USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 32
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Bradley, and James and Julius Blake. The township settled up very rapidly.
From 1831 to 1840 came the follow- ing persons: Col. H. L. Carter, Wil- liam Sessions, Hiram Elwell, Alvin Needham, Erasmus Needham, Wil- lard Thomas, Algernon Thomas, James Furry, Old Father Carrier, and his son Lucius. George Guiestwite, Conrad Neff, Dr. Samuel Hastings, William R. Kelso, John Kelso, Char- les Edson, David L. Rockwell, Joel Burnett, the Bard family, Leverett Black, Ebenezer Rawson, Porter King, William Meloy, the Stow family and many others.
The township was organized in the spring of 1818, with the first election in April. There were 13 votes cast, out of which 11 officers were elected as follows: Trustees-Henry Thorndike, Champlain Minard, Reuben Hall; Clerk-Alpheus Andrew; Treasurer- Israel A. Thorndike; Assessor-David Thompson; Fence Viewers-John Boosinger, Henry Bozor; Constables -Arba Twitchell, Thomas Futson; Justice of the Peace-Jonathan Thompson.
On Dec. 22, 1818, the first school was opened by Jeremiah Moulton in his house, and continued during the winter. Four families monopolized this school. Teacher Moulton had ten children, Alpheus Andrews had seven, and the two Thompson houses were full of them. The first district school was taught by Henry Hall. Abner Lanphare also taught school in several of the districts. Later, there were eight districts in the township. High school subjects were taught upstairs in the town hall (dedicated in 1871), with Lybia Underwood, Henry Boszor and Elias Heckman as township trustees. Other teachers were Arthur Carrier, Hyde Phelps, C. B. Newton, Elmer
Carrier, Frank Bard and Fred Car- rier.
The first .church organization was the Presbyterian in 1819, with a mem- bership of seven-Jonathan Law and wife, Alpheus Andrews and wife, Reuben Hall and wife, and Benjamin Mallory. Rev. Simeon Woodruff preached the first sermon in Henry Thorndike's log house in 1818. They built a modest little church in 1834. A Methodist church was organized in 1823 by Elder Eddy of Hudson, and consisted of eight members-Benja- min Mallory and wife, Amos Bene- dict and wife, John K. Chapman and wife; Abner H. Lanphare and wife.
The society built a church in 1836. Rev. Mr. Huston was their pastor at one time. A Baptist church, organized in about 1834, consisted of four mem- bers-Deacon Harmon Bradley, Mar- tin T. Hackett and John Tabor and wife. They soon built a small house of worship. The first Universalist church was built in 1837. This burned down, being replaced in 1868. Rev. Andrew Willson was pastor for many years.
In 1818 Israel and Edward Thorn- dike started a nail factory a mile and half west of the Center which was soon suspended but was followed by a saw mill there, also soon abandoned.
POSTOFFICE OPENS
The first store was opned by Wil- liam Sessions in 1833; later Tillman Snyder had a store on the location.
The first postmaster was Capt. Con- stant Chapman in 1835. He was a Revolutionary War veteran. Next was Edward Parsons. A postoffice was al- so set up in the location now used by the Boosinger Coal & Supply Co., by Morris Chapman, great grandson of Constant, and he was first postmaster at Thorndike. The two offices existed until rural delivery came in 1907.
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A hotel was opened by William R. Kelso in April of 1837. Mr. Kelso's granddaughter, Mrs. Carolyn Miller, now owns and occupies this building at the intersection of highway routes 18 and 43.
The Brimfield band was organ- ized Oct. 20, 1877, with W. I. Pike as leader. The Brimfield School Band of today is under the direction of Roland Gamble.
Our first paved road was completed in 1911 from Kent.
The high school was organized in September 1896, with Prof. Andrew Douthitt as principal. First graduates (1899) were: Mary Porter (deceased); Lucy Sawyer, Vernie Shanafelt, Julia M. Moulton, Laura Boosinger (de- ceased), Charles Saxe, and Will Fox. The present high school students go to Kent University High School.
