Troyer and family emigrated from southeastern Pennsylvania in 1789 and settled in Ontario, Canada, near Long Point on Lake Erie on a farm.
This Amish family appears to have been successful in their economic pursuits with a gristmill and boat construction in addition to the farm.
Local legends abounded concerning witches and other paranormal activities where Dr Troyer was involved.
One story focused on his attempts to find a stash of gold, dumped in the area the previous century by a fur trader named David Ramsay.
Another, recorded in the book Tales of Long Point, tells of Troyer following several witches to where they kept their broomsticks, then stealing one of the broomsticks for himself, and flying through the air to view a meeting of witches held at a distant location.