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TRUMBULL COUNTY,  OHIO
History & Genealogy
Ok

Source:
 History of Trumbull & Mahoning Counties, Ohio
Published:  Cleveland: H. Z. Williams & Bros.
VOLUME I
1882

CHAPTER XIX.
BRACEVILLE TOWNSHIP
Trumbull County, Ohio
Pg. 501

     The original proprietors of the lands of this township, who received their titles from the State of Connecticut, were Jonathan Brace, Enoch Perkins, and Roger Newberry, and the deed conveying the lands to these persons is dated Apr. 22, 1799.
     On the 10th of December, 1800, the above persons associated themselves with Justin Ely, who with Jonathan Brace was proprietor of Newton township, and they together conveyed their several interests to Pardon Brown for the purpose of reconveying the same lands to the grantors, which was done the same day, and the five proprietors above named became joint owners of the soil.  At a later period the proprietors made a partition of their unsold lands, giving to each one a separate interest in different tracts.  In 1802 the township was surveyed into lots or sections one mile square, and by the survey of the Connecticut Land company the township embraced an area of fifteen thousand and four acres of land.  The first title deed made by the proprietors to a purchaser was made to Francis Freeman, on Nov. 21, 1803, and is the same land on which Ralph Freeman settled, being the west part of section sixteen, in the southwest part of the township.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

     In the spring of 1803, a man by the name of Millan, a "squatter," built a small log cabin on the ledge, on the township line between Braceville and Warren.  After completing the cabin he left it for the purpose of bringing his family, but during his absence a fire was started in the woods, probably by the Indians, as it was a common thing in those days, especially on the hunting grounds, and the Millan cabin was burned down, and he, hearing of the disaster, never returned.  From this incident the township was called Millantown, which it retained until its organization in 1811, when it was named Braceville, after Jonathan Brace, one of the proprietors, as before mentioned.
     In July, 1803,
Ralph Freeman and William Mossman, two unmarried men, came into the township and erected a log cabin on the bank of the Mahoning river near the former residence of Asa W. Parker, now the residence of John Hippie. Mossman had purchased one hundred acres of land on which the cabin was erected; Freeman becoming owner of the land deeded to his brother, as before mentioned, in section sixteen.  They kept bachelor's hall for more than a year, chopping on their lands.  They had one cow which fed on browse, and the milk they kept in a gourd; during the warm weather the handle of this gourd became infested with maggots, and to remedy the evil they cut it off, thus seriously damaging the usefulness of the vessel.  The dishes belonging to the culinary department of this pioneer establishment were necessarily very few, and they partook of their plain fare in the well-known Pennsylvania fashion of "sup and bite."

     William Mossman sold his interest m the land to Ralph Freeman and went to Warren, where he married and kept a public house for some years, afterwards moving to near Buffalo.  Freeman remained on his farm alone and continued to make necessary improvements, and is therefore entitled to the honor of being the first pioneer settler of Braceville.

     In 1804 Samuel Oviatt, Sr., of Goshen, Connecticut, purchased about one thousand acres of land in this township, and his sons, Samuel and Stephen, with their wives, moved into Braceville; these two women being the first white women in the township.  Their journey was a long and tedious one, being over six weeks on the road, and coming over the Allegheny mountains by way of Pittsburg, to Warren, from which place they were compelled to cut a road through the wilderness, thus making the first wagon trail from Warren to Braceville.  In this same year Jacob Earle came to the township.  The winter of 1804-5 was one of great destitution to the pioneers of this township, there being as yet no mills and little grain.  The Oviatt families subsisted principally on boiled corn and baked potatoes and such wild game as they could get, and for an entire week they subsisted on potatoes alone.  At one time, becoming entirely destitute of provisions of any kind, just at sunset on a Sabbath evening, while they were reflecting on their destitute situation, as if sent by a kind Providence, a fine turkey gobbler perched upon a tree near their lonely cabin.  One of the men seized his gun, and though it was now quite dark, he succeeded in bringing down his game, and it is safe to say that that one turkey furnished ample provision for all Braceville.  Mrs. Sally (Storn) Oviatt, wife of Stephen Oviatt, was the mother of the first white child born in the township—William J. Oviatt, who moved from here to Wisconsin.
     An incident is related of Mrs. Oviatt, as follows:  One day in the absence of the men a large deer came into the "chopping" near the cabin; she seized her husband's rifle and with unerring aim fired and brought down the game, a noble buck. She look an axe and hurried to where the deer lay, to make sure of the capture, and in her excitement, it is stated that she cut the animal's throat on the back of its neck; at least this is a standing joke on Mrs. Oviatt in the community.

