Brimfield Township

Brimfield Township

BRIMFIELD, like one or two other townships of the county, had the reputation of being swampy, and was slow to be settled. It was originally the property of John Wyles, of Hartford, Conn., and Israel Thorndike, a merchant of Boston, and was Town 2, Range 9. From the fact of its being swampy, it at first went by the name of Swamptown, after which it was called Beartown, because there were many bears inhabiting the swamps. Then, for some reason not remembered now, the township was known as Greenbriar, which gave place in turn to Wylestown, in honor of one of the proprietors, who had owned the entire township at first, but at the organization in 1818. Thorndike offered to give a plat of ground for a public square at the Center, if they would call it Thorndike, which was agreed to and it was so named officially, but the old "Ingun Giver" backed out of the contract and would not make a deed for the ground, so the citizens petitioned and had the name changed to Brimfield, in honor of John Wyles, Jr., to whom his father had in the meantime bequeathed his interest. Wyles, Jr., resided in the town of Brimfield, Hampden Co., Mass. ; hence the name. At the division of the property of the Connecticut Land Company, townships were drawn and awarded without regard to the quality of the land, or its location, but in some instances the townships so drawn were, according to common report, so very far below the average that, to equalize the drawing as near as they could get at it, lots were added elsewhere to the property that fell to the share of the unfortunate ones. This township being considered a "poor" share, a lot on

Superior Street, Cleveland, afterward very valuable, and several hundred acres of land in Geauga County, were thrown into the, bargain by the Equalizing Committee. The honest old speculators, however, were slightly mistaken, for Brimfield is now one of the best sections of the county, and the "swamp" lands are among the best grazing spots to be found anywhere.

In 1816 Thorndike and Wyles cane to the Reserve to view their land and make a division of the same. They found Brimtield, or rather Town 2, Range 9, an unbroken wilderness, with nothing but wild beasts as its inhabitants, and they had no difficulty in making the division. Thorndike chose the north, and Wyles the south half. They then returned to the East, but' Thorndike sent out his nephew, Heni-y Thorndike, to act as his agent and make a settlement. He brought with him Arba Twitehel, who immediately commenced a clearing on the old Boszor hill, half a mile north of the Center. About this time a man named Simcox, a squatter, attempted to make a settlement, but he never purchased any land, and remained only a short time. The first permanent settler was John Boosinger, who came from Ravenna in June, 1816, but was originally from Maryland. He settled on Lot 39, where he lived for sixty years, when he passed across the River. In the following November, Henry Thorndike with his famil}^ and his brother Israel arrived. Israel was a bachelor, but soon after coming married a daughter of Martin Kent, of Suffield. Henry settled on Lot 21. Abuer H. Lanphare, a single man, also came and lived in the Thorndike family.

In January, 1817, Deacon Alpheus Andrews came in and settled at the Center, and the reason whereof is thus stated: Thorndike, being anxious to have a speedy settlement of his township, offered to give to the first child born therein, eighty acres of land. The good Deacon, hearing of this proposition, and having certain indications within his household that he might possibly win the prize, straightway moved into the township from Rootstown, and sure enough, on the 17th of April ensuing, the expected visitor arrived. He demanded the prize-land, but as the child had died, a compromise was made on forty acres of land, upon which he lived and died.

During this year, 1817, among others there came in Jeremiah Moulton, Henry Boszor, Erastus Flower, Capt. Uriah Sawyer, Harrison G. Moulton, Abner Moulton, John V. Gardner, Jonathan and David Thompson. David Coburn, Reuben and Henry Hall, Thomas Rice, Benjamin Mallory, Champlain Minard, John Furry, Nathan Packard, John K. Chapman, Peter Wolford, John Williard, Nathaniel Beasley, John Twitchell, Samuel Thompson, Jacob Hall and Alpheus Underwood. In 1818 came Asa Sawyer, William Smith, Frederick Jones, Edwin Barber, Jonathan Law and E. A. Palmer; in 1819 Lyman Barber, Amos Benedict. Selah Hart, Peter Osborn, Benjamin Hall and William Hall; in 1820 Jeremiah Pike, Dr. Lincoln and William Davidson; in 1821 Guy Doolittle, Capt. Courtant Chapman, and one or two others, and along about 1825, among other prominent settlers were Deacon Harmon Bradley and James and Julius Blake. From this time forward the township settled up very rapidly, and in 1831 contained the following families, with their locations, as enumerated by Dr. A. M. Sherman, of Kentucky, in an address delivered in 1881.