The first temperance society was organized in 1840. The first Woman's Christian Temperance Union was or- ganized in 1884, with ten charter members-all now deceased. The W. C. T. U. has never disbanded and is at present active with Mrs. Martin E. Mickey, president.
The first marriage solemnized in the township was schoolmaster Abner Lanphere and Miss Sophia Moulton, July 4, 1819.
The Soldiers' and Sailors' monu- ment in Restland Cemetery, records the names of men who fought in the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and War of 1812. The Honor Roll of the boys in the First World War, and the Honor Roll in the Town Park of the World War II veterans, are silent evidence that Brimfield Township has been loyal to the colors of our USA.
OLD SCHOOLS GONE
The eight one-room school houses were abandoned for school purposes
when the schools were centralized in 1919. Transportation of pupils to the new centralized school came in 1921. The old school houses were sold to private citizens and most of them are now in use as homes or shops today.
When centralization was adopted C. Edward Smith was president of the board of education; O. V. Werten- berger was clerk; other members be- ing Walter Somers, Frank Kurtz and Myron Werstler.
Names of some of the older teachers would include Abner Lanphare, Lu- ther Minard, Albert Minard, James Juss, Samuel Hastings, Abijah Ensign, William Powers, John York, Henry Spellman, I. H. Phelps, Julia Benedict, Martha Moulton, Morris S. Chapman, James R. LaDu and others.
"Select School" teachers were C. B. Newton, B. Harshberger, Hiram Sapp, "Gus" Bogue, Wallace Hall, John Dussell, A. O. Fox, Andrew Douthitt. A. W. Carrier, Elmer Carrier, Frank E. Bard, C. L. McConnell, Fred Car- rier, Harry Risk and Frank Schmiedel.
Schools were first graded in the fall term of 1896. A. A. Rothrock was chosen as teacher in the new high school, which had a three-year course for pupils. Andrew Douthitt graduat- ed the first class in 1899, with exer- cises in the Universalist church. Township supervision was adopted in 1895 and county supervision came in 1912.
The Brimfield township school board today is composed of Paul Rhoades, Pres .; Jean Cannon, V.P .; Ed. Pryce, Clerk; and Edgar McCorm- ick, Dale Curfman and Ralph Bunker. Paul Smith is principal.
The Mothers Club, organized by Mrs. Grace (Harry) Morrow in 1942 became the Parent Teachers Associa- tion, of which Mrs. J. T. Smith was
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first president. Daytime meetings were changed to evening meetings and fathers were taken into member- ship. Last year there was a member- ship of 356. Mrs. Howard Fogle is current president.
The Brimfield Methodist church has stood on the hill west of the Center since 1835. The organization dates back to 1828 when Elder Eddy of Hudson came and got the society together. The eight members were Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Mallory; Mr. and Mrs. Amos Benedict, Mr. and Mrs. John K. Chapman; Mr. and Mrs. Ab- ner Lamphare.
The land was deeded to the church by Samuel E. and Charlotte Carver, ten rods square in area and in 1835, valued at $50.00.
In 1954 an addition to the church was dedicated. This was during the pastorate of Rev. Kenneth F. Evans. In September of that year a new elec- tric organ was dedicated to the church and a grand piano was added as well.
Rev. Richard P. Jameson is present pastor of the church.
MORE CHURCHES COME
The Brimfield Universalist church and the Kent Universalist church merged and the last meeting held in the Brimfield church was on May 18, 1922. The members transferred to the Kent church and now take an active part in the activities of that organiza- tion of which Rev. John Flint is pas- tor.
The Brimfield Evangelical church was formed June 6, 1937, following an independent mission, with Rev. Merle V. Rentz as pastor. A lot was purchased from Chas. Helmling in that year north of Brimfield Center along State Route 43, across the high- way from the centralized school build- ing.
