Troy Grove Township

Troy Grove Township

The town of Troy Gr es Township 35, Range 1, and derives m the fine tract of timber called by that name, which lies mostly within its limi The grove was named by Warren Root, one of the first settlers, from Troy, N, ¥., the place from whence he came, The Little Vermillion passes across the town from north to south, near its eastern side, and through the centre of the grove, and furnishes a tolerable mill power. The grove embraces about three sections of land in this town; the remainder of the town is prairie of good quality.

The Trenton limestone crops out along the banks of the Little Vermillion, on Sections 25 and 35, furnishing a very good building stone, which is extensively quarried and of great value to the surrounding country. The Trenton limestone, at this point, is remarkably rich in fossils, making it a point of much interest to the geologist and the curious admirer of nature.

Hiram Thornton came from Virginia to Ohio, and to Troy Grove in 1831; was the first settler in this town; he settled on S. 14, 'T. 35, R. 1. He died in 1867. His wife was Robina Smith.

Warren Root, from Otis, Mass., and wife, Rosanna Goddard, of Granby, Ct., came from Troy, N. ¥., to Troy Grove in the spring of 1883. Mr. Root came in the fall of 1882 and made a location, and returned for his family, He located on Section 11. Selden, the eldest son, preceded the family a few days, to prepare for their reception, and died just before their arrival. Mr. Root died about 1848. Mrs. Root died in 1875, aged 95 years.

County in 1829, and to Troy Grove in 1836, and settled on Sec. 10. He was the father of the Wixom brothers who came with him, except the two eldest, Justin and Nathan, who preceded him. He died in ISi7. Hischildren were: Justin D. and Nathan, above named ; Chauncy, who came with his father, married Miss Hawks, settled on Section 10; married Miss Scott; Henry W., married 3 nor, second wife Miss Eckert; Urbin, married, and all the family settled in the vicinity of Troy Grove.

Thomas Welch, und wife, from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and from there here in 1834; settled on Section 25. He died in 1862. He had a large family widely scattered, but noted for ability and prominence in their respective localities: Thomas, Jr., came with his father, he married Bethiah Laughlin, and is now inlowa; John, has been Chief Justice of Ohio; Belinda - then the widow Pairchild - came with the family, went to Rock River, then to Iowa, now in Oregon ; one daughter, married Wm. Winterton.

Jesse F, Wixom, brother of Reuben, came from the same place, in 1835, and settled on Section 24. A local Methodist preacher; goon removed to Minnesota, and died there.

George S. Ransberger, and wife, came from Iowa in 1835, and settled on Section 25. His son, David §., married Rebecca Evans, and settled on Section 36; Catharine, married John S. Simpson.

here in 1834; married a danghter of Thomas Welch ; he died 1865; his wife died before him, leaving three children, who have all left this county.

Zophar Holcomb, and wife, Luey Goddard, from Maine, with Gillett, in 1833. Had five children: Harlan, married Miranda Brook; Warren, died; Flora, married Asahel Baldwin, her second husband was a Mr. Dutton, she is now in Towa ; Sophia, married Mr. Axtel, they live in Kansas; Harriet, is deceased,

Riverins Goddard, and wife, Miss Buttles, from New York, in 1837; a blacksmith by trade ; moved to Michigan, The widow Arsenith Bellamy, (who came in 1837 and died in 1848), Mrs Root, Gillett, and Holeomb, were all sisters.

John Taylor, and wite, Rebecca Hopkinson, from England, came in 1887; settled on 8S. 35; died 1860 ; his wife died 1870. Two of the children are in Iowa, One in Ford County, Dlinois,

Charles Stevens, a brother of Mrs. Levi Kelsey, from Berlin, Connecticut, in 1887 ; his wife was Ann Hopkinson, the widow Melville, when she married him; they moved to Oregon in 1852; are now at Astoria

Roswell Dewey, from Great Barrington, Berkshire County, M chusetts ; settled here in 1838; died in fall of the same year. Had children: Sarah, married the Rev, Nehum Gould; William R., married Paulina Pratt, now in Mendota,

John Ferguson came in 1838; had two sons: dames, married Miss Brown, lives in Mendota; John, is a bachelor, has been Supervisor of Troy Grove.

