466 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY
CHAPTER XXIII. HIRAM TOWNSHIP.
WHO WAS THE FIRST SETTLER ?-HONEY AND WILLIAMS-MASON AND TILDEN-OTHER PERMANENT SETTLERS-THE YOUNGS, BENJAMIN HINCKLEY AND SAMUEL UDALL-MANY FIRST EVENTS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS-HIRAM COLLEGE-PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD-ORGANIZATION AND ORIGIN OF NAME-THE MORMONS-TARRING AND FEATHERING SMITH AND RIGDON-RICH LAND, BEAUTIFUL LOCATION AND BUSINESS.
HIRAM the third township settled in the county, and known with its present limits as Town 5, Range 7, was originally the property of Col. Daniel Tilden, Daniel Green, Joseph Metcalf, Levi Case, John Fitch, Joseph Burnham and Joseph Perkins, all of Connecticut. Hiram then comprised the territory now known as Mantua, Shalersville, Freedom, Windham and Nelson. The early history of Hiram has been kept by several persons in the township, who have made special efforts in ascertaining the correct facts of those primi-
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tive times, and among them Mr. Alva Udall has been particularly active and careful in collecting these matters, and to him the writer is indebted for the most of the information contained in this chapter.
There is some doubt respecting the first settler in Hiram. By some it is thought that Abraham S. Honey, who made the first settlement in Mantua, was the man, and that he came as early as 1799, but that cannot be, for he, with his brother-in-law, Rufus Edwards, settled in Mantua, or at least made some improvements there, in the fall of 1798. Mr. John Harmon, one of the first settlers in Mantua, was under the impression that a man named William W. Williams came in the spring of 1799, built a cabin and made a clearing, but that he soon after left and settled in Cuyahoga County, where, in 1800, he built the first mill in that county. The truth, possibly, of this matter is, that when Honey left Mantua, which he did about 1802, he stopped during the spring or summer in Hiram, made a small clearing and built a cabin, but getting tired of the country, went away in the fall to Cuyahoga, where it is known that he lived several years.
In 1802 Elijah Mason, Elisha Hutchinson and Mason Tilden came to the township and located their lands. Mason, who was from Lebanon, Conn., selected the west half of Lot 23; Tilden, also from Connecticut, selected Lot 22, and Hutchinson, who was from Herkimer County, N. Y., selected a portion of Lot 23. They then returned to their Eastern homes. A permanent settler, but whose actual residence was only about one year or less, came in during this spring also. He was John Flemings, who began improvements on the southeast corner of the west half of Lot 33. He girdled the timber on sixteen acres and built a cabin, also put out a crop of corn and potatoes, which was the first crop raised in the township.
In the spring of 1803 Mason with his two sons, Roswell M. and Peleg S., lads of seventeen and nineteen, and Tilden and Hutchinson, came out, leaving their families at home, and made improvements on their lands, Mason clearing about 22 acres and putting it out in wheat, and building a cabin. Hutchinson also cleared twenty acres and built a cabin; Tilden, in like manner, clearing and building. Shortly after they came they discovered and named Silver Creek They all then went back and were preparing to come out permanently the next spring, but the two sons of Mason refusing to again go into the wilds of the Reserve, the father was compelled to change his plans, and he purchased a farm in Vermont. This action of. Mason induced the others to forego for the time emigrating Westward. Three of their hired men, however, were pleased with the country and concluded to settle here. They were Richard Redden, Jacob Wirt and Samuel Wirt, from Pennsylvania. Flemings, also becoming discouraged, concluded to leave when he found that Mason, Hutchinson and Tilden were not coming, and he sold his place to Redden, the Wirts at the same time settling on the east half of Lot 38. Redden sent for his father and family, which was the first white family to winter in the township. Mason came in the summer of this year, 1804, and harvested his wheat, which was the first in the township, turning out well. His two companions disposed of their effects in Ohio as well as they could, and left the country.
For several years after these first few settlers named came in but little progress was made. In the fall of 1804 William Fenton began improvements on the east half of the west half of Lot 38, and Cornelius Baker on the west half of the same. In this year, also, came Col. John Garrett and Abraham Dyson, a blacksmith, but fuller mention is made of these two settlers in the history of Nelson Township.
In 1806 Roswell M. Mason had a change of heart in regard to the Western
470 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
country, and came from Vermont to settle on Lot 32, which had been given him by his father. His father owned considerable land here and Roswell was made agent for it, but instead of settling down to the life of a farmer, hired others to improve the land, and studied law.
