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     Ezekiel Dye, Sr., came in 1807 to the lands which he had purchased; but his sons, Thomas, Ezekiel, Vincent, William, John and Amos, came the year before the inaugurated the work of improvement.  Their nearest neighbors were on Duck Creek and in the vicinity of Cumberland, and on the Muskingum River.  The Dyes were all young men, and at the time of their coming only Thomas was married.  He and his father located on the farm now owned by John L. Reed.  Thomas' first wife was Nancy Davis.  He married again after her decease, and was the father of a large family.  Benjamin Dye, born in 1810, is still living.  He is the son of Thomas and Nancy Dye, and is said to have been the first white child born in Brookfield Township.

     Ezekiel Dye, Jr., settled on the east side of the creek on a farm adjoining his brother Thomas'. He married Nancy Sprague, lived and died here, and reared a large and respectable family.  William, his brother, lived near the others, in Muskingum County.  John, another brother, married Catharine Sears, and settled on the creek, about the farms of Thomas and Ezekiel.  Amos Dye married Sophia Dye, of Washington County, resided here some years, then returned to Washington County, where he died.  Two daughters of Ezekiel Dye, Sr., came to this township with the family, but returned to the East after a few years.  The second wife of Ezekiel Dye, Sr., was Sarah Paul; she bore twelve children, of whom two, Firman and Elizabeth (Maxwell) of Morgan County, are still living.  Joseph, Lewis, James and Firman were the names of the sons.

     Vincent Dye, son of Ezekiel, Sr., was born in Westmoreland County, Pa.  He married Anna Waddle, whose parents came from Pennsylvania and located in the vicinity of Cumberland early in the present century.  To them were born thirteen children - E. J., Isabella, Elah, James, Elizabeth, Melinda, Cassie, Miner, Madison, Wesley, Johnson,

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Robert and Polly.  Of these, E. J., Elah, Miner, Isabella, Elizabeth, Melinda and Cassie are still living, only E. J. Dye of Noble County at present.

     E. J. Dye was born in Brookfield Township Nov. 19, 1812.  In 1836 he married Mahala Smith.  Three sons and six daughters were born of this union.  Tow of the daughters are dead.  Johnson L. Dye, one of the sons, enlisted in Company B, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Oct. 22, 1861; re-enlisted Jan. 1, 1864.  He was in the engagements at Winchester, Deep Bottom, Chapin Farm, Petersburg, Appomattox, etc.  After being mustered out at the close of the war, and remaining at home a year, he went to Kansas and thence to Fort Saunders, Dak.  The family has never heard from him since, and it is supposed that he was killed by the Indians.  E. J. Dye is a farmer and stock-raiser.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has served eighteen years as justice of the peace.  He had all the experiences incident to life in the backwoods, and remembers when the whole township was sparsely settled.  When he was a boy his father used to send him into the woods to hunt for cows, tying a bell upon him so that he might be founds in case he lost his way.
     When the Dyes came to Brookfield they were obliged to go to Waterford, on the Muskingum, for milling.  Salt was very hard to procure, and very high.  Much of it used in the southern Ohio settlements was brought across the mountains on horseback by means of pack saddles.  "Alum salt" was salt mixed with red pepper, that it might be used more economically.  The first mill in the neighborhood of Renrock was a horse-mill, owned by Thomas Dye.  There were no early water-mills in this part of the township.

     Judge William Rannells

     J. V. Rannels

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     J. F. Rannels

     Jacob Jordan

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     Henry Hamilton

     Clark E. Green

     David Green

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     David J. Green

     Asa Burlingame

     Benjamin Brindley

     Jotham Sprague, from Massachusetts, located near Hiramsburg and died there.  He was a lawyer, or

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pettifogger, but had little legal business.

     Thomas N. Muzzy was an influential man among the pioneers, and through his efforts several New Englanders were induced to try their fortunes in the Ohio country.  The New Englanders, accustomed to hills, were not so averse to locating upon them as were the Pennsylvanians and Virginians, who sought to obtain bottom lands

     Alexander Love married a daughter of Judge Rannells, and lived on an adjoining farm.  He was a fine man.  His widow is living in Cumberland at an advanced age.

     William and James McElroy located in the central part of the township.  They were shoemakers, and plied their trade at their homes.

     James Robinson came from Virginia and located on a farm adjoining Horace Blanchard's.  John Richey came from Wheeling.  He was a prominent citizen, and served several years as a justice of the peace.

     Jacob Jones was the successor of William Bates, the pioneer settler on Bate's Branch.  He had a brother John, who settled near Hiramsburg.  Jones died here and his large family went to Indiana.

     Abraham Lot, and James Dye were Colored men who had formerly been slaves.  Set free by their masters, they entered land adjjoiing the Muskingum County line, and ended their days there.

     Henry Hunter located near the center of the township about 1812, and near him his sons, James and Henry.  Silas Hurd, from Massachusetts, located on a farm adjoining Hunter's.  He married a sister of Captain Hill of Zanesville.  The family were noted for their musical ability, and for their interest in education.  Several of them were successful teachers.

