Griffith Breese Farm
Encyclopedia
The Griffith Breese Farm is a historic farm
stead in southern Allen County
, Ohio
, United States
. Established in 1840, the farm is one of the oldest white settlements in a formerly Native American
area of northwestern Ohio, and it has been designated a historic site
because of its unusually good degree of preservation.
who immigrated to the United States in 1798. He married a Pennsylvania
native, Mary Mowen, who bore him a son George in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
, before they moved to Ohio. Breese bought six section
s of land in present-day Shawnee Township
, on lands that had once been part of the Hog Creek Indian Reservation
. Moving his family to Section 10 of the township in 1834, they found that their new home was a former apple orchard: eighty apple trees and seven cabins of the Shawnee
former residents occupied the site. During their first winter, they lived in the reservation's former council house
, and Breese was elected to be one of the first group of trustees to govern the newly-formed Shawnee Township. By 1840, Breese had grown sufficiently prosperous that he was able to establish the present homestead
. The first of the four Federal
buildings on the property were erected in that year, and he bought additional land in northwestern Allen County's Marion Township
five years later. Breese continued to live on the farm until his death in 1848.
economy, Shawnee Township has become a suburb
an area; small shopping mall
s and modern housing developments surround the farm, and no other pioneer homestead in the township has been so well preserved.
In recognition of its historic architecture, the Griffith Breese Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1983. Four buildings, spread out over an area of 65 acres (26.3 ha), qualified as contributing properties
.
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
stead in southern Allen County
Allen County, Ohio
Allen County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. Its population was 106,331 as of the 2010 census. It is included in the Lima, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the Lima–Van Wert–Wapakoneta Combined Statistical Area....
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Established in 1840, the farm is one of the oldest white settlements in a formerly Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
area of northwestern Ohio, and it has been designated a historic site
Historic site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
because of its unusually good degree of preservation.
Griffith Breese
The son of John Breese, Griffith was a native of WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
who immigrated to the United States in 1798. He married a Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
native, Mary Mowen, who bore him a son George in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Franklin County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 129,313 people, 50,633 households, and 36,405 families residing in the county. The population density was 168 people per square mile . There were 53,803 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
, before they moved to Ohio. Breese bought six section
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
s of land in present-day Shawnee Township
Shawnee Township, Allen County, Ohio
Shawnee Township is one of the twelve townships of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 12,220 people in the township, 8,365 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
, on lands that had once been part of the Hog Creek Indian Reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
. Moving his family to Section 10 of the township in 1834, they found that their new home was a former apple orchard: eighty apple trees and seven cabins of the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
former residents occupied the site. During their first winter, they lived in the reservation's former council house
Seat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
, and Breese was elected to be one of the first group of trustees to govern the newly-formed Shawnee Township. By 1840, Breese had grown sufficiently prosperous that he was able to establish the present homestead
Homestead (buildings)
A homestead is either a single building, or collection of buildings grouped together on a large agricultural holding, such as a ranch, station or a large agricultural operation of some other designation.-See also:* Farm house* Homestead Act...
. The first of the four Federal
Federal architecture
Federal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
buildings on the property were erected in that year, and he bought additional land in northwestern Allen County's Marion Township
Marion Township, Allen County, Ohio
Marion Township is one of the twelve townships of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 6,773 people in the township, 2,872 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
five years later. Breese continued to live on the farm until his death in 1848.
Recent history
Today, the Griffith Breese Farm is a major historic site in Shawnee Township. With the decline in Lima'sLima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
economy, Shawnee Township has become a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
an area; small shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s and modern housing developments surround the farm, and no other pioneer homestead in the township has been so well preserved.
In recognition of its historic architecture, the Griffith Breese Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983. Four buildings, spread out over an area of 65 acres (26.3 ha), qualified as contributing properties
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
.