The most of the settlers, up to about 1807, were from Pennsylvania, and were poor, but generous and hospitable. They were usually squatters, and put such improvements on their land, as frequently, when the owner came around, to sell enough of it to pay for the whole and still retain a fair sized farm. From about 1809, however, the New England element largely predominated, but even at this date the number of inhabitants was only twenty. Thomas Johnson, an Irishman, came in this year. He had lived in Pennsylvania, but moved from Trumbull County to this township. Simon Babcock, of Connecticut, came in the fall of 1809, and settled on Lot 22..
In 1810 Pasley Hughes with a yoke of oxen came in from Vermont, and settled on the property improved in 1803 by Elijah Mason, Hughes having- purchased it before leaving his native State. In the fall of the same year Ephraim Hackett, son-in-law of Hughes, came in with his family and settled on the west part of the east half of Lot 22. The population was now about thirty. In June, Orrin Pitkin and wife came in and settled where Honey had improved on Lot 32, in 1802.
In 1811, on the 16th day of August, George Young, James Young and Seth Cole, each with large families, came from Sterling, Conn. James Young, who was a tailor, settled on the west half of Lot 18; George, on the east half of the same lot, and the west part of Lot 25, and Cole bought the improvements on Lot 38. On the 2d of October Elisha Hutchinson, having changed his mind, also, in regard to the West, arrived with his family and settled upon the spot which he had cleared in 1803, the brush having been cleared off by Isaac Mills, of Nelson, whom he had employed. There were at this time, the fall of 1811, eleven families, embracing fifty-eight persons, in the township.
In 1812 Thomas F. Young came with his family from Windham, Conn., and settled at the Center. He was the father of Clinton and Thomas Young, who still reside on the old place. In September, 1813, Benjamin Hinckley and family came in from Connecticut and settled on the west part of the west half of Lot 38, and purchased considerable land.
In 1816 Symonds and Jason Ryder, with their father, mother and sisters arrived and settled on land previously located by Symonds. Aruna Tilden also came in this year, bringing his family, which included his brother-in-law, John Jennings, and settled on the west half of Lot 37. In the winter following Elijah Mason, fulfilling his, intention of thirteen years before, brought his family and settled on the west half of Lot 43.
In 1817 Gersham Judson came from Mantua and settled on Lot 31, but he afterward sold to Paul Pitkin and moved away. Stephen B. Pulsifer and family settled on Lot 19, and Ira Herrick with his father and mother began on the east end of Lot 33. Daniel Tilden, Benjamin Tilden, John Tilden and Polly Tilden also came in the spring. In October Ebenezer Pinney settled on Lot 31, which afterward passed to Samuel Udall, and from him to others. These arrivals ran the population up to 120.
In 1818, early in January, Daniel Hampton came from Trumbull County and settled on the west part of the east half of Lot 33, and about the 23d of the same month Samuel Udall, John Johnson, Martin Miller, Charles Loomis and Thomas Cowen left Pomfret and Hartford, Vt., with their families, which were all large, bound for Hiram. Udall had four yoke of oxen, three horses and a cow. The rest were also supplied well with oxen and horses. The
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weather was cold; the snow was deep, and they were six weeks on the road. Arriving in Hiram March 4, 1818, Udall settled on the west halves of Lots 24 and 27, Johnson on the west ends of Lots 22 and 39, Miller on the west half of Lot 36, Loomis on the middle part of Lot 39, and Cowen moved into a cabin owned by Richard Redden. In the following summer came Gideon Chapin, Lemuel Herrick, Miles T. Norton, Joel Button, Elisha Taylor, Horace A. Loomis, Curtis Eggleston, Truman Brace, Capt. William Harris and Charles H. Paine, the last-named moving in the fall to Freedom, and becoming the first settler of that township.
In March, 1819, John M. Tilden with his family came in and settled on the west part of the east half of Lot 25, and in June came Paul Pitkin. In 1821 Col. Daniel Tilden, one of the original proprietors of the township, came in and lived in seclusion till 1835, in which year he died at the age of ninety. He had been a man of great prominence in his native State, but the party in politics opposed to him so wronged him that he became soured and sought obscurity in he wilds of the West. About this time came Deacon John Rudolph, originally from Shenandoah County, Va., but who had resided in Nelson from 1806. One of his sons, Zeb Rudolph, married a daughter of Elijah Mason, and their daughter is the widow of the lamented President Garfield, who fell by the hand of the cowardly assassin, Guiteau. The population in 1820 was about 225.
