Brecksville City

Chapter Lxx

Boundaries - First Proprietor - Soil--First Pioneers--A Garrisoned House - Rattlesnakes - Hinckley Hunt - Settlements on the River - At the Center - Up Chippewa Creek - In the North - Horse Stealing and Counterfeiting - Pioneers before 1826 - Prominent Men between 1826 and 1835 - First Officers - Items from the Town Book - List of Officers - Town Hall - Tax of i878 - A Log Grist-Mill - Other Mills at the Center - Saw-Mills on the Chippewa - The old Fulling Mill - Tanneries and Distilleries - Village of Brecksyille - Its Post Office - Stores and Hotels - Schools - First Congregational Church - Methodist Church.

BRECKSVILLE is in the southernmost tier of townships in the county. The Cuyahoga river forms its eastern boundary, and beyond it lies the township of Northfield, in Summit county. On the south is the township of Richfield, also in Summit county; while on the west and north lie the townships of Royalton and Independence in Cuyahoga county. It received its name from Robert and John Breck, two of the proprictors, who owned it in common with Reuben Dresser, Lemuel and Asahel Pomeroy, Ebenezer Hunt, Asa White and Welch & Hinckley. The township contains seventeen thousand one hundred and fiftysix acres of land, the surface of which is broken by high hills and deep hollows in the eastern and central parts; but in the south and the west forms an elevated plain. It was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, and in some localities a liberal supply of the common forest trees may yet be found.

The soil varies from a stiff clay to a sandy loam and is most adapted to the raising of the various grains and grasses, the latter being the principal product. Dairying largely engages the attention of the people, although much mixed husbandry prevails. 'The principal stream, aside from the Cuyahoga, is Chippewa creck, with its tributary brooks. That creek flows cast through the township, a little north of its center. It has a small but fertile valley and in some localities its banks form high and almost perpendicular walls of shale, while in otiers the channel is an unbroken mass of sandstone, its banks being fringed with evergreens and tangle wood, which gives them a wild and picturesque appearance. It affords a limited water power.

Pioneer Settlers

Brecksville was surveyed in 1811 by Alfred Wolcott, Ksq., and in June of that year the first settlement in the township was made, by Seth Paine and Melzar Clark, who came from Western Massachusetts. The former located on lot sixty-four, in the extreme southwestern part of the township, and died there before 1818. Ile hada family of two sons - Oliver N. and 8. White - and two daughters. One of them, Almira, married Melzar Clark, who soon after removed to Royalton. After his death the widow married Henry Bangs of that township.

At the breaking out of the war of 1812 the few inhabitants, for a time, kept up a little garrison at the house of Seth Paine, but as the rumors of Indian hostilities became more alarming most of the people fled to Hudson, where they remained until the danger was over. After the war only a few straggling Indians were seen, and these soon abandoned the country, leaving the settlers in undisturbed possession of their homes.

These were of logs, often without a nail or board, and contained but the simplest furniture and household utensils. A single article was often made to do service for cooking, baking and washing, and it is said that, in the absence of any other vessel, one of the pioneer mothers was obliged to milk her cow into ajug. Rattlesnakes were unusually abundant in the township, and would sometimes intrude themselves through the puncheon floors of the cabins of those living near the Chippewa - as many as thirteen of those unpleasant reptiles having been killed in one place.

Game, also, was very abundant. We have described the great Hinckley hunt on page sixty-six of the general history, but we add a few facts not known when that description was written. It originated at the house of Seth Paine, in this township in December, 1818. A meeting was held and officers appointed; Cary Oakes being captain for Brecksville, John Ferris captain for Royalton, Judge John Newton for Richfield, and "Squire Freyer for Brunswick. As remembered in Brecksville, the number of deer killed was three hundred and sixty-five; of bears, seventeen; of wolves, five. These figures differ a little from those previously given, but either set shows a very good day's work.

In 1811 another settlement was made in the northeastern part of the township, by Benoni Brown and Samuel, Almon and Charles Wolcott; most of whom moved away at an early date, the former going to Bedford township. The following year Edward Johnson, a native of Pennsylvania, located on the river, above the settlement just mentioned, rearing there six sons, named Andrew, Joseph, George, William, John and Thomas, some of whom yet live in the township. About the same time William Moody, Thomas Timmins and John Breen located in the same neighborhood. The latter lived at the mouth of the Chippewa and had four sons, named John, Joseph, David and Cyrus. Andrew Dillon was also an early settler on the river. His sons growing to mature years were George, Peter and James. About the time the canal was built many deaths were caused in this locality by billious diseases.

