Geauga County, Ohio - Chapter 1: History Proper, 1880

It is fair to presume, and safe to conclude that, at the birth of the present century, civilized man had not set foot on the soil of this township, with a view of making it his home ; nor had he, till the sands of the first decade had nearly run ; an occasional hunter or adventurer, being the only intruder, on the domain, that for a long time was known as the "Welshfield Woods."

In commencing the history proper, of Troy, it seems no better course can be adopted, than to copy almost verbatim, from scraps of record left by one of its earliest settlers, Deacon W. W. Beals, now deceased. He says : " The territory comprising the township of Troy, Geauga county ; or in other words, township number six, in the seventh range of townships of the Connecticut Western Reserve," was entered for actual improvement, and the first bush cut with a view to settlement, early in the year 181 1 ; and where now are seen stately mansions, improved fields, and all the paraphernalia of civilized life ; then dwelt

In our streets, where now is seen "Young America," with his fiery steed* plated harness, and splendid vehicle, dashing along - over well constructed turnpikes - at the rate of 3:40 (the deacon might now leave out the 40), then was seen the first team winding and twisting, and "dragging its slow length along" through marshes, ravines, wind-falls and mud, of which no one can now give a faithful description, and be considered truthful.

Jacob Welsh, a man who had seen at least half a century, a citizen of Boston* Massachusetts, was empowered as agent by his father, one David Hinckley, * and perhaps, other landholders ; to locate the lands within the boundaries of this present township, have them surveyed, and make other needed improvements, at a stipulated salary of $500 per annum.

He, accordingly, with his eldest daughter, Betsey, came to Burton in the fall of 1810, he occupying his time during the winter in exploring his territory and selecting a tract whereon to locate, and which he decided should be at what is now the center. Hg employed a man known as "little" Phineas Pond, of Mantua, to put up a small log cabin, which was built near the house where his son. Captain John Welsh, afterward lived and died. When this was written (1874) there was no permanent land-mark wherefrom to describe the location of this cabin. Now there is a substantial vault in the cemetery which can be taken as a point of departure. From a point twenty yards south from the south side of this vault, extending two hundred and eighteen yards eastward, can be found the

-This township, in common with all the townships in Geauga county, was purchased from the Connecticut Land Company on the 29th of January. 1798, and each, with certain modifications, for the uniform sum of $r 2, 903. 23. The purchasers of township number six, together with the sum exact location, or nearly so, of Mr. Welsh's cabin ; a spot which a century hence will be looked upon as the "Plymouth Rock" of the township. Near by this spot, and southward from it, are several venerable apple, trees, planted, perhaps, in the autumn of 1811.

Solomon Charter, now of Burton, and a brother of said Charter, were employed to cut out the brush and clear the way, so that a wagon could follow the Indian trail on the east side of the river. This being done, he, with his daughter, and a few goods, were brought through and duly installed under the first shelter built for civilized man in this township. This was early in 1811. He employed one Chester Elliot, of Bondstown, now Hambden, to survey the township into sections of one mile square each - No. i being at the northeast corner, traversing south and north, finishing with No. 25, at the southwest corner; No. 13 being the center section. He selected the center tier of sections, running north and south, and also the western tier, for himself, and those whom he represented.

Mr. Welsh is described as a man of medium size, fair complexion, always well dressed, wearing short breeches, fastened at the knees with large buckles. He represented the first families of Boston, was liberally educated, of good powers of conversation, prepossessing in appearance, and of pleasant manners; but as a business man not a success, being endowed with but little energy.

In June, of the same year (18 11), Peter B. Beals and Ebenezer Ford, his nephew, arrived here, with span of horses and wagon, and said Beals, being authorized by the above named Seth Porter to make a selection for him, selected the east range of sections, and located for himself on section No. 1, and put up a cabin - the second in the township - made of peeled bark, near a beech tree, with a wide-spreading top, which stood near the dwelling now occupied by John Beals, the younger. He cleared the brush and girdled some four or five acres of land,' and sowed it to wheat, from which was harvested the first grain raised in the township. On his return to Massachusetts, in the fall, he drove the first team that ever passed from Burton, through Chardon, to Painesville, the road having been recently cut through ; the travel hitherto having been through Mid* dlefield and Hambden.

