Amariah Watson
LEXINGTON -- Amariah Watson was the first to invade their haunts, fell the progeny of the forests and delve in the virgin soil on its site [Troy Twp.] which was in 1812. This pioneer lived in the quaint old brick house one mile north of this village on the farm now owned by the revered Mrs. Susan Sowers, relict of Moses Sowers. Mrs. Sowers still retains in her possession, and prizes much as a relic, the original deed to her farm, the conveyance being made by the Government to Amariah Watson in 1816 and the parchment bears the autograph of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. Mansfield's well-known business factor, J.H. Cook, Esq., who bears lightly the burden of nearly seven decades, informs us that at least sixty years ago, when the country here was yet in its primitive grandeur, that he disported around the old mill at the foot of Main street, and that it was erected about the year 1813 by Amariah Watson, over whose grave the winds of more than twenty winters have chanted requiems, and whose memory is revered by his few remaining co-pioneers. Among those who with nerves of steel and valorous hearts, soon after the axe of Amariah Watson had broken the silence of nature and blazed the way to invade the haunts of the wily Indian in the primeval forests of Troy, were Judge Gass, Samuel Watson, a man named Robins and Noah Cook; Judge Gass first making his advent in its trackless fastnesses in 1811 or 1812, and Robins and Samuel Watson about the same time or two or three years later, and Noah Cook first materialized in Lexington in 1814, coming from Washington Co., Pa., and the village was then in embryo, there being but one house within its present limits and that stood on the site of the residence of Mrs. Coleman, opposite the depot. With his rifle at his side, ever alert for the artful aboriginees, whose desire for the scalps of the pioneer was never satiated, he erected a house that was invulnerable to their attacks near where now stands the spacious residence of his son, Col. Thomas Cook, which overlooks a fertile expanse of many acres, contiguous to the western part of the village. Noah Cook was twice married and was the father of thirteen children, and most of his progeny inherited his mental and physical characteristics, being of vigorous intellect and strong and lithe of limb, and like their progenitor amassed a competency by frugality and arduous toil. The family are noted for longevity, several of whom have attained the age of more than eighty years, one reaching eighty-nine years, and at the age of seventy-nine the blood courses vigorously through the veins of this dauntless pioneer and his tenure of life seemed much longer, but when laying out the village in 1834, he engendered a malarial contamination that could not be eliminated and soon the sorrows and felicities of life with him were over. His son Amos lived the life of a recluse in one of the first buildings erected here, and he lived to commune with nature in the wildest fastnesses, and his heart was anguished by the destruction of the primitive forests of Troy, and up to the time of his tragic death about seven years ago, being run over by the cars, he was to be found coursing along the rivulets of the scenes of his pristine days in quest of game, though 82 years had silvered his hair. He was not susceptible to the arts and wiles of females, and was never married. He was a Democrat of strong proclivities, and the only shrines at which he worshipped were the wide and sublime in nature.
From The Mansfield Herald, April 5, 1883
LEXINGTON -- Bloomer Sowers, of Lexington, has a parchment, stained by the dust of time, which he values highly has a relic of the early era of Troy township and because it bears the autograph of James Monroe, fourth president of the United States. It is the original deed or patent to the Mr. Sowers' farm, which lies less than one mile north of here. It was issued to Amariah Watson in 1817 and President Monroe's chirography is neat and legible as a copper plate. Amariah Watson's name should not be lost in fading traditions of this region. It should be written bright on history's pages as the earliest and the most enterprising pioneer here. He came to Lexington 89 years ago and the foot of no white man had before trodden the gloomy solitude of the primitive forest on the site of the town. The forest rang with the loud vengeful howls of wild animals and the savage scalp raisers yet held their blood chilling orgies here. But his brave heart was awed by no danger and his soul was entranced by the voice of nature heard in swaying of the forest foliage, moved by gentle winds or roaring tempests' blasts. He erected a rude cabin on the banks of the Mohican and later a house on the site of the Colman residence. He erected most of the old brick houses that yet stand in or near Lexington. He, in 1831, erected the quaint little octagonal brick school house that once stood here. He was a large land owner here. He was grandfather of Mrs. Emily Sowers. Mr. Watson died in Illinois over forty years ago and all his brave athletic co-pioneers are numbered with the myriad dead.
From The Mansfield News, November 29, 1901