     In February, 1805, Joshua Bradford, with his sons, Joshua, Joel, and William, settled on lot fifteen; and in the spring of the same year Samuel Oviatt, Sr., and his sons, Edward (and wife), Seth, and Mark, also his two daughters, settled on lot twenty-three.  At this time a small tribe of Indians, with their chief, Paqua, bad a camp in the forks of the Mahoning river, where they remained until the spring of 1806.  This is the same tribe with which General Cleveland held a council near Conneaut in 1796.  They were friendly and inoffensive, but somewhat annoying to the whites on account of their constant begging for whiskey and powder.  They were especially so to the elder Oviatt, who had brought a quantity of powder for the use of his sons in the new settlement.
     Early in the spring after the difficulty at Deerfield— an account of which appears elsewhere in this work—this tribe disappeared down the river in their canoes.  In searching through their camping-grounds, among other things was found a large iron kettle and other utensils for making maple sugar.  The kettle is now kept as a relic, and is supposed to have belonged to General Parsons, who had used it in his operations at the old salt works in Weathersfield in 1789.

FIRST ELECTION OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

     The first election for justice of the peace was held Apr. 22, 1812, and Fowler Merwin was declared elected, Solomon Oviatt being the opposing candidate.  The election was contested and set aside on the ground that the successful candidate was the only clerk of election.  On the

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30th of May following another election was held with the same candidates in the field, resulting in the election of Solomon Oviatt.  This election was also contested and set aside on account of informality.  Forty votes were cast.  The above are the only cases of contested elections or in which any election was set aside for any reason, whatever, in this township.
     On the 4th of July following a third election was held, and the good people of Braceville becoming wearied of the contest between the two candidates for the office, and determining to have a justice of the peace they went into the election with that kind of patriotism common in early days on 4th of July occasions, embracing all the elements that the day and occasion usually required, and succeeded in electing Robert Freeman as the first justice of Braceville.  When the result of the election was officially announced three cheers were given by the crowd, and the newly elected candidate was borne upon the shoulders of the inspired electors, into the school-house, where he made a very laconic speech, of which there is no further report, and according to the custom of the times called in a "jug and grog."  This would seem a remarkable mode of procedure in Braceville now, but it
was then the invariable rule for the successful candidate in any election to "treat."


     ROBERT FREEMAN, ESQ., lived with his son Ralph, and was affable and courteous in his manner, amiable in disposition, kind and generous as a neighbor, and prominent as a citizen.  He was chairman of the organization and first election of the township; was one of the first trustees, and held the office of justice of the peace until his death, being the first adult person that died in the township.  He was first interred on the Freeman farm, but was afterwards removed and placed in the public cemetery at Braceville center.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Robert Freeman, July 12, 1812;
Auren Taft, May 1, 1813, three and one-half years;
Edman Oviatt, Sept. 1, 1813, six years;
Philoceles Lewis, May 5, 1819, six years;
Samuel Oviatt, July 22, 1820, six years;
Hervey Stow, Aug. 4, 1825, three years;
Warren Arnold, June 20, 1826 (resigned);
Seth Oviatt, Sept. 2, 1826, three years;
William Benedict, Aug. 28. 1828, eighteen years;
Benami Johnson, Aug. 22, 1829, six years;
William
Griswold, Aug. 2, 1835, two years;
Uriah
Merwin, Nov. 10, 1837, six years;
George Lyman, June 16, 1838, nine years;
Franklin E. Stow, May 30, 1846, six years;
Ancil Bosworth, Apr. 5, 1847, three years;
Parker Boynton, Apr. 1, 1850, three years;
Allison A. Preston, May 1, 1852, three years;
Augustus Elwell, Oct. 13, 1857.