June 9, 1812, Peter Beals started on his return trip to Ohio, accompanied by his wife, five children, one Harvey Pratt (a young man living with him, whose time had not expired), and a young lady named Paulina Ford, who afterward became the wife of Captain Ebenezer Hayes, of Fairport; also, John Beals, with wife and five children, Simon Burroughs, jr.,* with wife and three children, all from Plainfield, Massachusetts. Their conveyance consisted of five wagons, three drawn by oxen and two by horses, with which they all arrived in Burton the middle of July following, safe and sound, notwithstanding the many frightful rumors of merciless Indians killing, scalping, or driving off all the border settlers, war with England having that year been declared.

*Note - With regard to the arrival and settlement of the Burroughs family, the memory of Mr. Beals seems to be somewhat at fault. The following is the statement of Lewis A., eldest son of Jacob Burroughs: Simon, sr., came in the fall of 1812, in company with John Beals, and others, and settled on the farm afterward owned by his son Amos. His family consisted of his wife and sixteen children. Simon, jr , with his wife and three children, accompanied by his brother. Jacob and Elijah Ford, both single men, came here the winter following. Their mode of conveyance was an ox team and sled. Simon, jr., settled on what is known as the "Sugar-loaf lot, and Jacob tow a claim on the lot joining his brother, on the west. While the Ohio canal was being constructed, pinion, jr., who was a stone-mason by trade (the first one in Troy), obtained employment in the building of canal locks, and while engaged in that vocation, sickened and died. Jacob Burroughs afterwards came into possession of the "Sugar-loaf," which he held at the time of his death, in 1861. After ms arrival, and before his marriage, he (Jacob) taught a school in Burton, at which he gave such men^ Governor Seabury Ford, Colonel Erastus Spencer, and their brothers, their first knowledge of mathematics. Simon sr., was a blacksmith by trade. Of course, the first in Troy.

John Beals settled, lived and died, on the farm now occupied, and owned, by his son, Osman, and grandson, Cyrus. Simon Burroughs commenced, and remained to the time of his death, on the farm since owned by his son, Amos.

In the summer of the same year (1812), Alpheus Pierce, also from Plainfield, Massachusetts, located, put up the body of a log house, and commenced improvements, on the farm now owned by Lewis Burroughs. November nth, of the same year, he left for his native place, and returned with his family, February 2I* 1813.

His arrival was signalized by the first observance of religious worship in the township. A letter, written to Rev. Josiah Hopkins, - who essayed to write a township history, but died, not completing it - reads nearly as follows: "Immediately on his arrival (speaking of Alpheus Piercd), meetings on the Sabbath were instituted, and, as he, for a long time, was the only male professor of religion, the devotional exercises nearly all devolved on him. John Nash and family, and Harvey Pratt, constituted the choir, and sermons were usually read by some young man, or Mr. Welsh, when he was present, would sometimes read. It would be somewhat amusing now, could we see the interior of the log cabin in which these meetings were held, and the audience then assembled. Mr. Pierce was a tall, straight man,'sober-looking, and nearly sixty years of age. His garments were coarse, and somewhat tattered, to hide which he always wore a leather apron. Beside him sat a son (Seabury), whom fits had rendered idiotic, in garments somewhat like the father's, only more tattered, and without the appendage of the leather apron ; yet he was by no means an idle spectator. Frequently I have seen him, when the reading was finished, and the old gentleman, with his head down, was absorbed in meditation, or overcome by morpheus, jog him, and whisper in his ear: "Come, diddy, pray." Upon this, Uncle Alpheus would raise himself up, and begin to address the Throne of Grace ; slowly, at first, but would soon become exceedingly fervent; among other petitions, praying that this howling wilderness might "bud and blossom, as the rose," and which he lived to see literally fulfilled, although he removed, towards the middle of the State a few years before his death. Rude and unrefined as were our meetings, at that early day, yet I have no doubt that much good has resulted from the exertions of some of the first settlers, in endeavoring to keep up good order and regulation in this settlement. In looking over the subsequent history of those who then inhabited Troy, the verdict seems to be plainly in favor of those individuals who regarded the Sabbath and its institutions."

