It is presumed by this treaty that the land now included in the county of Oakland was ceded to the United States.
First Official Act
The first official act relating to the county of Oakland, of which any record can be found, is an executive proclamation by Hon. Lewis Cass, then governor of the territory of Michigan, bears date, the 12th day of January, 1819, and reads as follows:
"Whereas, a petition has been presented to me signed by a number of the citizens of the said Territory, requesting that the boundaries of a new county and the seat of Justice thereof may be established by an Act of the Executive, which shall not take effect until the arrival of a period when its population require such measure.
"Now, therefore, believing that a compliance with the request will have a tendency to increase the population of such parts of the territory as may be included within these boundaries, and prevent those difficulties which sometimes arise from the establishment of counties where the settlements are formed, and conflicting opinions and interests are to be reconciled.
"I do, by virtue of these presents, and in conformity with the provision of the Ordinance of Congress, of July 13th, 1787, lay out that part of the said territory included within the said boundaries, viz: beginning at the southeast corner of township one, north range eleven east north of the Base Line, thence north to the southeast corner of township six in said range, thence west to the Indian boundary line, thence south to the Base Line, thence east to the beginning, into a new county to be called the county of Oakland. And I hereby appoint John L. Leib, Chas. Larned, Phillip La Cuer, John Whipple and Thomas Rowland, Esquires, Commissioners, for the purpose of examining the said County and of reporting to me the most eligible site for the seat of Justice, of said county: To take effect from and after the 31st of December, 1822."
On the 5th day of November, 1818, the "Pontiac Company" was organized for the purpose of purchasing lands upon the Huron river (then so called) of St. Clair, and laying out thereon a town.
The company consisted of William Woodbridge, Stephen Mack. Solomon Sibley, John L. Whiting, Austin E. Wing, David C. McKinstry, Benjamin Stead, Henry I. Hunt, Abraham Edwards, Alex. Macomb, Archibald Darraugh, and A. G. Whitney of Detroit, and William Thompson, Daniel LeRoy and James Fulton, of Macomb.
County Seat Fixed
On the 12th of February, 1819, a letter was addressed to the commissioners appointed to examine the county and report the most eligible place for the seat of justice, making overtures on the part of the company, to give to the county certain lots of land and some money, if the seat of justice should be established at Pontiac.
On the 15th of December, 1819, a road was laid out and established from the city of Detroit to the village of Pontiac.
On the 28th day of March, 1820, the governor, Lewis Cass, by proclamation limited and determined the proclamation of the 12th of January, 1819, and declared the inhabitants of the county of Oakland, entitled to all the privileges to which the inhabitants of other counties were entitled; and by the same proclamation, the seat of justice was established at Pontiac.
Original Two Townships
On the 28th of June, 1820, the governor by proclamation, divided the county of Oakland into two townships called Oakland and Bloomfield.
On the 17th of July, 1820, a county court assembled at Pontiac. William Thompson, Esq., had been appointed chief justice, and Daniel Bronson and Amasa Bagley, associate justices. William Morris had been appointed sheriff of the county, and Sidney Dole clerk. On that day, a grand jury was organized, consisting of Elijah Willett, Ziba Swan, John Hamilton, Elisha Hunter, William Thurber, Ezra Baldwin, Asa Castle, Elijah S. Fish, Alpheus Williams, Oliver Williams, Alex. Galloway, H. O. Bronson, Nathan I. Fowler, Josiah Goddard, James Graham, Enoch Hotchkiss, and Calvin Hotchkiss. Spencer Coleman and Daniel LeRoy were admitted to practice, as attorneys.
Of the men who participated in the proceedings of that day, but few remain.
At an early day, commissioners were appointed by the governor. Ziba Swan, Enoch Hotchkiss and Jonathan Perrin were appointed and remained in that office until the, 31st day of December, 1825, at which time the term of office of the justice of the county court, judge of probate, county clerk, county registers, treasurers, sheriffs, justices of the peace and clerk of the supreme court were made to expire by an act of the legislative council approved March 30, 1825.
Present Boundaries Established
On the 20th day of September, 1822, a proclamation was issued by the governor, altering and defining the boundaries of counties and establishing new ones. By that proclamation the boundaries of Oakland were established as they are now.
i
William Thompson was appointed judge of probate; and the first probate court was held at the house of David Stannard, in. Bloomfield, on the 15th day of June, 1822. Application was made for letters of administration upon the estate of Eliphalet Harding.
Oakland County Under The Territory
During the time we were under a territorial government the office of judge of probate was successively held by William Thompson, Nathaniel Millard, Smith Weeks, Gideon O. Whittemore, William F. Moseley, Ogden Clark and Stephen Reeves. Sidney Dole was the first county clerk, first register of probate and clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, and one of the first justices of the peace. The first case which was brought before him as a justice of the peace, and it is presumed to be the first brought before any justice of the peace in the county, was that of Thomas Knapp against Ezra Baldwin. The summons was issued on the 15th of June, and the judgment rendered on the 21st day of August, 1820.
Mr. Dole was a cautious man: He usually carried the papers of each case in his hat from the commencement to the termination, and after hearing the evidence, seldom rendered judgment until he had consulted the authorities in Detroit. Few men enjoyed a higher degree of public favor than did he. In connection with Mr. Moseley, Mr. Dole represented the county of Oakland in the second legislative council. He died at his residence in this village on Sunday morning the 20th of July, 1828.
"In the beginning of our territorial existence and up to the 7th of June, 1824," says Judge Drake, "whatever of legislation we had, was by the governor and judge, or by the governor in the form of a proclamation. By the acts of congress, the governor and judges had power to adopt such laws or parts of laws from the states of the Union as they might deem applicable to the territory. But they had no power to originate any law, and at this day it is difficult to find any warrant for many things which the governor and judges did, in the way of law-making; and the executive proclamations organizing counties, and again altering their boundaries and establishing seats of justice, though they tended to the public good, were wholly without authority.
Territorial Legislative Council
"On the 7th of June, 1824, a legislative council convened at Detroit, consisting of nine members. The mode by which they were selected, may not be known to you all. An act of congress authorized an election to be held in the territory for members of the council. The people voted for whom they pleased, and the result at the various polls was certified to the secretary of the territory: A board of canvassers then ascertained the number of votes given for each person. The names of eighteen persons having the highest number of votes were certified to the president, and from that list he selected nine persons and nominated them to the senate. After their confirmation they were commissioner members of the legislative council, and held their office for two years. The sessions of the council were limited to sixty days in each year."