On the Ist day of January, 1812, Walter Wait and his brother-in-law expectant, Lemuel Bourne, built the third house in the township, near the present center, raising the walls that day and completing it soon after, without using any boards or nails. Although in midwinter, the weather was very pleasant, and they did not suffer in consequence of having to live several days without doors or windows to their cabin. Wait soon after moved away, but Bourne settled south of the center, where he resided until his death, in 1874, at the age of eighty-three years. He had three sons, named William, Isaac and Rawson; and two daughters, named Harriet and Mary. The same svason John Wait, Chester Wait and Benjamin Wait also settled in that part of the township. The last named was the first adult that died in the township, and in 1813 the wife of John Wait became the mother of the first child - a son, who on reaching manhood moved to Michigan.

About the same time Bolter Colson settled in the south part of the township, where he resided until 1878. Ile had five sons, Orrin, Chandler, Lyman, homas and Newton, the last two being still residents of the township.

To the center of Brecksville came, in 1812, Lemuel Tloadley and Hosea Bradford, the former building there the first mil in the township, the following year. Bradford, who was a shoemaker, lived on the publie Both removed to Olmstead in the course of Up the Chippewa Eli and Abijah Bagley located the same year. The latter had two sons, named Russia and Nathaniel. John Adams, Rufus Newell and Aruna Phelps were also settlers of the township, about this period, im the Chippewa Valley.

In 1813 Aaron Rice, with a large family, moyed from Franklin county, Massachusetts, to the southwestern part of the township. He had seven sons, named Silas, Aaron, Seth, William, Moses, Myron and Peter, and three daughters. Ilis son-in-law, Ebenezer Rice, came soon after. The latter had three

Calvin, Cary and William Oakes came with their families by ox-teams from Massachusetts in 1816, the journey consuming forty-two days. Cary Oaks had five sons, named Caleb, Henry, Francis, Isaac and Cary. The sons of William Oakes were George and William. Thesame year came Josiah Wilcox and his sons Ebba, Ambrose and Orrin, also from Massachusetts. Kbba Wileox had a son named Freeborn. Ambrose died in 1834, leaving four sons, named Edwin, Whitney, Miller and Charles. Orrin had one son named Josiah.

Asa Fenn lived in the same neighborhood, and also died in 1834. Te had three sons, Arnon, Plympton and Learno. The same year died Aaron Barnes, another carly settler in that neighborhood, who had two sons named Giles and Jesse. In the southern part of the township Lyman J. Frost was one of the earliest settlers, and a short time later John Pomeroy and Eh Osborn were added to the list of pioneers.

In 1817 Jedediah Meach settled in the northern part of the township, and about the same time came Daniel O'Brian. Both moved away, but the following year Dr. Isaac M. Morgan came to that locality and resided there until his death. Ie had three sons, Charles, Ilarris and Consider. <A son of the latter, Moses L., now occupies the homestead. Jacob Fuller and his uel, Warren Cole, George W. Marsh, and William, Samuel, Isaac and Abel Varney, were all early settlers in the northern and western part of the township.

On the Warren Cole place, which is at present occupied by Emmet Boyd, afterward lived G. B. Sperring, whose cofnection with a gang of horse thieves and counterfeiters made his place a resort of vicious characters, and a receptacle of stolen property at hours of the night when his more honest neighbors were asleep. At home Sperring maintained an cminent respectability, but he was at last suspected and arrested. While being taken to Cleveland he effected his escape to Canada. On his farm was discovered an underground stable for secreting stolen horses, and in the house were many evidences of the manufacture of counterfeit moncy.

West of this place Daniel Green settled about 1818, and lived there until his removal to Sandusky. Tle had three sons, named William G., John L. and Charles. A few years later Joseph Tollis, from St. Lawrence county, New York, scttled in this neighborhood, but removed to Seneca county. Tle had two sons named Giles and George W., the latter being at presenta resident at the center. At this place in 1817 settled Joseph, Allen and Alexander Darrow; the latter being the father of Nathan, John and Alvah Darrow, all of whom moved away, though some are now living in adjoining townships. At a little later period Ezra Wyatt settled at the center, and purchased the interest of Lemuel Hoadly in the mill property. Ife had five sons, named Nathaniel, Eliphalet, Darius, James and Lorenzo, some of whom yet live in the county.