In the fall of 1812, Peter B. Beals built the first frame barn, the lumber for which was sawed about one mile southeast from where the village of Park man is located. Soon after this barn was finished he was seized with an epidemic, that then went through the country, and which left him a cripple for life. The nearest physician was one Dr. Seeley, of Youngstown, to whom he paid one hundred and ten dollars for eleven professional visits. Being incapacitated for manual labor, he purchased the tavern stand* in Burton, of which he took possession in 1814, and was soon after appointed postmaster, which office he held some twenty-five years. Excepting the one at Chardon, it was for a long time the only post-office in Geauga county. In addition to his lameness, he became nearly blind, and employed Peter Hitchcock, jr., then a lad - now Hon. Peter Hitchcock - to assist in making his quarterly returns. Misfortunes followed him until all his property (which was once considerable) was lost, and himself being too deeply in debt to be able to extricate himself, he returned to his old home in Troy, where he spent the remnant of his days, partly supporting himself by making shingles. His son, Alvord, selling the premises to W. W., Peter B. remained with the latter until his death, which occurred April 26, 1850, aged eighty-six years and seven months. He was buried in the Burton cemetery, beside his wife, who died in 1821, and where not a stick or stone marks his last resting place.

When he was sixty-six years of age, while musing over his situation and surroundings, he composed a verse describing the result of his musing, and added a verse each year during the twenty years which he afterwards lived, and considering his age and infirmities, they are thought to be worthy of preservation.

February 19, 1813, John Nash, from Windsor, Massachusetts, also the team and part of the family of Benjamin Lamoin, of Plainfield, Massachusetts, arrived in town, and on the 26th John Colson,* also of Plainfield, came here. Colson settled on the northeast corner of the township, on land now owned by Issac Town. John Nash settled on the southeast quarter of section three, since owned by John Nash, jr.

The Lamoin family settled on what was aftewards known as the " Sawyer place," now owned by Spencer, Burton, Nash, and others. The elder Lamoin was left at Madison, Lake county, sick, where he died, February 22d. Madison was then a depot for supplies for the army, and a soldier, who was detailed as guard, complaining of not feeling well, Mr. Lamoin voluteered to take his relief through the night, and, in doing so, took a violent cold, which resulted as above stated. -

In the winter of 1812, Elijah Ford, a young man from Plainfield, Massachusetts, located on the northeast quarter of section three, paying for the same with his own labor, in the employ of Peter B. Beals, and in 1813 married Esther, daughter of Benjamin Johnson, of Burton.

In the fail of 1813, Jacob Welsh (he being then a widower) left his daughter. Betsey, and a hired man, Robert Galt, by name, to look after his affairs, and

* A portion of Mr. Colson s land was located just across the line, in Burton township, and his home was buik thereon, on the site of Henry Avery's present residence.

went back to Boston foi^a second wife.* He returned in the fall of 1814 with his newly acquired wife, and accompanied by three other children, to-wit: Jacob; a widowed daughter, Barrett by name; Mary, afterward Mrs. Samuel Butler, of Fairport; and also a daughter of the widow above named, who married one Brooks, also of Fairport. The ydunger Jacob, not liking hard work, soon obtained a situation as clerk in a store in Warren, t