"We first find the family of Edward Russel in the northwest corner; coming to the Mogadore road, we find on the hill. Uncle Asa Sawyer, next, his son. Squire Asa Sawyer; passing west from the Corners, Benjamin Mallory, John Furry and John Chapman; returning and coming south, Capt. Uriah Sawyer and Uncle Sammy Thompson; going west from the Corners, Reuben Hart, Amos Benedict, Jonathan Law; at the Corners, Selah Hart, Jacob Hall, Erastus

Flowers, Edwin Barber, Guy Doolittle and Julius Blake; further south on the Corners, was Philo Taylor; next, Joseph Gilbreath, John Gilbreath and Barnett Stilwell; commencing at the north line again, we find Deacon Harmon Bradley, Arba Twitchel. the Wolford family on the Henry Boszor farm, William Hall and father, Benjamin Hall, Deacon Henry Hall, Reuben Hall, Oliver Sawyer; south at the Corners, Cone Andrews; south, John Boosinger, Harris Sherman; south on the hill, William .James, John Shelhorn; a little west, William Davidson, and south of him, William Spaulding; following the east and west road, south from the Center, were Conrad Fowser, Samuel Myers, Peter Osborn ; south of the Corners, Thomas Parsons, Deacon Edward Parsons, Moses Birge and Peter Hockobout; east from the Corners there was no house for two miles; north from the Corners, toward the Center, was Sullivan MoiiltoQ, George Moulton, Anson Moultou, Augustus Moulton, George Price, William Price, Jonathan Price; west from the Center, Solomon Carver, Henry Savsryer, Hiram King, Dr. Lincoln, Abel Forcha and Benjamin Haynes; north from the Center, were Martin T. Hackett, Nathaniel Beasley, Henry Boszor, Nathaniel Packard and Champ] ain Minard; at the Center, Deacon Alpheus Andrews; east. Widow Harrison, G. Moulton, Capt. Chapman, Harry Chapman, Joseph Chapman, Abner H. Lanphare, James Blake, Orrin Blake, Judge Jeremiah Moulton, Sluman Able, E. A. Palmer and Alpheus Underwood; south on the diagonal road, David Coburn, John V. Gardner and Abel Burt; north of Gardner was Isaac Osborn, Jeremiah Pike, Andrew Coosard, John Hill; east from the Corners were Albert Undei'wood, Lybia Underwood, Augustus Minard and David Fuller; north from the Corners, Freeman Underwood, Frederick Jones, William Smith, Martin Edson, Huedang Hall, Benjamin Cady, Elisha Burnett and Isaac Ives; in the northeast corner of the town were Levi Stoddard, Thomas Cartwright, Lucius Edson, Joseph Williard, Frederick Moore, Lyman Barber, Benjamin Edson, Beverly Y. Buss and Chauncy Isbell.

From 1821 to 1840 came the following persons: Col. H. L. Carter, William Sessions, Hiram Ewell, Alvin Needham, Erasmus Needham, Valorous Needham, Williard Thomas, Algernon Thomas, James Furrey. old Father Cairier and his son Lucius, George Guiestwite, Conrad Neff, Dr. Samuel Hastings, William R. Kelso, John Kelso, Charles 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, and the first election held in April. There were thirteen votes cast, out of which eleven officers were elected: Trustees, Henry Thorndike, Champlain Minard, Reuben Hall; Clerk, Alpheus Andrews; Treasurer, Israel A. Thorndike; Assessor, David Thompson; Fence Viewers, John Boosinger, Henry Boszor; Constables, Arba Twitchell, Thomas Futson; Justice of the Peace, Jonathan Thompson.

Politics did not enter into this election for the reason that they were all of the same mind, but it is reasonable to suppose they were Jeffersonian, as the township has been Democratic for nearly fifty years in the Republican county of Portage. In 1840, owing to the great popularity of Gen. Harrison, the Whigs had a small majority, and politics ran high, so high, indeed, that when two Constables were running, one of them was so reckless as to bet a dollar on his election.