Before the election of members of the second council arrived, the law of congress was amended, the territory was divided into districts, the number was increased from eighteen to twenty-six, and the president nominated thirteen persons.
Again, before the election of members of the third council, the law of congress was amended. The people in the several districts elected the number of members apportioned to the district, and the result certified by the district canvassers, entitled the member to his seat. Therefore the president was relieved from the burthen of selecting and commissioning the members, and the election given directly to the people, which mode continued until the establishment of the state government.
In the first council, two of its members, Col. Stephen Mack and the Hon. Roger Sprague, were citizens of the county of Oakland. At the election of the members of the second council, the county formed a district and Sidney Dole and William F. Moseley, were selected by the president, they having received the greatest number of votes, to represent this county.
Legislation Affecting Township And County
On the 21st of April, 1825, an act was passed by the legislative council, authorizing the election of county commissioner, county treasurer, constable and coroner. At the first election under this act, William Thompson was elected treasurer; Stephen Reeves, William Burbank and Arthur Power were elected county commissioners.
In that year an assessment was made by William Morris, sheriff and S. V. R. Trowbridge, from which it appears there were at that time 78,900 acres of land taxable within the jurisdiction of the county, more than 2,500 acres lay out of the limits of the county. In the villages of Auburn and Pontiac there were 46 lots taxed to individuals. To the Pontiac Company there were taxed 186 lots valued at $11,000. There were in the county 282 houses, 47 barns, 2,621 acres of improved lands. Major Oliver Williams, Col. Stephen Mack and John Sheldon, had each sixty acres; no other person exceeded fifty.
On the 30th of March, 1827, an act was passed, authorizing the election of supervisors and other town officers.
On the 12th of April, 1827, an act was passed establishing the towns of Oakland, Troy, Bloomfield, Farmington and Pontiac.
Township Government Established
On the last Monday in May, 1827, elections were held in the several townships, and town officers elected. Then a new era was inaugurated township governments were established: the board of county commissioners was abolished, and that of supervisors was established, and from that time the finances of the county came under the immediate control of officers selected and chosen from the several towns.
As stated, on the 30th of March, 1827, an act of the territorial council provided for the election in each township of a supervisor and other township officers; and on the same day another act of the council was
approved providing for the meeting of the supervisors of the several townships at the county seat annually, on the third Mondays of January, April, July and October, and at such other times as they should find convenient, but not exceeding eight days in any one year. They were empowered to appoint their own clerk, and on the 12th of April following they formally abolished the board of county commissioners and vested the power thereof in the board of supervisors.
First Supervisors' Meeting
The first meeting of the board of supervisors of Oakland county was held at the old log court house, at Pontiac, which had been erected in 1824, on the third Monday and Tuesday in July, 1827. The following were present: Roger Sprague, Oakland township; S. V. R. Trowbridge, Troy; Lemuel Castle, Bloomfield; Amos Mead, Farmington, and Jacob N. Voorheis, Pontiac. Mr. Sprague was chosen chairman and Joseph Morrison, clerk.
County Commissioners And Supervisors
Under the territorial law three commissioners were appointed by the governor to transact the necessary county business, which law continued in force until 1825, when the office became elective and was thus until 1827, when, as stated, it was abolished by the board of township supervisors established in its place. In 1839 *
ne board of supervisors for the county was abolished, the supervisors continued as township officers, and a board of county commissioners again established, which was in force until 1842, when it was again displaced by a board of supervisors.
Some Early Assessments
At the October meeting, held on the 15th of the month, a per diem of one dollar was fixed as the full compensation for the services of all township officers not otherwise provided for. The amount raised for county purposes was $1,940.69, the total assessment therefore being $388,138, by townships as follows: Pontiac, $123,328; Bloomfield, $72,254; Troy, $68,680; Oakland, $77,466; Farmington, $47,410. The taxes were all collected with the exception of $211.89
on non-resident lands and $6 delinquent personal taxa pretty good record, and one which would hardly be made (that is, taxes collected in proportion to the assessments) in these days.The assessments and taxes (the latter divided into county and town) for 1828 were as follows:
| Town | Assessment | Tax |
| Pontiac | $106,377 | $447.24 |
| Bloomfield | $59,368 | $299.84 |
| Troy | $63,1902 | $23.04 |
| Oakland | $66,074 | $293.07 |
| Farmington | $44,000 | $168.53 |
| Total | $339,009 | $1,43172 |
The property assessed in 1828 consisted of horses and cattle of one year old and upward, wagons, carts, clocks and watches, all assessed at their actual value. Notes, bonds, money and stock in trade were all assessed similarly and indebtedness was deducted there from.
At the March session, 1830, the following, called by the officials "a moderate cash valuation," was fixed by the board as the rates of assessment for that year: Stallions kept for stock purposes, $150; other horses (first, second and third rate), $75, $40 and $20 respectively; oxen for the same rates, $50, $40 and $30 per yoke; cows, same grades, $16, $12 and $8; hogs, over one year old, $1.50; sheep not valued.
In March, 1831, the job of completing the courthouse was let to John W. Hunter and G. O. Whittemore; and at the same meeting in 1833 the balance was paid to the contractors and the work accepted.
At the October session of 1831, Southfield township was first represented on the board, Henry S. Babcock being the supervisor. At the March meeting, 1832, Gardner D. Williams, supervisor of Sagana township (Saginaw county) appeared, and at the October session of 1833 the following newly organized townships were represented by their first supervisors: Royal Oak, Major Curtis; Novi, Samuel Hungerford; Grand Blanc (Genesee county), Norman Davison.
The townships of 1833 showed up thus financially: Novi was assessed at $85,941, and yielded $526.22 in taxes; Royal Oak, $28,966 and $191.55 respectively, and Grand Blanc, $22,906 and $229.06.
Four new townships were represented in October, 1834Commerce, by Harvey Dodge; West Bloomfield, by Terrel Benjamin; Lyon, by William Dutcher; and Mia (Lapeer county), by Oliver Bristol. At this meeting, also, the bounty of five dollars for wolf scalps was repealed, and one of three dollars, in conjunction with the state bounty of ten dollars, offered. During the preceding seven years (since 1827) about three hundred and seventy wolves had been killed in Oakland county.
The three Oakland county townships were assessed and taxed as follows: West Bloomfield, $40,971 and $226.44; Lyon, $34,364 and $247.11; Commerce, $16,436 and $90.49.