There is no record that any addition was made by immigration, or otherwise (with one exception), to the census of the township in 1814, but the events of that year were burned into the memories of every one who shared their experience. War with England was at his height ; Hull had surrendered early in the conflict, and every available man was called on to help repair that disaster, and the country was stripped of provisions with which to subsist the army, while the very little not taken was, in price, far beyond the exchequer of any resident of Troy. How they subsisted seems almost a miracle. The four staples of life were of equal price. Flour, salt and whiskey were fifteen dollars per barrel, and pork fifteen dollars per hundred weight. Esquire Hickox, of Burton, came to the rescue. He sent John Pierce (known as "Honest John") wTitha team to Youngstown after a load of flour, which trip occupied a long week. On his return this flour was distributed to the needy, their promises taken in payment for the time being, and thus the threatening starvation was averted. Those who were fortunate enough to own a cow could make thickened milk (not very' thick, by the way), while those who had no cow substituted water. In the way of present luxuries, Peter B. Beals obtained a barrel of whiskey, which he placed upon a stump where the older people could draw and drink, while the younger managed to get their share through the vent, by means of a straw", or quills fastened together after the manner of a stove pipe.

Another settler, by the name of Samuel Eldred, having a little means, and being in wanjt of a barrel of salt, harnessed his old mare, and getting astride, started for Fairport, the nearest point where it could be obtained, leaving his family in doubt as to how he would transport it home. But their doubts were dispelled, when, after several days' absence, he returned with his salt snugly fastened upon a couple of poles, which served as runners, they being weakened in the middle so that the smaller ends would serve as shafts, proving that "necessity is the mother of invention."

A serio-comic incident, which occurred in the spring of this year [1814], may be worth recording. After Hull surrendered his army (August 16, 1812), all the available men in this region were called into the field, as before stated, and Troy was left with but two men within its borders. One of them (Eldred) was quite too old, and the other (Ben Lamoin) was not old enough. At that time there were several acres in extent on land, now owned by John Cutler and Lewis F. Scott, which was then covered with water a large portion of the time, and was the headquarters for innumerable mosquitoes and bullfrogs, of which latter inhabitants, those who came here in 1813 were ignorant. When the spring of 1814 arrived, and the frogs were released from their torpfd condition, they commenced, as usual, their unearthly bellowing. The women and children, who had never heard them, supposed it to be a signal given by the red-

*The absence of Mr. Welsh proved, ever after, disastrous to the well-being of the daughter. Having been reared in a city, the surroundings of his forest home, were, at the best, very distasteful to her. After her father had gone, her only companion was the hired man, above alluded to, tne nearest neighbors being the Beals, Burroughs, Pierce, and Nash families - miies distant. This, howling wolves, and intrusion of Indians, proved too much, and her reason became unseated, nev to be returned. She lived till December 1, i8ji, dying at the age of sixty-three. "Aunt wti. Welsh " w as the name by which she was familiarly known during the later years of her life.

skins for a general slaughter of the defenceless inhabitants, and their terror was indescribable, till the above-mentioned Ben Lamoin* concluded he would know if the noise proceeded from Indians or not, and, organizing himself into an army of observation (leaving the old man to act as a reserve corps), he skirmished through the woods, till, coming to the pond, he discovered from whence the noise came, and lost no time in making known to the terrified ones that their fears were unfounded.

The one addition [mentioned above] to the census table for this year, occurred on the twenty-seventh of March, in the advent of Lavina, daughter of Elijah and Esther Ford, rendered historical from the fact of its being the first birth in the township, and furthermore, tradition says, she ate the first apple raised in Troy, and that the apple grew on a tree planted by Jacob Welsh, in the fall of 181 1. It is related as a singular coincidence, that the future husband of Lavina Ford - Mr. Olney Percival - who was a native of Vermont, was the first white person who was born in his natal township.

Late in the season of 1814, after the men had returned to their homes - their term of enlistment having expired - they set to work to put up a small school-house, of logs. Abner H. Fairbanks, a returned soldier, living in Parkman, was engaged to teach, and this marked the opening of educational enterprise. This school-house was situated just west of the Sugar-loaf, on land then owned by Simon Burroughs, jr., and since by his brother, Jacob. Tradition does not furnish a roster of all the scholars, nor an account of the sum paid the teacher.