 CONSTABLES.

     Harvey Allen served as constable of Braceville from 1820 to 1845;  he was known as the standing constable of Braceville.  He was pleased with the office and  made an excellent officer, and might have served his township many years more had he not moved to Wisconsin where he has since died.
     Jacob S. Smith was elected in 1844 and served seven years.  He was an efficient officer, and in 1859 was elected commissioner.
     John H. Clark served as constable from 1850 to 1860.  The people of Braceville do not allow the question of politics to exclude a worthy man from holding township offices, and through the township is largely Republican,
     Franklin E. Stow as township clerk, and
     Nathan O. Humphrey as treasurer, each held their respective offices nine years, both being Democrats.

LOCATION - SURFACE FEATURES - POPULATION.

     Braceville township is located in the southwestern part of the county—town four north, and range five west, and is bounded on the north by Southington, east by Warren, south by Newton, and on the west by Portage county.  
     The soil consists generally of sand and clay, productive of the ordinary cereals and superior quality of hay, and the surface generally rolling, is well adapted to all kinds of agricultural pursuits and grazing.  The timber is of the general order, and varieties commonly found in this section of the State—oak, maple, etc.
     The Mahoning river takes its winding zig-zag course from the central part of the south line, and flowing westward across the southeast corner, enters Warren township from section six, north of the central part of the west boundary line.
     The northern part of the township is drained by Eagle creek and its tributaries, which takes its rise in the extreme northwest, and flowing in a southeasterly direction and crossing the west boundary in the north part of the township, and enters Warren where it empties into the Mahoning.

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     The Atlantic & Great Western railroad extends from east to west almost directly through the center, making the main station at Braceville.  The Cleveland & Mahoning road enters about the central part of the west line, and takes a northwest course through the township, with a station at Phalanx, directly north of Braceville.
     The Narrow Gauge extends through the central part of the township from north to south, connecting the stations Braceville and Phalanx, thus affording ample railroad facilities.
     The population of the township is almost entirely rural, there being no incoporated towns, nor extensive manufacturing interests to collect communities of any considerable size.
     Braceville center is the most important point of trade and local settlement, and has two churches, two small stores, a post-office, a wagon and smith shop, a town house, and a number of dwellings.
     The township does not vary materially in the census reports of the past thirty years.  In 1860 it was 1,049; in 1870, 958, and according to the last enumeration (1880) was 1,019.

POST-OFFICES.

     Since the day of railroads, telegraphs, and other means of communication, the post-office loses some of its importance to the public, but in early times, when the mail-carrier was the only means of communication, its importance was well known and appreciated.  In 1816 the first post-office was established at Braceville, of which Auren Stow was appointed postmaster, and on the 1st day of January the first mail for Braceville was received.  The first postmaster served until 1850, when he was succeeded by Franklin E. Stow, who served until he was succeeded by G. C. Reed, who was followed by Isaac Ingraham, after which F. E. Stow again took the office, which subsequently passed to the hands of the present postmaster—Seth Lee.

SCHOOLS.

     The people of this township early sought means for the proper education of their children, and as early as Braceville had any organization whatever she had a school.  The first regularly organized school in this township, and among the first in Trumbull county, was taught by Hervey Stow at the center of Braceville, and though the township has not been able to support schools of higher grades than the common district schools, yet these have been supplied from time to time with ample facilities for an ordinary district school education, and the township now supports eight schools, situated in various localities of convenience throughout the township.

A TERRIFIC TORNADO.

