Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1847-05-26
From the Cleveland Herald.
The 0lden Time.

"A friend has furnished US with the follow
ing interesting narrative of the first visit of
Judge Stow to the Western Reserve.
II have been favored with the narration
ofthe following facts connected with the
early history and settlement of this country
from the lips of Judge Stow, of Connecticut.
He was entrusted by the Connecticut Land
Company with the charge of the expedition
that visited the northern part of Ohio, in
1896. He is now in our city in his 18th
year, in the enjoyment of full and vigorous
health. He is truely relic of olden times.
He is possessed of a very intelligent mind,
and he has stored q retentive memory with
long years of faithful observation and ex-
perience, which makes his conversation on
this subject as well as others, deeply inter-
.esting and Instructive.
Such facts as these are worth preserving.
Let them be collected and in some authentic
shape given to the world, not only from
the deeply interesting character ofthe trans
actions themselves, but that the memory of
those men who have subjected themselves to
the hardships of the wilderness, may not be
forgotten. While our State is jealous lest
she should not pay due honors to heroic and
daring service on the field, let her not be
entirely unmindful of those who with no
less q sacrifice Of ease and enjoyment, have
hazarded their lives in its service by pione-
ering the way for its settlement
If this enterprise had been conducted with
less vigor than it was, or if from any cause
it had proved unsuccessful, the settlement
Of the Reserve would probably have been
delayed for several years. Much there
fore is due to the enterprising individuals
who composed this company, for the energy
and success with which they. prosecuted
their labors under such multitude of en-
barrassing circumstances. @ -Hf ie
To Judge Stow, it must be source ofthe
highest qualification, to owitness the extraor-
dinary and magical change which this coun-
try has undergone since 1896, when he first
landed at Conneaut. 1t is truly great
result for such small beginnings.
There are but few Of the venerable men
now living who composed this early expe.
dition. They have gone with the genera.
tons before them. The gray hairs and
tottering steps of survivors warn us that
with them "the silver cord will soon be
loosed, and the golden bowl broken"
In the early part of May, l796, the Con.
!, necticut Land Company fitted out an expe
dition to visit the Western Reserve, anc
survey and divide the same intotownships
The company consisted offive Surveyors
a PLY ysician, with chain-tnen, axe-men
making in oil about forty individuals By
previous agreement most Of the individuals
to compose the company met at Schenec
tady, New York. They there embarked
lin four flat bottomed boats Of about 3 ton!
burthen each, and ascended the Mohawl
River. The boats had on board q quantity
|of freight, besides their camp utensils
! provisions, Sc. The Indians then inhabit
ling the Reserve had agreed to hold coun
[cil with the company at Buffalo, for th'
purpose ofreconciling their several claim
Ito the territory; and a part oflthe carg'
Econsisted of merchandise that they wer
tcarrying thither for the Indians. Tn
Uscent ofthe Mohawk was slow and tedious
The bouts besides being heavily laden, ha
! a rapid current and shoal water to conten
o. q z