From this time on, for several years, the population of Troy increased very slowly, and at least for three reasons. Although the war with Great Britain had virtually closed on the 24th of December, 1814, yet - as ocean telegraphy was then not dreamed of - it was not known, generally, till late the next year, and, people who wished to "go west," were nearly all not in a condition to do so, the war having made sad havoc with the little means they possessed ; another reason: the land was held at too high a price to encourage emigration, $5 per acre being the figure at which it was held ; and a third reason was : the unhealthiness which prevailed, especially near the river. But this did not entirely dissuade adventurers from seeking their fortunes within our boundary. In 1815 Nathaniel Weston, Nathan R. Lewis, and Isaac Russell, from the State of New York, took up their abode in Troy, and all three settled on section number four.

Thus far, all the inhabitants, except Jacob Welsh, had settled on the eastern tier of sections. Later in the year, a young man, also an ex-soldier, and who became intimately connected with the rise and progress of township enterprise nearly as long as he lived, came and took up a claim on number eleven, which

* During a brief interview, which the writer had the good fortune to enjoy, on the seventh of June, 1879, with the above-named Lamoin - now a veteran of eighty-six years - he branded this "frog story" as a canard; averring that the circumstance on which it was founded happened years before, "way down East." He related, however, a somewhat ludicrous interview which he held with a bear while he was living here. On one occasion, having business with Simon Burroughs, he took down the old Continental musket - rifles were then unknown - and started for that settlement. He had not proceeded far, before he was confronted by a huge bear, which, as is their habit, reared himself upon his haunches, the better to take observations. Ben. was at once seized with the ' ' buck ague, " and entirely forgot that he had his musket; so, pointing the index finger a la duello at bruin, he shouted - or thinks he shouted - : "Old fellow; if my gun was here, you wouldn't sit there long."

His bearship gazed awhile, when, dropping on "all fours," he hastened out of sight in the surrounding forest. Mr. Lamoin now thinks it was fortunate for him that he did not make use of his gun, as the load which it contained would doubtless have done nothing more than to enrage the bear, when his own safety would have been a matter of doubt. Mr. L. went away in 1816, and now regrets having done so. He says that the Eldred spoken of was a relative of himself.

The name of John Dayton is the synonym of everything that is ardent, impulsive, kind-hearted and public-spirited. If any enterprise for the public weal was contemplated, John Dayton could ahvays be counted on as an ardent supporter, both with his influence and his means, and monuments of his zeal are yet standing, and will stand, for years to come. It was not among his maxims to put "his hand to the plow and look back." The first public enterprise, and which he has the credit of originating, was set on foot, and carried out in 1815. This was the building of a log house near a spring, on land now owned by George Fox, and directly north from the present cemetery, the same to be occupied by new-comers, while selecting a location and building thereon. This was known as the "Pilgrim House," not a vestige of which has been in existence for years. A former citizen of Troy (Benjamin Kingsbury), dates his birth at this house in 1819.

John Nash, being a carpenter by trade (the first in the township), and having had a strong distate for building log structures, thus far had provided no permanent shelter for his stock, and would gladly build a barn, but for the seeming impossibility of obtaining lumber. His wife and oldest daughters solved this problem. A man named Ainsley, of Parkman, owning timbered land near the before named saw-mill, would sell standing timber, and receive female labor in payment therefor. Mr. Nash availed himself of this opportunity to procure the needed lumber, and the barn was built. It now stands on, or near, the site where it was built in 1815. It might, also, be proper here to state, that at this time the supply of clothing for this same family had become nearly exhausted, and no resources wherewith to replenish. Here, again, those heroic women showed what they could do. Burton, having been much longer settled than Troy, some of its inhabitants had a small surplus of wool and flax, which our feminine friends procured, and paid for by spinning and weaving, thus relieving the father of another great anxiety.*

At that date, and years later, the method of obtaining shoes, ( boots were a rare exception) was quite different from the one practiced at the present time. The following description is given by one who knows "how it was himself." If the "murrain" or something, else, had not caused the usual winter sacrifice, in early spring an animal was reluctantly slaughtered, and the hide taken to Esquire