The business of the Justices in those early days seems to have been nearly nil, and the same good custom of not going to law for every trifling and imaginary wrong seems to prevail at the present time. There is less litigation in Brimfield than in any other township in the county, scarcely two cases a year coming up in any shape whatever. Magistrates never grow rich here on fees. Extremely rare have been the cases carried to the County Court, and no lawyer has ever lived here, yet the township has been the home of many excellent business men, among whom may be mentioned Judge Jeremiah Moulton, Associate Justice for seven years; John V. Gardner, Coroner; William R. Kelso, Commissioner; Rodolphus Bard, Recorder; Erasmus Needham, Representative; and Col. H. I. Carter, County Auditor.

The child born to Mrs. Alpheus Andrews, wife of Deacon Andrews, and, named Henry T., in honor of Henry Thorndike, and in seeming response to the prize offered by that gentlemen, was the first to make its appearance iu the township, and the date was April 17, 18] 7. The first death was that of an infant of Capt. Uriah Sawyer; the next the death of Porter Walbridge, an adult, and the third the prize- child of Deacon Andrews. Walbridge was buried in the cemetery at the Center, and it is said that he had such pronounced heterodox views on religion that the good Deacon would not bury his son in the same ground, for fear the devil, when he came around for his own, would make a mistake and carry off his child in place of Walbridge, so he conveyed the little fellow over to Rootstown, and buried him there. Dr. Sherman tells this tale, and another in regard to the first max'riage, or rather the marriage of parties living here, the knot being tied in Ravenna. A fellow named Thompson, with a p, was courting a Miss Durkee, and she agreeing to have him, he started to Ravenna to get a license, but after he had gone, Thomas Tutson, as a joke, persuaded her to give up the other fellow and marry him, upon which she said it was a "whack," and they started ofi", also for Ravenna. On the road they met the expectant groom, who was informed that she had changed her mind, and although he said he would die, etc., etc., the couple continued their journey, and were made one. The first marriage in the township was that of Abner H. Lanphare and Miss Sophia Moulton, July 4, 1819.

On the '22d day of December, 1818, the first school in the township was opened by Jeremiah Moulton, in his own house, and continued during the winter. Four families monopolized this school. The teacher had ten children, Alpheus Andrews had seven, and the two Thompsons' houses were full of them. He opened again the following winter. The first district school was taught by Henry Hall. Abner Lanphare also taught school in several districts.

There are eight schoolhouses in the township, and the high school at the Center is a very excellent and creditable institution. Prof. A. W\ Carrier is Principal, and there is an attendance of about fifty pupils. The course of study is well advanced, and the school is doing a good work. The statistics for August, 1884, are as follows: 129 boys and 119 girls enrolled; 8 schoolbuildings, valued at 18,950; male teachers' average pay, |40; female teachers' pay, $21; revenue, $3,005.43; expenditures, $2,586.38.

The first church to have a regular organization was the Presbyterian, in 1819, the membership being seven persons: Jonathan Law and wife, Alpheus Andrews and wife, Reuben Hall and wife, and Benjamin Mallory. Rev. Simeon Woodruff called the little fiock together. They built a modest little church in 1834, which is now used as a residence. In 1818 Simeon Woodruff preached the first sermon at Henry Thorndike's log-house.

A Methodist Church was organized in 1823 by Elder Eddy, of Hudson, and consisted of eight members: Benjamin Mallory (formerly a Presbyterian) and wife, Amos Benedict and wife, John K. Chapman and wife, and Abner H. Lanphare and wife. This society built a church in 1836. A Baptist Church was organized about 1834, and consisted of four members: Deacon Harmon Bradley, Martin T. Hackett, and John Taber and wife. They built a small house of worship in a year or two afterward.

The first Universalist Church was built in 1837. It was burned down, and rebuilt in 1868. Resident ministers have been very few. The Universalists have as their present pastor Kev. Andrew Wilson, and the Methodists have Rev. Huston.

In 1818 Israel and Edward Thorndike started a nail factory one mile and a half west of the Center, but the difficulty in obtaining the raw material and the consequent high price of the nails, 18 cents per pound, soon rendered the enterprise a failure. In connection with the nail factory a saw-mill was started, but it, too, was abandoned, and the building afterward removed.

