Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-12-24
For the Portage Sentinel.
Hiram, Portage County.


when there were but two families in the
township, was never so pleased with the
place as now that its beauties, its health
and fertility, and general advantages have
been newly impressed on my mind. Hi
ram, as most of your readers know, lies on
the north line Of the county, its centre being
ten miles north and five miles east Of Ra-
VIENNA, The land is rich, undulating, in
terspersed with small streams, beautiful farm
brooks, mostly originating from the most
pure and durable springs of soft water issu-
ing from ridges Of sand rock scattered in
profusion in various parts of the township.
Indeed, am, or have been familiar with
every lot and nearly every farm in the
township, and think have never known
So large tract of good land so advantage
ously watered with pure springs and spring
brooks, SO well distributed for farm and
house use. And the timber, as it stood in
the state of nature, when first knew it
and a good supply of which is still left for
use was Of the best kinds common in this
County. and most beautiful for the buildars
use. There are the straight and tall white
wood (by some called yellow poplar) Of all
sizes up to S, 6 or feet in diameter at the
base, more than hundred feet high and
sometimes almost that length Of body in
a right line, fit for hewing or saving. The
chestnut also, vieing with the poplar, the
different species of the oak, the valuable
Cucumber tree, the Beach, the Sugar tree,
different species of ash and elm, and in some
places Black walnut and butternut, the
hickory and white maple, and various kinds
Of less valuable timber.
But what most excited my admiration of
the nature of the country was the numer-
GUS pure springs before noticed, issuing
from under the sand rock, in many places
almost up to the hill SUBMITS, and in many
places conveniently located to be led in
pipes to the dwellings of the inha bi; a nts,
and some of them are SO used; most con-
venient adpendags to sink room, kitchen or
a barn yard.
The population Of Hiram is not as nume-
rous as in some other townships of tbs coun-
ty-probably between 400 and 1900. In
iS4Oit numberedl O80 The inhabitants are
intelligct, industrious and orderly citizens,
mostly emigrants from New England and
New York, and their descendens, 5, and thier
character will not suffer in comparison with
any other township in the vicinity. There
is believe, no tavern in the township
where distilled spirits are sold.
The township is intersected by roads,
generally running at right angles, and cut
ting it into blocks of from hal mile to a
mile square with some exceptions on ac-
count of particular localities. The Cuya-
hoga River runs about S. S. West ON the
N. w. part Of the township, cutting off
about 1000 acres from the N. w. corner;
and one half mi south from where the riv.
er enters the township is situated the little
village of Harrison, where grist and saw
mill, and some other works on The river.
The village of Garrettsville, in Nelson
townsh p, where are several mills, crowdsa
little on the east border of Hiram, near
mile from the souh east corner, and is a
place of considerable business and growing
Importance.
There are two handsome churches at the
centre of Hiram, one for Methodists, the 9TH
er for Disciples. There is also post Office
at the centre, kept by our old democratic
friend, Thomas F. Young, Esq. who has
kept it believe from i,s first establishment
near twenty-five years through
all the political changes. There is also
post Office in Harrison.
At the time l was there, much interest
was felt about the establishment of college,
or Seminary, which l understood there was
fair prospect would / e estab ished in the
direction of the Disciples or Campbellites.
Indeed, that would be pleasant and heal
thy location for Seminary, SO elevated aud
slightly with good stone and good timber
convenient for building, the best of spring
water, in the midst of thriving farming
settlement, and far away from the bolster
Gus din Of cities. ] was shown site that
had been proposed, a half mile west of the
centre, and little north of the centre road,
on the farm of Mr.. o. Hutchinson, that was
beautiful indeed, being near the summit of
dry ridge of good soil, on sand rock form.
alton, slightly sheltered from the west and
north west, and overlooking the country at
the east and south east long distance. 1t
has very gentle descent to the south and
south east, and is bordered with the most
delightful springs of pure water, running
from tbs sand rock beneath. Thsrs arc,