In 1851 David Fairbanks and David Crockett located land adjacent to a small stream at the head of Salem Lake and built a dam. In 1856 Eli Ashcraft, Royal Durfrey, Silas Hillman, Aquilla Hopper, Jacob Killian, Trumen Tryon and their families settled Pond Town and began building a fort for protection from the Indians. The fort measured 160 feet north and south and 150 feet east and west. Robert Davis and Thomas Killian arrived later the same year. Lyman Curtis changed the name of Pond Town to Salem, City of Peace.