the lands of James and Robert Christy. The works passed into the hands of Hart, Miner & Norton in 1839, who operated a few months, after which it was blown out and lay idle for some time until purchased by Galbraith & McCleery, of Pennsylvania, who after a short time sold to William Wheeler. But the enterprise proved disastrous to all these parties and the works were abandoned. The only flour-mill was built by Daniel Arthurholtz on Big Yankee run, on lot number fifty-six in the northeast part of the township. It is now operated by Asa Arthurholtz. The mill is now doing a good general custom work, and has two run of buhrs, propelled by both steam and water- power.
VILLAGES.
Brookfield center is the only village in the township. The leading kinds of business, such as dry goods, groceries, etc., are well represented. Its only hotel is conducted by Thomas A. Ballou.
The religious element is well represented by the commodious church buildings of the Presby- terian, Disciples, and Methodist Episcopal churches. The town and school buildings are well located and amply sufficient for the de- mand of the place, which taken altogether is a prosperous, intelligent, and quiet neighborhood.
PROPRIETORSHIP.
The original owner of the soil of Brookfield was Samuel Hinckley, of Northampton, Hamp- shire county, Massachusetts. He was repre- sented in the sale of the lands by Dr. Solomon Bond, of Enfield, Hartford county, Connecti- cut.
The proprietor donated the lands at the center, commonly known as "the green," and the survey of the place was made in 1806. He also do- nated the original burying-grounds at the center, embracing one acre of land in lot number twenty-nine. The deed for this land was made to James Montgomery, John Briggs, and John D. Smith, township trustees, and is dated April 16, 1823. Soon after the grounds were im-
proved by private subscription and became the public burying-place in the township. Here are gathered in their last sleep many of the pioneer farthers and mothers of Brookfield. The his- tory of their lives and deeds, to a great extent, has forever perished with them. To save what time has not wholly obliterated and to rescue the names of the pioneers from oblivion is the aim of the historian.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The first white man who came into this town- ship for the purpose of settlement was James McMullen, Sr. The inducement held out to him to come into this then unbroken wilderness was an offer of one hundred and sixty acres of land in lot number seventy-eight in the east part of the township. He arrived in the year 1796, and erected his log cabin near a spring a few rods southeast of the present school-house.
This cabin was a very rude structure, built of unhewn logs notched and fitted together at the ends and " chinked " with mud. The floor was made of split logs familiarly known as pun- cheons. McMullen had a family of seven sons, namely: Thomas, Samuel, John, Martin, James, William, and Doctor (the latter receiving this unusual name on account of his being the seventh son). Samuel was married to Elizabeth, daughter of William Chatfield, in whose cabin the marriage ceremony was performed by Rev. Thomas G. Jones. This was the first marriage in the township. The cabin 'stood immediately south of the present residence of James Bentley, lot sixty-seven. William, a son of James Mc- Mullen and his second wife, was born in the log cabin above mentioned and was the first white child born in the township.
Rev. Thomas G. Jones built a log cabin m 1802, about one-half mile south of McMullen, and in company with his brother Benjamin brought the first stock of goods into the township and started the first store in the above-mentioned cabin. The cabin had but two rooms, one for the store and the other for the family. And the store room was back of the family room, and had no outside door, the customers being com- pelled to pass through the family room to get to the store. The shelving of the first store in Brookfield was constructed by driving large wooden pins in the logs upon which puncheon logs were laid. Here the early settlers did their
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trading, and it is supposed that the facilities of Jones' store were amply sufficient to meet all the demands of the settlement at that time. Mr. Jones was a minister of the Baptist denomination, and he sometimes held religious services at the houses of the settlers; but at this time the gen- eral services were held over the line in Pennsyl- vania. To him, therefore, must be accorded the honor of first introducing the gospel into Brook- field.
John Briggs settled on the north road two miles north of the center about 1806. In the latter year, or previous, several of the prominent settlers arrived. Anthony Patrick lived on the farm now owned by Benjamin McMullen. Ben- jamin Bentley settled on the present farm of his son James, and built his cabin home about one half mile north of the present farm residence. The first frame barn built in the township was erected by Mr. Bentley on this farm in 1808. This seems to have been considered at the time a great step in the way of building improve- ments, and called together quite a number of men from distant neighborhoods. It took two or three days to raise the building that two or three men could now soon put in position. To accommodate the many persons who came to his assistance on this occasion, Mr. Bentley killed several sheep and a large ox, and generously supplied the many other wants of his friends.
Johnson Patrick lived adjoining Mr. Bentley on the west, and William Chatfield south of the latter on the south part of lot sixty-seven.
Jacob Ulp lived southeast of Chatfield, and Ethan Newcomb joined Mr. Bentley on the north.
Thomas Thompson settled north of the center on the west side of the road, lot number forty, and Thomas Patten lived north of Mr. Thompson. Samuel Patrick lived on the north part of lot number fifty-one.