* Since writing the above, the following statement has been furnished by Sabrina, daughter of Esquire Nash, now the widow of Amos Burroughs, deceased. She writes: "Father arrived here the 1st of March, 1813, with eight persons in his family, and less than five dollars in his pocket, and possessed neither chairs, table, nor bedstead. The youngest was Alden J., who was afterwards the first postmaster in Troy. He built a log cabin and took up his abode m it, with only half a floor laid, and without either door, or windows. He made a bedstead of poles, and improvised a goods' box for a table, He chopped and cleared about two acres - his two eldest daughters, Clarissa and Sabrina, piling, raking, and burning the brush and leaves - and sowed the land to oats. During this time, there came an order for a draft of men for military service at Cleveland, and father was included, but his circumstances procured his release. He came here with a yoke of oxen and a horse. He sold the horse, and kept the oxen for a team. I have heard him say, many times, that had it not been for his women's help, he could not have kept his family together. Mother was fortunate in obtaining sufficient weaving wherewith to keep the loom busy most of the time, and, by that means, we obtained such provisions as the people had to spare. We bought a cow and calf for $ao; also ten sheep, and paid for them in spinning and weaving. We bought the cow of John Ford, esq., of Burton, and, she proving a good one, father decided to raise the calf. When it was old enough he put it into a lot with the other cattle, and, shortly after, the wolves killed it. Father thought he would be revenged, and so he built a pen with a small entrance, put the carcass inside, and seta foxtrap at the entrance, and tied a clog to it. The effort proved successful, the wolf was caught by one foot, and ran off with trap and clog, which made their mark in the leaves. He followed the trail, overtook the miscreant, and killed it with a club, and brought it home on his shoulders. L*1 the "girl of the period " read and ponder.

Cook, who then carried on the tanning business in Burton, who gave his promise that that self-same skin should be one of the very first, to come out the ensuing fall. "The brains of our "Pioneer" were then racked, to devise "ways and means," whereby money could be raised with which to obtain the needed sole leather, for, be it known that he was considered fortunate indeed, who could, in the course of a season, accumulate sufficient money wherewith to buy his salt, sole leather, and pay his taxes. Well, joy to the household, the coveted sole leather is secured, and, after several fruitless journeys, by impatient, barefooted urchins, being put off each time with - "it will be ready next week " - the upper leather is triumphantly brought home. And now for another trial «qual to the first Shoe shops were then things of the future, and "whipping the cat" was the popular way of plying their trade, by the disciples of "St. Crispin." To "whip the cat" simply meant, packing his "kit" of tools, - by the shoemaker, - in his apron, and tramping from house to house, wherever his skill was needed, to "shoe up the fafnily." He carried neither shoe-thread, last, nor iapstone. Every family was supposed to furnish its own lasts, (if not at hand, one was soon fashioned from the wood-pile) while a flat-iron did duty as a lapstone. But this was not the second trial above referred to, for the shoemaker was always welcome. That consisted in those uncertain promises which has made, to "lie like a shoemaker," a universal proverb. But, (joy again) he comes at last, the leather is brought out, the heaviest cut for the men folks, the next grade for the boys, while the "flank pieces" are "worked up" for women's wear. In the foremost rank of "Cat whippers," stands our old friend, Alpheus Pierce, he being the first of the "craft" in Troy.

The year 1816 is memorable for being the date of the first wedding, the parties being Luther Hemmenway, of Parkman, and Miss Mary, daughter of Simon Burroughs, sr. The ceremony was performed at the residence of the bride's father, and is described as follows : The " residence " was the usual log cabin of the period, with a temporary floor covered overhead, the loft serving as sleeping apartments for the family, the partitions being spare bed quilts, hung up in the desired position. The stair-case, whereby to reach these apartments, was a rude ladder, made by driving large wooden pins into the logs in one corner of the "lower story," Jenkins not being, present, a minute description of the bridal trosseau is not handed down. The marriage ceremony was solemnized by Rev. Luther Humphrey, of Burton. When he and the invited guests had arrived, the blushing bride ascended to one of the above named apartments - of course, in full view of the assembly - to don her bridal attire, which accomplished, she descended, by inverse motions. Being joined by the groom, they stood in the presence of the guests, and the parson who, as was the custom, preached a short, appropriate discourse, after which the twain were made one. That bride is now (1876) a matron of eighty-four winters, is hale and hearty, and at present, resides in Wadsworth, Medina county.