     The earliest school attended by the people of the southwest part of the township was within the present limits of Morgan County.  Among the early teachers there were Ross, Jordan, and David Green.

     Dec. 4, 1810, a petition was

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     The Downeys

     Joseph Bush

     Dr. Charles Draper

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     William Rannells

     Dr. Ziba Lindley

     Colonel Linus Bacon

     William Bates

     Andrew Wharton

     Russell Prouty

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     In 1817 John Draper

     James Watson

     John and James Ginn, Irishmen,

     The editor is indebted to Mr. O. L. Hunter for the following items of History relative to his school district

     The present Walter Downey farm was entered by Henry Brindley, who came from Virginia in 1815.  After obtaining a title to the land he turned it over to his son Benamin, who cleared and improved it.  The latter was a peculiar man, and spent much of his time in hunting, in which he was quite successful.   He died quite early and John Brindley took possession of the Estate.

     The John Hamilton farm was entered by John Parkhurst.  It was cleared and farmed for many years by Henry Teener, whose son Henry now lives in Caldwell.  John Hamilton's father was a noted hunter.

     The farm of William Jordan was first occupied by him, but he did not enter the land.  A man named Dilley knowning that Jordan was making arrangements to secure it, went to the land office in 1832 and entered it.  Jordan obtained the deed by selling a horse to Dilley.  This was the last land entered in the district, and perhaps the last in the county.

     The farm owned by Newton Allison was entered by Adam Jordan, who came to Greene County, in Pennsylvania.  He lived upon the place until his death, after which the farm was sold to William Stranathan, and by him to Joseph Covert.  On this farm was erected the first school-house in the district.  The school was taught by John Hunter, brother of Samuel Hunter.  The windows were made of greased paper, and the door of clapboards.  One end of the room was all taken up by a huge fireplace.  That part of the farm lying north of the road was entered by Robert Lansing, from Vermont.

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     The farm now owned by the widow Green was entered by Cyril Richadson, from Spencer, Mass.  Here Clark Green lived and erected the earliest tannery in this part of the county.  The farm now owned by Mrs. Glass was also entered by Richardson, and sold to Oliver Green.  Thomas Connor, Dr. Stone, Esquire Worley, George Dickerson and Moses Glass afterwards owned the farm successively.

     Eleazer Spooner entered land in 1816.  (See notice elsewhere)  Mr. Spooner was a good citizen, and always took an active interest in public schools, churches and Sabbath schools.

     The farm now conducted by Mr. Trott was entered by Thomas N. Muzzy in 1816.  The farm known as the Thomas N. Muzzy farm was entered by him in 1814, and was the first land entered in the district.  Mr. Muzzy came through from Massachusetts with a team, and after reaching Cambridge was obliged to cut a road the rest of the way, his wife driving the team.  His son Edwin bought the farm, sold it to Samuel Hathaway, and he to H. C. Hunter.

     The farm of Jacob Archer was entered by James MArshall from Pennsylvania.  The farms of J. S. Morgan and H. C. Hunter were entered by Clark Green, from Massachusetts.

     The Taylor farm was entered by James McElroy in 1815.  He sold to his son William and from him it was purchased by John Taylor, the present owner.

     The James Hunter farm was entered by a man named Clark who soon sold to Jonas Beemis.  Beemis sold to James Hunter and his heirs sold to the present owner.  Henry Hunter came from Pennsylvania and entered a tract of land in 1814.  He was one of the first ruling elders of the Buffalo Presbyterian church at Cumberland.  When the Hunters came, the nearest postoffice was at Chandlersville.  After the death of Henry Hunter the farm was sold to Samuel Hunter.  He operated the first threshing machine in this section, and people came fo miles to see the wonderful machine.  Mr. Hunter is still living on the farm and has lived in Muskingum, Morgan and Noble Counties without once moving form the place.

     Judge Francis Scott was one of the prominent early settlers.  In  early years he was one of three associate judges of Morgan County.  He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1781, and came to Pennsylvania with his parents when young.  He migrated west to Brooke County, W. Va., and was there married in 1869 to Miss Mary Meek.  He came to Ohio about 1810 and located in Jefferson County, but returned to West Virginia after a brief residence, and thence went to Washington County, Pa.  In 1818 he removed to Brookfield Township, where he lived the remainder of his life.  He was the father of six sons and two daughters.
     Judge Scott was accustomed to market his oats in Cambridge at 12½ per bushel, carrying them

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thither on a pack-saddle.  He was remote from neighbors and all the surroundings were of the wildest character.  HE kept a few calves which he was obliged to fasten in a pen at night to keep the from the wolves.  Often he went out to drie the wolves away, and was scarcely back to the house before they would return again.