The first store was opened in 1833 by William Sessions. The first postoffice was established in 1835, and Constant Chapman was first Postmaster; the next was Edward Parsons. A hotel was opened by William R. Kelso, and there never was any other. The first frame house was built in 1819, by Henry Thorndike. The first physician was Dr. Lincoln; then came Dr. Stocking, Dr. Gray and Dr. Hastings.

Brimfield Center has one general store, kept by J. T. Williams, who is also Postmaster; one harness shop, A. C. H. Brown; a chop-mill, a wagon-shop, one liy-uet maker. Werstler Bros.' feed-mill and cider- mill was established in 1882 at Brimfield. The value of machinery and building is $2,500. This industry gives employment to three men. Darwin Smith's saw-mill was erected in 1882, employing three men; the capacity is 6,000 feet per day. The Brimfield cheese factory is operated by Parker.

Brimfield is the largest wool-producing and shipping center in the county. Reuben Brobst is one of the heaviest dealers on the Reserve, handling some seasons over 100,000 pounds of wool. J. T. Williams is the next largest dealer, he handling about 75,000 pounds. Both of thes9 gentlemen are also the heaviest dealers in clover seed in the county.

The Center is beautifully located, and has the handsomest town hall and park suiTounding it, in the county. The cemetery is beautifully laid out and the monuments elaborate. The citizens are an intelligent, genial and hospitable class, alive to all public enterprises and the needs of the Nation. They sent eighty-one brave boys to the field of war, and twenty of them fell in the service.

Source changes here: from History of Portage County, Ohio. Containing a History of the County, Its Townships, Towns, Villages, Schools, Churches, Industries, Etc; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men; Biographies; History of the Northwest Territory; History of Ohio; Statistical and Miscellaneous Matter, Etc., Etc. .., by Brown, R. C. (Robert C.), published 1885; 2,463 words in this source stream.

Brimfield Township

BRIMFIEIiD, like one or two other townships of the eonnty, had tiie repntation of boing swampy, and was slow to bo settled. It was originally tho profKTty of John Wylot, of Hartford, Conn., and Israel Thorndike, a merchant of Boston, and wau Town 2, Hange 9. From the fact of it6 bein^ swampy, it at fixst went hj the name of Swamptown, after which it was oallea Bcartown, because thoro wore many bears inhabiting the swamps. Then, for some reason not romombered now, the township was known as Greenbriar, which gave place in turn to Wyleetown, in honor of one of the proprietors, who had owned the entire township at first, bat at the organisation in 1818, Thorndike ofibrtHl to triyo n plat of frronnd for a public sqnaro at the Center, if they would call it Thorndike, which was agreed to ami it was so named officially, but the old ' Ingun Giver" backed out of tho contract and would not make a deed lor the ground, so the citizens petitioned and had the name changoil to Brimfiold, in honor of John Wylos, Jr., to whom his father had in the moantinio boqucatlu'd his interest. Wylos, Jr.. resided in the town of Brimtield, Hampduu Co., Mass. ; hence the name. At the division of the pn^perty of the Oonneotiont Land Gompany, towoships were drawn and awarded without rof^ard to tho quality of the land, or its location, but in some instancoB the townships bo drawn were, accordiiii,' to common report, so very far below the average that, to equali/.e the drawing as near as they could set at it, lota were added elsewliere to the property that fell to the i^are of th» imfortnsiate tmse. Ttiis township b«ng oonrndered a **poor** ahaie, a lot on

Superior Street, OleTeland, afterwaxd very valuable, and seTeral hundred acree of lend in Geauga County, were thrown into the bergaiu by the Equalizing

Committee. Tho bouest old speculators, however, were bli^htly mistakeu, for Brimfieid ia now one of the best sections of the county, and the ^swauip" Inde eve among the best ^[razing spots to be found anywhere.

In 1810 Thorndike and Wylea came to tbo Reserve to view their land and make a division of the same. They found Brimfieid. or ratbor Town 2, iiange ^, an unbroken wilderness, with nothing but wild beasts as its inhab> ftanto, and thoy had no diffionlty in making the diririon. Thorndike dioee the north, and Wyl^ the soutb balf. They then returned to tbo East, but Thorndike sent out his nephew, Henry Thorndike, to act as his agent and make a settlement. He brought with him Arba Twitchel, who iuuuediateiy eomnienoed a elearing on tiie old Bossor hill, half a mile north of tiie Ountor. About thia time a man named Simcox. a squatter, attempted to make a settlement, but be never purchased any land, and remained only a sbort time. The first permanent settler was John Boosinger, who came from liavenna in June, 1810, bnt waa originally from Maryland. He settled on Lot 89, where he liTsd lor sixty years, when he passed across the River. In the following November, Henry Thorndike witbbi.s family and bis brother Israel arrived. Israel was a bachelor, bnt suon after oomiug married a daughter of Martin Kent, of Suffield. Heory settled on Lot 21. Abner R. Lmphare, a single man, also eame and lived in the Thorndike family.