Judge Robert Hughes settled off the center road south on lot number twenty-five; Henry Gandy south of the center near the coal bank on lot number forty-seven.
The first death in the towr.ship of which there is any record, was that of Mrs. Henry Gandy. The body was interred in the woods, a short dis- tance south of the present Whitacre coal bank.
Matthew Thompson settled on lot number forty-four, south of Brookfield, and Samuel
Clark south of him on lot number forty-five.
Dr. Thomas Hartford lived with Constant Lake, previous to 1806, on lot number forty, one mile north of the center, and was the first physician in the township. Dr. Upson settled at the center soon after, and became a well- known practitioner.
Robert Montgomery settled on lot number twenty-six, south of Judge Hughes. Isaac Flower on the northeast corner at the center, where he opened the first store at the center. Jacob Hummason settled on the southwest corner at the center.
In 1811 the road districts were designated and the supervisor elected received the names of the persons whom he had under his charge, and the following assignments are appended to show the extent of the Brookfield settlement in that year. The district assigned to Jacob Ulp included the road leading from his house to Brockway's mills, also the road running east on the center line from Yankee run to the Pennsylvania line, and embraced the following persons with himself : Thomas G. Jones, Benjamin Jones, James Me- Mullen, Nathan Birge, Geo. Middleton, John Tribby, John Patterson, Philip Yarnell, and Daniel Groscost.
James Wilson was assigned to the road leading west from the center to Simeon Wheeler's and from thence south on the township line to the Liberty township line, and included the follow- ing persons, with himself : William White, Philip Quigley, David Wheeler, Samuel Munson, Jonathan Kerr, James and Robert Montgomery, James Haw, James Kerney, John D. Smith, Robert Hughes, Timothy Alderman, A. Alder- man, and Daniel Williams.
Henry H. Gandy was assigned to the road leading from the center south through the town- ship; also the road leading east from the center to Yankee run, embracing the following persons, with himself : Walter Clark, Collins Youngs, Henry Reidsilly, Jacob Harris, Amos and Charles Bradford, John Woods, John Patrick, Jacob Hummason, Isaac Flower, Jr., and Eben- ezer W. Comes.
William Cunningham's district ineluded the road leading from the center north to Brockway's mill and from thence on the triangle road lead- ing to Simeon Wheeler's, and included the fol- lowing persons : David Bacon, Constant Lake,
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Clark Rathbun, Samuel Patrick, Benjamin Bent- ley, Ethan Nathan, John Briggs, Reuben Camp- bell, James Thompson, Henry and John Hull, James Russell, Jacob Reeder, Richard Creamer, Thomas Pattens, Joseph R. Porter, Jonathan Alderman.
SCHOOLS.
The first school was held in a small log school- house near Big Yankee run, on the east and west center road-lot number seventy-seven. The teacher was Miss Lois Sanford, of Connecticut, familiarly known as " Aunt Lois." This school, as may be imagined, was not only very rude in its accommodations, but also in the appliances for imparting instruction.
David Shepherd is remembered as one of the early teachers who taught in a house at the south- east part of the center ; also, afterward, Jacob Hummason, on the west side of "the green." The latter teacher had been a merchant in the East, and was considered quite a good teacher. These schools soon gave way to the district school system, of which the township now has eleven, with nine separate districts. District number one, embracing the village, supports two schools in separate buildings, and enumerates ninety scholars. District number eleven, located in the southeastern part, also supports two schools.
INDIANS.
The early settlers in this township, especially along Big Yankee run, were often annoyed by the Indians as they wandered up and down the stream. The boys of these strolling parties be- came very familiar with the white boys of the settlement, with whom they often engaged in many friendly trials of physical strength and skill. The white boys could generally throw their red skin antagonists, but when it came to foot-racing the Indian boys could out-distance them.
The Indians were generally friendly but were in the habit of going over into the neighboring towns of Pennsylvania to exchange their furs for whiskey, on which occasions they frequently became engaged in quarrels which often ended in fights, causing no little alarm among the whites. On one of these occasions an old Indian, well known in the neighborhood by the name of Flinn, who was generally disliked on ac- count of his sullen disposition and love of
whiskey, butchered his squaw near the east bank of Big Yankee run. The Indians seemed to care little or nothing for the crime committed, and the murdered squaw was buried along the roadside near the present school-house on the east side of the creek. The funeral was cele- brated in the usual Indian custom and nothing more was thought of the deed, and old Flinn pursued his usual vagabond life up and down Yankee run. But it is related that a white man by the name of Carr determined to avenge the murder and accordingly watched his chance, and one day as he was going along the banks of the creek he saw the murderer in the act of stooping over to tie his moccasin and he imme- diately sent a bullet through his brain and then fled to his cabin. Soon after the Indians found the body. They suspected the whites of the murder and made threats of retaliation, but as they had no proof of the person guilty of the deed nothing more came of it. No one knew who had killed the old Indian until years after- ward when the mystery was cleared up by a con- fession from Carr. Several well known chiefs, among them "Cadashaway" and "Kiogg," were frequent visitors in the neighborhood.