The six new townships of 1835 yielded the following, as to assessment of property and taxes: Avon, $89,209 and $516.87; Waterford, $36,058 and $184.53; Highland, $23,238 and $149.99; Milford, $22,034 and $157-37; Orion, $21,530 and $125.91 ; Groveland, $10,089 and $63.05.
In October, 1835, the new township of Waterford sent Isaac I. Voorheis as a member of the board of supervisors (he had represented Pontiac on the preceding board) ; Milford, Abel Peck; Highland, R. Tenny; Avon, William Price; Groveland, Nathan Herrick; and Orion, Jesse Decker. In the following year only one township was createdWhite Lake, with Alexander Galloway as supervisor.
The six new towns which were created in 1836 bore the following proportion of assessment and taxes: Addison, $59,063 and $354.55; Brandon, $43,666 and $230.68; Oxford. $62,509 and $354.55; Independence, $73,118 and $379.16; Rose, $63,727 and $385.51; Springfield, $73,437 and $432.27.
In 1837 Addison township elected Lyman Boughton as its first supervisor; Brandon, G. P. Thurston; Independence, J. Clark, and Rose township, J.. A. Wandle. Oxford and Springfield paid taxes that year, but were not represented at the October meeting of the board of supervisors.
Circle Of Townships Completed
At the October meeting of 1838, Holly came into and completed the circle of townships, with J. T. Allen as her first supervisor. Her property was assessed at $66,634; taxes, $406.56. But the legislature of the state did not seem to take kindly to the system of township and county government and in the year named changed it from a board of supervisors to a body of county commissioners. On the 7th of January, 1839, Isaac I. Voorheis, George Brownell and William M. Axford were sworn in as the first three commissioners, with Mr. Voorheis as chairman. At this meeting they elected the first county superintendents of the poor William Price, Harvey Seeley and Friend Beldingand abolished the distinction between county and township poor.
The dates of the organization of the various townships of the county are given in the state census report of 1874 as follows:
Addison 1837, Oakland 1827, Avon 1835, Orion 1835, Bloomfield 1827, Oxford 1837, Brandon 1837, Pontiac 1827, Commerce 1834, Rose 1837, Farmington 1827, Royal Oak 1832,
Groveland 1835, Southfield 1830, Highland 1835, Springfield 1836, Holly 1838, Troy 1827, Independence 1836, Waterford 1834, Lyon
1834, West Bloomfield 1833,Milford 1834,White Lake 1836, Novi 1832
*roster Of County Officials
From this time on, the civil government of Oakland county developed along the usual lines, and is largely a matter of dry records which are open to every citizen. The roster of county officials is given, as follows: County clerksSidney Dole, 1820 to January 1, 1827; Elias Comstock, 1827 to January 1, 1837; Horatio N. Howard, 1835 to January 1, 1837; Charles Draper, 1837 to January 1, 1839; Pierce Patrick, 1839 to January 1, 1843; Joseph R. Bowman, 1843 to January 1, 1849; John T. Raynor, 1849 to January 1, 1853; Alfred Treadway, 1853 to January 1, 1855; Edward W. Peck, 1855 to January 1, 1859; Charles V. Babcock, 1859
t0 January 1, 1861; Zepheniah B. Knight, 1861 to January 1, 1863; Phillip M. Parker, 1863 to January 1, 1865: James D. Bateman, 1865 to January 1, 1867; John Fitzpatrick, 1873 to January 1, 1875; Theodorus W. Lockwood, 1875 to January 1, 1877; Daniel L. Davis, 1877 to January 1, 1881; Mark Walter, 1881 to January 1, 1883; Charles M. Fay,* For prosecuting attorneys see Chapter IX. Vol. 11 s
1883 to January 1, 1887; Charles P. Grow, 1887 to January 1, 1891; Frederick Wieland, 1891 to January 1, 1895; Frederick Harris, 1895 to January 1, 1899; George A. Brown, 1899 to January 24, 1910 (resigned); Floyd B. Backcock, 1910 to date.
Registers of deeds
Sidney Dole, 1820 to January 1, 1827; Thomas J. Drake, 1827 to January 1, 1831; Walter Sprague. 1831 to January 1, 1835; Francis Darrow, 1835 to January 1, 1837; Morgan L. Drake, 1837 to January 1, 1839; Ransom R. Belding, 1830 to January 1, 1843; Thomas J. Hunt, 1843 to January 1, 1847; E. H. Budington, 1847 to January 1, 1851; Theron A. Flower, 1851 to January 1, 1853; Robert W. Davis, 1853 to January 1, 1857; Joel P. Toms, 1857 to January 1, 1859; Charles A. Howard, 1859 to January 1, 1861; Daniel A. Button, 1861 to January 1, 1869; Robert W. Davis, 1869 to January 1, 1871 ; Thaddeus A. Smith, 1875 to January 1, 1877; James H. Harger, 1877 to January 1, 1881; Ludovic R. Cole, 1881 to January 1, 1885; Daniel Morrison, 1885 to January 1, 1889; Melvin D. Sly, 1889 to January 1, 1891; Gleason F. Perry, 1891 to January 1, 1895; William T. Mathews, 1895 to January 1, 1899; Albert G. Griggs, 1899 to January 1, 1903; George F. Brondige, 1903 to January 1, 1906; Charles H. Glaspie, 1906 to January 1, 1909; Harry S. Gardner, 1909 to date.County treasurersWilliam Thompson, 1825 to January 1, 1829; Samuel Saterlee, 1829 to January 1, 1835; James A. Weeks, 1835 to January 1, 1837; John P. LeRoy, 1837 to January 1, 1839; Horace C. Thurber, 1839 to January 1, 1843; Bernard C. Whittemore, 1843 to January T, 1845; William C. Henderson, 1845 to January 1, 1849; Jacob Hendrickson, 1849 t0 January 1, 1851; Samuel E. Beach, 1851 to January 1, 1857; Harry C. Andrews, 1857 to January 1, 1861 ; Erasmus E. Sherwood, 1861 to January 1, 1863; Robert Yerkes, 1863 to January 1, 1865; Charles C. Waldo. 1865 to January 1, 1867; Lysander Woodward, 1867 to January 1, 1871 ; Hiram Voorheis, 1871 to January 1, 1873; Albert B. Simpson, 1873 to January 1, 1877; Alanson Partridge, 1877 to January 1, 1881; Erasmus E. Sherwood, 1881 to January 1, 1885; John Allen Bigelow, 1885 to January 1, 1889; George Killam. 1889 to January 1, 1893; James S. Gray, 1893 to January 1, 1895; H. Frank Stone, 1895 to January 1, 1899; James L. Hogle, 1899 to January 1, 1903; Judson L. Sibley, 1903 to January 1, 1907; John Power, 1907 to January 1, 1910; George B. Richardson, 1910 to date.