In the fall of 1807 Gersham Judson, a widower, residing in Mantua, was married to Miss Sarah Redden, and from that time there was not another wedding in the township till 1817, when Charles H. Paine married a daughter of Elijah Mason, Parthenia Mason, who was Mrs. Garfield's aunt.
The first birth was that of Edwin Babcock, son of Simeon Babcock, on March 3, 1811. The second was that of John Fenton on the 11th day of the same month, the mother of the child dying at the same time; this was the first death in the township.
The first blacksmith to open business was Abraham Dyson, who came in 1804. The first mill in the township was built by Lemuel Punderson at the Rapids, in 1807, for Squire Law, of Connecticut, but a flood came in the fall and carried it off. In 1808 the dam was rebuilt and a saw-mill put in operation. Several others followed. Elisha Taylor, a tanner, currier and shoemaker came in 1818 and commenced business. In 1816 the first postoffice was opened at the Center, and Thomas F. Young was appointed Postmaster, an office which he held for thirty-six years, till the day of his death in November, 1852. The first stock of goods and first store opened was in 1820, by Deacon John D. Hazen. The first frame dwelling-house was erected in 1819 by Jesse Bruce. It stood on the hill a few rods east of Alva Udall's barn on Lot 27. A few years previous to this Thomas Johnson and Elisha Hutchinson had erected frame barns, which were the first frame buildings in the township. A distillery was erected about 1820, as Hiram had to keep pace with Mantua and Nelson, each of which had two of these institutions in operation. The first road in the north part of the county was from Warren to Cleveland, built in 1800, and ran through the center of Hiram. James Young was the first tailor, and Seth Cole the first cooper to settle in the township; they came in 1811. The first military company was organized by the election of Symonds Ryder, Captain; Orrin Hutchinson, Lieutenant; Silas Raymond, Ensign; John Tilden, Orderly Sergeant; George Udall, Drummer; John M. Tilden, Fifer. Thomas F. Young was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1814, being the first Justice in the Townshipi he served three terms.
Occasional sermons were delivered from a very early day, both by the Method-
472 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
ists and Congregationalists or Presbyterians and among that number were Rev. Caleb Pitkin, Rev. Shadrach Bostwick and Rev. R. R. Roberts, who preached all over the Reserve, and in fact all over northern Ohio, but the Baptist denomination seems to have taken the lead up to along about the year 1830. They had a small church at the Rapids, and the Congregationalists had also a small church. In 1835 the Disciples of Christ organized a church at the south road schoolhouse, which consisted of thirteen members. This congregation grew rapidly, and in 1844 they erected a church building, which about 1856 was burned, when the present tasteful and commodious edifice was erected; the membership now runs into the hundreds. In 1844 the Methodists built a neat frame church just north of the Corners at the Center, but the society not being very prosperous, it was deemed advisable to dispose of the building and appropriate the proceeds otherwise.
In the year 1813 Benjamin Hinckley arrived, and on December 13 he commenced teaching school in a log-house that had been put up in the fall. He taught ten weeks ending February 22, 1814, and had twenty scholars. There were seven Youngs, three Johnsons, two Hutchinsons, two Dysons, two Hughes, two Hinckleys, a Hampton and a Judson. From about this time schools were maintained in the township, but there was but one school district. In 1816 two districts were formed, each having its log-schoolhouse, and were known as the Center and South Districts respectively. During the year 1820 a frame schoolhouse was begun in the South District, and after much effort it was completed. In the Center District some time afterward, a frame building was commenced for a schoolhouse, and to have a Masonic hall above, but it was never finished.
The Western Reserve Eclectic Institute, formerly so well and favorably known throughout northern Ohio, was the parent of Hiram College. Previous to 1850 there had been a growing feeling among the Disciples of the Western Reserve that they needed an educational institution located somewhere in northern Ohio. Delegates from the prominent churches of the Disciples met to consider the matter. They were unanimous in the opinion that a school should be established, and after several meetings decided, November '7, 1849, to locate it at Hiram. Its charter was granted March 1, 1850. The same summer, near, but a little south of the crest of the water-shed dividing the waters of the lake from those of the Ohio, in the middle of an eight-acre enclosure that has since become one of the most beautiful campuses in the State, as it is by nature one of the most commanding, a substantial and commodious brick building, three stories high, with a front of eighty-four feet, and a depth of sixty-four feet, was erected.