In January, 1817, Deacon Alpbous Andrews cnmo in find settled at the Center, and the reason whereof is thus Btutod: Thorndike, being anxious to have a speedy settlement of hie township, offered to give to the first child born tberi'in, eighty acree of land. The good Deacon, hearing of this proposition, and baving certain indications within bis bousebold that be might possibly win the prize, straightway moved into the township from liootstown, and snre enough, on the 17tfa of April ensuing, the expeetea Tidtor arriTed. He demanded the prize-land, but as the child bad died, a oompcDmise waa made on forty acres of land, upon wbicb be lived and ilied.

During this year, 181 7, among others there came in Jeremiah Moulton, Henry Boszor, Erastns Flower, Gapi Uriah Sawyer, Hairison G. Monlton, Abner Moulton, John V. Gardner, Jonathan and David Thompson. David Cobui-n, Reuben and Henry H;ill, Tbomas Rice, Benjamiu Mallorv, Champlain Minard, John Furry, Natbau Packard, John K. Chapman, Peter Wolford, John Williaid, Nathaniel Beasley, John Twitchell, Samuel Thomp.soa, Jacob "Bali and Alpbeus Underwood. In ISUS came Asa Sawyer, William Smith, Frederick Jonos, Edwin Barber, Jonathan Law and E. A. Palmer; in ISIU Lyraan Barber, Amos Benedict, Selah Hart, Peter Osborn, Benjamin Hall and William Hall; in 1820 Jeremiah Pike, Dr. Lincoln and William Davidson; in 1821 Guy Doolittle, Oapt. Conrtant Chapman, and one or two others, and along about lS2r), ainonrr other prominent settlers were Deacon Harmon Bradley and Jamos and Julius Blake. From this time forward the township settled up rapidly, and in 1881 contained the fdlowing familiea, with their kieatiouH, as enumerated by Dr. A M. Sherman, of Kentucky, in an addreaa deliTeared in 1^81.

" We hrrit hud the family of Edward Bussel in the northwest corner; coming to the Mogadore road, we find on the hill. Uncle Asa Sawyer, next, his 8on«Sqnlre A&a Sawyer; passing west from the Corners, Benjamin Mallory, John Fnrry and John Chapman; returniuf:; and conjinp: soutb, Capt. I'riab Sawyer and IJncle Sammy Thompson; going west from the Corners, Reuben Hart, Amos Benedict, Jonathan Law; at the Comers, Selah Hart, Jacob Hall, Erastoa

Flowers, Edwin Barber, Guy Doolittle and JnliuB Blake; farther south on the Oomers, was Philo Taylor; next, Joseph Qilbreath, John Gillnreath and Bamefel