In 1816, Rufus Lamb, a young man from the State of New York, came here and made a pitch on the west of what was then known as the "Gilkie lot," now owned in part by Daniel Hill. Here he cleared some, and shook more, till - becoming disheartened - he abandoned his claim, and afterward followed various pursuits, till he finally became helpless, and died at the house of his brother Chester, in 1859. This claim was soon after taken by Julius Hatch.

Several somewhat important events occured here in 1817. The one, was the building of the first frame dwelling house,- it being an addition to the log cabin heretofore occupied by Mr. Jacob Welsh. It is said that this frame, and the frame for a barn, which was also being built for Mr. Welsh, were raised on the same day, and that he was compelled to extend invitations as far as Aurora, a sufficient number of hands not being found nearer. Both of these buildings stood near the geographical center of the township. Another, was the location and dedication, of the first burying ground, at the center. It was located west of, and adjoining the Congregational church, on land where George Fox now resides, and was dedicated on the twenty-second of August, by the burial of Bradley Bromley. Bromley, and Theodore Dowdy, died August 20. Dowdy was taken to Burton, in a canoe, and buried in the old cemetery there. Both were young men, the one twenty and the other twenty-five years of age. Another, was the arrival of Thomas Sawyer, who bought the Lamoin claim, and whose name for a long time was a household word. Sawyer Brook was so named in honor of him. Sawyer built his first house near where Mr. Conrad's shop now stands.

Yet another, was the first duplicate addition to the census returns, in the birth of Philanciaand Philena, daughters of John and Polly Nash, born March 1, 1817. The former died in infancy, the latter became the wife of David Nash, and afterward, of N. M. Olds, with whom she is now (1876) living. These twins were followed in after years by a son and daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Israel Whitcomb, a pair of daughters to Mr. and Mrs. Amos Burroughs, and a pair of sons to Mr. and Mrs. William Mumford, after which duplicates were no longer a novelty. Another event was the holding of an election, for the purpose of choosing the first justice of the peace. This territory, at that time, and later, was a province of Burton, and all elections had been held there. Now, the population was sufficiently numerous, to allow the colony a magistrate. This election, which was held in the spring of 1817, resulted in the choice of John Nash for justice, which office he held fifteen years in succession. "'Squire Nash" being the appellation by which he was always afterward known.

His first official act in the matrimonial line was the marriage ceremony of Jesse Ives and Polly Pierce. Poor Polly had been shaken by the ague, till she had become a mere skeleton, and Jesse had become impatient, fearing the next shake or the next, might indefinitely postpone the nuptials, they having been adjourned from time to time in consequefice of this annoying malady. A last the long-looked for time arrived, and the 'squire commenced the ceremony, but before half completed, Polly fainted from sheer exhaustion. Proper restoratives were vigorously applied, and as soon as she returned to consciousness, he made all possible haste to complete the knot hymeneal, before another like catastrophe should occur.

In 1818 the most noteworthy of all structures ever erected in Troy, was built. This was none other than the "Old town house." It was an unique structure, the dimensions of which were about twenty by twenty-four feet, one story high. It had a rude frame, and was covered with long shingles, from the foundation to the ridge. The furniture was a rude desk placed at one end, and seats made by boring holes into the rounded sides of slabs, into which legs of the required length were driven. It was warmed by means of a huge stone fire-place.

This building was devoted to a variety of uses. If a new-comer happened along, and the Pilgrim house was occupied, he found under its roof a shelter, till he was more agreeably situated. If an itinerant preacher chanced to come this way, its door was gladly thrown open that he might hold religious service therein. If a death occurred, from its portals the mortal remains were taken to the last resting place. If a teacher could be procured, it served as an incipient college. If a general entertainment was to be given, the Town house was the place of rendezvous. If an election was to be held, this was the place where the sturdy voters enjoyed the elective franchise. In fact, it served as a sort of grandmother. It was ready to be made useful in almost any emergency. Its memory is held in as much reverence by the early settler, as is Mecca by the devout Mahommedan. This historic building also stood near the geographical ''nter.