     The year 1860 will ever be remembered by the people of this locality as the year of the tornado.  On July 23d of that year a tornado, of which the following is an account left among the papers of Franklin E. Stow, visited Braceville:
     In the fore part of the day the clouds indicated rain, with a gentle southwest breeze.  About n o'clock A. M. the wind lulled away and it became extremely hot and sultry.  The first indication of an approaching storm, about 12 o'clock, was observed in the excited state of the clouds.  Two dark clouds were seen rapidly approaching each other, one from the north and the other from the West; they came together and instantly a dark body was seen to fall rapidly toward the earth, about one mile northwest of Braceville Station, on the farm of Heman Rood, where the work of destruction commenced.  The stoutest trees were twisted off and scattered like wisps of straw, rocks torn from their beds, fences swept away and scattered in every direction.  The storm raged, whirling and roaring, and moving in a southeast direction with great rapidity.  The first building in its course was Dr. Manly's farm-house, occupied by Gillette Griffin, which was torn to atoms.  In the house were Mrs. Griffin, two children, and Mrs. Charles Mason; it was thrown six rods over a wood-pile seven feet high, and while the building was moving Mrs. Griffin jumped out and had her collar bone broken.  Mrs. Mason and the children were buried in the ruins, the former having her skull fractured and was otherwise bruised; the children sustained but little injury; one of them, however, was so entangled in the ruins that it could not be extracted until the frantic mother ran to the station for help.  Next was the house of Charles Mason, about twenty rods distant from Manly's, which was torn to fragments; the heavier timbers were scattered over a space of two acres, while the lighter materials were scattered far and wide.
     The power and whirl of the wind is shown in

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CEMETERY.

     The burial grounds at Braceville center were first laid out on grounds donated by Hervey Stow, to which his son, Franklin E., afterwards made valuable improvements, and beautified the grounds.  The grounds were laid out in 1812, and the first interment was that of Saber Lane, wife of Isaac Lane, who died Jan. 27, 1813.  The cemetery is now under the jurisdiction of the township trustees, and is at present a well-kept and beautiful resting place for the dead, and many of the names of leading men and the old pioneers, who have ample mention in this history, may be found on these marble slabs.  "Men die but their works live forever."

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

     The

 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

 

 

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THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

 

 

THE DISCIPLES (CHRISTIAN) CHURCH, BRACEVILLE
CENTER.

 

 

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of Elder O. A. Richards, when twenty-five were received into the membership of the church, and the congregation is now enjoying a commendable degree of prosperity.

PHALANX FOUR-MILL.

     In the year 1811 Eli Barnum erected the first flour-mill on the site of the present Phalanx flour mills on Eagle creek, in the northwestern part of the township.  It afterwards passed into the hands of the Phalanx company, then to William Bail, of whom W. P. and A. E. Goodrich purchased.  In 1865 A.G. Rood & Co. came into possession and operated about eight years, when the present company, F. A. & A. G. Rood, began operations.  The capacity of the mills is about sixty bushels of wheat per day; has two run of stone–one for wheat and the other a chopper.  They also have a saw-mill attached, and both propelled by water-power received from Eagle creek.

THE TRUMBULL PHALANX COMPANY.

 

 

THE CHEESE-BOX FACTORY.

     This manufactory is located in the northern part of the township on the center road, and on the farm owned by the proprietor, Michael Templeton, who has operated in this locality for twenty nine years.  He first began making cheese boxes by hand, then horse power until 1870, when he began at the present location, where he is now extensively engaged using steam power, propelled by a forty-horse power engine.  The capacity of the mill is about two hundred boxes per day.  The saw-mill is used in connection with the factory, and also in doing general custom work.

EAGLE CREEK CHEESE FACTORY.

     This factory is located near the Phalanx Flour mill, and was first operated in 1872 by Charles Prentice, who continued about two years, when he sold to Mr. Peck, who worked the factory but one season, and sold to Walter Morton, who operated here until the past fall, when George Bear took possession, who operated with considerable success, using in the best season six or seven thousand pounds of milk per day, and realizing good prices for his product. There is another factory in the township located east of the center, but it is not now in operation.

SETTLEMENT NOTES.