This church merged with the Unit- ed Brethren church in 1946 and the name was changed to the Evangelical United Brethren church. At this time the Women's Society of World Serv- ice was organized with Mrs. Carrie Good, president. In the fall of 1937 the church building was erected. Min- isters who have served this church are Revs. Merle B. Rentz, Robert Lautens- lager, Robert Sutherland, William Timms, H. G. Crabtree, Kannel L. Ireland, Martin E. Mickey and Nor- man L. McLean.
The old Brimfield town hall, on the park, was erected in 1871, and was in steady use until 1950 when it was con- demned by the state fire marshal's in- spectors. The building was sold at auction to George A. Curfman for $450.00. He tore the building down and used the lumber to build a house in which the family now lives.
The Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Restland Cemetery was dedicated in 1909 and has been a landmark since that time. It bears the names of two Revolutionary War soldiers - Cons- tant Chapman and Jonas Twitchell; ten names from the War of 1812; and 93 names of soldiers in the Civil War. After World War I the names of 36 boys were hung in the Town Hall, re- maining until the place was razed. There are 178 names of World War II veterans on a bulletin board that stands on the south side of the town park.
Home Comings here have been im- portant. The first meeting of the Brimfield Homecoming Association was held in the Town Hall Saturday, July 26, 1924. After organization it was voted to hold a meeting every year in July. This was carried out un- til 1942 when, because of the war, meetings were discontinued but start-
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ed again Sept. 1, 1945. E. L. Russ was the first president. The 1950 meeting was the last held at the Town Hall which was then being condemned for further use. In 1951 the Home Com- ing was held in the basement of the Evangelical United Brethren Church. In 1955 Mrs. Lucy Sawyer Brumbaugh was voted Poet-Laureate of the Home Coming as she had for several years composed poems for the occasion. Of- ficers elected were: Albert Boosinger, Pres .; Dr. Ionia C. Twitchell, Vice Pres .; Mrs. Albert Boosinger, Sec .- Treas.
CLUBS ACTIVE
On January 26, 1916, a small group of neighbors and friends met at the home of Mildred Williams Waldron and formed the "Thimble Club." At the second meeting, Feb. 6, that year Miss Eliza Alling, then a high school teacher, suggested the name of "Blue- bird" for happiness. The name seem- ed fitting and was adopted and this was the beginning of an organization that has not only attracted attention but has been a force for good in the community. It could be called a pub- lic service club. Its projects have in- cluded flowers and help for the sick and shut-ins; showers for expectant mothers; comfort kits for boys in serv- ice; financial and other help for the Red Cross and similar activities; help for those in distress and by contribut- ing to many worthy endeavors. For these purposes, money has been raised in a variety of ways, such as holding bazaars, card parties, theatricals, dances, festivals, spelling bees, cook books, bingo parties and sales of a variety of articles.
The club's first donation, in 1916, was a gift of $5.00 to the Portage County Detention Home. Other re- cipients have been the Cemetery As-
sociation, Memorial Fund, Tubercu- losis, Cancer and other health funds.
The Bluebird club joined the Wo- men's Federated Clubs in 1930. The first president of the club was Mrs. Harry D. Twitchell. The current pres- ident is Mrs. C. H. Ulrich. Mrs. Grady Ray and Mrs. F. A. Wetmore are vice presidents and Mrs. Wm. Hohenstein, secretary, with Mrs. Raymond Werst- ler, treasurer.
On May 23, 1919, a group of eight women from Brimfield and Franklin townships formed what they called the Frankfield Farm Women's Club which is still in vigorous existence today. The objects of the club were to have better education of farm wo- men to present day needs; to encour- age co-operation in home, school and community; to work for the good of the community in general. First mem- bers were Mesdames Harry Cannon, Geo. Reidinger, Clayton Fox, Parker Heighton, Chas. Moore, Edward Steffy and Misses Erma Steffy and Abbie Basel. Mrs. Reidinger was the first president. Officers today are Mrs. Olive Kirkhart, Pres .; Mrs. Oscar Burnett, Vice Pres .; Mrs. Everett Smith, Sec .- Treas.
Boy Scout Troop No. 259 was or- ganized April 30, 1934, with seven- teen members. The first Scout Master was Rev. M. A. Chaffee of the M. E. Church. With a membership today of 32, William Bush is now scout master.
