The photo at left is Minot Oviatt and family, circa 1900.
ALGER family
ALLEN family - Peter S. Allen owned a harness shop on the SE corner of Rtes. 303 & 176. He dealt in saddles, harnesses, trunks, buffalo robes, blankets, whips, etc. This building became the first telephone exchange. It was torn down to make space for Young's drug store.
AXTELL family - Ex-Governor Axtell of New Mexico returned to his hometown to act as Master of Ceremonies at the Richfield Reunion on August 11, 1880.
BARNES family - The second settler, after Mays, was Jared Barnes who arrived from Virginia.
BAUMGARDNER family
BIGELOW family
BRUSH family - Charles Francis Brush, Sr. was the inventor of the arc light and his son, Charles Jr., organized the Brush Laboratories. There is a 25-ton engraved stone in Furnace Run Metropark that reads, "Brushwood - given in memory of Charles Francis Brush, Jr. To all those who love as he loved the far sky and smiling land." The original grant of 2100 acres was given by Charles F. Brush, Sr. who purchased the land from pioneer owner, Everett Farnham. Charles, Jr. died in 1927 and the total gift amounted to 4500 acres.
BUCK family - In 1811, Denton Enoch Buck arrived from the State of New York and settled in the southwestern part of Richfield Township with his aged parents. Both of the old people were scalped by an invading Indian party and were buried on a knoll back of the Buck home. That same year, Enoch established and operated the first grist mill in Summit County, which consisted of a large oak stump, hollowed out on the top, with a pestle, worked by a spring pole.
BROWN family - In 1840 John Brown came to Richfield from Hudson with his second wife, Mary, and a large family of children. He was very poor and was never successful in any business venture. He was somewhat of a rover, never staying in one place or one occupation for any length of time. He went into sheepraising and the wool business, with Heman Oviatt as a partner and later ran a tannery. He lived in three houses in Richfield: first home was in the vicinity of Fountain Rd. (or Boston Mills Rd as it is now called) where four of his children died of diptheria; his second home was back of George Wilkinson's Green Valley Market, and the third was a white house east of the East Center which was later the Gilmer Davis house. Here he established an underground railway station for run-away slaves, concealing them and helping them escape under the cover of darkness. It was many years later in 1859 that John Brown gave his life on the gallows at Charleston for the principle he fought for. It has been said that the words of the condemned man from his prison cell had far more effect than his lifetime of fanatical deeds. The song, "John Brown's Body", was never meant to be a comic song; it was a deadly serious song of tribute to a martyr.
CARTER family - Elias Carter arrived from Warren, Connecticut with his wife, Sarah (also known as Sally) Farnham, daughter of John Farnham and sister to Everett Farnham. He lived on Greenleese Road, now known as Black Road. His daughter, Fanny Carter, married Mason Oviatt, son of Salmon and Mary (Humphrey) Oviatt, in Connecticut in 1831. Fanny taught school in a log house with one room where the Bath school stands. It was Fanny who nursed two of John Brown's children who eventually died of black diptheria. Elwin Carter owned one of the first telephones in Richfield in 1905.
CAVE family
COMSTOCK family
DAMON family - Elmo Damon operated a barber shop in Richfield in 1926. George Damon also had a barbershop on the premises of what was once T.E. Ellsworth's cabinet shop. Caleb Damon (1853-1915) was a well-known photographer born in Richfield. Many of his photos have been republished as postcards and are on sale at the Richfield Historical Museum.
DUSTIN family - Seth Dustin operated the Hildebrand House. It was destroyed by fire later and replaced by the Sykes and Searles grocery.
EASTMAN family - Reverend and Mrs. F.E. Eastman set up an emergency laundry at the parsonage to help many families where there was serious illness during the 1918 Flu Epidemic. 250 Richfield residents were stricken. In May 1918, the Methodist and Congregational Churches united and were then known as "The Richfield Federated Church", Rev. F.E. Eastman was the minister who brought about this important change.