Besides the foregoing there were among the pioneers of Brecksville, before 1826, David McCreary, Orrin Abbott, Joseph Burnham, Thomas Patrick, Andrew Benton, John Johnson, Chester Narmore, John Jenkins, Lewis Adams, Joab Rockwell, Thomas Scott, Gersham Bostwick, Joseph McCreary, John G. Joslin, T. C. Stone, Isaac Packard, Elisha Tubbs, John Pomeroy, Darius Robinson, Johnson Patrick, John Guilford, Reuben Durfee, Alonzo Castle, Chauncey L. Young, William Breckenridge, John Randall Robert Donaldson and Jonas Haynes. Among the prominent settlers who were in the township before 1835, and who have not already been named, were David Ring, Edward Rust, Augustus Adams, Joseph H. Breck, Theodore Breck, Moses Hunt, Verarms, Lester and Charles Dewey, John Day, Hugh Stephenson, John Dunbar, William Goodell, James Foster, Thomas Sanderson Belah Norton, Martin Chittenden, Charles B. Bostwick, Edmund M. Bartlett, besides others whose names appear in the church history.

Civil Organization Moses Hunt

Moses Hunt was born in Stratford, Orange Co., Vt. Aug. 5, 1809, and was the youngest son of Moses and Judith (Roberts) Hunt, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the former being born in Hopkinton, Jan. 19, 1774, the latter at Stratford, July 31, 1773. In the winter of 1812 his father moved to Northampton, Mass., but being compelled to gain his livelihood by day labor, he was not able to give his children any educational advantages. During his childhood Moses was obliged to live out in various families of Hampshire County; but on arriving at the age of manhood, seeing no prospects of bettering his condition of life in the Eastern States, he made up his mind to emigrate to the West, and in 1838 settled in Brecksville, on a farm of one hundred acres. With no other capital except health, strength, and ambition he commenced the battle of life. The country at that time was a wilderness, and the pioneers had many obstacles to overcome, but Mr. Hunt, by energy, economy, and industry, prospered. He resides at present on his original purchase, which he has increased to one hundred and fifty acres, and has made farming his sole occupation in life.

Mr. Hunt's parents settled in Brecksville in 1837. His father died Dec. 24, 1839, and is buried in the town; his mother returned to Massachusetts, where she died in September, 1866, in her ninety-fourth year.

The result of Moses Hunt's marriage was three children, one of whom died in childhood. Chauncey P. was born March 31, 1835, and has been twice married, the last time (Nov. 7, 1866) to Harriet S., daughter of Lemuel Bourn.

Mr. Bourn was one of the early settlers of Brecksville, coming in 1810, prior to which date but one family had located there. Chauncey at present resides at home with his parents. Sarah Emeline was born Nov. 26, 1837; is the wife of Louis T. Rust, a farmer of Brecksville, and has a family of three children.

Tn polities Mr. Hunt isa Republican, and although often solicited by his fellow-citizens to occupy positions in their gift, he has always declined political honors. Has been a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Brecksville for almost fifty years, and has held the office of deacon for about thirty years.

Deacon Hunt is loved and respected by all. Though now advanced in years he enjoys the best of health, and it is the daily wish of friends and neighbors that he may be permitted to be among them for many years to come.

Johnson; clerk, John Wait; treasurer, John Adams; constable and lister, Ebenezer Rice; poormasters, Ifosex Bradford, Aaron Rice; fence viewers, Ebenezer Rice, Walter Wait, Hubert Baker; road supervisors, Lemuel Bourne, Hosea Bradford, Hubert Baker, Ebenezer Rice. Charles Wolcott had been elected constable but he refused to serye and was fined two dollars, which was applied toward paying for a township book, which had been purchased by Lemuel Hoadley for three dollars and seventy-five cents. We transcribe some further notes from the old township books, which may be intcresting.

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 unappropriated in the treasury, twelve dollars - a very good exhibit indeed. At an election held in October, 1815, tu 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 trustees 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 Ifubert Baker were deficient."

At an election for justice of the peace, held February 17; 1817, John Wait received twenty-nine votes; ILosea Bradford, one; and Edward Johnson, one.

