Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-10-05
Obe UraueIer.
Pencil Sketches Of a Trip
Through .New York. Western and Northern Ohio, anil
Northern Indiana.

Through .NelU YORK, WeSteTn ana vN0fthern OhlO, anu
Northern Indiana.
FROM A TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.
NUMBER A.
ANGOLA, Indiana, July 9th, 1648.
Since the date of our last at Toledo we have trav-
eled on horseback through some of the new counties
of Ohio and Indiana in different drecti ons over 100
miles. Over this same country we travelled in the
same manner twelve years ago. Nothing appears
more surprising than the changes the country has
undergone since that time Then such a thing as
road or bridge scarcely known, and the traveller
would deem himself fortunate if he could find an In
dian trail or marked trees to guide him through the
forests and across the streams All was solitude and
for miles not human being could be found to point
out the route .NolO the roads are mostly laid out
cleared and worked. The state and many of the
county roads are worked considerably so that except
i'll very wet time, pass comfortably on them.
Then there were but few settlers and the forests the
openings ond praries were undisurbed and unoccupi-
ed except by wild beasts and other animals indigen
GUS to the soil and climate Nolo the country is dot
ted over with residences many within half mile,
and seldom any exceeding mile from each other
unless tract ntervenes owned by stranger out
of the country. Village alter village now presents
itself on locations where a tree had not then been
cut-the school house, the merchants store the Post
Office and the tavern are now seen in every direction
where before you would have to travel half day to
find log shanty in which to spend the night. The
counties Of Lucas, Williams Henry and Defiance in
) Ohio, and Stuben, DeKalb and LaGrange in Indiana
are scarcely to be exceeded in richness and fertility
and the time is fast approaching land has in part
arrived when they will be filled with thrifty, indus
trious and wealthy population.
Such reflections as the above continually occupied
my mind, as during the past week, visited the vari-
GUS locations in these new counties The central and
western portions or Lucas county, and the county Of
Williams, through which passed the first three days
after leaving Toledo, are susceptible of being made
the garden of Ohio. Wherever the earth was cult
waited it wes teeming with large crops of wheat, Of
corn, Of oats and of grass. The country appeared
healthy, with but very few of fever and ague
, and the inhabitants contened.
y After passing Monclova, Swanton and West Unity
all pleasant and hourishing villages, only few years
p, old, we turned back short distance to call on
l. friend in Clinton township, Lucas county, who hat
for years beena surveyor of lands in that REGION
IS He took me into his garden, where his Peach tree
a. were loaded with fruit TO their utmost ca1acty ant
he informed that last year, he had ten bushels de
i cay because they could not eat them up All this wa
9 on a small piece of ground containing about 81
o square rods He also told me that one of his fellow
y townsmen, in Clinton, had growing this year as many
70 800 bushels of peaches, besides apples Peache
N bear here in years from the seed, and apples in
" orr. rode over the town with him in the Afternoon
and found the soil good and the crops fine. 1t con
tains or 600 inhabitants, and $50 to 1870 voters
At Springfield, in Williams county, at Evanspor
and indeed every where on the road, and wherevC
we called, found the same productiveness In croI
and fruit The wheat, however, from the abundal
rains after was cut and before it could be secure
IL has suffered much in growing or ''sprouting."
H. AS we ''jogged on" under the clear rays of Ju
in sun, the tall whitewood white oak and hickory, ii
se noble black-walnut the huge sycamore, lime al
re- elmwith groves Of the sugar maple, beach and oil
nd er wood--together with now and then rich "of
ry' opening, presented picturesque and beautiful a
'o' poarance. One thing the people seem to have he
''l in abundance, and that is honey They place Il
~ large, thick white comb filled with delicious hone
eat before us, wherever we stop to eat AS they ha,
Oh also large quantities of milk, it must in truth be sa
RS. to be ga land flowing with milk and honey" and "
id might add "f1lt," Of the most delicious quality.
lgs Angola the Co. seat of Stuben county, Indiana,
Tile which place arrived yesterday naturally leads
ng some reflections. In May 1895 we passed over Ii