Cub Scout Troop No. 3259 was or- ganized March 1, 1946 with eight Cubs and three Den Mothers. In 1946 there were 64 Cubs and eight Den Mothers. Robert Mikel is Cub Master and Albert Cook, assistant. The pack is the largest in the Kent district.
The Scout Mothers club was organ- ized in April, 1949 with 18 members to work with the Scouts. Mrs. Jean
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Kelso Hotel, long landmark in Brimfield, built 1833. Still standing.
Cannon is the current president.
Brimfield Camp Fire Girls were organized in the fall of 1947 by Miss Mildred Merkle and the first leader was Miss Mae Carr. At present about 100 girls are active in the Camp Fire, with leaders for each of the various grades. Mrs. John T. Smith is repre- sentative from the Kent Council.
The Brimfield Garden Club was or- ganized in 1934 in the home of Mrs. Chas. B. Pike. Mrs. David Fouser was first president. The club now belongs to the Garden Forum of Greater Ak- ron, the Ohio Garden Club and the Portage County Garden Club. Current officers are Mrs. Warren Kinton, Pres .; Mrs. M. B. Duncan, Vice Pres .; Mrs. Paul Richards, Sec .; Mrs. Geo. Scheck, Treas .; Mrs. F. A. Wetmore, Lib.
The Green Branch Garden club came into existence in 1946 with Mrs. E. G. Petrini, president. There were ten members. Today Mrs. D. Dwight Edmunds is president; Mrs. Paul Bry- an, vice president; Mrs. Robt. Hutsler, secretary; Mrs. S. A. Keagy, treasurer and Mrs. Wm. Hohenstein, librarian.
ZONING CONSIDERED
In the 1920's 4-H clubs were organ- ized as follows: The Jolly Cookers, a
a cooking club for young girls; Nim- ble Thimble Club, sewing club for girls; (Mrs. A. L. Eversman being ad- visor now for 15th year); the Boys Club, which has become the Pioneer club, Gordon Schafer and Charles Sprague, advisors. Much of the club work has been absorbed by the school Home economics course.
The Brimfield-Franklin Dairy Club was organized in 1954, with C. M. Hissom advisor, Wayne Biltz, assis- tant.
After considerable discussion a Brimfield zoning ordinance was pass- ed by vote in the November, 1956, election. A Zoning Appeals board was set up with M. B. Duncan chairman. Other members are A. L. Eversman, Norbert M. Roth, C. M. Stewart and C. F. Jacoby who is secretary. The Zoning Commission consists of Earl Wertenberger, Pres .; Dale Curfman, clerk; Robert Lower, Winan Snyder and Howard Mankamyer, with F. G. McCormick enforcement officer.
Brimfield today has a very good township fire department housed in a building of its own. It was organized in 1933 with George Cline, president, and C. C. Jones, chief. Joe Lingel is president now and Herbert Cookus,
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chief. First equipment was a Model T Ford tank. Today there are three pumpers valued at $50,000.
The fire department idea was pro- moted originally by Sam Harrington, Frank Kurtz and C. C. Jones.
The Brimfield Township board of trustees today consists of J. T. Ludick, chairman; Guy W. Morton, township clerk; Jay Roland and C. I. Boosinger.
The first telephone in Brimfield was a private enterprise in 1892 and it connected the J. T. Williams store at the Center with the Chapman Bro- thers store at Thorndike. The stock- holders were J. T. Williams, M. S. Chapman, E. D. Brobst and Ionia J. P. Chapman. The Bell Telephone Co. brought its service to Brimfield in the same year that it did in the Kent area, 1921.
The first automobile owned in Brimfield was by Frank Kurtz in 1909 -a Ford. This was in 1909 and two years later Frank Laudenslager bought one, also a Ford. It was soon followed by another Ford, owned by George Cline but this one had a band of brass over the radiator.