Stilwell; oommencing at the Dortb line again, we find Deacon Harmon Bradley. Arbn Twitchel, the Wolford family on the Henry Boszor farm, William Hall and father, Benjamin Hall, Deacon Henry Hall, Beuben Hall, Oliver Sawyer; sonih at fhe Oornen, Oone Andrews; south, John Boosinger, Harris Sherman; sonth on the hill, William James, John Shelhorn; a* little west, William Davidson, and south of him, William Spanlding; following the east and west road, sonth from the Center, were Conrad Fowser, Samuel Myersi PeterOsbom; sooib of Uie Oomen, Thomas Parsons, Beacon Edward Parsons, Moses Birge and Veior Hockobout; east from the CornMB there was no house for two milos; north from the Corners, toward the Center, was Sullivan Moultoo, George Moulton, Anson Moultou, Augustus Moulton, George Price, Willlam Price, Jonathan Price; west team the Center, Solomon oarrer, Henir Sawyer, Hiram King, Dr. Lincoln, Abel Forcba and Benjamin Haynes; norm from the Center, were Martin T. Hackett, Nathaniel Beasley, Henry Boszor, Nathaniel Packard and Champlain Minard; at the Center, Deacon Alpheus Andrews; east! Widow Harrison, 0. Monlton, Cap! Chapman, Harry Chap, man, Joeeph Chapman, Abner H. Lanphare, James Blake. Orrin Blake, Judge Jeremiah Moulton, Sluman Able, E. A. Palmer and Aljiheus Underwood; south on the diagonal road, David Coburn, John V. Gardner and Abel Burt} north of Gardner was Isaac Oshom, Jeremiah Pxk^ Andvew OoOsard, John Hill; east from the Corners were Albeift Underwood, Lybia Underwood, Augustus ^rinard and David Fuller; north from the Corners, Freeman Underwood, Frederick Jones, William Smith, Martin Edson, Uuedang Hall, Benjamin Oadyt Blklta Burnett and laaae lyes; in the northeaat corner of the town were ttwi Stoddard, Thomas Cartwright, Lucius Edson, Joseph Williard, Fred* erick Moore, Ljman Barber, Benjamin Edson, Beverly Y. Bnaa and Ohanncj IsbelL

The townshipwas organized in the spring of 1818, and the first election held in April There were thirteen votes oast, out of whioh eleven officers were elected: Trustees, Henry Thorndike, Champlain Minard, Beuben Hall; Clerk, Alpheus Andrews; Treasurer, Israel A. Thorndike; Assessor, David Tlioinpson; Fence Viewers, John Boosinger, Henry Boszor; Constables, Arba Twitchell, Thomas Fnteon; Justice of ttie Peace, Jonathan Thompson.

Politics did not enter into this election for the reason that they were all of the same miad, but it is reasonable to suppose they were Jefforsoninn, as the township has been Democratic for nearly Hfty years in the Bepublican county of P0rti4^. In 1840, owing to the great popularity of Gen. Harrison, the Whigs had a small majority, and politics ran Idgh, ao high, iiul«M>d, that when two Constables were ranning, one of them waa ao reddees as to bet a dollar on his election.

The boaineaa of the Jostices in those early days seems to have been nearly All, and the same good custom of not going to law for every trifling and imag* inary wronj^f seems to prevail at the present time. There is less liti<^ation in Brimfield than in any other township in the county, scarcely two cases a year coming np in any shape whstevor. Magistrates nev«r grow rich here on feee. Ezfaremely rare have been the oaaee carried to the Counl^' GSoart^ and no lawyer has erer lived here, yet the township hns been the home of many excellent bnainees men, among whom may be mentioned Judge Jeremiah Moolton, Aaaodate Jnetice for eeven years; John V. Qardner, Oovoner; William S. Kelso, Gommiasioner; Eodolphus Bard, Recorder; Erasmns Needham, Bepre*

The child born to Mrs. Aipheus Andrews, wife of Deacon Andrews, and named Henry T., in honor of Henry Thomdibe, and in seeming response to the prize offered by that gentlemen, was the first to make its appearance in the township, and the date was April 17, 1817. The first death was that of an infant of Oapt. Uriah Sawyer; the next the death of Porter Walbridge, an adult, and the third the prize- child of Deacon Andrews. Walbridge was buried in the cemetery at the Center, and it is said tliat he had such pronoonced heterodos views on relij^jion that the good Deacon would not bury his son in the same ground, for fear the devil, when ho came around for his own, would make a mistake and carry off his child in place of Walbridge, so he conveyed the little fellow over to Bootstown, and buried him there. Dr. Shetman tells this tnlp, and another in regarri to the tirst inamacro, or rather the marriage of parties Jiviufj here, the knot being tied in K!iv(>nna. A fellow named Thompson, with a p, was courting a Miss Durkee, and she agreeing to have him, he started to Bavenna to get a license^ bnt after he had gone, Thomas Tataon, as a joke, porsnadtHi her to give up the other fellow and marry him, npon which she said it was a ''whack,*' and thoy started of}', also for Kfivonna. On the roud they met the expectant groom, who wan informed that she had chauge<i her mincC and alUumgh he said he would die^ etc., etc, the couple oontinned their jonrney, and were made ona The first marriage in the township was that of Abner H. Lanpharo and Miss Sophia Monlton, July 4, 18U).