In this building, November 27, 1850, the new school went into operation, under the name of the "Western Reserve Eclectic Institute," the name having been suggested by Isaac Errett, then pastor of the Church of the Disciples in Warren.
The work done was substantially that of an academic school of high grade. The aims of the school may be stated as follows: 1. To provide a sound scientific and literary education. 2. To temper and sweeten such education with moral and scriptural knowledge.
The popularity of the Institute was great from the beginning, and the annual attendance rose as high as five hundred.
February 20, 1867, the Board decided to clothe the school with collegiate powers and responsibilities. As Hiram had become widely and favorably known as the seat of the Institute, the name now chosen was "Hiram College." The change in the name and rank of the institution did not essentially change its aims and spirit.
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A. S. Hayden, a cultivated and well-known minister of the Disciples, was the first Principal. For seven years he served in this capacity with great acceptance. Associated with him much of the time were Thomas Munnell, Norman Dunshee and Almeda Booth.
James A. Garfield, who had taught under Mr. Hayden's administration, succeeded to the Principalship. The Institute, which had been prosperous under Mr. Hayden's administration, now reached a still higher degree of prosperity. Mr. Garfield was Principal from 1857 to 1861, and won a wide popularity as a teacher and manager, and as a lecturer on general and scientific topics. His associates were Norman Dunshee, Harvey W. Everest, J. H. Rhodes, Almeda Booth, J. M. Atwater and B. A. Hinsdale.
From 1861 to 1867 there were frequent changes in the head of the school. H. W. Everest, C. W. Heywood, A. J. Thomson and J. M. Atwater served for brief periods, the name of James A. Garfield as Advising Principal appearing much of the time. This period was in some particulars Hiram's darkest day. Within this period came the Civil war, and many of Hiram's best workers were called to the battlefield.
As a chartered college Hiram began its work August 31, 1867. Dr. Silas E. Shepard was its first President. He was succeeded by Prof. J. M. Atwater, who in 1871 was succeeded by Prof. B. A. Hinsdale. Prof. Hinsdale's administration continued until June, 1882, when Vice-President Dean became Acting President. At the beginning of the collegiate year 1883-84 the Board of Trustees were called upon to choose some one to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of President Hinsdale. After due deliberation their choice fell upon the present incumbent, President G. H. Laughlin. President Laughlin came from Oskaloosa College, Iowa, with which institution he had been for nine years connected and of which he was the President. The experience of the year seems to have shown the wisdom of the choice. He has entered upon and pursued his labors like one schooled to the position, has proved himself a thorough teacher, and has won in a high degree the confidence and esteem of all.
Hiram College is affiliated with the Ohio College Association, in accordance with the rules of which association the courses of study are arranged. The special departments comprise the Biblical, musical, normal and art. The degrees conferred are B. A., B. P., M. A. and M. P. On May 7, 1883, a Bible Chair was established.
The first building continues in good repair. Six years ago the Ladies' Hall was erected. The tabernacle and the boys' dormitory complete the list of buildings, each one is well equipped, and admirably adapted to its purpose.
There are five well-selected libraries, containing more than 3,000 volumes. These libraries are being constantly enlarged with the best publications of the day. One of the libraries belongs to the college; the others to the Olive Branch, Delphic and Hesperian Societies, and the Y. M. C. A., respectively.
The college buildings, campus, libraries, apparatus, cabinet and furniture are worth $40,000; the productive endowment is estimated at $50,000; bequests, in the form of wills, are estimated at $100,000.
In the following summary of the history of education in this township since 1850, the statistics of common schools and literary societies are given.
Enrollment in 1884, nine boys and eighty-three girls; revenue, $3,824.68; expenditures, $1,932.33; seven schoolhouses valued at $4,200; average monthly pay of teachers, $26.
The Olive Branch Society, a ladies' organization, was the first literary association of ladies of the college, being founded in 1853. The Hesperian Literary Society of Hiram was organized in 1855, and reorganized May 2, 1862, with D. D. Humeston, H. B. Norton, C. A. Dudley, C. C. Smith and J. H.
474 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.
Hogue, Trustees. C. F. Willcutt was Clerk. Delphic Literary Society in connection with the Eclectic Institute was organized in 1854, and reorganized April 18, 1862, with L S. Davidson, Edgar Maxon and J. 0. Cannon, Trustees, and Lewis L. Campbell, Clerk. L. J. Adair presided. The Alpha Beta Delta Society of Hiram College was reorganized Feb. 14, 1870, and chartered subsequently. The Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1868.