SheriffsWilliam Morris, 1820 to January 1, 1828; Schuyler Hodges, 1828 to January 1, 1829; Hervey Parke, 1829 to January 1, 1832; Orisen Allen, 1832 to January 1, 1837; Caleb Buckman, 1837 to January 1, 1841; Warren Hunt, 1841 to January 1, 1845; Edward Martin, 1845 to January 1, 1849; Moses G. Spear, 1849 to January 1, 1853; Arthur Davis, 1853 to January 1, 1857; Clark Beardsley, 1857 to January 1, 1861 ; Austin N. Kimmis. 1861 to January 1, 1865; Samuel E. Beach, 1865 to January 1, 1869; William Satterlee, 1869 to January 1, 1871 ; Edwin S. Harger, 1871 to January 1, 1873; Ahizah J. Wixom, 1873 to January 1, 1875; Edwin S. Harger, 1875 to January 1. 1877: Lovett W. Stanton, 1877 to January 1, 1881; Hiram L. Lewis, 1881 to January 1, 1885; Christopher S. Voorheis, 1885 to January 1, 1887; Salmon S. Matthews, 1887 to January 1, 1889; Martin W. Bloomburg, 1889 to January 1, 1893; Hiram Killum, 1893 to January 1, 1895; John K. Judd, 1895 to January 1, 1899; Richard D. Belt, 1899 t0 January 1, 1901; William A. Brewster, 1901 to January 1, 1905; George Greer, 1905 to January 1, 1909; Chauncey A. Harris, 1909 to January 1, 1911; Arthur J. Tripp, present incumbent (1912.) CoronersThis office was filled by appointment until October, 1825, when it became elective. The records show the following incumbents: S. V. R. Trowbridge and Joseph Morrison, 1829; S. V. R. Trowbridge, 1832; Pierre Patrick, 1835; Leonard Weed and Orange Foote, 1836; William Terry and Nathan Herrick, 1838; Nathaniel A. Baldwin and Benjamin Marcer, 1840; Daniel V. Bissell and John Vincent, 1842; Jonathan T. Allen, 1844; Jonathan T. Allen and Jacob Loop, 1846; Bela Coggeshall and William R. Marsh, 1848; Elias S. Woodman and Bela Coggeshall, 1850; Archibald Waterbury and Everett Wendell, 1852; Ziba Swan and Harrison Smith, 1854; Charles V. Babcock and Benjamin V. Redfield, 1856; Francis B. Owen and Hosea B. Richardson, 1858; Hosea B. Richardson and Zuriel Curtis, 1860; Stephen Reeves and Corydon E. Fay, 1862; Orrin E. Bell and Abram Miller, 1864; Archibald H. Green and Orange Culver, 1866; Curtis Babcock and John Campbell, 1868; David A. Wright and Carlo Glazier, 1870; Ira Goodrich and John Highfield, 1872; George P. Hungerford and George E. Proper, 1874; George P. Hungerford and David A. Wright, 1876; John Lacy and Alexander H. Culver, 1878; George D. Cowdin and John Highfield, 1880; George Niles and Carnot N. Northrop, 1882; Andrew J. Culver and Allen P. Wright, 1884; Andrew J. Culver and George Niles, 1886; Andrew J. Culver and Joseph W. Seeley, 1888; John Lessiter and Nathan J. Smith, 1890; Elbert J. Kelly and John Lessiter, 1892; Chauncey Brace and Charles D. Howard, 1894; Chauncey Brace and Elbert J. Kellogg, 1896; Chauncey Brace and Mason N. Leonard, 1898; Chauncey Brace and Clark J. Sutherland, 1900; Ora C. Farmer and John W. Fox, 1902; Ora C. Farmer and Chauncey Brace, 1908, present incumbents (1912).
County surveyorsPrevious to the organization of the county, the territorial surveyors had run it into townships. Colonel Wampler, Hervey Parke and Horatio Ball had been the most prominent who worked in Oakland county, and their labors have already been noted. Mr. Ball surveyed the road from Detroit to Pontiac and marked the "royal oak" with the letter "H." The bulk of Captain Parke's work was accomplished in 18219, as is evident from his interesting personal narrative, published elsewhere.
John Mullet was the first district surveyor and appointed Captain Parke his deputy in 1822. The surveying was in charge of district surveyors until 1833, when a county surveyor was elected. Calvin C. Parks held the office in 1833-4, and Captain Parke was elected in the following year; then came John Southard, in 1837-8; Captain Parke again in 183940, and Mr. Southard in 1841-2. Since 1842 tne county surveyors regularly elected have been as follows: Hiram Barritt, 1843; Algernon Merriweather, 1845 and 1847; Sloane Cooley, 1849; Jonn Southard, 1851; Carlos Harmon, 1853; Henry Nicholson, 1855; Hervey Parke, 1857; Reuben Russell, 1859; Hervey Parke, 1861; Sloane Cooley, 1863; Elias C. Martin, 1865; Reuben Russell, 1867; Horatio Merryweather, 1869; Julian Bishop, 1875 and 1877; Hiram Terry, 1878; Quincy A. Thomas, 1880; Joseph Rennier, 1882; Sloane Cooley, 1886; Reuben Russell, 1888; Samuel J. Serrell, 1890 and 1892; Reuben Russell, 1894 to 1902; Franklin A. Slater, 1902, present incumbent (1912).
