| Troy.—The town of Troy, once the county seat of Perry County, and one of the most important shipping points on the Ohio River, has an interesting history, much of which is lost in the obscurity of time. It was laid out for Francis Posey by Samuel Moore, surveyor, and divided into lots by order of the Circuit Court, March, 1815. Ninety-six lots and a public square were surveyed. The early prominence of the town was due to its location, the fact of its being a county seat in a new and rapidly settling country, and its remoteness from other towns of consequence. It grew slowly, and by 1818 probably had on its present site twenty logcabins. Among the earliest residents of the town, or those living so near as to be equivalent to residents, were James Taylor, Capt. Isaac Wright, Solomon Lamb, Levin Wright, Jacob Protsman, John Huffman, Thomas G. Mason, Reuben Bates, John Daniel, Ishmael Connor, James Bristow, John Bristow, James McDaniel, John McCrum, John Lamb, Francis Posey, Michael Huffman, George Huffman, Elisha and Barnet Dewitt, Abisha Holland, Samuel Laforce, George Lindsey, William Gibson, Aquila Huff, Benjamin Melson, John H. Phillips, Curtis Williams, John Boulware, Joseph Wright, Samuel Williams, Archibald McMillan, James Miller, Samuel Frisbie, Julius A. C. McFall, Alfred H. Miller, Moses B. Niles, John W. Ricks, Williamson Fortune, Dr. Isaac N. Greathouse, Edmund Jennings, Henry McGuffey, Thomas Polk, Jr.; Allen Phillips, Thomas B. Phillips, David H. Phillips, A. W. Sampson, and others. It is probable that a few of these men never lived in Troy, but they all owned lots there, extending over the years from 1815 to 1825. Who opened the first store is uncertain. Reuben Bates opened the first one of much consequence, and continued in business for many years. He packed pork on an extensive scale and flat-boated the same with corn and other farm products to New Orleans. James Worthington was his partner for a time. Bates conducted a large woodyard and sold large quantities of cordwood to steam and other boats. His store was a large one during the thirties. Twice a year he bought large quantities of store supplies from the South, where he had gone to dispose of his pork, corn, beeswax, hay, wood, etc. Immediately after the arrival of the new goods a rush was made for first choice. Sales were made on six months' or one year's time, and farm products were similarly bought. Money was scarce and exchanges often for years liquidated all obligations and balances. James Taylor was a conspicious man at old Troy. He was a farmer and flatboatman. He did a very large business as pork-packer at the mouth of Anderson Creek. He also shipped beef, corn and other grains, hay, etc. His son, Green B. Taylor, succeeded him in the forties and continued the business on a much larger scale. He did a larger business than any other man ever at Troy. John Daniel opened an early store, and shipped pork and produce as did all other merchants of means in those early days. Taylor Basye, followed the same business a little later. Bennett Phillips was his contemporary in the business. These men came into prominence at a little later date. Henry Goodman conducted a large general store a little later, and Henry Jordan about the same time as Goodman followed the same occupation. |
| Capt. Isaac Wright, and Levin Wright were among the earliest business men of the town. They did a large business similar to the above, but not so large as those at a later date. Jacob Protsman kept an early tavern. Wilson Daniel handled produce and was a pilot on the river. Thomas Mason conducted a large cooper shop and made barrels, hogsheads, kegs, etc. John Huffman early operated a cardingmill and had an extensive trade over a large section of country. It was started in the thirties. It is alleged that in about 1828 Abraham Lincoln worked a few weeks as ferryman on Anderson Creek for Porter or Taylor. This has been denied, but is substantiated by persons of unquestioned veracity. Thomas Mason operated an early corn cracker, the motor of which was a sweep drawn by horses or cattle. James Willen conducted the tanning business on a large scale, having about twenty vats. The steam gristmill now owned by J. B. Freidle was erected early in the fifties by Hubbs & Washer, and afterward passed through several hands. Joseph Snyder sold merchandise about forty years ago. The big frame building now standing in the northern part was built before the war, by a company who designed to manufacture plows, etc. They failed in business and the building has since been occupied as a saw or planing-mill when not vacant. William McKinley and Lawrence Protsman were prominent carpenters and cabinet-makers. They did a good business about forty years ago. John Boulware was an early blacksmith and is yet living at an advanced age. Among the leading doctors have been Isaac N. Greathouse, Niles, R. G. Cotton, Magnus Brucker, Maj. Barkwell, Sugg, et al. A brewery was started about thirty years ago by John Voelke, who conducted it on an extensive scale, making probably over 1,000 barrels of beer annually. It was later owned by others, and is now the property of John Thoeny, who is doing a fair brewing business. Jacob Clemens has conducted a distillery on a small scale since the fifties. It is irregular in operation, but has turned out in one year seventy-five barrels of apple and peach brandy. Considerable grape wine is now distilled. John Howard conducted a distillery for a number of years beginning during the war. He turned out about three barrels of corn whisky per day for a time. James Taylor and Aquila Huff built the log court house in about 1815-16. It stood on the present site of Gaesser's drug store. Gamage Williams opened a tavern in 1824. John S. McCrum was a pilot and boatman. John Bristow was a carpenter. The removal of the county-seat from Troy to Rome in 1818, proved the death knell of Troy's lofty pretensions. |
