Author: Karl Richard Von Hindenfalken // Michael B. Gunn
Turhand Kirtland.was born on November 16, 1755 in Wallingford, Connecticut, the son of Constant Kirtland (1727 - 1792) and Rachael Kirtland (____ - 1812). He had three siblings: Billious Kirtland (1762 - 1805), Jared Kirtland (1766 - 1831), and Lydia Kirtland Dunlap (1772 - 1850). He was a descendant of the family of Kirtlands, "Gentleman" of Sherrington, Buckinghamshire, England, which sent its first representatives to this country in 1635. The family settled in Lynn, Massachusetts, but later moved to Connecticut where for many generations it has held a prominent and influential position Therefore, Turhand was a fifth generation New Englander. He would have been about 21 at the time of the start of the American Revolution. In 1776 he was in the provisional service of New York at the time of the defeat of the American Army on Long Island. There he served as a boatman helping to ferry troops to and from Long Island. After the American Revolution he moved to Ohio. After the war he was one of the proprietors of the Connecticut Land Company in the purchase of the Western Reserve from the mother state as an agent of the Connecticut Land Company. He remained an agent of the land company until his retirement in 1834. As a surveyor, he laid out the townships of Poland, Burton and Kirtland, Ohio. In 1803 he moved his family to Poland, Ohio. Turhand was also a founding member of historic St. James' Episcopal Church in Boardman, Ohio; and a member of its first Vestry

He took a prominent part in the affairs of the Western Reserve, establishing libraries and schools. As early as 1805 he had secured sufficient funds from the settlers to purchase a fine library for Poland, and this library was kept abreast of the times as long as he lived. He was one of the first to urge the necessity of a western college and he contributed most generously both in time and money to that institution which eventually became the Western Reserve College. Turhand was elected State Senator for Trumbull County in 1814; Later he was Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for several years and Justice of Peace in Poland Township for more than two decades. He married twice. His first wife, Mary Beech Kirtland died in 1792, after which he married his second wife Mary "Polly" Potter Kirtland. They had seven children: Jared Potter Kirtland (1793 - 1877), Henry T. Kirtland (1795 - 1874) Mary Beach Kirtland Hall (1798 - 1825) Nancy Kirtland Morse (1799 - 1825) and Billius Kirtland (1807 - 1891), George Kirtland (1809 - 1890), Charles Dutton Kirtland (1813 - 1814).

Additional Biography Submitted by Michael B. Gunn, 185230, Cincinatti Chapter, OHSSAR

Born on November 16, 1753 or 55 in Wallingford, Connecticut to parents Constant (1727-1792) and Rachael __Kirtland (1732-1812).

Served as a Capt Conn State Troops, also in Provisional service of N.Y. at the time of the defeat of the American Army. Was engaged on the boat that convoyed the army form Long Island over to the mainland.

He Married Mary Potter (1772-1850); Children: Dr. Jared P, Henry, Billius, George, Mary P, Charles & Nancy. Turhand, of the fifth generation of Kirtlands in this country, was one of the proprietors of the Connecticut Land Company in the purchase of the Western Reserve from the mother state. In the first draft of the Company in 1798, he, with several others, under the name of Caleb Atwater, drew the township of Mecca and part of the township of Auburn, and in company with Messrs. Benjamin Doolittle, Samuel Doolittle, Seth Hart, Win. Law, Andrew Hull, Titus Street, Levi Tomlinson and Daniel Holbrook, under the name of Benjamin Doolittle, he drew the townships of Poland and Burton, and over two thousand acres in Kirtland, as well as many minor amounts in other townships. Three months after this draft, April 1798, he set out with his party of surveyors and settlers upon the arduous journey to the Northwest Territory, where lay these new possessions, and each succeeding summer he returned, until 1803,when his family accompanied him and he settled in Poland.

For many years he acted as agent for the Connecticut Land Company, and, until he retired from active business in 1834, he had charge of the greater part of the
lands of those proprietors of the Connecticut Land Company who resided in the East. He took a prominent part in the affairs of the Reserve, establishing Libraries and schools; as early as 1805 he had secured sufficient funds from the settlers to purchase a fine library for Poland, and this library was kept abreast of the times as long as he lived. He was one of the first to urge the necessity of a western college and he contributed most generously both in time and money to that institution which eventually became the Western Reserve College.

Turhand Kirtland was elected State Senator for Trumbull County in 1814; he was Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for several terms, and was Justice of the Peace in Poland for over twenty years. The Diary, relating his early experiences in New Connecticut, ends abruptly in the fall of 1800. Presumably the remaining pages have been lost in the hundred and more years intervening, but enough remains to show the unflagging energy and indomitable perseverance of the man—no complaints, no regrets, no maligning, but a steady pushing forward amid the untold trials and privations of those pioneer days. The imprint for good, Judge Kirtland has left upon the character of the Western Reserve, will be felt for many succeeding generations."

He Died on August 16, 1844 and Buried at Poland Presbyterian Cemetery, Poland, OH 44514. GM D. A. R. in 1915-17. Ref : History Trumbull & Mahoning Co, p 73-74, Vol 1, Hist Trumbull & Mahoning Co: p 50, 140 Conn. Men in the Rev; 15901 D. A. R. and others. Natl Nos 19463, 31647, 19462. Further information Mahoning Chap.

He has a tombstone & SAR marker.