Among the oldest settlers was Paulus Balliet, born in Alsace, in the year 1717. He landed in America from the ship "Robert. Oliver," Walter Goodman, commander, on the 10th of September, 1738; applied for ninety-seven acres one hundred perches of land, comprising the old Balliet farm, on the 12th of April, 1749, for the Surveying of which a warrant was granted 9th October, 1759, and deed for same made 7th September, 1761. Besides the above, he acquired seven hundred and thirteen acres one hundred and thirty-one perches, between 1749 and 1774. On the 10th of April 1759, he was naturalized, at the age of forty-three years. He married Maria Magdalena Wotring, a native of Lorraine, France, and she died in 1802. After a life of great usefulncss and activity, Paulus, on the 19th of March, 1777, died at the age of sixty, and was buried in the southeast section of the old burial-ground of Union Church. He is still commonly referred to among the people as " Bowl'' Balliet, a name which, according to tradition, he received from the Indians, to whom he was accustomed, as landlord at Ballietsville, to furnish refreshments from a wooden bowl. He left five sons and four daughters, named Jacob, Nicholas, Stephen, John, Paul, Catharine, Susan, Eva, and Magdalena.

The descendantsof old Paulus Balliet are numerous, and are scattered over the whole country. Among those who are now deceased are Stephen Balliet, Hiram Balliet., and Asa Balliet, Esqs., and prominent among those at present living in North Whitehall are Aaron Balliet, Esq., Paul Balliet, Esq., of Ballietsville; Mr. Horace Balliet, of Ironton ; and Dr. Lewis B. Balliet, of Unionville. The name is variously written Balliot, Paulyet, Palliot, Palyard, and Balyard in the old record, but by Paulus himself either Ballet or Balliet.