In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1908) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1823, Columbia County
From Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908), History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881)
JOHN T. BRITTAIN, farmer; P. O. Brittain. This gentleman was born on his father's farm in Colmnbia Co., Penn., Aug. 16, 1823. His parents moved to Springfield Township in 1832, and settled on the farm he now occupies. His early days were spent on the farm. At the age of 21 years, he married Hannah Rogers, daughter of Gerdon and Sarah Rogers, of Geauga Co., Ohio, and the following-named children were born, viz.: Amanda, wife of Wesley Corp, of Northampton Township; John; Sarah, wife of Herman Newbower; and Hannah, wife of Thomas Gilcrest, of Springfield Township. Mrs. Brittain died in March, 1852, aged 24 years. His second wife was Catharine Potts, of Suffield Township; eight children were born to them, six of whom are living, viz.: Olive, Lemuel, Alice, Cora, Grace and Edith. Mr. Brittain is comfortably situ.ated on a fine farm of 200 acres, which is valuable because of the amount of ore it contains. He takes an active part in the welfare of the township, and, when the people of Springfield petitioned for a post office to be located where Brittain is, it was their desire to have it given his name. Mr. Brittain has always voted the Republican ticket, and has held many township offices.
As printed in History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
JOHN T. BRITTAIN, a leading citizen of Springfield Township, where he owns 135 acres of valuable land, was born in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, August 6, 1823, and is a son of John and Margaret (Albertson) Brittain.
The mother of Mr. Brittain died when he was eight years of age. In 1832 his father came to Summit County, Ohio, and settled on the farm on which his son, John T. Brittain, resides, a property which has been owned by father and son for seventy-five years. At the time John Brittain located in Springfield, not a house had yet been built at Akron, and only a spare population was scattered over the township. Neither schools nor churdies had been established, but Mr. Brittain and his brother soon aroused enough interest to have a schoolhouse erected, this being the first one in Springfield Township. The first house built on the Brittain farm was destroyed by fire, and was replaced by 'the one which still stands, in which John Brittain died in 1857.
There were eight children born to John and Margaret Brittain, four sons and four daughters, namely: Henry, Zebrith, Jane, Elizabeth, Margaret, John T., Matilda, and a son that died in infancy, in Pennsylvania. All the other members of the family reached maturity. John T. Brittain is the only survivor. John Brittain was married (second) in 1834, to a member of the Gaynor family, which was one of the first to settle in Springfield Township.
John T. Brittain ha.- had possession of his present farm since the dcnlli nf hifather.
His life has been mainly devoted to agricultural pursuits and his industry has brought him independence. For some yeai's he operated a blacksmith's shop and for three years was in the fire clay industry, carrying on these industries on his farm. He retains 135 acres of the original farm, having disposed of fifty-six acres some time since.
Mr. Brittain has been married twice (first), to Hannah Rodgers, who was born in Geauga County, Ohio, whose parents were natives of Connecticut. To this union were born four children: Amanda, John G., Sarah and Hannali. The eldest daughter married Wesley Corp, of Northampton, and all of their four children have married. John G., named for both father and grandfather, married Augusta Dennis and they reside in the Sixth Ward, East Akron. During the Civil War he served as a member of the Fourth Ohio Battery. Sarah married Herman Newbower and they have two children. Hannah married Thomas Gilcrist, and they reside at Hartville, where he is engaged in celery growing.
Mr. Brittain w"as married (second) to Catherine Potts, who died June 22, 1906, aged seventy-four years. She was a daughter of Israel Potts and was a woman of most estimable character, one who was much beloved by all who came within her kindly ministrations. There were six children born to this marriage, as follows: Olive, who married W. S. Rhodes, residing at Kent; Lemuel, who married Carrie Brunil)augh, residing with Mr. Brittain; Alice, who married Charles Kohler, residing in Indiana; Cora, who married Harry Harrington, residing at Twin Lakes; and Edith, who married L. Ewart. Mrs. Ewart is the only one of Mr. Brittain's children who is decem.sed. His family record is a very remarkable one, as he has thirty grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren and death has invaded the family but once.
Mr. Brittain cast his first presidential vote for Henry Clay, in 1844, and has supported every candidate of the Republican party since the birth of this organization. He has always taken a deep interest in national affairs and in local good government and has been ready to do hirt full duty ou every occasion. For about thirty years lie served as a member of the township School Board, and for a number of years as township trustee.
As printed in Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens (1908). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name John Brittain: John T. Brittain (b. 1847) John T. Brittain
The printed record stops around 1908. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.