TROY TOWNSHIP History
 

Richland Co., Ohio

 
 

Historical Information

 
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Troy Township

source:  Mansfield Sunday Shield:  n.d.g.

 
 
 

Clipping found in the D.W. Garber scrapbook (2)

 

TROY TOWNSHIP

William and Daniel Cook came from Washington County, Pa., to Troy Township in 1815.  William settled one mile west of Lexington on the farm afterward owned by Mr. Chambers.  Daniel settled two and a half miles west of Mansfield.  They put in their crops and in the fall returned to bring their families.  A large wagon drawn by five horses bro't their families and that of Jabez Cook.  William removed to Lexington in 1817, where he was much annoyed by wild beasts and in consequence devoted his leisure time hunting.  In 1813 Mr. Cook removed to a farm three miles southwest of Mansfield and in 1855 moved to the city. 

Samuel McCluer, one of the earliest pioneers, was born in Rockbridge County, Va.  He removed to Ohio in 1808 and located near Circleville;  afterward moved to Bellville and finally to Troy about 1815.  Here he lived until his death.  He was a valuable member of society, an active and earnest Christian, a member of the Congregational church and an active worker in the Sunday school.

Ezekiel Boggs, another prominent settler of Troy, was born in Ohio County, Va., near Wheeling, in 1795.  He participated in a battle with the Indians in Belmont County, known as the battle of "Captina".  About one mile below the mouth of Captina creek was a small fort, where a party of three or four settlers were sent to reconnoiter.  They were surprised however, attacked and two of their number slain, one taken prisoner and the other escaped.  This roused the revenge of those in the fort and in consequence a party of twelve or fourteen soldiers was sent up the creek, marching in single file, and as they neared the enemy, the savages fired at them from the hilltops.  They took warning, treed and began skirmishing;  three or four whites and eight or ten of the enemy were slain.  Mr. Boggs joined the army in 1812, under Gen. Hull and Col. Lewis Cass.  The army marched from St. Clairsville to Cincinnati and were joined by a body of soldiers bound for Detroit.  He went with the army to the vicinity of Detroit and was in the disgraceful surrender which occurred there.  After the parole Mr. Boggs returned home and soon thereafter was married to Miss Jane Neal.  They moved to Troy about 1833 and located in Lexington, where the(y) remained until their deaths occurred.  In their early pioneer life Mr. Boggs supplied the family with the necessaries of life by digging gentian root.

Among the later settlers are various names more or less familiar.  Alexander Abernathy, an aged and retired physician, was born in 1810, in Pennsylvania;  graduated in 1831;  practiced in Perry city in 1831;  removed to Ohio in 1836 and finally located at Lexington in 1837.  He married Miss Catherine Fulton in 1843, who bore him four children.  He was a member of the legislature in 1845 and also a subsequent term;  he was a staunch Democrat. 

A.J. and Henry Winterstein came to Ohio in 1821 and located near Lexington.  They were prominent members of the Presbyterian church and active successful farmers.  Thomas Cook, youngest son of "Uncle Noah" has been identified with the interests of Troy from his early childhood, first in the capacity of pupil in the public school, afterwards for many years as the village schoolmaster, then as a farmer and in various other pursuits.  James McCluer, Moses Sowers, Mr. Beverstock and others are among the later but active and enterprising settlers in this vicinity.

When the first settlers came to Troy the Indians had undisputed possession of this region.  A number of lodges or camps were located along the Clearfork.  They were of the Wyandot and Mohawk tribes.  Six or eight camps were in sight of Noah Cook's residence;  while on the southeast quarter of section 13 were about the same number.  On the banks of Isaac's Run there was an Indian village.  They were quite peaceable and friend;  they seldom or never offered the settlers any violence;  they did not cultivate the soil here -- it was merely a hunting ground headquarters;  they, at times, vacated here and repaired to Greentown, their permanent home.  This encampment was on the trail from Sandusky, southward.  Their chief article of commerce were venison, cranberries and wooden wares.  They were finally removed from here about 1826.

The early political history of Troy is derived from its public documents, several of which are preferred.  The first meeting of the citizens of Troy township, after its organization, took place Oct. 1, 1814, when the following officers were elected:  Amariah Watson, clerk;  C. Culver, constable;  John Young, Jacob Mitchell and Solomon Culver, township trustees.  The second election was held April 3, 1815, when the following officers were elected:  Daniel Mitchell, clerk;  Solomon Culver, John Young and Jacob Mitchell, trustees;  John Vandorn, constable;  J. Ichabod Clark and Andrew Perkins, fence viewers;  Samuel Watson, appraiser;  Jacob Cook, lister;  Amariah Watson and Samuel McCluer, overseers of the poor;  Aaron Young, William Gass, Alexander Mann and Amariah Watson, supervisors.  The following bonds, on account of its brevity, is worthy of notice.

"We, or either of us, do hold ourselves bound, in the sum of $400, for the good and faithful performance of the office of township trustees of Troy.  Given under our hand at New Lexington, this third day of April, 1815.

-- Wesley Spratt, Treas.;  Amariah Watson, Sec.
Attest:  Daniel McMichael"

From this humble beginning Troy has secured a very respectable place in the body politic.  Her citizens numbered in 1820 a mere handful, but a tide of immigration soon set in from the older communities and in 1850 the population of Troy was 1,543.  Of this number, 777 were males and 776 were females.  Then ensued a period of comparative rest, for at the next census in 1860 the population as 1,547 persons.  From that period to the present there has been considerable decrease, amounting to several hundred.  A marked feature of the population was that only two colored persons and but forty foreign born were enrolled in the township.


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