EASTWOOD family - In 1913, Walter Eastwood purchased the store at Rte. 303 and Front Street from Charles Williams who had owned it since 1908. Other owners had been Frank Brower and Russell Hunt. Walter Eastwood ran this store for 34 years, retiring in 1947.
ELLSWORTH family - In 1820, Elijah Ellsworth was duly elected as the town preacher to "lead in meeting" by the town council. As he was somewhat addicted to swearing, he agreed to abandon the practice so long as he held the office. In 1821, Thomas E. Ellsworth came to Ohio from Litchfield, Connecticut. Unable to purchase land in the center of town, he went one mile west where he built his home. Being a carpenter and a splendid mechanic, he became the builder of many homes and public buildings and was the actual "Father of Richfield". He had a cabinet making shop and a furniture store where George Damon later had a barbeshop. T. E. was also the town's mortician (as was his son, Ransom) and a deacon in the church for over 50 years, as well as the holder of many public offices. One of his sons, Elisha T., was the father of Luther Ellsworth, Consul to Mexico during President McKinley's administration. In 1862, R.C. Ellsworth was one of three men in Richfield who under their direction trained thirty men for the first draft in the Civil War. These young men were known as the "Richfield Grays". Ellsworth Chapter No. 247, Order of the Eastern Star was instituted August 31, 1906 with Mrs. Jennie Ellsworth as first Worthy Matron.
FARNHAM family (later spelled Farnum) - In 1811, John Farnham arrived from Cornwall, Litchfield County, Connecticut and purchased 1200 acres in the north part of town. Leamon Farnham, his son, was elected the first Justice of the Peace in April 1816 and he taught school on Sundays - all branches of a common school education. Leamon's brother, Everett Farnham said, "It was not then known to be wicked to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic on Sunday." "Lord" Everett Farnham was known as colorful character and an eccentric old gentleman. Of English ancestry, he went to England as a young man and returned a self-styled "lord", built the fabulous home (known previously as the Danish Smorgasbord) in 1840 and established his estate in the most fantastic fashion. The town abounds with stories of his domination over his hired hands and over the entire countryside. For more information, contact Richfield Historical Society. They have published a book called The Farnums, by Bill Ellis.
FAUBLE family
GARGETT family
GARMAN family
HALL family
HALLIWELL family - The first class graduated from Richfield High School in 1879 with just two members, Milo Halliwell and Harriet Pope.
HOWE family - H.W. Howe owned a steam sawmill and handle factory.
HURLBURT family
KIRBY family - James B. Kirby is the inventor of the popular Kirby sweeper. On his estate now stands the Girl Scout's Camp Julia Crowell.
LEE family (of English heritage)
LEE family (of German heritage) - George Lee and his family arrived from Pennsylvania and originally resided in Boston Twp. in 1840 but then soon departed to Williams County, Ohio and finally settled in Cass Co., Michigan; however, the family always kept ties with the town of Richfield. His son, John Lee, married here to Elizabeth Sanborn, daughter of John C. & Sibyl (Farwell) Sanborn. They had two children: John Sanborn Lee and Helen Antoinette Lee. Later, they removed to Steuben Co., Indiana where Elizabeth died in 1851. The children returned to Richfield to live with their maternal grandparents, the Sanborns. John S. Lee fought in the Civil War and returned to Richfield where he married Frances Pettit, daughter of John Pettit & Charlotte Hoight. They had two daughters, one of them, Cora (Lee) Gross, lived on Humphrey Rd. In Nov. 1863, John Lee remarried to Electa Adelia Oviatt, daughter of Mason & Fanny (Carter) Oviatt. They had one child, a son named Park Lee, who moved to Cleveland, Ohio and worked as a teamster (truck driver) for the Beeman Gum Company. It is Park Lee's great-great granddaughter designing this website for the Richfield Historical Society. George Lee's daughter, Lucinda, married in Williams County, Ohio to Rufus Sanborn, son of John C. & Sibyl (Farwell) Sanborn. They returned to Richfield to live and had two children: Helen and Rena; later they lived in Boston Twp. For further information, contact Lynn at manchester13@att.net.