Assessments And Taxes
In 1876 the total assessment and taxes for the twenty-five townships of Oakland county and Pontiac city presented the following exhibit:
Townships Assessment Taxes
| Addison | $ 241,440 | $ 3,359.52 |
| Avon | $42,470 | $8,735.16 |
| Bloomfield | $534.920 | $8,351.71 |
| Brandon | $222,200 | $4,464.38 |
| Commerce | $321,480 | $4,944.99 |
| Farmington | $534,100 | $9,069.90 |
| Groveland | $204,910 | $3,484.49 |
| Highland | $272,010 | $3,926.83 |
| Holly | $330,195 | $8,428.15 |
| Independence | $368,000 | $6.097.23 |
| Lyon | $410,110 | $5.792-59 |
| Milford | $420,408 | $8,539.35 |
| Novi | $438,225 | $6,917.20 |
| Oakland | $366,195 | $5,195.27 |
| Orion | $278,110 | $4,336.99 |
| Oxford | $330,750 | $5,539.66 |
| Pontiac township | $368,845 | $4,645.72 |
| Pontiac city | $891,315 | $34,472.06 |
| Rose | $225,890 | $3,374.39 |
| Royal Oak | $285,680 | $5,384.74 |
| Southfield | $375,370 | $5.712.65 |
| Springfield | $260,340 | $4,081.05 |
| Troy | $510,730 | $6,882.03 |
| Waterford | $375,900 | $6,534.69 |
| West Bloomfield | $323,880 | $5,153.05 |
| White Lake | $222,180 | $3.793.90 |
| Total | $9,655,733 | $177,21770 |
Following are the figures for October, 1880, showing the real and personal property of Oakland county by townships and the city of Pontiac, as equalized by the committee appointed for that purpose by the board of supervisors:
| Townships | Real Estate | Personal | Total |
| Addison | $ 484,620 | $110,445 | $ 595,060 |
| Avon | $1,058,650 | $296,080 | $1,354.730 |
| Bloomfield | $1,083,950 | $194,040 | $1,277,990 |
| Brandon | $467,750 | $92,600 | $560,350 |
| Commerce | $ 634,610 | $ 142,130 | $ 776,740 |
| Farmington | $1,048,550 | $188,750 | $1,237,300 |
| Groveland | $447,980 | $47,020 | $495,000 |
| Highland | $620,860 | $53,170 | $674,030 |
| Holly | $664,450 | $167,590 | $832,040 |
| Independence | $750,560 | $134,940 | $885,500 |
| Lyon | $843,060 | $167,430 | $1,010,490 |
| Milford | $884,830 | $192,010 | $1,076,840 |
| Novi | $9,155 | $134,945 | $1,051,100 |
| Oakland | $751,580 | $142,290 | $893,870 |
| Orion | $562,580 | $88,480 | $651,060 |
| Oxford | $741,413 | $152,617 | $894,030 |
| Pontiac | $745,040 | $110,070 | $855,110 |
| First ward (Pontiac) | $278,855 | $120,515 | $399,370 |
| Second ward (Pontiac) | $298,435 | $77.I05 | $375,540 |
| Third ward (Pontiac) | $434,090 | $153,760 | $587,850 |
| Fourth ward (Pontiac) | $564,680 | $265,170 | $829,850 |
| Rose | $476,280 | $79,460 | $555,740 |
| Royal Oak | $637,060 | $54,450 | $691,510 |
| Southfield | $775,090 | $164,300 | $939,480 |
| Springfield | $574,310 | $82,460 | $656,770 |
| Troy | $1,039,930 | $134,580 | $ 1,174,510 |
| Waterford | $755,100 | $130,320 | $885,420 |
| West Bloomfield | $681,260 | $127,210 | $808,470 |
| White Lake | $493,660 | $96,820 | $590,480 |
| Totals | $19,716,188 | $3,900,042 | $23,616,230 |
As thus equalized the total taxes levied in the county amounted to $68,888.54, of which the state tax was $33,534.63 and the county $35,353.91.
Within the next decade, as shown from the same source for 1890, the real estate of the county had reached a valuation of $19,062,000 and the personal property was assessed at $3,937,910. In 1891 the taxes were apportioned as follows: State tax, $37,821.19; county tax, $41,000.
In 1900 the real estate, as equalized, amounted to $22,084,805 and the personal property, as assessed at $6,695,778; total, $28,740,583. The committee on ways and means apportioned the taxes thus: State, $78,961.56; county, $35,000.
For purposes of comparison with the figures of 1880. the value of the real estate, as equalized, and of personal property, as assessed, is given for the year 1911:
| Townships |
Real
Estate |
Personal Property |
Total |
| Addison | $ 637,500 | $108,755 | $ 746,255 |
| Avon | $1,822,950 |
$450,150 |
$2,273,100 |
| Bloomfield | $2,400,180 |
$669,750 |
$3,069,950 |
| Brandon | $711.205 |
$241,715 |
$952,920 |
| Commerce | $661,800 |
$150,800 |
$812,600 |
| Farmington | $1,405,800 |
$459,450 |
$1,865,250 |
| Groveland | $ 515,090 |
$ 84,175 |
$ 599,265 |
| Highland | $748,640 |
$175,375 |
$924,015 |
| Holly | $1,166,325 |
$306,125 |
$1,472,450 |
| Independence | $774,200 |
$238,100 |
$1,012,300 |
| Lyon | $987,870 |
$255,600 |
$1,243,470 |
| Milford | $943,290 |
$170,120 |
$1,113,410 |
| Novi |
$951.650 |
$136,750 |
$1,088,400 |
| Oakland | $757,635 | $149,450 | $907,085 |
| Orion | $1,001,300 | $210,235 | $1,211,535 |
| Oxford | $1,193,750 |
$360,930 |
$1,554,680 |
| Pontiac township | $834,060 |
$88,170 |
$922,230 |
| Pontiac City | $7,392,000 |
$4,703,000 |
$12,095,000 |
| Rose | $629,330 |
$87,570 |
$716,900 |
| Royal Oak | $1,850.395 |
$33,790 |
$2,182,185 |
| Southfield | $1,044,525 |
$168,650 |
$1,213,175 |
| Springfield |
$588,250 |
$130,400 |
$718,650 |
| Troy | $1,222,270 |
$246,450 |
$1,468,720 |
| Waterford | $850,960 |
$162,310 |
$1,013,270 |
| West Bloomfield | $1,061,975 | $551,680 | $1,613,655 |
| White Lake | $546,130 |
$94,200 |
$640,330 |
| Totals | $32,699,080 | $10,731,700 | $43,430,780 |
As assessed on the equalized valuation the taxes- were apportioned for 1911 as follows: State tax, $128,294.08; county tax, $85,670.