     The second family in Braceville was that of SAMUEL OVIATT He removed from Goshen township, Connecticut, in 1805, and built a log-house across the river from where his grandson, Henry H., now lives.  His father, Samuel Oviatt, Sr., came out a few years afterward and located where his son had settled, the latter then building the home west of the river, where he always lived afterward.  He built, in 1808, the first frame barn in the township, which is still on the place, and in good preservation.  His brother, Stephen Oviatt, and his young bride, they having been married the day they left Connecticut, came out at the same time.  They lived in Braceville a short time, and then moved to Milton.  Lucretia Oviatt, daughter of Samuel Oviatt, Jr., was the first female child born in Braceville, born about 1807.  Samuel and Lois (Beckwith) Oviatt were the parents of nine children who grew to maturity of whom but four are now living, as follows: Mrs. Joseph James, in Charlestown, Portage county; Mrs. Thomas Douglass, of Warren, Ohio; Mrs. Nathan Wilson, of Ravenna, Ohio; and Mrs. Lucina Mitchell, living in Wisconsin.  Moses L., the second child, who occupied the homestead until his death, was born in Connecticut, Mar. 30, 1802. He married July 26, 1825, Lovina Purple, of Parkman, Geauga county, born July 25, 1803.  They first settled at Newton Falls, where he operated a saw-mill and also engaged in farming.   He afterwards settled on his father's place, which he purchased and occupied until his death, Apr. 20, 1869.  His wife survived him ten years lacking four days.  They were the parents of twelve children, all of whom lived to reach manhood and womanhood, except one.  The following are the survivors: E. L. Oviatt, of Marshalltown, Iowa; Mrs. Harriet L. Stow, of Braceville; Julia L. Humphrey, of Pans, Portage county; Ancil P., in Ravenna; Cornelia, wife of Comfort Ernest, of Warren township; Henry H., occupying homestead in Braceville; and Jemima (unmarried), in Ravenna.  E. L. served in the Union army in the war of secession, and was a prisoner one year at Belle Isle and Andersonville.  Henry H., born in August, 1844, married Esther A., daughter of B. C. Allen, and has three children living and two deceased.

     COMFORT STOW was born in Middletown, Connecticut, June 27, 1762.  In 1783 he was married to Rachel Goodwin and in 1810 with his wife and oldest son, Hervey, removed to Braceville, Trumbull county, Ohio.  The most prominent member of the family in this county was Franklin E. Stow.  He was born in Braceville Jan. 2, 1813.  His father was Hervey Stow and his mother Lucretia Oviatt, who came to Braceville as early as 1805.  Mr. Stow learned surveying, and in April, 1834, was appointed deputy county surveyor, and in 1835 was elected county surveyor, and reelected in 1841.  In 1842 he was elected justice of the peace, serving four terms; appointed postmaster in 1845, which office he resigned in 1850, when he was nominated for State Representative.  In 1856 he was again appointed postmaster which position he held until his death.  In 1851 he was elected a representative to the State Legislature and served with fidelity and ability.  In 1847 he was appointed district assessor for the purpose of valuing real estate.  His district comprised six townships.  His valuation was not changed by the board of equalization but was taken by them as a standard for the remainder of the county.  In the fall of 1861 he raised a company of infantry which was attached to the Nineteenth regiment as company G.  At the battle of Shiloh he distinguished himself for gallantry.  He was subsequently prostrated by sickness as a result of that battle, and died on board the steamer Shenango, Tennessee river, April 30th.  His remains were brought home for burial.  He was married on the 15th of May, 1837, to Miss Mary Amy Heath, of Sandisfield, Massachusetts.  One son was born in 1844.  Mrs. Stow still resides in Braceville.

     EZRA ROPER was born in Connecticut in 1784; came to Ohio in an early day, and settled two miles west of the center of Braceville.  He served in the War of 1812, and was wounded.  He was twice married, first, to Abigail Lawson, by whom he had two children—Mary and Lorinda.  His first wife died Mar. 15, 1834, aged thirty-seven.  He married for his second wife Lois Bristol, of Nelson, Portage county, and by this marriage had five children—Charles, living in Nelson; Lois (Doty), in Cleveland; George, at Braceville center; Aaron, in Youngstown, and Francis, in Cleveland. Ezra Roper died June 7, 1850.  George Roper was born in 1841; married in March, 1862, Emeline Tousley, and has three children.  He located at Braceville center twenty years ago, where he has carried on general blacksmithing and carriage and wagon-making for the past thirteen years.