THE BROOKFIELD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in the year 1865 by five stockholders, namely: Sammel Shilling, Albert Christy, Allison Chew, James C. Stru- ble, and James Clark. The first officials were Samuel Shilling, president ; Albert Christy, vice- president; A. Adams, secretary; and John Shook, treasurer. The first exhibition was given in Sep- tember, 1865, and the annual sessions have been held regularly since. The past years have been successful, the exhibits comparing favorably with other like societies, and the attendance has been very large. During the first years the stock paid good dividends, and in 1874 the exhibits num- bered nineteen hundred and fifteen; of later years, however, the attendance has not been so large on account of the more complete exhi- bitions held in neighboring cities, which naturally attract attention from the smaller societies. The présent board is composed of the following gen- tlemen: Thomas A. Ballou, president ; Peter Carlton, vice-president; John Cole, treasurer; A. C. Burnett, secretary; John L. Doud, A. Price, W. H. Bushnell, Jesse Hall, Jr., H. H. Carey, and A. Seaburn, directors.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN (OLD-SCHOOL) CHURCH.
The early organization of the Presbyterian church at Vienna center had among its members many of the early settlers of Brookfield, who as soon as the country became more thickly settled organized a society of their own. Concerning this organization the following original paper is still to be found among the records of the church at Brookfield :
BROOKFIELD, April 1, 1816.
We, the people, inhabitants of Brookfield, or others ad- jacent, taking into serious consideration the great importance of establishing a gospel ministry in this place, do hereby form ourselves into a church or congregation and to be known as the Presbyterian church or congregation of Brookfield, and do hereby promise and engage to give all pecuniary aid or the assistance that may appear necessary for the support of the same. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands the day and year above mentioned.
(Signed)
ROBERT HUGHES, JAMES MONTGOMERY,
JACOB ULP, JAMES KERNEY,
MATTHEW THOMPSON, ROBERT MONTGOMERY,
JOHN LAFFERTY.
On the day following the date of the above document the church was organized by Rev. James Satterfield, of Mercer, Pennsylvania, act- ing under authority of the Hartford presbytery. The original members were James and Martha Montgomery, Robert and Martha Hughes, Mat- thew and Sarah Thompson, Jane Montgomery, and James Kerney, from Washington county, Pennsylvania; Jacob and Elizabeth Ulp, New Jersey; Abigail Lafferty, Mary Lafferty and her daughter Mary, Ann Lafferty and her daughter Ann, and Nancy Lafferty. The officials of the church were as follows : Matthew Thompson, Robert Montgomery, and Jacob Ulp, trustees; Robert Hughes, clerk, and Matthew Thompson, treasurer.
During the year 1817 the first house of wor- ship was built, and was on the northwest corner of what is now the cemetery. This was a frame building, and the nails used in its construction were all made by Isaac Flower by hand. In the winter of 1817 Rev. John Core, a licentiate of the Hartford presbytery, was requested to be- come the pastor, and the following spring he was ordamed at Youngstown and installed pastor of Youngstown, Vienna, and Brookfield.
On January 18, 1818, Robert Hughes, Mat- thew Thompson, and Jacob Ulp were elected elders (perpetual). On April 8, 1820, James
Dunlap and Robert Hughes were elected ruling elders, and on August 13th of the same year, John Hughes was ordained and installed, with James Dunlap, as ruling elder. In the autumn of 1819 Rev. Core resigned the pastorate of Vienna, but how long he remained the pastor of Youngstown and Brookfield jointly is not known. A statement, however, appears of a settlement with him as pastor dated September 10, 1825.
The congregation on April 8, 1833, decided to secure the services of Rev. James Anderson, a licentiate of Washington presbytery, and dur- ing this year the church received nineteen ad- ditions. The sessions of this church and of Hubbard met together at Hubbard, and in all probability one minister served both charges.
At the session of the church held in May, 1837, Rev. William Woods then being pastor, upon the question of a division of the denom- ination into the Old- and New-school, which took place the next year, it was decided to remain with the old school.
At the meeting of the session, December 30, 1843, Rev. Joseph Smith officiated as moderator and administered the Lord's supper, at which time there was an addition of sixteen members. At the meeting of the congregation on April 4, 1844, the membership of the session was in- creased by the election of the following elders: Ambrose Hart, John Kerney, and William Jewell, who were ordained and installed as ruling elders the following April, by Rev. Joseph Kerr.
