Brookdale Farm

Unlike other townships, Bath's Center never grew to the dignity of a village. A small shoeshop, opened there at quite at an early day, was about the only attempt toward villagemaking. Shoes were taken to this shop for repairs, but probably before this was opened, the following circumstance occurred : One day, Alonzo Coffin, his little sister and another girl of about her age, none of whom were older than ten years, were sent to Brandywine to have their shoes mended. The families lived near there at that time. The shoes were mended, but by this time darkness had thrown her sable curtain over the earth. Just as the children were about to start for home, the wolves were heard howling dismally in the woods, through which they must pass, and Mr. Mc- Clellan, the cobbler, declared he would not go through the woods at that time for anything, and told the children they had better sta}' all night. But Alonzo said he was not afraid, and told Mr. McClelian to " get me a torch, and I'll go." A large torch of hickory bark was procured and lighted, and the three little children started out through the darkness for home. They had no sooner reached the woods than the wolves surrounded them with angry howls, but kept at a respectful distance on account of the fire. The children hurried on, keeping close together, and the wolves continued to follow them until they were within a few rods of home, when the savage animals, disappointed at not getting the expected feast, ran off through the dark forest. It was custo- mar}^ in early years, for cobblers to travel around from house to house to pl}^ their craft, often furnishing everything and making shoes for the whole family. Three villages proper have arisen in Bath - Hammond's Corners, Ghent and Ellis' Corners. The Hammonds were probabl}' the first residents at the former. It is thought that Royal and Horatio Hammond brought the first stock of goods to the village, but the date is indefinite. If there at all, they probably opened up before 1830. John Rhodes was there with a small stock soon after 1833. Reison Randolph sold goods there for many years. Joseph Whitcnift is there at present, and has been doing a good country store trade for quite a number of years. Himself and store are highly spoken of A few others have sold goods in the village. Among other industries may be mentioned the wagonworks of Clem Jagger. This man has followed the occupation for many years. A post office was secured at the Corners in about 1838. Prior to that date, the office had been at the Center, whei*e Phineas Nash, Theodore King, and probably Lewis F. Lane and others, had served as Postmaster. Various parties have held the office at the Corners, the present one being Mr. Whitcraft. Dr. Hutson, who came to the township in about 1819, was the first practicing physician in the township. His residence and office were a short distance north of the Center. He was a kind old man, and would preach to the settlers in their dwellings, or in the schoolhouses. Some time after 1833, Dr. H. A. Robinson came to the township, and for man}' years he prescribed for the temporal disorders of the citizens. He was quite skillful with ague and the typhus fevers, and secured a lucrative practice. Ghent has had a different experience and a different growth. In 1818, there were three or four families living at what is now Ghent. Mr. Boughton opened a small store about the same time, placing his goods in* a small, rough, frame building that is 3'et standing, though altei'ed and remodeled, on the east side of the Center road, near the bridge. This man had considerable money, which was invested in young cattle. The animals were herded in the woods and along the open spaces near the streams. The foi'ests furnished abundant food for the cattle. The rich browse was abundant, and was eaten in large quantities with excellent results, as the animals gained rapidly in weight, until at last they were driven to the Eastern markets. Others engaged successfully in the same pursuit, Mr. Boughton did not continue his store but for about four years. As near as can be ascertained, the village, after he left, was without a store for a number of years. Moses McFarland was in with a stock of goods in 1844, and had probably begun as early as 1840. Mr. Leggitt was connected with him in business, and, in about 1848, bought McFarlands interest in the stock and store. A few years later, he sold to Francis Husong, who probably had about $1,500 worth of goods. Finney & Fairchild succeeded Husong, but closed their store after a few years. Thomas Pierson sold groceries about thirty-five years ago. Henry Pardee opened a store during the last war. This he conducted until 1881, when he sold out to James Greenleese, the present storekeeper. Mr. Pardee kept a good store, and has been an energetic and respected citizen. The oldest woolen factory in the State is located in the village. It was first started in 1832, by x\lleu & Bloom, but, three years later, was sold to Alpheus Babcock, and soon after this to Spafford Brothers. These men failed in business, and the property fell into the ownership of Johnson & Fuller. In 1801, the factoi'y was purchased by its present owner, Alonzo Coffin, who has conducted it, with the exception of five years, ever since. As high as 10,000 pounds of wool have been bought in one year. Yarns, flannels, satinets, fulled-cloth, cassimeres and other kinds of cloth, have