Brimfield today has three public golf courses within its limits. The Green Hills Course west of the Center was started in 1922 by Ned Miller. In 1925 it was taken over by C. B. Pike and operated by him until he sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Hillegas in 1946 which continues today. It is a nine- hole course.
Over thirty years ago the farm of the late B. W. Boosinger was con- verted into a nine-hole course by his daughter, Bessie Boosinger and Mrs. Aline Boosinger Truckenbrod. It is called Sunnybrook. Paul Truckenbrod is superintendent of greens and is in charge of maintenance.
Maplecrest is an 18-hole course, pur-
chased in 1948 by the late James Irving and his father, Thomas Irving, and daughter Annie Irving, who bought the land from Dess Krumroy. Mrs. James Irving and sons James and Tommy operate the course today while Thomas Irving and daughter Annie live in Long Beach, Calif.
HOMESITES LAID OUT
Brimfield today can no longer be considered a swamp. For over a hun- dred years it has been considered a thriving farming community but re- cent years have wrought vast changes. There is less farming as residents turn city-ward and become factory and of- fice workers, though continuing to live here. Farms are being cut up into allotments and homes of a new type appear. There are recreation places and activities of new types. Of recent date are the McTaggar Allotment, the Mosser Allotment, the Morrow Allot- ment and the Selnik Allotment. A lake called "Lake Brimfield" is in the latter acreage. There is also the Estes Allotment, 114 lots in all. Ernest At- wood of Tallmadge bought the Clyde Eck farm and made it the Oakwood Allotment. These are toward the west.
A new recreation park has been established in the northwest part of town. It is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. M. B. Duncan and called "Duncanside."
Opportunities for recreation are al- so offered in the so-called Mogadore Reservoir owned by the city of Akron. It is located in both Suffield and Brimfield of which several hundred acres lie in Brimfield. It has become a good fishing spot.
The Portage Beagle Club has leased an 180-acre farm as a game pre- serve with a club house upon it known as Lamm Lodge.
The railroad reached Brimfield in
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1882. It was first under the name of the Connotton Valley, changing to Cleveland, Canton & Southern and Wheeling & Lake Erie. It is now the Nickel Plate. It served the community well and for years was the only con- venient outlet for travel. The station was known as Thorndike or Brimfield Station.
In the 1930s a dog racing track was located in west Brimfield along pres- ent Route 18 but met with opposition and did not last long.
Brimfield's first paved road was that to Kent, now Route 43. Present
Route 18 was improved about 1920 and is now 'a busy route connecting Akron and Youngstown.
Over the years various residents have engaged in business or callings and many have been forgotten. An unusually successful auctioneer was George Beal who was located here in the 1890s before moving to Kent. An- other, who is still engaged in active work is Perry Cuthbert and is known over the county and beyond. A. T. Porter worked here as a blacksmith for many years. Another blacksmith was Norris Briggs who started along
School Days in the 1880s
This is a picture of a one-room school assembly, long typical of rural schools in Portage County. It is District No. 2, Brimfield, in the 1880s. Not only does it show the style of clothing of the time but points to other facts. These pupils represent all eight of the modern "grades," and ages of pupils here run from six to 20. Several of the girls wear "long dresses," a sure indication of womanhood. Notice the aprons worn by some of the smaller girls, and the size of some of the boys. In this district one boy attended school until he was 23. One of the "big boys" in this group later married the teacher (right).
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the railroad tracks, later coming to the Center. He became a veterinarian which profession he practiced in addi- tion to horse shoeing. G. W. Morton has operated a barber shop at the Cen- ter since 1926, and another is situated west of the Center run by John Melothowski.
SERVE THE COMMUNITY
In 1936 J. T. Ludick took over the Center general store from Howard and Harry Kurtz, purchasing the property. A gas station is now includ- ed. Henry Meloy operates the general store he purchased in 1947 from How- ard Baughman.
Clarence L. Boosinger, owner and manager of the Boosinger Coal & Sup- ply Co. at the station, succeeded his
father, Seymour Boosinger in 1935.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Carder oper- ate a poultry farm and market on Route 43 north of the Center. The Sprague Poultry Farm is located east of town. In this Charles Sprague, Jr., succeeded his father in 1928.