David McLaughlin, and wife, Mary Winslow, came from New York to Troy Grove in 1834. Mrs, Mein died in 1867, and Mr. McLaughlin died in 1869. Their children were: David, who married Fanny Davis; Edward, married Phebe Masterman, live in Minnesota ; William, married Miss Edwards, and lives at home; Augustus, marrie® Amanda Stevenson, live in Dimmick; Mary Jane, married 0. J. Gibbs, both are dead ; Bethiah, married Thos, Welch, now living in lowa; Sarah, married Samnel Wilson, of Rock Falls; Charles, married Melissa Wixom, daughter of Justin D. Wixom, live in Dimmick,

William Dunlap, from New York, came to Troy Grove in 1836, and remained here two or three years. He had three sons and two daughters: Nathaniel, Minzo,and M.L. The last was a prominent horti culturist, and was for many years distinguished as the agricultural correspondent of the Chicago 'Tribune over the signature of ** Rural." in 1830, and to Troy Grove in 1835, and ponpbe a claim of Welch; Talins, was killed at Ottawa by a fall from the bluff; Joel, died*in 1848; John A., of Cincinnati, was a noted Universalist preacher, and editor - was appointed Governor of Montana, but died before assuming the office; Delia, married Ralph Woodrnff, of Ottawa; Sarah, married Joseph Hall.

Wm. A, Hickok, from Grand Isle Co., Vt., te Union Grove, Putnam Co., in 1823; June 16, 1834, to Bai- Jey's Point with Rev, N, Gould and Isaac Fredenburgh, then to Granville and Troy Grove in Novy., 1836; was Deacon of the Presbyterian Church ; opened the first store kept at Homer; a worthy man. He died May 5, 1852; his widow resides with her Qunghter at Homer, much respected, aged 74. Had three sons: Lorenzo B,, who is Supervisor of Troy Gro: Hiram, married Martha Edwards, and holds the office of Justice of the Peace at Troy Grove; James B., born and raised at Troy Grove became notorious on the western frontier and earned the sobriquet of 'Wild Bill" ; aman of superior physical form, over six feettall, lithe and active, he was more than a match for the roughs he met on the debatable : ground bebe civilized and area killed four in sixty secteaies on bis track seeking his life. He served with Jim Lane in the Kansas troubles. He was elected Constable while a minor in Kansas; was for two years U.S. Marshall at Abilene, and was regarded as 2 very efficient and reliable officer. He

Sketch of Settlers - Troy Grove. 400 was killed at Deadwood, Dakota, Aug. 2, 1870. While playing cards his assailant came silently behind him and shot him through the head. His murderer was tried by a mob jury and acquitted, bnt subsequently arrested under forms of law, convicted and hung.

William G. Shed, and wife, Lucy R. Noyes, from Massachusetts, came in 1885; died in 1851 or 52; his widow is now living. His children are: Harriet, who married James Hastings - she is dead ; Clinton, married Emily Reed, in Mendota.

Joshua Brown, from Chester County, Pa., to Brie Connty, N. Y., came here in 1835, and settled on Section 10, at the head of the grove. He died in 1842. His widow kept a tavern, which all the old settlers will remember. She is now living at Rocky Falls; bad a large family, none of whom are maining here: Hannah, married Sylvester Warren ; Lydia, married Martin South ; Thomag, is in Burean County; Sarah, is in California.

Levi Kelsey, and wife, Emma Stevens, came from Hartford, Ct., in 1883, first stopped on Sandy creek, in the spring, and then went to Paw Paw Grove, where he built the first house in that locality. He settled in Troy Grove in the spring of 1834; his family came in September of the same year. For the first three or four years he sold clocks and notions, and traded with the Indians: had a store on Sandy creek ; here he cultivated a farm and loaned money; was a Justice of the Peace and Notary for twenty years; one of the oldest in the County, and Commissioner to divide the county ander the Township

Organization Act. In 1856 he moved to Mendota, and soon after engaged in banking; now retired. He has two daughters: Lydia A., married James QO. Cram, a Methodist preacher; Myra, married Geo, M. Price, now a retired banker, and lives in Mendota.

Roufas Shed, brother of Willism G., came from Massachusetts in 1886; married Martha Weleh. Has one son, Zaccheus, at Fremont, Nebraska, and one daughter.