been manufactured. Five or six years ago, Mr. Coffin removed to Akron, and the factory was idle. It is now in operation again. Soon after 1850, Thomas Pierson began making barrels, buckets, kegs, etc., and doing a general cooper- wook, which he continued some twelve or fifteen years. James Myers conducted a small grist-mill (or ' pepper-mill," as it was significantl}- called) in the village, in about 1828. Whether he built the mill is not stated. It was finally destroyed by fire. Mc- Farland & Leggitt were conducting an ashery at Ghent in 1858. Archibald Hubbard owned and conducted it before them. How early he began is not remembered. James Root is said to have built the first house in Ghent. This was the Boughton store-building. In 1846, there were about twelve families living in the village. It may be stated that Mr. Pardee was connected with the woolen factory for a few years, perhaps about 1858. He is now engaged in manufacturing water-proof goods, according to some new and valuable recipe. Thomas Pierson was very likely the first Postmaster at this point. Mr. Pardee assumed control of the office about the time Mr. Lincoln went into the White House. The mantle of Government position looked well on Mr. Pardee. However, he did not become afflicted with aristocracy on that account, nor did he believe himself a prospective candidate for said White House, because he had been honored(?) with an humble position under Uncle Sam. James Root is thought to have laid out the original surve}' of lots at Ghent. The date is indefinite. Some say that James Myers named the village, but wh}' the particular name Ghent was selected is not known. Dr. Cooley lived and practiced in the township before 1820. Dr. Darling and Dr. Chaffee were in the township at an early day.

Passage source: History of Summit County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, published 1881.

Franklin has been the site of four or more villages. The first laid out has already been referred to. No house was built there, and consequently the '' village " existed only in the '' mind's eye " of the projector. In the extreme southwestern part of the township, on the north side of Chippewa River. David Harvey laid out a village as early as Mai'ch, 1816. It was platted, and properly recorded at Canton, and one or more additions of lots were afterward made. Lots sold quite rapidly, and erelong the Aallage could boast of a population of about sixty. One or more small stores were built and filled with a small stock of goods each. A blacksmith came in, and the sound of his hammer re-echoed through the muddy streets. A carpenter appeared, and began to ply his craft. A shoemaker built a small shop, whei'e " patching ' could be secured on short notice. He probabl}- kept a small stock of shoes for sale. A tailor also located in the village, and passers-by on the streets could see him sitting cross-legged in his little shop, busil}' engaged on a suit of clothes for some one of the settlers. It is likeh' that a saw-mill was started on the river in the village, although this is not certain. The village, which had been named Savannah, grew quite rapidly - not so much so, perhaps, as " Jack's bean stalk " or " Jonah's gourd " - yet improvements went on until it was seen that the coming canal would not touch the town, in which case the latter would be supplanted by its more fortunate rivals. The location of the village was not healthful, as some, of the citizens were shaking or ailing almost all the time. In addition to these, other circumstances arose, and, finally, in about 1825, a grand rush was made for Clinton and other points on the canal, and Savannah became entirely deserted. The stores and the trades were the first to leave, and soon afterward the villagers, seeing the impending fate of their village, likewise - took up their beds and walked." It is stated that, in 1827, no family resided in the village, although several deserted buildings were yet standing. Many of the buildings were taken apart and removed, after which they were again put together where they had been conveyed. Thus were the hopes of Mr. Harvey blasted. However, he had cause to be grateful, as his son, William Harvey, who had laid out Clinton in Februarj-, 1816, owned valuable property at that place, and as the rush from Savannah was main- 1}' to Clinton, the loss to the famil}- was not so serious after all. Clinton, from 1825 to 1840, did more business compared with its population than any other village in Summit County. The village had no sooner been laid out by Mr. Harve}- than William Christmas and J. W^. Lathrop made additions to it, and industries of various kinds made their appearance immediatelv. Stores were opened, hotels were erected, mechanics and tradesmen appeared, numerous dwellings were built, and finally the rush from Savannah and the opening of the canal tripled improvements of all kinds, and lifted Clinton to prominence and wealth. The village immediately entered upon a career of prosperity unknown to it before or at present. Three good storerooms were built, and were constantly occupied b}' fair stocks of goods, in charge of capable salesmen. Tradesmen and mechanics began their needed labors. Blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, gunsmiths, wagon -makers, merchants, doctors, lawyers, butchers, tavern-keepers, liquor-dealers, millers, warehousemen, preachers, teachers, and a variety- of others, entered