Troy Academy & Historical Society

07/31/2022

05/02/2022

This coming Saturday (May 7th) is the Byway Spring Shop About!

We will be open from 10:00 a.m. til 2:00 p.m.

Stop in and visit!!!!

10/31/2021

Jonathan Piper was the first principal of the Troy Academy. He was born 7 October 1830 in New Hampshire to Noah and Hannah Piper. In 1850, at the age of 19, he was living in Stratham, New Hampshire and his occupation was listed as laborer. By 1853, he is in Troy, Iowa employed as the principal of the Academy. On 17 February 1856 he married Sophia A. Clark (daughter of James A. and Rebecca H. Clark) in Davis County, Iowa (FHL Film #968466). Census records of that year also show that Sophia is listed as a school teacher.
According to the 1860 St. Francisville, Clark Co., Missouri US Federal Census, Jonathan (age 30) and Sophronia Antoinette Piper (age 22) have two children: Mary (age 2) and Baby Girl (age 11 mos) both born in Missouri. Jonathan’s occupation is Teacher, it shows that he has a Real Estate Value of $800 and Personal Estate Value of $300.
• Between June and July 1863, Jonathan is listed in the Civil War Draft Registration Vol. 2 of 3, No 514 for the 4th Congressional District, Iowa for Johnson, Marion, Mahaska, Keokuk, Monroe, Wapello, Appanoose Counties. It shows that he is living in Harrison Twp., Mahaska County; is 33 yrs old, married and is a school teacher.
• In 1870, Johnathan and Sofronia Piper are now living in Delaware, Delaware County, IA. Johnathan is still listed as a School Teacher; his Real Estate Value is $3,000 and Personal Estate Value is $740. They now have 6 children listed: Mary (12), Lizzie A. (10), Noah (6), James (3), Henrietta (2) and Johnathan Jr. (1). Mary and Lizzie were born in Missouri and the rest in Iowa.
• 1880 South Evanston, Cook County, Illinois census shows that Jonathan’s occupation is Agent. He is 33. Mary J (23), Lizzie A (20), Noah (16), James (13), Harriet (12), Johnathan (11) and Olivia (3, born in IL) are listed as children.
• 1900 Rochester, Racine County, Wisconsin census shows that Johnathin Piper is 69, his occupation is Traveling Agent. He and Sophronia have been married 44 yrs. Sophronia A. is 62. It shows that she has had 8 children with 6 living at this time. There are 3 children living with them: Mary J. (42) single, and occupation is Nursee; Jonathan L. (31) single and occupation is Machinist; and Noah (36) married and a Conductor for RR.
Jonathan Piper died in Racine County, Wisconsin on 18 Nov 1904. Sophronia is shown living in Denver Colorado in 1910 with daughter Harriet Edwards and her 2 children. According to DAR paperwork, Sophronia passed away 1 January 1911.

10/14/2021

Meeting Monday October 18th at 7:00 PM at the church in Troy. The Academy needs people that are willing to be ACTIVE supporters of the effort! Please share.

10/06/2021

Milton Herald, August 25, 1934
Troy Academy Started 1853
School Draws Many Students from Davis, Van Buren Counties
When the state of Iowa was only six years old, a group of citizens of Troy and vicinity met to consider the proposition of establishing a Seminary of learning. This was in 1853. At this meeting a committee was appointed to procure subscriptions for the er****on of the Seminary structure and committees were appointed to draft a plan for building, to locate the site, and to correspond with teachers for the purpose of securing one for the school. A board of trustees were also appointed.
The enterprise was entered upon enthusiastically, the building was completed in the latter part of the year 1853, and in the early months of 1854, was furnished with desks and chairs.
Original Building
Evidence shows that the original building was about 45 by 50 feet, and two stories high. On the ground floor there was a large assembly or class room 31 by 50 feet and two small recitation rooms on the north side, one on each side of the vestibule, from which ascended the stairs and from which hung the rope attached to the bell in the belfry above. The upper floor contained a classroom 31 by 36 feet and two small recitation rooms on the west. The building underwent no changes until it became the property of the Independent School District of Troy in 1904, when the recitation rooms were taken out and the building repartitioned for public school use.

Another clipping shows that school first started in the Presbyterian church at Troy, on November 2, 1853, before the academy was completed. Jonathan Piper was the first principal and remained three or four years. Another of the first teachers at the school is believed to be Henry Kies, who died August 19, 1855, of Cholera, and was buried in the Troy cemetery. One of Piper's assistants was Mattie Woods, whose parents were citizens of Troy.

To Be Continued.......

02/27/2020

Who would like to see the Troy Park Board building updated, and play equipment re-installed on the grounds?

01/18/2020

Did you know that there were 3 grocery stores (the Weyer & Darnell store, the Ross & Rosser store and the George Roby store) at the time of the consolidation of the Troy High School around 1914?
The Weyer & Darnell store (the Troy store) has gone through several owners (12) until 2001 when a grain bin collapsed and damaged the building.
The Ross & Rosser store had at least 6 owners. The I.O.O.F. Lodge and Rebecca Lodge occupied the second floor. It had also been owned by the Ensminger Elevator Co. until it was torn down about 1997.
The George Roby store (on the west) burned in 1930 and was replaced with a small grocery store operated by Mary McClure, then Elmer Rector, and Peter Brooks. It is now the office of the Troy Grain Company owned by Clyde and son, James Ensminger.

11/09/2019

I thought this was interesting. These are stamped History Bloomfield IA 1784. There are 10 pages regarding the dissolution of the Academy and the principals that worked at the school.