Population For Ninety Years
The population of Oakland county since its organization, according to the decadal enumerations of the United States census bureau, has been as follows:
1820
330, 1830 4,910, 1840 23,646, 1850 31,270, 1860 38,261, 1870 40,867, 1880 41,537, 1890 41,235, 1900 44.792, 1910 49,576
For purposes of more detailed comparison the following table comprising the last three enumerations of the national census, is herewith presented.
| Township | 1910 | 1900 | 1890 |
| Oakland county | 49,576 | 44,792 | 41,245 |
| Addison township, including Leonard village | 1,043 | 1,116 | 1,139 |
| Leonard village | 313 | 335 | 276 |
| Avon township, including Rochester village | 2,657 | 2,584 | 1,946 |
| Rochester village | 1,516 | 1,535 | 900 |
| Bloomfield township, including Birmingham village | 2,833 | 2,296 | 2,044 |
| Birmingham village | 1,607 | 1,170 | 899 |
| Brandon township, including Ortonville village | 1,129 | 1,1,79 | 1,260 |
| Ortonville village | 377 | --- | --- |
| Commerce township | 986 | 1,124 | 1,113 |
| Farmington township, including Farmington village | 1,788 | 1,753 | 1,639 |
| Farmington village | 564 | 530 | 320 |
| Groveland township | 772 | 828 | 917 |
| Highland township | 1,040 | 1,142 | 1,393 |
| Holly township, including Holly village | 2,278 | 2,266 | 2,120 |
| Holly village | 1,537 | 1,419 | 1,266 |
| Independence township, including Clarkston village | 1,144 | 1,191 | 1,297 |
| Clarkston village | 345 | 360 | 387 |
| Lyon township, including South Lyon village | 1,427 | 1,569 | 1,660 |
| South Lyon village | 615 | 657 | 707 |
| Milford township, including Milford village | 1,660 | 1,866 | 1,962 |
| Milford village | 973 | 1,108 | 1,138 |
| Novi township | 1,226 | 1,245 | 1,306 |
| Oakland township | 702 | 870 | 896 |
| Orion township, including Orion village | 1,393 | 1,507 | 1,297 |
| Orion village | 717 | 756 | 522 |
| Oxford township, including Oxford village | 1,934 | 1,990 | 2,080 |
| Oxford village | 1,191 | 1,172 | 1,128 |
| Pontiac city | 14,532 | 9,769 | 6,200 |
| Ward 1 | 1,858 | ------ | ------ |
| Ward 2 | 3,264 | ------ | ------ |
| Ward 3 | 2.971 | ------ | ------ |
| Ward 4 | 4,452 | ------ | ------ |
| Ward 5 | 1,987 | ------ | ------ |
| Pontiac township | 953 | 1,016 | 947 |
| Rose township | 842 | 862 | 958 |
| Royal Oak township, including Royal Oak village | 2,801 | 2,012 | 1,844 |
| Royal Oak village | 1,071 | 468 | ------ |
| Southfield township | 1,288 | 1,378 | 1,144 |
| Springfield township | 821 | 906 | 1,064 |
| Troy township | 1,507 | 1,527 | 1,470 |
| Waterford township | 1,065 | 1,079 | 1.163 |
| West Bloomfield township | 1,113 | 999 | 1,229 |
| White Lake township | 642 | 718 | 857 |
The relative rank among the counties of the state has been: 1840, second, being only exceeded by Wayne, with Washtenaw a close third; 1850, still second (gaining faster than Washtenaw and being left rapidly behind by Wayne); 1860, yet second, but being hard pressed by Lenawee county, and having only about half the population of Wayne: 1870, fourth, having been overtaken by Kent and Lenawee counties and running neck and neck with Saginaw; 1880, sixth, being exceeded by Wayne, Kent, Saginaw, Lenawee and St. Clair, in the order named, and having about one-fourth the population of Wayne; 1890, eleventh, its ten predecessors being Wayne, Kent, Saginaw, Bay, St. Clair, Lenawee, Jackson, Calhoun, Washtenaw and Berrien (by only 40); 1900, twelfth, with some changes in the relative position of Calhoun (seventh), Berrien. Jackson and Washtenaw and the displacement of Bay as fourth by Houghton county; 1910, thirteenth, the order pf the counties being Wayne, Kent, Saginaw, Houghton, Bay, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Berrien, Jackson, Huron, St. Clair and Oakland.
Incorporated Municipalities
From the last "Michigan Manual" is condensed the following relating to the incorporation of the cities and villages of the county:
PontiacIncorporated as a village by the state legislature, 1837; amended, 1838, 1842, 1843,
1845, 1850. Incorporated as a city by legislature, 1861; act relating to, 1861; charter amended 1865, 1869, 1871, 1877, 1881, 1885, 1889, 1905, 1907.BirminghamIncorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1864; limits extended by legislative act, 1883; reincorporated by act of legislature, 1885.
ClarkstonIncorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1884; reincorporated by legislative act, 1889.
FarmingtonIncorporated as a village by state law in 1867; charter amended in 1869, 1875; reincorporated in 1887; amended, limits extended, 1891.
HollyIncorporated as a village by state law, 1865; charter revised, 1873; amended, 1893.
LeonardIncorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1889; reincorporated by act of the legislature, 1893.
MilfordIncorporated as a village by state law in 1869; charter amended in 18^1; reincorporated. 1881.
OrionIncorporated as a village by state law in 1859; charter repealed by legislature in 1863; reincorporated by state law, 1869; amended by legislative act, 1879, 1889; reincorporated by act of legislature, 1891.
OrtonvilleIncorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1902; by legislative act; 1903.
OxfordIncorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1876; reincorporated by legislative act, 1891.
Royal OakIncorporated as a village by legislative act in 1891.
South LyonIncorporated as a village by state law in 1873; and by legislative act in 1885; reincorporated by legislative act in 1891.
The County Courthouses
The $100,000 courthouse, which is the home of the government and judiciary of Oakland county, is a gem of taste and an ideal of convenience and comfort among the public buildings of southern Michigan. Its cornerstone was laid by the grand lodge of Masons of the state of Michigan, August 30, 1904, and the civic ceremonies included addresses by James H. Lynch, president of the day, Daniel L. Davis and others, and music by the Pontiac band. The new court room was dedicated November 1, 1905, the address of welcome being by George W. Smith, circuit judge, and the dedicatory address by Andrew L. Moore. John H. Patterson spoke on "Our Beloved Country," and Chief Justice Joseph B. Moore indulged in a series of interesting "Reminiscences."
The public exercises on November 2d embraced a military parade
and exercises at the Howland Opera House. Aaron Perry presided over the latter and delivered an interesting and finished address of welcome. Mrs. Sybil B. Cleary accepted the rest rooms in the basement of the courthouse in behalf of the ladies of Pontiac and Thomas E. Barkworth delivered the dedicatory address.