| The officers of 1865-66 were J. Daunhauer, F. Hahn, F. Eberbard, M. Brucker, Jacob Frey, Trustees; Fred Muller, Marshal; W. A. Jordan, Clerk and Assessor; C. E. Combs, Treasurer; F. Connor, J. Myers and T. J. Culler, School Trustees. Those of 1866-67 were T. J. Culler, T. J. Voelke, Ulrich Weber, D. Gaesser and J. Myers, Trustees; J. A. Gardner, Treasurer; Samuel Nevitt, Marshal; W. A. Guenther, Clerk and Assessor. In 1867-68 William Basye, Dr. E. Bosley, J. Myers, J.C.Wright and Elias McDonald, Trustees; F. Voelke, Treasurer; L. B. Huckaby, Clerk; Samuel Nevitt, Marshal. In 1868-69 E. McDonald, J. P. Hahn, U. Weber, W. V. Connor and J. A. Gardner, Trustees; J. B. Bradley, Clerk; B. Hinchco, F. Hahn and Chris. Linderman, School Trustees. In 1869-70 M. Brucker, Solomon Salm, J. B. Bradley, M. Krampf and E. McDonald, Trustees; George Mittelbuhler, Marshal; S. K. Connor, Clerk and Assessor; Fred Voelke, Treasurer. In 1871 a new schoolhouse was projected. In 1871-72 Jacob Leingang, Solomon Salm, Joseph Schule, Howell Anderson and J. G. Heinzle, Trustees; O. P. Anderson, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; J. B. Hurst, Marshal; Hiram Evans, S. K. Connor and Christian Linderman, School Trustees. Town bonds were issued to build the new scboolhouse. In 1872-73 Charles Willer, Robert Logan, Solomon Salm, Joseph Schule and Edward Besley, Trustees: B. Hinchco, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; J. B. Hurst, Marshal. In 1873-74 C. Willer, R. Logan, O. P. Anderson, L. Wagner and T. Voelke, Trustees; B. Hinchco, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; J. D. Bacon, Joseph Widman and H. Baerlich, School Trustees. In 1874-75 Fred Lesch, J. Leingang, S. Salm, J. Myers and T. Voelke, Trustees; B. Hinchco, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; J. Daunhauer, J. B. Bradley and Charles McNutt, Marshals at different times. In 1875-76 U. Weber, S. Salm, J. Myers, H. Evans and C. A. Sugg, Trustees; B. Hinchco, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; Isaac S. Bramel, Marshal. July 4, 1876, 100 guns were ordered fired and all the town bells rung. In 1877-78 J. B. Freidel, J. Daunhauer, S. Salm, J. Ballis and S. Paulin, Trustees; B. Hinchco, Clerk and Assessor: E. M. Evans, Treasurer; I. S. Bramel, Marshal. In 1878-79 Theodore Gaesser, J. Leingang, L. D. Jay, Samuel Wilson, S. Paulin, Trustees; I. S. Bramel, Clerk and Assessor; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; John W. Fell, Attorney. The Troy Fire Company had been organized before this. In November, 1878, a stone jail and office 16x26 feet, and nine feet high, with an eighteen inch wall was projected, the contractor being W. T. Washer, at $283. In 1879-80 Samuel Wilson, Peter Backer, S. Paulin, S. Salm and J. Leingang, Trustees; B. Hinchco, Clerk; E. M. Evans, Treasurer; Harry Sugg, Marshal. In April, 1880, a new seal was adopted. In 1881-82 John Jay, H. C. McDonald, J. L. Patterson, B. E. James, J. A. Girth, Trustees; W. H. Salm, Clerk; Henry Linderman, Marshal; |
| E. M. Evans, Treasurer. In 1882-83 Sugg, Fred Schmidt, M. A. Eberhard, B. E. James and J. L. Patterson, Trustees; W. H. Salm, Treasurer; I. S. Bramel, Clerk. In 1883-84 Eichling Sugg, Clemens, Eberhard and Schmidt, Trustees; R. J. Wilson and I. S. Bramel, Clerks at different times; C. Linderman, Treasurer; John Kurzdorfer and Henry Linderman, Marshals at different times. In 1881-85 W. H. Salm, J. B. Hurst, Richard Shook, Fred Schmidt and Jacob Clemens, Trustees; M. F. Bosley, Marshal; C. Linderman, Treasurer; C. A. Sug^, Clerk; I. S. Bramel, Attorney. J. Kurzdorfer also served as Marshal, and Frank Linderman also as Clerk. Some doubt having arisen as to the real boundaries of the corporation, the real limits were re-established in September, 1884. In 1885-86 Max Pfetzer, John Winterath, Philip Leingang, Anton Lindauer and Jo. Schmidt, Trustees; Jacob Leingang, Clerk; John Kurzdorfer, Marshal; Samuel Wilson, Treasurer. The leading acts of the corporation have been noticed above. |
| Troy lodge, No. 256, F. & A. M., was organized under a dispensation, August 20, 1859, the first offices being Remus V. Tong, W. M.; W. T. Washer, S. W.; S. S. Amos, J. W.; J. G. Heinzle, Treasurer; William Basye, Secretary; Charles McNutt, S. D.; M. Brucker, J. D.; H. Jordan, Tyler. The charter bears date May 30, 1860. Huckaby, of Rome Lodge, No. 133, was installing officer. Since the start the lodge has tnjoyed a fair prosperity. The present membership is about twenty-two. |
| In 1882-83 the lodge in conjunction with Mary E. Evans, erected the- two-storied brick building, the upper story of which has since been owned and occupied as a hall by the Masons. The whole building cost $1,500. The lodge formerly met in the schoolhouse, and in the Basye building. The present officers are as follows: Ed. Salm, W. M.; C. A. Sugg, S. W.; D. B. Huff, J. W.; J. B. Bradley, Secretary; J. Daunhauer, Treasurer; C. McNutt, S. D; R. Kennedy, J. D.; H. Evans, Tyler. John D. Williamson was the first person initiated. |
Ref: History of Warrick, Spencer, and Perry Counties, Indiana