On tl\e 22d day of December, 1818, the first school in the township was opened by Jeremiidi Moulton, in his own house, and continued during the winter. Four families monopolized thin school. The teacher had ten children, Aipheus Andrews had seven, and the two Thompsons' houses were full of them. He opened again the following winter. The first district school was taught fay Henry HalL Abner Lanphare also taught school in several districts.

There are eight schoolhousos in the township, and the high school at the Center is a very excellent and cre<litable institution. Prof. A. W. Carrier is Principal, and there is an attendance of about fifty pupils. The course of study is well advanced, and the school is doing a good work. The statistics for August, 1884, are as follows: 129 boys and ll9 girls enrolled; 8 schoolbuildings, valued at $8,950; male teachers' avera^^e pay, $40; female teachers* pay, $21; revenue, $3,00u.43; expenditures, $2,580.38.

The first church to have a regular organization was the Presbyterian, in 1S19, tiie membership being seven persons: Jonathan Law and wife, Aipheus Andrews and wif(\ Reuben Hall and wife, and Benjamin Mallory. Rev. Simeon Woodruff called the little fiock together. They built a modest little church in 1884, which is now used as a residence. In 1818 Simeon MToodrnfr preached the first sermon at I^nry Thomdike's log houpo.

A Methodist Church was orpjanized in 1823 by Elder Eddy, of Hudson, and consisted of eight members: Benjamin Mallory (formerly a Presbyterian) and wife, Amos Benedict and wife, John K. Chapman and wife, and Abner B. Lan* phare and wife. This society built a church in 1836. A Baptist Oburoh was organized abont and consisted of fonr members: Deacon Harmon Brad

The first rniversaliet Church wus built in 1837. It was burned down, and retmilt in 18^ BeBident minlsfeero have been vecy few. Tlie UidTenaiiats have as their preeent pasior Ker. Andrew Wiboik, and the Metbodtels have

In 1818 Israel and Edward Xborndike started a nail factory one mile and i a half west of the Ccoiier, bat the difienlty in obtaining the raw material I and tiie oonaaqnent high price of tlie nails, 18 cents per pound, soon rendered thp enterprise a failure. In connection with the nail factory a saw-mill was I started, but it, too, was abandoned, and the building afterward removed.

The lint store was opened in 1888 by William Seeaions. The first postoffice was eatablidied in 1885, and Conatant Chapman Avas Urst Postmaster; the next was Edward Parsons. A hotel was opened by William R. Kelso, and there never was any other. The iirst frame house was built in 1819, by Henry Thomdike. The first phyaieian was Dr. Lincoln; then came Dr. Stodting, Dr. Gray and Dr. Hastings.

Brimiield Center 1ms one f^enoral store, kept by J. T. Williams, who is also Poetmaster; one harness shop, A. C.H. Brown; a chop- mill, a wagon-shop, one fly-net maker. Werstler Bros.* feed-mill and dder-mill was established in 1882 at Brimfidd. The value of machinery and building is 12,500. This industry gives employment to throe men. Darwin Smith's saw-mill was erected in 1882, employing three men; the capacity is 6,000 feet per day. The Brimfield cheese factory is operated by Parker.

Brimfield is the largest wool-producing and shipping center in the ooantjr. Beuben Brobst is one of the heaviest dealers on the Reserve, handling some seasons over 100,()00 pounds of wool. J. T. Williams is the next largest * dealer, he handling about 75,000 pounds. Both of theen gentlemen are also the heaviest dealers in clover seed in the county.

The Center is Ijpnntifully located, and has the handsomest town hall and park snitounding it, in the county. The cemetery is beautifully laid out and the monuments elaborate. The citizens are an intelligent, genial and hospitable class, alive to all public enterprises and the needs of the Nation. They awt eighty-one brave boys to the field of war, and twanly of them fell in the service.

Source changes here: from 1922 Portage County High School Yearbook, by Portage County High School, published 1922; 279 words in this source stream.

