BERLIN TOWNSHIP
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     Berlin is one of the most picturesque townships in Mahoning County, the beauty of its western portion being enhanced by the winding Mahoning river, with its woody banks and verdant valleys.  In the southwestern quarter is Mill creek, with its tributary of Turkey Broth, and other small streams and runs that empty into it, and add variety of scenery to a well-watered landscape.
     The surface of Berlin is almost level with a few gentle undulations here and there.  The soil is a good strong loam, fertile and well adapted to fruits and cereals.  With such inducements for the pursuit of agriculture, Berlin has naturally developed into a farming community.  There are no large villages, Berlin Center, a somewhat straggling settlement with a population of about sixty, being the most important.

ORGANIZATION

     The township was formerly a part of Ellsworth and was not separately organized until March, 1828, when it was erected into a township and made an election precinct by the county commissioners.
     The township officers first elected were as follows, the election taking place Apr. 7, 1828: Trustees, Nathan Minard, Thompson Craig, Samuel Kauffman; treasurer, Salmon Hall; clerk, Joseph H. Coult; constable, John Stuart; overseers of the poor, William Kirkpatrick.  Christian Kauffman; fence viewers, Joseph Davis, Joseph Leonard; supervisors, Edward Fankle, Benjamin Misner, Abraham Craft.
     The first justice of the peace was Peter Musser, appointed in 1828.

SETTLEMENT.

     The first white settler of Berlin was Garret Packard, who came from near Winchester, Virginia, to Austintown in 1803.  After remaining there about two years, he removed to Deerfield, but six years later came to Berlin and settled on a farm on Mill creek in the southwestern part of the township.  Soon after his arrival, he had a son born, Thomas, who was the first white child born in the township.  For a number of years his family was the only one here.  In the war of 1812, being then the only man in what is now Berlin, he was drafted, and served three months.  He died in 1820 at the age of about forty-five.  His wife, whose maiden name was Eleanor Hendrickson, survived him ten years, dying at the home of her son-in-law, John McCollum, in Austintown, May 13, 1830, she being then about fifty-four years of age.  They were the parents of ten children.

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The second settler in Berlin was Jacob Weldy, who located with his family in the southwestern corner of the township.  He had a large family.
     Other early settlers were: George Baum, whose father emigrated from Germany, settling in Salem, and who in 181 5 married Betsey Packard; Joseph H. Coult, who was the first settler at the Center, and who was land agent for Amos Sill, proprietor of the greater part of the township; Abraham Hawn, who came about 1820, and located about two miles north of the center; Matthias Glass, who settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1822, and Reuben Gee, Joseph Davis and David Parshall, who came about 1824.  Many of the early as well as the later settlers came from Pennsylvania, and were for the most part "quiet, unobtrusive and progressive people."
     The early name of Berlin township was "Hart and Mathers," from the names of two men who were originally proprietors in it.  It was named Berlin at the instance of one of the early German settlers, Matthias Glass, who wanted the name of the township to remind him of his fatherland.
     Berlin was settled somewhat later than the other townships, and was for a number of years a great hunting ground for the settlers for miles around, game being most abundant.

EARLY INDUSTRIES.

     A sawmill was built by Matthias Glass, who also built a grist mill, both on the Mahoning, a short distance above Frederick.  The grist mill was afterwards burned and the site purchased by Isaac Wilsoil, who built thereon a flouring mill, which was subsequently operated for some years by his sons.  It was later purchased and conducted for a while by George Schilling.
     Another sawmill was erected by Joseph H. Coult on Turkey Broth creek, in the southwest part of the town, and afterwards passed through a number of hands  In the same year David Shoemaker built a sawmill on Mill creek, which mill was subsequently purchased and carried on for several years by Jacob Sheets.  There are now no manufacturing industries in the township.
     Among the early store keepers were Joseph Edwards, who commenced business at the center in 1833; Garrison & Hoover, Daniel A. Fitch, David McCauley, John Ward, Warren & Webber, Hughes Bros., and several others.  For a time there were two stores at the center.  In the early fifties there was also a blacksmith's shop, a little west of the town house, and opposite was a store kept by Joel Booth.  About 1836 or 1837 a man named McKean established a tannery at the center, and also carried on a shoe making business.
     A number of years previous, about 1839, a store was built at Belvidere by Isaac Wilson, who afterwards bought the mill privilege there.  The store was carried on for some years by his sons, who afterwards sold it to Jacob Glass.  It subsequently passed through a number of hands and finally ceased to be used as a store.

POSTOFFICE.

     The first postoffice in the township was established about 1828 and was called Amity.  The postmaster was Peter Musser, who kept a tavern on the old stage road in the northern part of the township.  After he moved away the office was discontinued.  The postoffice at Berlin center was established in 1833.  Joseph Edwards being the first postmaster.
     The first wedding at Berlin center was that of William Ripley and Miss Allen.  It took place at the house of Joseph H. Coult, on a cold night in December, the guests coming from Ellsworth, Benton and other places, and carrying torches in order to intimidate the wolves, which were numerous and bold, owing to the severe weather.
     After the abolition movement began there were occasional disturbances in the township, owing to the discussion of the slavery question, and on one occasion, in 1837, a Presbyterian minister.  Rev. M. R. Robinson, who came from Salem to deliver a lecture against slavery, and to vindicate the Bible from the charge of supporting it, was mobbed, stripped, and tar-

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red and feathered, after which his clothes were put on again.  Twelve of the perpetrators of this outrage were arrested, and compromised the matter by paying Mr. Robinson $40 each.

SCHOOLS.

     The first schools in Berlin were not different materially from those in other parts of the county, the buildings being log structures.  At first the German language was taught alternately with English.  About 1824 a log schoolhouse was erected on Turkey Broth creek, near the center, in which Sarah McGee was one of the first teachers.  Martha and Eliza McKelvey were among the first teachers in the southeastern part of the township.  In the northern part Alexander Hall taught school at an early period.
     There are now five school districts, in which is included the Berlin High School organized in 1905.  All the school houses are frame buildings.  J. R. Campbell is superintendent, and there are about 125 pupils enrolled.

CHURCHES.

     The Methodist society was formed previous to 1830, and a church built at the center in 1839.  The present church edifice was erected in 1886 at a cost of $3,500. a parsonage being added in 1905; the church has a membership of about one hundred; both buildings are frame.  The present pastor is Rev. M. Moses.
The Lutheran church is situated two miles north of the center and now has for its pastor Rev. A. J. B. Kast.

SOCIETIES.

     Ashur Kirkbridge, G. A. R. Post, located at Berlin Center, where it owns its own hall, was organized Aug. 19, 1886, through the efforts of Martha T. Hughes, wife of Dr. Wallace K. Hughes. Its first commander was Francis White. Mahlon Kirkbridge is the present commander.
     Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 235, organized at Berlin Center in 1886, has seventy-three members, and is a flourishing society.

MISCELLANEOUS.

     Berlin township owns its own hall, which is located at the center.  There are two cemeteries known respectively as the North cemetery, which is situated two miles north of the center, and the West cemetery, situated one mile west of it.
     The present postmaster at the center is LaRue Hawkins.  There are three general stores, conducted respectively by Stanley & Hawkins, E. O. Carlin, and George Muskrey.  C. F. Fifer is proprietor of a hardware store.  The medical profession is well represented by Dr. W. K. Hughes and Dr. Frank Carson.

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