Two mink farms are located in the eastern part of the township. One is run by Michael Haska with approxi- mately 4,000 mink on this ranch. The second is the Skill C. Schwartz Ranch with about 900 animals. Mr. Schwartz came from Akron in 1945.
In 1881 a history of Brimfield Township was written by Dr. A. M. Sherman of Kent who had been a resi- dent of Brimfield. It was printed in pamphlet form.
At one time Indians had a permanent camp on land along the Fairchild Ave. extension, west of Kent. For many years after that relics could be found on this spot. It is said that when a plow turned up a bushel or so of arrowheads, two brothers got into a dispute about their possession and as a result never spoke to each other later.
Windham's two favorite picnic grounds were Alford's Rocks and Woodworth's Rocks, named for farms where located. The first in on present Rt. 82 near Mahoning Corners, on the site of Wind- ham's first building. Woodworth's is to the west of the Center, south of the Erie tracks and is now inside the Arsenal.
There were many heart aches when in 1940 the government took over land that had been in the same families over a hundred years. In Windham Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Curtiss had a deed dated 1826 from Benjamin Higley, a first settler. Arthur D. Waite, a descendant of John Waite, who came to Windham in 1835, also sold land to the government.
Hand of Friendship?
On June 29, 1860, a Republican Club was formed in Streetsboro. Its Preamble and Resolutions, No. 2, read; "As the friends of Freedom we have fainted not nor become weary in well doing in the day of adversity, so in the hour of pros- perity we will neither give sleep to our eyes nor slumber to our eyelids while we can bring those that are scattered as sheep without a shepherd, into the folds of Abraham, and entreat them to come, go with us and we will do them good, for there is good spoken concerning Abraham, that he will command his children after him.
"No. 3 .- Resolved, that to the rem- nants of the lost tribes of the Democratic party, we say, now is the accepted time for every Democrat that does work, meet for repentance. There is room in Abra- ham's bosom."
Lora Case, Pres. C. R. Doolittle, Sec.
On Feb. 13, 1870, Mark Twain gave a humorous lecture at Ravenna, his subject being "American Vandal Abroad."
CHAPTER XXII Charlestown By IVA H. HARTMAN
Charlestown, occupying a near cen- tral position in Portage County, was in the original drawing for the county, organized in 1807, and was secured by John Morgan who dis- posed of it to Samuel Hinckley of Northampton, Mass. It went by the name of Hinckley until Charlestown township was organized in 1814. A stream which flows through the town- ship is still called Hinckley Creek. However, the first resident was Abel Forcha, who came in 1803 and lived for a number of years on land later called Farnham Hill, now owned by the Strausser family.
In 1800 one John Campbell was appointed agent for the Hinckley land and went to Granville and Blanford, Mass., where a company was formed. Campbell himself came into the town- ship as a resident in 1805. Original members of the company were Samuel Hinckley, David, Linus and Charles Curtiss, David L. Coe, John Baldwin, Levi Sutliff, Perry Babcock, John and William King, Anson Fairchild, Joel Parsons and Solomon Noble. All sign- ed an agreement that if they did not move on the land, clear five acres and build a cabin within five years, they would forfeit their rights and pay $100.00. All complied except four- Hinckley, Fairchild, Noble and Par- sons who paid their fines and the $400.00 received was applied to the building of a house for town or re- ligious and educational purposes. More money being needed, donations
were solicited. One Charles Curtiss, in consideration that the town be named for him - Charlestown -do- nated a barrel of whiskey toward the new building. The offer was accepted. The building was a rather large one and stood north of the present store. The upper floor was used for the school, the lower floor as a church. In 1880, the then old building was being used by Harrison Hatfield as a blacksmith shop, shared by Milo Colt- on and Anson Peck who did carpen- tering and wood work. The building was replaced by a blacksmith shop which has since been converted into a dwelling. John Campbell and wife have been called the first actual sett- lers.
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