     SAMUEL CRAIG, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Baxter) Craig, born Jan. 18, 1811, in county Monaghan, Ireland, came to the United States in 1836, landing at Quebec.  He came to Warren in July the same year, and worked on the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal as stone-cutter, which occupation he followed many years.  He purchased the farm in Braceville now owned by William Anderson, about 1839, and erected the first house in that part of the township, which was then entirely a wilderness.  He resided in Warren two years, afterwards purchasing where

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he now lives.  He married in Pennsylvania in 1841, Margaret Darling, born in New York State in 1822. They are the parents of nine children, of whom five survive, viz: Samuel B., Benjamin, Josiah W., Maggie (Daugherty), and Charles F.

     ROBERT A. WALKER was born in Baltimore, Maryland, Dec. 27, 1790, and went to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he married Abbie Griswold, removing afterwards to Beaver county, where he resided until 1832, when he removed to Warren township, Trumbull county, Ohio.  He had purchased land in Weathersfield and Warren a number of years before his removal.  He resided in Warren, where he first settled, some twelve years, then moved to Braceville, and settled where George Benedict now lives.  He afterwards moved to the northeast part of the township, where he spent the balance of his life.  He died May 20, 1868.  In the early part of his life he followed the trade of stone-mason.  His wife died three years previous to his own death.  Their family numbered nine children, all of whom grew to mature age.  The survivors are Susan (Bartman) in Canfield, Mahoning county; Rachel Ann (Regal) at Baldwin's corners, Mahonmg county; Elisha in Braceville, Trumbull county; J. P. in Cass county, Michigan; Abby (North) in Braceville; Robert A. in Jackson county, Michigan; William H. in Brookfield, Eaton county, Michigan.

     ELISHA WALKER was born in 1822, July 4th, in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and married in 1834, Lucy Ann Humphrey, who died in October, 1867.  He again married in March, 1868, Maria Clark (Richards), born May 14, 1832.  By the first marriage four children were born, viz: Franklin D., Abbie S. (Benedict), Robert Norris, Mary E. (Woodward).  The result of the second marriage is one daughter, Effie BMr. Walker first settled in Warren township west of Leavittsburg, afterwards removing to Wyandot county, but after a short time returned to Trumbull county, locating in Braceville, where he has since resided.

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     JOHN G. GRETZINGER was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Apr. 28, 1811, and came to America about the year 1839.  He went to Pittsburg, Baltimore, and other cities, following his business, which was that of butchering.  He came to Trumbull County about 1842, and after residing in Warren township purchased a farm in Braceville, on Eagle creek, where he resided until his death, which took place Oct. 2, 1880.  Mr. Gretzinger was a hard-working and industrious man.  He was sick and helpless the last twenty years of his life.   He was first married m 1842 to Mrs. Rebecca Fry, who died in 1853.  By this marriage he had six children, of whom five are living.  He again married in 1856 Paulina Crouse, of Columbiana county, born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Feb. 21, 1832, and coming to this country in 1855.  Four children were the result of this marriage, three of whom are living —Paulina (Brown), Henry W., and Mary A.  In the spring of 1882 Mrs. Gretzinger left the farm and removed to the center of Braceville, where she now lives.