Brimfield Township

leader. She deserves much praise for her kind and earnest efforts to help us succeed. Meetings were held twice a month wherewe talked about our work material to make aprons and caps for our demonstrating team. The Lawn Fete was held at our Town Hall, July 23. Each girl donated and solicited one which was served with ice cream recitaiions, a vocal and piano duet, and a short play The play was "Clubs Are Trumps," It was in two acts, The first showed the family, The children were cross and made a fuss every time they were told to do anything. At the close of the first aet the county agent came and induced the parents to let the four older children join clubs. In the second act the children were all happy and conten the county Miss Grace Stanford, who is only four. awarded first prize in Food Club work at This entitled her to a trip to Comade State Champion and

T Year Food Club

81 loaves of bread and prepared 26 different dishes. Her score was 99.8. Miss Stanford's sister, Ruth, was sent to Columbus by the Brimfield Farm Bureau, her score being 98. Our Club will have a demonstration this summer. It is the only one in the county which held meetings during the winter, We held them the third Saturday of each month at the school building. Our club work has meant much to us. In the first place it has taught us leadership. We have enjoyed being out with the other girls and have had good times in addition to the educational part, It has taught us confidence in eanning without someone telling us what to do.

Source changes here: from 1927 Portage County High School Yearbook, by Portage County High School, published 1927; 704 words in this source stream.

Brimfield Township

The High School activities opened with a Hallowe'en party November 1st, which also served as a farewell party for one of our High School pupils. This was followed by a Thanksgiving party at the home of the assistant principal. Then came a box social for the benefit of the Senior Class, Carollers were picked from the High School and set out the "Thursday night before Christmas to bring the "Christmas Spirit" into Brimfield homes. On New Year's eve another box social and watch party was held at one of the homes, the proceeds going for the benefit of the Senior Class, Then a Valentine Party, but on account of bad roads was not well attended,

"The Third and Fourth Grade room added twelve new recitation chairs to thelr rooms, money being raised by the sale of garden seeds from last spring

The Parent-Teacher's Association was reorganized last fall. Several meetings have been held throughout the year, They were active in raising $25 which was used to buy supplementary readers for the first six grades,

'The annual school play, Doctor Jim," was given April Sth. This was the last number of the Lecture Course. Andy Ambrose, all around athlete and saxaphonist, took the leading part. The school play always draws the biggest crowd of the year. It has always been a financial success.

"The first part of February an orchestra was organized under the direction of Professor Weston. Pupils took advantage ot his offer and as a result we have a well organized twenty-seven piece orchestra, "Talent has been shown by several pupils which make prospects look as though we will have an orchestra hard to beat. The bulk of the orchestra is composed of pupils from the seventh and eighth grades and Freshmen and Juniors In the High School.

successful, Mildred Overholt winning the county contest in Reading at Ravenna - Class B. We had soveral contestants try out in the school for Reading and the solo. There 18 promise of some fine material for the future,

Football practice started the day after school began. Prospects did not look so bright with the absence of some of the old veterans; as, Captain Guth, Jones, and the fallure of several others to return to sehool; Guth and Jones being lost by graduation, New material showed up every day or so and within a couple of weeks we had a team whipped into shape that tied Rootstown tn a practice game, and the following week held the strong 'Valimadge team 19-2. The first conference game was with Edinburg, October 180, which resulted in a 0-0 Ue, 'Then came Freedom at Freedom which resulted in a 6-0 victory for Brimfield, Twice Palmyra fell before the onslaught of the Brimfield aggregation by huge scores. The last game of the r-uron was the only set-back of the season, losing to Edinburg 6-0, thus losing the Class B championship.

'The basketball season was the greatest ever, both teams being the greatest ever produced in the history of Brimfield. The giris were the conference loaders throughout the entire season with 1000 per cent. The boys alro led the conference throughout the season, only losing one game - away from home. 'This marked the second year in which Brimfield boys and giria have an untarnished rec- on the home floor.

The saddest part of the season came in the mornng of the tournament when the Scarlet and Gray was nosed out by the Shalersville team by one point - thus forfeiting the cup which was won last year from the rame team by two points.

There are always joys with all misfortunes - Every cloud has its silver lining for Inside of two hours after the girls" defeat, the boys' team came through the preliminarles defeating our old opponents, Edinburg, 23-19, thus gaining the right to the finals in the afternoon.

In the afternoon fortune again followed the boys through the ünals in a decisive victory over the highly touted Shaleraville boys. Thus the end of a perfect day and for the first timo in tho history, the cup (Boys) journeyed Southward, where it will reside for the present year, in Brimfield. 'The end of the best season in the school's history in basketball, both boys and girls.