The address of welcome to the members of the bar delivered by Judge Smith was so alive with facts and manly sentiment that the chief portion of itthat is, the part which deals more especially with the history of the courthouses which had been the scenes of so much which was dear and important to the profession and the peopleis here reproduced: "The first term of court in this city was held in an old log building which stood near the site of the present Hotel Woodward, in the year 1820. Judge Crofoot, in describing this building, spoke of it as without door, floor or chimney. In 1824 a courthouse and jail combined was built on the lot where the present jail stands. The first story constituted the jail and was constructed of squared logs. The cells for prisoners were made of six-inch plank sawed at the village of Rochester. The second story was a framed structure and contained a court room with a sheriff's residence adjoining it. No room for offices existed in this building.
"In 1848, there was erected upon the front portion of the present site, a long one-story building with a roof sloping towards the front, with a balustrade on which was painted in large letters the words, 'Oakland County Offices.' In 1858 the courthouse of 1824 and this long, one-story building were abandoned for the courthouse, we of the present generation know as the immediate predecessor of the present building. The cost of that building was $12,000, and of the fire-proof vaults placed therein in 1875, $5,000. Its was dedicated on March 18, 1858, with considerable ceremony and with an eloquent address by Judge Crofoot. Its court room was the home of the circuit court for the county of Oakland until May 20, 1904. On that date the old court room was formally abandoned. Hon. William W. Stickney, of Lapeer, and Justice Joseph B. Moore, of Lansing, ex-judges of this court, were present. Also the members of the Oakland county bar, and a large number of representative citizens. A scholarly and most appropriate address, one that ranks well up with that of Judge Crofoot, was delivered by the Hon. Aaron Perry, president of the bar, and the next day the beloved portraits that had so long been a part of the room were taken down from its walls.
"In speaking of this room, Mr. Perry said: 'During the last fortysix years this room has on many occasions resounded to the melodious cadences and fiery appeals of eloquent advocates, as well as to some speeches that have been dull and commonplaceto speeches that have fired the jurors with indignation, or suffused their eyes with tears and to some that have lulled their wearied minds to involuntary slumber.'
"It was never well arranged for a court room and it had no architectural beauty. But what the old room lacked in beauty, it made up in size. Besides being the home of the court, it was used in the early years for singing schools, lectures, school exhibitions and school elections, and political meetings and farmers' meetings of all kinds. All county political conventions were held in it, and there were many times when it was packed to the limit as rival candidates struggled for places upon the county ticket. It is almost literally true that forty-six years of the history of this county was made in that old court room. With it are associated memories of some of the most notable trials, civil and criminal, in the history of the state. With it are associated memories of some of the most diligent and forceful lawyers and judges of the state. I omit their names because others today are likely to refer to them by name.
"Merely as a matter of future history, it should be stated that from May 20, 1904. to the present time, the county officers, with their files, books and records, have been quartered in the Davis block (so-called) and the sessions of this court were held in the basement of the Congregational church. During that time, many have attended church who had sadly neglected that duty. It is to be hoped that the religious surroundings and appropriate mottoes of that basement Sunday school room have not been entirely lost upon the jurors or upon the members of the legal profession. T am quite sure that they failed to sufficiently influence some of the witnesses.
"To the older members of this bar, the old court room brings back many splendid and precious memories. Its surroundings and the work done there almost became a part of their daily lives. Its splendid history moved them to zeal and activity. The portraits on its walls of the eminent judges and lawyers seemed to inspire as to imitate them not only in professional skill, but in professional courtesy and professional honor. And after all,what is professional skill to the lawyer, if he has not also professional courtesy and professional honesty? Professional skill alone is merely the power to earn money from the profession of law, and it leaves its possessor without honor, without conscience, without the respect of the community in which he lives, and without the love and confidence of his brethren of the profession.
"And now after forty-six years in the old room and seventeen months of boarding out, we are about to begin life in this new home. The old room is but a memory. The new is a reality. We are not here merely to cherish a memory, but to engage in the activities of the present and to prepare for those of the future. My pleasing duty is to welcome you to the new roomto rejoice with you because of the new home."
The following history of the movement which resulted in the erection of the beautiful courthouse which has been the home of county affairs since 1904 is thus given by the official publication issued by the board of supervisors under the title "Memorial of the New Oakland County Building:" "It has taken more than three and a half years to evolve the idea and to complete the construction of Oakland county's magnificent temple of justice and place of business for the people. Prior to the spring of 1902, for a long period there were resolutions introduced before the board of supervisors to submit the proposition to the voters of the county.
"Finally in January, 1902, the supervisors passed a resolution to bring the matter officially before the people at the April election. That spring the proposition for a new building for the county executives was defeated. However, during the January meeting of the supervisors the following year a banquet was held at the Hodges House, after which there was much discussion by members of the county's lawmakers, the city aldermen and various prominent taxpayers of the county at large.
"At that time the sentiment against the inadequate quarters provided for the officials was strong and seemed to be pretty well crystalized in favor of a new building. Again the matter was brought before the voters in the April election in 1904. and was carried by a large majority. So much publicity had been given the proposition by the newspapers throughout the county showing the great need for a better building, that the people resolved to support it and it was carried by a good majority.