     LUTHER MATTHEWS, son of James Matthews, was born in Liberty township, Trumbull county, Ohio, May 15, 1819. Jan. 7, 1847, he married Lavinia Lightbourn, daughter of Joseph and Eleanor (Kyle) Lightbourn, who was born in Youngstown, Mahoning county, Ohio, June 29, 1825.  Joseph Lightbourn was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1795, came to Trumbull county in an early day, and located in Youngstown.  He died in 1824.  His wife survived him until October, 1856.  After their marriage in 1847 Mr. and Mrs. Matthews settled on the place where she still lives, which they cleared up and improved.  Besides general farming he also dealt in live stock.  He died Dec. 11, 1877.  They were the parents of six children, of whom five are living—Ella S., born Nov. 21, 1847, now the wife of Frank Brown, and residing in Meadville, Pennsylvania; Frances M., born Oct. 30, 1849, wife of C. P. Rodenbaugh, of Kent, Ohio; Mary E., born Mar. 18, 1852; Alfred E., May 4, 1866; Luther E., Aug. 30, 1870.

     WILLIAM ERNEST came to Trumbull county with his mother and step-father when fifteen years of age, in the fall of 1833.  The family settled in Champion township.  He was born in 1818; married in 1839 Nancy Leonard, and located in Warren.  He learned the carpenter trade, and has followed it ever since.  He has always been a hard-working, industrious man.  He has three children, viz; Henry H., Comfort A., and Mary I., wife of John C. Pew, of Lordstown. Henry was born in Warren, Ohio, Apr. 14, 1840, mar-

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ried Fidelia McKibbin, of Braceville, and until recently has lived in that township; has one child, Rowley Ward.  Comfort A., born Feb. 10, 1842, married Cornelia Oviatt, of Braceville, and has three children, viz.: Albert, Hattie, and Jessie.

     CHRISTIAN GLEICH was a native of Germany, and emigrated to this country with his parents when about eight years of age.  His father, John Gleich, was a soldier under Napoleon, and was wounded in several engagements.  He settled, on coming to Trumbull county, in Warren township, afterwards removing to Braceville.  He died in Indiana at the age of ninety-three or ninety-four, having removed to that State in 1867.  Christian Gleich married about 1847, Caroline Smith, of Braceville, and settled soon after where his son George now lives.  He was engaged in farming and dealing in live stock during his life.  He died in 1871, in the fiftieth year of his age.  His widow is still living at Phalanx.  They were the parents of five children.  Two sons and two daughters are living, as follows: George, on the home place (married Almira C. Heintzleman, and has four children); Caroline (Weaver), in Braceville; Frank, at Phalanx; Eliza Ann living with her mother.  Edward was killed by the kick of a horse in June, 1875, in his fifteenth year. George Gleich, who occupies the home place, is engaged in farming, and is an extensive dealer in live stock.

     JOHN G. BARKLEY, a native of Germany, emigrated to the United States in an early day and settled in Warren township.  He married Christina Houseman, also born in Germany.  He worked on the Pennsylvania & Ohio canal, and also followed farming.   He lived on Duck creek, one mile south of Leavittsburg, and died there in 1848.  His wife survived him, and died May 21, 1867.  They were members of the Lutheran church. Gottleib D. Barkley, their second son, was born in Warren township, Trumbull county, in 1843; married Emma Josephine, daughter of Thomas Craig, of Warren township, and settled where he now lives in Braceville.  He has one child living, and one deceased—John C., and Lucy J.

     JAMES BURNETT was born in Kent, Portage county, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1820. His father, Samuel Burnett, was born in Pennsylvania, May 11, 1792, and came to Ohio in 1804, locating in Portage county.  He married in Trumbull county, Isabel Matthews, and removed to Weathersfield about 1835, and to Braceville in 1856, where they lived until their deaths—he died in August, 1869, and his wife in 1861.  James Burnett learned the blacksmith trade, and worked at his trade in Austintown, now Mahoning county, two years, then settled in Braceville, Trumbull county, where he remained until 1871, when he removed to Warren, purchasing the Dr. Leavitt place, where he still lives.  For the past three years he has followed farming and stock-raising, owning two farms of one hundred and fifty-three and one hundred and thirty-five acres each.  He was married Dec. 29, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth,
daughter of Joseph Lightbourn, who was born in Youngstown, Ohio, Jan. 11, 1820.  Two children were born of this union—Mrs. Reuben Johnson, born Nov. 20, 1847, and Mrs. S. A. Elwell, Dec. 20, 1854.

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