Of the many who have taught at Hiram, mention may be made of the following distinguished names:
Munnell, Dunshee, Wilber, Hall, Hillier, Rhodes, Everest, J. M. Atwater, Amzi Atwater, Suliote, Thomson, Coffeen, Hill, Dr. Shepard, Lottie M. Sackett, Weston, Hinsdale, Demmon, Pardee, Wakefield, Barber, Booth and Garfield. Al- me da Booth came to Hiram in the spring of 1851, and remained in service, except one year spent in Oberlin College, until commencement, 1866, in all fourteen years and one term. She began her work at Hiram as teacher of English studies, but soon became Principal of the ladies' department. Although excelling in teaching English studies, yet she taught with success in every department of the college. Her life and character formed the theme of an address by James A. Garfield at Hiram commencement in 1876.
In the spring of 1816 Nelson was set off from Hiram, and at the election in the following April Thomas F. Young was chosen Clerk; James Young, John Redden and Benjamin Hinckley, Trustees; and Richard Redden, Treasurer. There are no records of the township earlier than 1820, and these officers are given from memory. The name of the township. Hiram, was suggested by Col. Tilden, who proposed it to all the original proprietors, who were Freemasons, in honor of an Illustrious Ancient Master Workman well known to the fraternity. Owing to the carelessness of a surveyor, who was probably unskilled in his business, some of the lines of survey are Very irregular, frequent cases of lots being several rods wider at one end than the other occurring.
In 1820 there were four Revolutionary soldiers residing in Hiram—Col. Daniel Tilden, Christopher Redden, Elijah Mason and old Mr. Turner. Hiram did nobly in the war of the Rebellion, having been represented by two Major- Generals, two Captains and two Lieutenants, besides her full quota of men up to 1864. She sent to the front seventy-four men, thirteen of whom were killed or died in the service.
In the winter of 1831 Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon came to Hiram, held meetings and made many converts to the then new faith of Latter Day Saints, or Mormonism, but after a time something leaked out in regard to the Saints having an eye on their neighbors' property, that it was their design to get into their possession all the lands of those whom they converted. Whether the charge was true or not cannot now be affirmed, but at any rate the good people of Hiram and some others went to the houses of Smith and Rigdon, took them out, stripped them to the buff, and treated them to a coat of tar and feathers and a rail ride, which induced them to leave.
Hiram occupies the highest elevation on the Reserve, being 1,300 feet above sea level, which gives it great salubrity and healthfulness. Its hills and dales are not only beautiful, but the land is excellent, being a clay loam, in some portions sandy, and at the same time it is well watered. It is well adapted to fruit and grazing, and in 1865 Ozias Allen made from the milk of twenty-one cows 12,600 pounds of cheese, which he sold for 15 cents per pound-00 from each cow. There are in the township three cheese factories, three steam saw-mills, two feed-mills and an apple jelly factory, besides two general stores at the Center and at Rapids Postoffice.
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The proposed railroad, called the Clinton Air Line, is treated of in the "General History" at page 297.
Township Officers.--Trustees, Homer Abbott, F. R. Freeman, James Young; Clerk, S. J. Young; Treasurer, C. L. P. Reno; Assessor, G. B. Merwin; Constables, Joseph Hall, C. C. Sheldon; Justices of the Peace, Arvin Wilson, A. A. Turner. Postmaster at Hiram Center, D. H, Beaman; Postmaster at Rapids, Taylor Wilcox.
The statistics of this township for 1884 are as follows: Acres of wheat, 854, bushels, 8,294; bushels of rye, 40; of oats, 25,029; of corn, 6,489; ton of hay, 2,664; of clover hay, 140 tonsi of seed, eight bushels; of potatoes, 40,844; gallons of milk, 350; pounds of home-made butter, 51,738; of factory butter, 20,000; of cheese, 19,694; of maple sugar, 12,767; gallons of syrup,
6,190 from 30,439 maples; of honey, 1,175 pounds from 81 hives; dozens of eggs, 25,328; 11,821 bushels of apples, 610 of peaches, and 13 of pears from 549 acres; 6,404 pounds of wool; 820 milch cows; 1 stallion; 87 dogs (killed 8 sheep); died of disease, 7 hogs, 90 sheep, 19 cattle and 9 horses; acres cultivated, 4,493; under pasture, 5,657; woodland, 2,578; waste, 114;
total, 12,842. Population in 1850 was 1,106, including 458 youth; in 1870, 1,234; in 1880, 1,058; in 1884, 1,000 (estimated).