The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-02-08
HIRAM.
CoRREspoNDENcE.l

The question is frequently asked,
why the township of Hiram was SO
named. The name excites curiosity
perhaps, for the reason that it is 80
seldom used as name for a place.
In the list of over fifty thousand Post
Offices in this country only two are
named Hiram. Your correspondent
several years ago furnished General
Bierce with. a statement of the facts,
and the same were published in the
Portage County Democrat at the time.
But, as many did not read that state
ment, L propose to give the circum-
stances of the naming of our town
ship to the PRESS, which I know will
be of interest to "the brethren of the
mystic tie," and may, perhaps, to some
others.
A large majority of the original
owners of the township were residents
of Lebanon and Windham, State of
Connecticut, and were all worthy
members of that ancient order of
g Free and Accepted Masons," having
a Lodge and Chapter at Windham. 1t
was customary in those days, for the
brethren to have social meeting after
labor" and conviviality ,reigned in
proportion to the amount of punch
disposed of. At one of those social
sittings, the prospects of their w estern
possessions were discussed, and as a
consequence the brethren were unusu-
ally festive. At last one proposed that
he who would pay for the punch,
might give the name to the township.
Col. Daniel Tilden, who swas at that
time High Priest of the Chapter,
promptly responded in few appro
pirate remarks regarding the "Wid-
ow's Som" (of Tyre) and named the
township HIRAM in honor of him, who
according to Masonic tradition was
the first great artificer in brass, and
superintendent the building of King
Solomon's Temple, aud was an emf
nent patron of Masonry. A Mason's
obligation will not permit more def
mite account of the circumstances ,-or
anything further regarding Mason's
reverance for Hiram" of ancient
times. A Mason will appreciate the
name, and the uninitiated are refel red
to 1st Kings, 7th Chapter, for an idea
regarding him. AT the time the name
was given none of the owners knew
anything of their possessions. What
would have been their feelings could
they have realized that they were
giving name to a township that
would give lustre to the name, by be-
ing second to none for agricultural
sources, and be the seat of a popu-
lar and influential College; the pride
and hope of powerful Christian or
ganization.
s The revival meeting of the Disciples
still continues. Fifty additions have
thus far been made to the church.
Three of the number have been re-
claimed, two were members of other
churches, but never had been immers-
ed. Twenty-slx were immersed at
one time.
The Press is rapidly gaining favor
with our people. The copy at the
Reading Room was sold last week for
One Dollar. Such an unprecedented
price created demand, and every
copy in the place was eagerly sought
for. The valiant I" loveyer," mem
toned in my last was the purchaser.
The purchase was made that he might
commit it to the flames. The brilliant
young man was much chagrined to
find three more copies at the Reading
Room an hour after his purchase, o.
l intend to give you another Mason
ic item in my next. III.