     John W. Scott

     Sylvester Scott

     Finley Collins

    John C. Collins

     George Ayers

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     James Eakin

     John Moore

     Isaac M. Combs

     Samuel Jewett

     Richard Thorla

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     F. W. Thorla

     Thomas Thorla

     John Murphy

     George W. Gander

     Benjamin C. Lukens

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     John B. Dye, son of Thomas Dye, was born in Brookfield Township, Mar. 20, 1832.  In 1862 he married Margaret Elder.  They have one child - Elmer N.  Mr. and Mrs. Dye are members of the Methodist Protestant church.  In politics he is a Democrat.

     David Elder and wife (nee Elizabeth Neil) came to the present Elder farm about 1840.  His children were Mary A., Julia and Margaret, born in Pennsylvania, and David, Vance N. and Eliza N., born in Ohio.  Julia and Mary are dead.  Mr. Elder died in 1873 and his wife in 1881.  They were members of the Presbyterian church.  Mr. Elder  held the offices of township trustee, township clerk and justice of the peace.

     Jason Tilden

     The first mail route between McConnelsville and CAmbridge was established in 1827 or 1828.  Jason Tilden was the first mail-carrier.  A man named Johnson was the contractor.  There were then but five offices between McConnelsville and Cambridge.  One of them (at Wharton's) was in Brookfield Township.  The mail was carried once each week.

     Eleazer Spooner was born in Oakham, Worcester County, Mass., June 28, 1794.  A number of the early settlers of Brookfield were from the same county.  In company with Clark E. Green, William Watson and Cyril Richardson, he came to Brookfield Township in 1816.  He was a shoemaker, and brought the tools of his trade with him.   He worked at farming in summer and at his trade in winter.  He entered 160 acres on section 3, and in 1818 erected a cabin.  In the following year he married Isabella Beach, who is still living at the age of eighty-six.  They had one son and ten daughters; five of the daughters are yet living.  Mr. Spooner sold a part of his farm quite early, taking his pay in installments, some of which were as low as twenty-five cents.  He died April 19, 1884.  He served as township trustee nineteen years.

     James Bartlett

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     John Allison was born in Washington, Pa., in 1810.  In 1840 he removed to Cumberland, Ohio, and thence to the farm in Brookfield Township, where he died.  In 1852 he married Nancy Johnson, who died in 1857, having born three children, two of whom are living.  In 1862 he married Mrs. Rebecca Hatton (nee Bartlett).  He was a member of the Presbyterian church.  He died in 1880.  His sons, J. J. and J. F. Allison, are prominent farmers, and members of the Presbyterian church.  J. J. Allison was born in Spencer Township, Guernsey County, in 1853.  In 1886 he married Miss Mary Green.  J. F. Allison was born in Spencer Township in 1855.

     Henry Hunter

     Rev. Joseph Thrap, well known to old residents, was born in Baltimore County, Md., Oct. 16, 1776, and died in Muskingum County, Ohio. May 12, 1866.  He joined the Methodist Episcopal church early in life.  In 1792 his parents removed to the vicinity of Morgantown, W. Va.  In 1796 Joseph responded to a call for volunteers to protect the frontier settlements against the Indians, and served for six months under Captain dent.  For this service he received a land warrant for 160 acres.  In 1803 he married Jemima Van Camp, who died in 1867, in the eighty-fifth year of her age.  In 1804 he came to Ohio, following an old Indian trail up to the Captina, across Will's Creek and on to the Muskingum.  He settled where Nashport now is and raised a crop of corn.  The following September he brought his wife from Virginia and in 1805 removed to Licking County.  In 1810 he settled in the southwest part of Muskingum County, where he continued to reside until his decease.  For nearly sixty years he preached the Gospel without any fixed remuneration.  He was the father of twelve children, eleven of whom reached mature years, and eight are still living.  Two are ministers of the Methodist Protestant church - Rev. Joel Thrap, of Adrian, Mich., and Rev. Israel Thrap, of Coshocton County.  Rev. Joseph Thrap was licensed before leaving Virginia.  In 1805 he helped organize a Methodist church in Licking County and in April, 1806, the first quarterly meeting in that vicinity was held at his cabin.  On the organization of the Methodist Protestant church he attached himself to it and adhered to it through life.

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     John A. Thrap was born in Muskingum Township, Muskingum County, Jan. 17, 1818.  IN 1842 he married Catharine, daughter of Judge Francis Scott, of Brookfield, and settled in this township in the following year.  He is a prosperous farmer and a worthy citizen, a Republican and a member of the Methodist Protestant church.  He is the father of two children, only one of whom is now living.

     John Taylor, a native of Ireland, first located at Philadelphia, then moved to Holmesburg, Pa., where he lived four years in a house belonging to James Buchanan, afterward President.  He settled in Brookfield Township in 1838 and died here in 1862.

     The first school-house in the township was a log cabin on section 4.  Among the early teachers of the township were Erastus Hosins, Mary Brown, Josiah Burlingame and Asa Burlingame.

RELIGIOUS HISTORY

     Brookfield Baptist Church -

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BIOGRAPHIC.

JOHN GRAY.

THE TRIMMER FAMILY w/ portrait

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