The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-15

BY GEN. l. v. BIERoE.
II / r A. M :, !
Is Town 5, in Range Z. The original pro
prietors of he township we're Gel. David Til
den, Daniel Green, Joseph Metcalf. Levi Case,
John Fitch and Joseph Burnham, of Leba
non. Windham County. Connecticut; and
William Perkins, of Ashford, in the same
County. They were all Freemasons, and while
at the Lodge, one evening, Col Tilden pro-
posed to call their township Hiram in com.
memoration of the King of Tyre, which was
unanimously agreed to.
Col. Tildeu was q man of wealth and tai
ents; had served through the war of the Rev
olution, as an officer, with distinction-and in
his native town held many offices of honor and
distinction. He was a man of strong resolu
tien, and when resolved on course of action.
not easily turned aside. The meeting house,
in Lebanon, did not stand at place where a
majority of the Society desired, and by large
majority vote it was resolved to take it down
aud remove it to the spot which would ac-
cenmodate the most of the congregation.
The feeling on the subject ran high, and Jon
athan Trumbull. then Governor of the State.
living in Lebanon. was in favor of retaining it
on the old site, and Col. Tilden in favor of
removal They became leaders Of the respec
tive parties aud the war was waged with bit
terness. Col. Tilden, according to the vote OF
large majority of the Society, proceeded TO
take down and remove the old house, and
Governor Trumbull. with his party, in the
name of the State, opposed. Tilden carried
the day, and removed the house-but not till
the third attempt-having been twice repuls
ed by the militia, called out by the Governor,
to suppress insurrection. Political animosity
entered into the controversy, as Tilden was
opposed to the Federal party, then in power
in Connecticut He was removed from all the
Offices he held, on account of the part he took
in this controversy, and prosecuted for a riot,
and fined to the extent of the law. The fine
and cost shattered his fortune, and the pro-
ceedings soursd his temper toward his native
State, so that he resolved to leave it. The
prosecution was in 1904, and in 1922 he came
to Hiram. where he lived in comparative OBJ
scuri'y until Dec. 8, 1885, when he died at the
age of go. He surveyed the township in 1902
with the aid of a man named Bissel
David Green, another of the proprietors
died in Connecticut, but in what year is an
known.
In 1902, Elisha Huteheson, Mason Tilden
and Elijah Mason, came out to look at the
!. eeuntry-made some small improvements, and
went back. Mason was descendant frou
Captain John Mason, who commanded the
Connecticut troops in May, 1857, that broke
down the power of the Pequot Indians il
Connecticut.
On the return of Hutchison, Tilden anG
Mason, in 1903. they were joined by Josept
Metcalf. one of the proprietors, who was taker
sick while on the lake, with what was callet
;. the Lake fever and died at New Lebanon
in the State of New York.
The same year that Metcalf died, Levi Case
another of the proprietors, set out to visit hi
new township, but got no farther than the lax
efshore, in the State of New York, where h
:. was subsequently found standing against
tree, frozen to death. Mason died june 27
1888. In 1902 or 9, man by the name o
Williams went into the township. and made
. small improvement west of the Center, bu
= soon left, and was never afterward heard Of
About the same time, Abraham Honey. from
Mantua, went into town, and put up hut o.
the farm subsequently owned by Miles 7. Nor
> ton, but he soon left, and went to POLAND
where he is believed to be still living. Will
- Hutcheson, Tiden and Mason were there il
1902, they hired David Owen and wife, Q
Nelson, to go to Hiram and cook for them
The first breach of the peace in the TOWNSHIP
was in Hutcheson whipping Owen while cook
ing for the company. Hutcheson had plante
% piece of corn and when it was large enoug
to hoe he, by mistake, took Ovens hoe. whic
made Owen mad. To retaliate, Owen 90
- Hutcheson's hoe and hid it. Mason Tide
- seeing Owen hide it, and wishing little spor
;. took the hoe and hid it in another place, an
then sit down to see the fun that he kne'
of would follow. Owen went to the place wher
% he had hidden it, could not find it, and tol
e Hutcheson so-but he supposing Owen di
70 not wish to find it, seized him by the COLA
and dragged him along to a tree where ther
we're plenty of sprouts, and, pulling one Of
" gave Owen q most unmerciful whipping. Owe
All and his wife packed up their duds, and left
40 leaving Hutcheson, Tilden and Mason, wit
- eleven hired men, to cook for themselves. =
This they soon found to be inconyenient, an
= they concluded to go and see Owen, and tr
70 to get him back. Taking with them jug {
." " whisky, as a mutual friend, they started 70
W Ovens. They found him in no very pleasar
mood-but Hutcheson says, Owen. war
IT. to speak to you They went out TO wher
the jug was deposited, and Hutcheson sayt