LOCKERT family - James Lockert came in 1834 and built the brick house at the corner of Black and Columbia roads in 1837. He had seven children. Mrs. Emma Lockert, widow of Rev. Alex Lockert, started the Community Sunday School in 1939 and was assisted through the years by a devoted staff of workers.
MACKEY family
MALLET family - Henry Mallet and his wife settled in the SE part of Richfield Twp. just south of "The Point", on the lot owned later by Richard Sweet and the McKisson family. In 1810, their daughter was the first white child born in Richfield. Mallet had two brothers, John and Daniel, and together they established a "mint" that became known as the Money Shop where they manufactured currency to order. The Shop was located on a point of land just across the line in Northampton and about a quarter mile from Jonathan Hale's home in Bath. The townspeople disposed of this shop of ill repute by burning it to the ground. The remains of the old forge were still seen for a number of years and despite losing his shop, Mallet continued to manufacture currency but eventually ended up in a Columbus prison where he died.
MAYS family - The first settler in Richfield was a man by the name of Lancelot Mays, who arrived from Pennsylvania in 1809. He and his family settled in the southwest part of town, later sold to John Bigelow in 1814. Lancelot was a Daniel Boone-type of man and did not relish living with Yankees! His wife, who later lived in Hinckley, Medina Co., often said that she would rather eat raw potatoes boiled in fresh water than live among the Yankees. They had a daughter, Betsey, who was the wit and belle of Richfield. She walked to a party at Copley, carrying her shoes in her hand to preserve them from the rough wear of the wilderness trails. The first marriage was that of Betsey Mays and William Carter. It is said that she had a son named John, who was noted as a pugilist and he committed the first assault and battery in the town by beating Nathaniel Oviatt. He was later prosecuted before Leman Farnum, Esq., who was the first judge in town.
MCKINSTRY family - Rev. J.A. McKinstry was pastor for 23 years and was the director in the rebuilding of the church. Many quaint stories are recalled about this beloved Puritanical old minister. He was one of the speakers at the first Richfield Reunion on August 11, 1880.
NEWTON family - Judge John Newton, purchased most of the land around around the town's east center and in the early 1820s, he also built the home later owned by Homer Carter. Minot Newton owned one of the first telephones in Richfield in 1905.
OVIATT family - The Oviatts hailed from Litchfield County, Connecticut and were one of the first families in Richfield. In 1811, Heman Oviatt, an early settler that came to the area with David Hudson, purchased the N.W. quarter of Richfield Township from Col. Tallmadge for $5,000. However, he continued to live in Hudson until 1836 when he removed to Richfield. In 1820, O.M. Oviatt built a store which was located just north of the old church. The first post office was in this store and Mr. Oviatt was named Postmaster in 1825. The mail was brought from Hudson, which had mail service as early as 1805. Salmon Oviatt ran a bob sled factory which employed 15 to 18 men. For further information, contact Leah at kensington13@att.net.
PAYNE family - In 1812, the first death recorded in Richfield was Polly Payne, aged 18 years old.
PETTIT family
PHILLIPS family
PIXLEY family - Stephen Pixley died at the age of 49 on October 31, 1829; his tombstone is one of the oldest in the West Richfield Cemetery. Frank Pixley was born in Richfield and graduated from Richfield High School at the age of 15 years old; he graduated from Ohio State University in 1886 at the age of 19. About 1902 the people of Richfield were proudly boasting that Frank Pixley was a native of the town, for the musical comedy, "The Prince of Pilsen" was then having its successful run in New York, Boston, Paris and London where it was given 160 times. He was professor of History and English at Buchtel College from 1887 to 1890. He was the author of the following plays: The Carpet Bagger, The Return of Eve, Tamin a Tartar, Doctor Doolittle, and A Social Call. He was also author of the following muscial comedies: The Burgomaster, The Enchanted Isle, King Dodo, Woodland, The Grand Mogul, Marcel, The Gypsy, Apollo and of course, The Prince of Pilsen. In the latter he colloborated with Gustave Luders. Upon his death in 1919, his widow established a memorial fund of $50,000 at Akron University.