The first frame school-house was also built in 1818. It was located on the southwest corner of land then owned by Elijah Ford, near where Mrs. Edward Green now lives, and Nathaniel Colson was installed as the first school master.

At least three important additions were made to the population of this province in 1819, in the persons of John Fox, Benjamin Kingsbury, and Israel Whitcomb.* These men located on the west side of the river - the first to do so - and made their selection at what was a long time known as Fox's corners, now Pope's. Kingsbury and Whitcomb brought their families along. Fox left his behind. This man Fox, known by the appellation of "Captain," looked upon labor as the rightful heritage of mankind, and, furthermore, he proposed to enjoy his full share of its results. It has been quaintly said of him that he was not satisfied with his day's work unless he was compelled to use two canes to enable him to go from his chair to his bed. In financial matters he was successful. Prompt himself, in the fulfillment of his obligations, he demanded the same in return from those with whom He came in business contact. Although the enforcement of this rule caused him to be looked upon by some as a hard man, yet none for a moment doubted his probity. He was as prompt to pay as to require the utmost farthing. In public enterprises, in which he took an interest, he was ready to bear his full share of the burden, as, witness, in after years, his zeal in building the Congregational church and parsonage. His pioneer companions, although not so conspicuous in matters of business, were no whit the less worthy citizens. The name of "Uncle Israel" will always be remembered with reverence by those who knew him, as also will that of Mr. Kingsbury, who, dying much younger than the other two, did not gain so extensive an acquaintance, yet the circumstances attending his death (in 1839) will cause him not soon to be forgotten, v

In order to give the children of the present time a little idea of the inconvenience and danger to which children of that period were subjected, the following is related: When Mr. Kingsbury came to Welshfield he brought two children, both daughters, who were old enough to attend school, but there was none nearer than the one before spoken of, located two miles east from the center. This did not prove an unsurmountable obstacle. On Monday mornings, the girls were ferried across the river (before the bridge was built), when they took their way in the unfrequented path, to the school, a distance of nearly four miles. Once they met with an adventure. It was during the blackberry season; the briars, a good share of the distance, growing close to the narrow sled-path - wagons being almost unknown. One morning, on their wray to school, our heroines had progressed as far as where R. P. Stockwell now lives, where was a short turn in the path. Arriving at this point, imagine their dismay at seeing a huge black bear, quietly helping himself to the luscious fruit, and which discovered them at once. To retreat, they dare not, but stood and looked him square in the face, while he stood upon his haunches, and returned their gaze. At last plucking up courage, the oldest of the two sprang at bruin with a defiant yell, when he beat a hasty retreat, and our scholars pursued their way, unmolested. The older of our pupils was Jedidah, now widow of Prentiss Reed; the younger, Caroline, now widow of Chester Nash.

In 1820, Galen Lamb, a brother of Rufus, who had come from New York State, to Burton, with one Esquire Hitchcock, as a blacksmith's apprentice, and had completed his trade, came to Troy, and located on the southwest corner of section two, where he put up a shop, and commenced blacksmithing on his own account, making improvements on his land, when not occupied at his trade.

-Another man, Benjamin Hale, came in company with these, but did not remain long. He settled on land adjoining Mr. Kingsbury on the north, afterwards owned by Joseph Doolittle, esq., now owned by Marshall Dresser.

This year was the date of an overwhelming visitation of pigeons. A portion of sections thirteen, eight, and seven, was known, for a long distance around, as the "pigeon-roost," and this year jt was inhabited as never before, or sipce. Sturdy oaks were cmshed beneath their weight, while smaller trees, and saplings, were bent over, never to recover their upright position. The noise of their flight could be heard for miles, while their unnumbered millions obscured the sun. To obtain a wagon-load of these birds was mere pastime. Pigeon-hunters plied their vocation at night ; the only weapons needed being long poles, or shftt-guns. Many years' occupation of this tract by pigeons, caused it to be the most fertile land in the township.