In November, 1817, the overseers of the poor, Calvin Oakes and Aaron Rice, commanded Silas Rice, the constable ''to order Hubert Baker to depart from the township of Brecksville without delay." He 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 publie charges.

On the 29th of April, 1872, the legislature empowered the trustees of Brecksville to borrow money to build a town ball, 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. Itis constructed of brick, with ashapely belfry, and was completed in 1874, at a cost of four thousand five hundred and twenty-two dollars.

a mill; for roads, one and one-fourth mills; Jor grading 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 manufacturing has been carricd 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 agristmill is operated there at present. It was built by the present proprictor, 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 discontinued. 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

Tanneries have been carried on by Darius Robinson, 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 manufacture of buckskin mittens at the center. For the past eight years a cheese factory has been successfully operated there, and this and the mills at present constitute the only manufacturing interests of the township.

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 pleasaat 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 Brecksville office, which received at that time one mail per week. 'I'he successive postmasters have been Chauncey L. Young, Asa Reynoldsand J. H. Coates. The office at present has three mails per week from Cleveland, distant seventeen miles.

Charles Morgan had the first store in the place, at the stand now occupied by J. H. Coates. The intermediate merchants there were William Towsley, E. and 'T. Breck, Breck & Humphrey, and Alling & Fairchild. The brick 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 Ellsworth, 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 Presbyterian 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 residence. 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 profession. Dr. Edward Buck was in practice many years before his death in 1859, and had a contemporary in Dr, William Knowlton. The latter was followed by his son, Augustus, and he in turn, by another son, the present Dr. William Knowlton.

The Public Schools

Mosrs MaTHEWs, a worthy son of old Vermont, was born at New Haven, Addison Co., Feb. 16, 1804, his parents being Joseph and Polly Mathews. His father was engaged in farming, and in that occupation, 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. Whilea resident of St. Lawrence 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 remained till 1838, when he removed to Brecksville, hundred and twenty-two acres, but he has made a partial distribution among his children, and now resides on one hundred and forty acres, a part of which The result of his mar- Henry, born May 16, 1825, who was a soldier in the late war, held the

Losing his wife Feb. 24, 1870, Mr. Mathews was married again, June 18, 1871, to Miss Arasis Politically he has been a life-long Democrat, having cast 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 overcome the dangers and obstacles of frontier life.

from the Hoadley, Adams, Bradford and Wait families. 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 thirtyseven 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 superseded 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 1874, at a cost of $4,000, and is a model of architectural beauty. For its size it has no superior in the country.

In 1878 the township reported nine buildings, valued at $12,000. Ten schools were maintained at an expense of $2,387.75. 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 average attendance was eighty-three per cent.

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, Lyman J. Frost, Oriana Frost, Zelpha Wait, Lucy Wilcox, James 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 Rev. 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 continued 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 Barrett was installed as pastor, and maintained that relation until 1848. Since that time the pastor and sup

Bradford, near the square. In 1819 a log schoolhouse 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 $200. 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 affairc of the church. The first officers were Belah Norton, Wm. H. Judd and Wm. Breckenridge, trustees; William Oakes, secretary; Philip Gass, treasurer; and Darius Lyman, collector.

In addition to the foregoing the constitution was signed by Bolter Colson, Moses Hunt, Cary Oukes, EK. M. Bartlett, Peter Goodell, Moses Boynton, Francis Oakes, Augustus Adams, William Burt, Theodore

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. H. 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, Jared 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 H. M. Bartlett. It was completed at a cost of about $3,000, and was dedicated October 30, 1844. Subsequent repairs have rendered the house comfortable and attractive, and together with the parsonage, erected in 1842, it constitutes a very good church property. In 1876 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 membership of one hundred and five, and since 1833. has regularly maintained a Sunday school, which at present has one hundred and thirty members. L. T. Rust is its'superintendent. In 1866 Augustus Adams, a member of the church, donated $500 to the American Tract Society, on condition that that body should furnish thirty dollars worth of books yearly to the Sunday school in question. A yery 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 organized themselves into a class, the names of whose members, owing to the absence of records, cannot be here given. In 1836 the present mecting house at the center was erected, and has been the place of fortable place of worship. 'he 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 Brecksville 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 circuit is supplied by the Rev. Moses B. Mead, of Baldwin University. The membership of the church is small, numbering but sixteen persons. The class leader is L. Norvill. The Sunday school has sixty members, A. C. Hitcheock being the superintendent.