The name Chardon, a French word meaning "thistle," was adopted
by the township and settlement of Chardon around 1812 in
tribute to the owner of extensive local land holdings. Peter Chardon
Brooks, a wealthy Boston merchant, deeded land for a village square
modeled after the town plans of many New England villages on the
condition that the inhabitants would use his middle name to identify
the locale and establish the place as the seat of government. Although
Brooks never visited the area, he supported the town by providing a
large bell to the first church built....