The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-06-09
f0CAL DEPARTMENT
Portage Comfy AZ years Ago.


Portage Comfy a. years Ago.
(, We take pleasure in presenting our read
ers with the following very interesting COM
munication In reference to the public affairs
of Portage county, forty. seven years ago.
The old records alluded to are matters Of
pleasant examination for US who live so many
years after they were made. And as 1t is
not convenient for all the citizens Of the
county, to peruse them for themselves, we
propose to have the subject continued In
series of communications. These reminis-
cences and sketches of the past, will be
pleasant TO recall, for those gray headed
veterans, who came here in early days, and
spent the prime of their manhood in wrest-
ling with the dangers and hardShps of from
Stief life. But few of them are left now,
and their work is nearly over. But their
memories shall I've in the hearts of their
children, and the smiling homes and cult
waited fields which dot the face of the coun-
try, will ever remain as evidences of their
industry and enterprises
Mr.. HART:-As you request, / will en-
deavor to interest your readers with some
recollections Of the early times of our coun-
ty. Friday, ofthts sOeek, was the amtuerSa-
ny ofthe completion OF the Jorry-se0enh gear,
since the first election of county officers,
for the organization of Portage county.
.n The Legislature of Ohio, in which BENZ.
, TARPAN Esq, (now the Hon. BENZ. TAPPAS,
of Steubenville) then represented, in the
Senate, the counties of Trumbull and &C.
auga, comprehending the whole Connect.
4, cut Western Reserve-had, in its session OF
nj ,l8o7-8, provided for the organization OF
the new county of Portage, to be 80 miles
long and % broad, including the five south
surveyed townships of Ranges 6, 7, 8, 8, no.
and IL; and attached thereto, for judicial
purposes, the four south surveyed townships.
of each the remaining ranges, from the ltf
to the east line of the Goth ranges, being a
territory in extent nearly 69 miles from
east to west and from 25 to 80, from north
to south. West of Portage county proper,
there was then no white settlement, in our
territorial limits, except possibly, some two
families, who settled about that time, near
Wolf Creek in town l, range IL, now Nor.
ton township, Summit county. The law
for establishing and organizing the county
of Portage, appointed ait election for three
county commissioners, Sheriff, and Cor.
oner, for the new county, to be held on the
9Th day of June, 1903, at the house of BENZ
TAPpAN, (since the residence of LYMAN
:HoTcHKIss,) in Ravenna. The Legislature
had also appointed three associate Judges
for the county--to wit: AMI ATwATER, o.
Mantua, WILLIAM WETMoRE, of Stow, ant
AARON MORTON, OF Tallmadge. From the
fact, that two of these judges acted as judg
es Of the first election, it is inferred that the
law so provided, and that the other did no
arrive in season to assist in organizing the
election board. At the election, therefore
AMzI ATwATER, ofMantua, WILLIAM Wet
MORE, Of Stow, and JosEpH HARRIS, of Ran
dolph, acted as Judges. and DAVID HUDSON
BENZ. WHEDEN, both Of Hudson township
oficiated as Clerks. By referring to the
election files, we find there were 81 votes
cast at the election. There were but fou
candidates for Commissioners, two candi
dates for Sheriff, and three for Coroner.