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 1811; and where now are seen stately mansions, improved fields, and all the paraphernalia of civilized life; then dwelt

"Nothing else but beasts of prey,
Or men, as wild and fierce as they."

     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.  He, 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

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     * This township, in common with all the townships in (ieauga county, was purchased from the Connecticut Land Company on the 29th of January, 1798, and each, with certain modifications, for the uniform sum of $12,903.23.  The purchasers of township number six, together with the sum paid by each, were as follows:
 

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     NOTE:    

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tioned, the others remaining at Burton, until they could build wherewith toshelter themselves.
     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 11th, of the same year, he left for his native place, and returned with his family, Feb. 21, 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 Pierce), 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 Parkman 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

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     * Located on premises now owned by Esquire Merriam.

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

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     * 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, the nearest neighbors being the Beals, Burroughs, Pierce, and Nash families - miles distant.  This, with howling wolves, and intrusion of Indians, proved too much, and her reason became unseated, never to be returned.  She lived till December 1, 1851, dying at the age of sixty-three.  "Aunt Betty Welsh" was the name by which she was familiarly known during the later years of her life.
     † Afterwards settled in Coshocton, Coshocton county.

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     * During a brief interview, which



 

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is known, and for years will be known as the "Dayton farm," a portion of whichis now owned by E. P. Latham.
     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 always 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.
     This year also occurred the advent of the first voter, in the person of Edwin, son of Simon Burroughs, jr., who was born Apr. 12, 1815.
     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

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     * 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 in 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 $20; 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 set a fox trap 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." Let the "girl of the period" read and ponder.

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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, bare footed 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 equal 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 shoe maker, - in his apron, and tramping from house to house, wherever his skill was needed, to "shoe up the family."  He carried neither shoe-thread, last, nor lapstone.  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

Page 602 -
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 Philancia and Philena, daughters of John and Polly Nash, born Mar. 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 consequence 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 center.

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     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.
     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 way 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.

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     * Another man, Benjamin Hale came in company with these, ut 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.

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     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 it was inhabited as never before, or since.  Sturdy oaks were crushed 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 shot-guns.  Many years' occupation of this tract by pigeons, caused it to be the most fertile land in the township.

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