upon the prosecution of their individual duties, and the village soon gained wide reputation as a lively trading-point. Three large warehouses were built quite early, and the quantit}- of grain purchased and shipped north on the canal seems marvelous. All three buildings were 50 feet square ; one was three and a half stories in height and the others two and a half Mr. Maranville, who kept books and purchased grain for the owners, saj's, that at one time the largest warehouse was filled to the roof with wheat, and contained 100,000 busliels. and the other two were almost as full. He says that he purchased as high as 1,500 bushels of wheat from sun to sun, and that several other buyers at the same time did about the same. Farmers from as far west as 3Iansfield brought their grain to the village. In fact, a largo share of the producers in Richland. Ashland, Wayne and Medina Counties sold their grain at Clinton. The presence of so man}' farmers in the village afforded the merchants an extensive trade. From 1840 to 1850 more wheat was purchased at Clinton than at Akron. It is said that lines of teams extending into the countr}' a mile waited their turns to unload, and many a man sat in his wagon patientl}- waiting until after midnight. An average price of about 40 cents per bushel was paid for wheat. Clinton became a point to which merchants living west in the counties above referred to ordered their goods to be shipped. Upon their arrival by boat, an arrangement was made by which they were deposited in the warehouses until the owners could send teams for them. A small commission was charged for the storage. Teams loaded with grain, coming from distant villages, returned loaded with goods for the merchants. Corn, clover-seed and other grains and seeds, were purchased b}' parties in the village. The enormous grain trade infused life into every industry in the village. It soon became a great coal center, and large quantities were shipped b}' boat to Cleveland, to be used on the lake steamers, and to be taken to cities on the lake shore. Large quantities of iron and salt, and leather, and merchandise and other articles, came to the village, to be used throughout the country by the farmers, mechanics and dealers. A large wool business was also done at the village. A carding machine was started, but, for some unknown reason, abandoned the contemplated project. Among the merchants have been Mr. Chapin, Hardy & Mofflt, John Patterson, Sorrick and Welhouse, Filson & McConnell, Alexander Russell, M. D. Wellman, Henry Davis, John Price, and many others. Mr. Russell kept store many years. He died a few years ago, and his business was graduall}' closed b}^ his daughter Maggie. Dr. Alexander Porter located in Savannah when that village was at the zenith of its prosperity. Some of the Clinton followers of Esculapius have been Dr. Chapin, Dr. Richie, Dr. David Chichester (the last two keeping drugs). Dr. Edwards and Dr. Andrew Oberlin. Dr. William Bo wen, of Massillon, practiced in the township, as did also Dr. Dolbear, of Fulton, and Dr. Armstrong, of Do3^1estown. Charles Rinehart, a lawyer, lived at the village a number of years. Several pettifoggers, the most prominent being Jacob Bradenstine, have also practiced law. A post office was secured about the time the canal was opened. Mr. Rosseter, who kept a small tavern on the bank of the canal, in 1833, was one of the first Postmasters. He made out three different reports for the same time, all of which were returned marked " incorrect." He said to Mr. Maranville, " I've made out three reports, and can't make 'em stick." Mr. Maranville assisted him, and the next report " stuck." Some of the merchants employed five or six clerks, although the stock of goods kept on hand was usually not very large. Clinton, like almost every other village, has been in its time a "tough place." Large quantities of liquor were drunk there in earl}- years, and several times the crowds of half-drunken men have taken possession of things. Squads of miners would come to the village, get drunk, and convert themselves into beasts generally. The citizens were imposed upon, until, finall}', they sent to Cleveland and purchased a dozen revolvers, or perhaps pistols, and warned those who were in the habit of creating a disturbance that such conduct must cease. It gradually did. Like all places where miners are in the habit of congi'egating, fights and drunken brawls have been unpleasantly frequent. The village at its best has had a population upward of five hundred. At present it is about three hundred. Clinton was first laid out on the west bank of the river, but, in 1835, Gorham Chapin, on the opposite side, laid out another village, which he named Orradeen. The lots were so low and wet, however, that but few persons located there, and two years later William and Francis Pumro}- laid out the village of Pumroy, on the east side of the river, adjoining Orradeen and a little below it. Here it was that the business centered, and Clinton proper, on the west side, was almost deserted, many of the lots being sold at Sheriff's sale. The post office is. Clinton, but, in conve3'ances of real property, the names Orradeen, Pumroy and Clinton are employed, depending where such property is located.

Passage source: History of Summit County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Bath Township - 47,064 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.