PRICKETT family - Franklin Prickett owned a gun shop and was the maker of the famous Prickett gun. He lived on Hawkins Road and was the grandfather of Floyd P. Swan. Samuel Prickett had a gun factory on Hawkins Rd. and it was known over a wide area and did a large amount of business for about 25 years. Allan Prickett owned one of the first telephones in Richfield in 1905.
RAWSON family - The first physician mentioned in Richfield's history was Dr. Secretary Rawson in 1824. Although he practiced here for 40 years, he is best remembered for his wide spread temperance work, for his years of teaching at the Richfield Academy, his ability as a lecturer, and for the establishment of the town's first library in 1825.
REED family
SANBORN family - John C. Sanborn was born in 1802, Massachusetts. He and his wife, Sibyl Farwell, arrived in 1834 in Boston Township and resided there for 20 years before moving to Richfield. He moved into a home that Everett Farnham had built in 1850 which was built for his overseer of his estate. We do not know the overseer's name but it could possibly be J.C. Sanborn. Land records (or deeds) show the property on which the house now stands, was deeded in 1856 by E. Farnham to J.C. Sanborn. John and Sibyl had eight children who married into the Thompson, Lee (w/German heritage), Humphrey and Oviatt families. Their youngest child, Permilla Sanborn, married Miles Oviatt and had Jennie Farwell Oviatt, who was well-known in Richfield and told stories of her grandmother, Fanny (Carter) Oviatt. For further information, contact Lynn, manchester13@att.net
SAPSFORD family
SEARLES family
SHEPARD family - On the stream a little east of the West Center, O.C. Shepard owned a steam flour and saw mill. Mill Street and "Mill Hill" derived their names from this mill, which furnished fine lumber for many homes in Richfield and surrounding townships.
SHELDON family
SYKES family
SWAN family
TOWNSEND family - Z.W. Townsend had a carriage and wagon shop and a basket factory. This building was later used as a saw mill, a cider mill, and a feed mill; it's now an antique shop.
UNDERHILL family
VIALL family
VOWLES family
WELD family - James W. Weld, Esq. grew excellent fruit in Richfield that was not only well noted in town but throughout the state of Ohio! In 1824, he built the corner store, known later as the old Sykes' store. William Weld built the Center Hotel in 1830 which became a regular stage coach stop on the road from Cleveland to Massillon. Fayette Viall was proprietor at that time and the hotel later became known to us all as the Inn at Richfield. The family left a trust fund for the East Richfield Cemetery (Fairview) to help maintain the field stone fence and to restore old tombstones.
WELTON family - As one of the first officials of the township, Isaac Welton acted as a supervisor and he was the first Justice of the Peace in Richfield. He was also the first master of the Meridian Sun Lodge in 1823. It was the 69th Lodge in the State of Ohio and its charter bears that number to this day.
WEST family
WHEATLEY family
WOOD family - Baxter Wood, after serving several years as the proprietor of the Center Tavern, started a store in 1848 known as the "Wood Block" on the south side of Rte.303, West Richfield. He was succeeded by his two sons, Charles and Baxter H., who later left the store. Charles carried on the store with his two sons, Harry and Arthur, until about 1910. The old "Wood Block" was torn down in later years, but for three generations it was a well-known trading place. Baxter H. Wood operated a cheese factory just north of Shepard's saw mill. It had a large business, using as much as 15,000 pounds of milk a day which was hauled in from Bath, Granger, Hinckley, Royalton, Brecksville and Boston. This factory burned in 1907.
WORDEN family
We have recorded genealogies of many of the early families of Richfield and research assistance is available.