September 11, 1845, Rev. Ward was installed as pastor, and during his ministry occurred the only case of discipline in this congregation from its organization to the present, a period of over sixty years. The pastorate of Mr. Ward was one of much prosperity, spiritually, to the congrega- tion. He continued as pastor until 1849, and was succeeded in that year by Rev. Jacob Coon, who was succeeded in 1853 by Rev. H. Webber. In the following year the record shows a mem- bership of sixty-two. In 1855 Rev. A. McCurdy administered the Lord's supper and in 1856 Rev. W. G. March was moderator. In this same year, August 23d, Dr. John E. Stewart, Samuel Shilling, and John Long were elected ruling elders, but only the former two were in- stalled. Rev. N. B. Lyons was installed as pas- tor in June of this year, and probably served un - til 1860.
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In 1866 Rev. G. S. Rice was the stated sup- ply for a time.
The name of Rev. W. C. Falconer appears on the records as moderator in 1868. The few years following the congregation did not prosper, the membership declined, and regular preaching was discontinued until the winter of 1871-72, when a revival occurred in the Methodist Episcopal church, and the religious fervor awakened the few remaining members of this church, and an effort was made to secure the regular ministration of the Gospel in their own house, which during the following summer was thoroughly repaired.
In the meantime Rev Willis Weaver, a licen- tiate of the Mahoning presbytery, now a mis- sionary to Bogata, South America, preached here half his time.
In September, 1872, an engagement was made with the present pastor, Rev. J. Rea Stock- ton, who served as supply until the spring meet- ing of the presbytery, the congregation then numbering twenty. In 1873 the pastor was installed, and Thomas M. Gordon elected elder.
Since his pastorate began the church has re- ceived many additions, and the Sabbath-school has been reorganized, and is now in a flourishing condition. John A. Stewart, Frank B. McKay, and Francis M. McKay were elected elders in June, 1881.
THE METHODISTS.
The Methodist Episcopal church of Brook- field has had an existence for many years, but the writer found it impossible to obtain any defi- nite information concerning its history The early members are all gone and they have left no records concerning its organization and growth from which reliable data could be procured.
THE DISCIPLES CHURCH.
The organization of this society was effected by Rev. N. N. Bartlett, February 22, 1874. The first official board was composed of Jesse Hoag- land, Henry Patterson, and A. Taylor, elders; R. S. Hart, H. Hamilton, and J. W. Groves, deacons. The charter members of the society, including the above officials, are S. C. Hamilton, Susan Groves, Mary and Flora Taylor, Lucy Struble, Caroline Seaburn, Mary Groves, Mary A. Toward, Catharine, Hannah, and Carrie Jones, E. A. Clark, Mary Christy, Emily, Kate, and O. Hart, Elsie Mason, G. W. and Sarah Bur-
ton, J. and Mary McMullen, O. J. and Hester Burnett, Mystilla Jones, L. and Mary Randall, A. and Esther McCollum, Emily Patterson, Lorain Hatch, Elnora Day, James Haney, and Lavina Montgomery. The society first held services in the town hall at Brookfield until 1876, when the present church building was erected. From the time of organization to the present the society has been served by the following preachers : Henry Patterson, N. N. Bartlett, H. D. Carlton, P. Vogle, Elder Peckham, O. A. Richards.
The Sabbath-school was organized June 30, 1881, with A. Taylor, superintendent ; W. P. Kerr, assistant ; Dora Hart, secretary and treasurer ; J. J. Gettins and Cora McClain, librarians ; and J. Broadbent, organist.
The school now has an enrollment of eighty- six scholars, and is in a flourishing condition. The church has a membership numbering ninety- three ; forty-one having been received by immer- sion and letter during the past year. The or- ganization is yet new, but the indications of the present bid fair for continued prosperity and the accomplishment of much good work for the moral welfare of the community.
NOTES OF SETTLEMENT.
Dr. Elijah Flower was one of the most widely known and popular of the early physicians of Trumbull county. He was born in Burlington, Hartford county, Connecticut, in 1782, and re- moved to Ohio in the fall of 1813 with his family, consisting of his wife and one child, Mrs. E. D. King, then not quite two years old. His father, Horace Flower, had moved out previously and settled in Vienna, and his daughter Lavinia is said to have been the first white child born in that township. Dr. Fowler settled in the center of Brookfield, and resided there until his death. He had practiced his profession in Connecticut, having studied medicine with Dr. Everett, of Burlington. His professional life was one of great activity. He enjoyed an extensive practice in Trumbull and Mercer counties, and was de- servedly popular, not only on account of his professional skill, but also for his eminently genial disposition and social qualities. He died February 2, 1839. His wife was Sylvia Hart, daughter of Bliss Hart, of Connecticut, of whom and family a sketch may be found on another page of this work. Sylvia Hart was born in Burlington, Connecticut, April 1, 1790, and was
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