Excerpt from Reminiscences and Early History of Old Peru

But here amid the green old trees A home we sought and found.

Oft through our dwellings wintry blasts Would rush with shriek and moan, We cared not - though they were but frail, We felt they were our own.

The history of Peru and Ausable are inseparable. The town of Peru was formed from Plattsburgh and Willsborough December 28, 1792, and included the towns of Ausable and Black Brook. These two were taken off in 1839, since which time there have been no changes. The history of Clinton and Frank lin counties, published by J. W. Lewis Co., in 1880, says that one hundred years ago the town of Peru was an unbroken wilderness; which would mean one hundred and thirty-three years from the present time. While we do not believe in the wor ship of our ancestors, yet we ought to keep the memory green of those who endured the privations of pioneer life, who subdued the forests, built the roads, bridged the streams, built many of the houses in which we live, and trod the streets just as we do today, and made possible a better civilization for us than they enjoyed.

The central part of Peru was included in Zephen iah Platt's Great Location of acres. It was bounded on the north by the present town of Schuy ler Falls, by Newcomb's and Bell's Patents; east by Newcomb's and Bell's Patents and Lake Champlain; south by the town of Ausable, and west by Wat son's and Thorp's Patents; the main street of Peru village being very near the dividing line of Platt's and Bell's Patents. How Platt obtained these large grants of land (in all 1 acres) does not appear. He was born in Suffolk county in 1735 and died in 1807. The City of Plattsburgh was named in honor of him. He was not accomplished in the art ofchirography, as his signatures to original deeds testify. William and John Keese, of Dutchess Co., were employed by Platt as surveyors, and it is said for their services he gave them their choice of 500 acres of land. Their choice was a tract east of the Rogers Road, north of the south line of Peru. South of the farm of O. K. Smith, and west of the George Derby farm. In 1789 William Keese built a log cabin on the land now owned by Timothy Davern, and in 1790 himself and wife occupied said cabin. This was the beginning of the early settlement of the portion of Peru known as the Union. John Keese, the father, settled directly west of him. Three other sons of John Keese came and settled near him. Oliver on the William Severance farm, Stephen on the farm of the. Northern Orchard Co., and Richard on the farm now owned by his great grandson, R. Percy Keese. He owned most of the pine forest, and gave commandment in his will that none of it should be cut for the space of ten years after his death. Peter, a son, remained on the farm and built the stone mansion which is a monument to his enterprise and sagacity. His stalwart frame and dignified bearing was suggestive of a nobility of character such as men admire. He is remem bered by many as a breeder of choice stock. His herd of S'horthorns and those of Stephen K. Smith were a leading feature of the County Fair for many years. The Keese family were the most numerous of the early settlers. They belonged to the Society of Friends. The members of the society were notedfor industry, economy and frugality. There were no poor and no ne'er-to-do-wells among them. There were no ordained ministers and any one spoke as the Spirit prompted. Often silence reigned during the meeting, but some there were who were gifted in an eminent degree and could charm their hearers with sublime thoughts and purity of diction. Such an one was the wife of Samuel Keese. But schisms arose; the young people were restless and yearned for more liberty, and the meeting houses fell into decay. Their memory lingers and many regret their decline.