| Result of second vote | For | Against | Total |
|
Addison |
89 |
131 |
220 |
|
Avon |
244 |
289 |
533 |
|
Bloomfield |
192 |
119 |
311 |
|
Brandon |
112 |
174 |
286 |
|
Commerce |
92 |
158 |
250 |
|
Farmington |
203 |
159 |
362 |
|
Groveland |
32 |
139 |
171 |
|
Holly |
203 |
327 |
530 |
|
Highland |
86 |
186 |
272 |
|
Rose |
62 |
146 |
208 |
|
Royal Oak |
142 |
96 |
238 |
|
Oxford |
109 |
315 |
424 |
|
Orion |
169 |
148 |
317 |
|
Oakland |
22 |
122 |
144 |
|
Milford |
71 |
373 |
444 |
|
Novi |
88 |
149 |
237 |
|
Springfield |
62 |
117 |
179 |
|
Southfield |
98 |
57 |
155 |
|
Waterford |
193 |
73 |
266 |
|
West Bloomfield |
123 |
86 |
209 |
|
White Lake |
66 |
91 |
157 |
|
Pontiac township |
116 |
27 |
143 |
|
Troy |
89 |
52 |
141 |
|
Lyon |
127 |
162 |
289 |
|
Independence |
94 |
101 |
195 |
|
Pontiac1st Ward |
272 |
21 |
293 |
|
2d Ward |
448 |
25 |
473 |
|
3d Ward |
429 |
48 |
477 |
|
4th Ward |
454 |
62 |
516 |
|
5th Ward |
270 |
34 |
304 |
|
Total |
4,757 |
3,987 |
8,744 |
"Shortly after the election the board of supervisors made no delay in taking up the question of the site of the new courthouse, and ordered its counsel to file a bill quieting the title in the county of the old property, on which the old and new courthouses were erected. From all townships came persons who had numerous ideas as to where the building should be located, and from all parts opinions differed. Some were in favor of selling the old site and constructing (he new building on many other properties, such as the Pound homestead on east Huron street, the Hinman property on West Pike street, the Cortrite lots on West Pike street, or the Earl lands on North Saginaw street. Many other sites were offered and about a year's time was consumed by the supervisors in discussion and endeavoring to reach a conclusion as to which was the most desirable location. This discussion continued for some time and finally culminated when the board ordered the bill filed in chancery dismissed and later voted to build on the old site.
"After the question of the location was decided the supervisors proceeded to advertise for plans. Several of the greatest architects in the United States submitted their ideas and after a careful study those of Joseph E. Mills, of Detroit, were voted as the best. The plans furnished by Mr. Mills to the board called for a building costing $94,000, not including the architect's fee of $5,000.
"After the plans had been agreed upon the county officers proceeded to take temporary quarters in the Davis block, where they moved in June, 1904, and remained until the present time.
"A building committee was appointed, consisting of Frank J. Vowles, chairman of the board and acting as chairman of the building committee; Frank Thurstin, Oakland; Henry Lavery, Royal Oak; LeRoy N. Brown, Independence; Charles A. Fisher, Fontiac; John Power, Farmington, and Ezra Gardner, Oxford. After the death of L. N. Brown, E. L. Davis acted in. his place.
"The building committee met twice each month and awarded the contract to build to John G. Schmidt, of Toledo."
Cost Of County Building
Appropriation $100,000.00
Accumulated interest and premium on bonds. .. .$3,142.99
Total $103,142.99
Schmidt's original contract $ 91,450.00
Schmidt's total for extras $1,574.57
Total $ 93.024.57
Deductions from contract $264.25
Total of Schmidt's contract, extras and reductions $ 92,760.32
Steel file cases, book racks and tables $ 3.200.00
Electric fixtures $1,800.00
Opera chairs for court room $747.50
Furniture $2,991.01
Decorating interior of building $3,000.00
Thermostat heat regulating system $535.00
Carpets, rugs and rubber matting $2,800.00
Cuspidors $123.75
Clocks $50.00
Hardware extra $115.50
Architect's services $5,200.00
Total cost of building as erected and furnished $113,323.18
Cost above appropriation $ 10,180.19
Items included in the above statement not usually included are as follows:
Furniture $ 2,991.01
Decorating interior of building $3,000.00
Thermostat heat system $535.00
Carpets, rugs and matting $2,800.00
Cuspidors $123.75
Clocks $50.00
Architect's services $5,200.00
Total not usually included in giving cost of building $ 14,679.76
Deducting this amount from total cost as above given, building would cost $ 98,623.42
Present Courthouse
This "beautiful temple of justice," as the board of supervisors rightly called it, as received from the hands of Superintendent Rufus Swinehart, who represented John G. Schmidt, the contractor, of Toledo, on the 2d of November, 1905, is built of gray Cleveland sandstone and fronts nearly ninety feet on West Huron street. Its imposing tower of brick bears a statute of Justice of heroic size, about one hundred and twelve feet above the level of the street. The two entrances and doorways are flanked by two massive stone columns twenty-six feet in height. Red entered largely into the color scheme, with tiled corridors and marble wainscoting. Rest rooms for both men and women are in the basement, which also contains offices for the commissioner of schools and superintendents of the poor and a large audience room used chiefly for school examinations. On the first floor are the other county offices and the accommodations for the probate judge and on the second floor, the circuit court room, which is beautifully decorated; office of the prosecuting attorney, the supervisors' room and the judges private room.
Two features are especially noticeable on the first, or main floor. Opposite the Saginaw street entrance and occupying much of the wall space is a large and impressive painting of the great chief Pontiac, and at the foot of the stairs as the visitor passes into the courthouse from West Huron street, is a large marble tablet which presents a record of historic value. Upon its face is inscribed the names of the building committee holding office during the period of its erection, as follows: Frank J. Vowles, chairman; John Power, Charles A. Fisher, Ezra Gardner, Frank Thurston, LeRoy N. Brown, Henry N. Lowery and E. Laverne Davis.
Also the following appear:
Frank J. Vowles, chairman, 1903-4; Alfred B. Kinney, 1905; Joseph E. Mills, architect, Detroit; W. H. Dewey, local superintendent, Pontiac; John G. Schmidt, contractor, Toledo.
The above are those officially connected with the erection of the Oakland county courthouse, but there are few public buildings in southern Michigan in which the people as a whole have taken more interest and with which the public are better satisfied, both from the viewpoints of beauty and utility, than this structure devoted to justice.
The Oakland County Home
Oakland county was one of the state leaders in the humane movement to abolish the name "almshouse" or "poorhouse" in connection with the public institution which provides a refuge for the aged and the sick, whose means are insufficient to give them shelter in private institutions, or whose circumstances have perhaps bereft them of friends or protecting relatives. At the annual convention of Michigan superintendents of the poor held in December, 1903, it was unanimously recommended that the name County Home be substituted for the obnoxious "Poorhouse," and Oakland county was among the first to adopt this suggestion along the line of modern humanitarianism.
The first action taken by the authorities of Oakland county looking towards the acquisition of a "county home" was that of the board of supervisors of 1834 at the October sessions, at which time a committee of three were appointed to inquire into the expediency of procuring such an institution for the county. Messrs. Yerkes, Steel and Gregory were the committee, and they reported adversely to the project; but at the same session another committee, consisting of Babcock, Castle, Dutcher,-Gregory and Stephens, made inquiry as to the expediency of acquiring a location for a county farm and reported in favor of purchasing eighty acres, which report was accepted and $700 appropriated. The report of the committee was subsequently reconsidered and rejected, and another committee appointed to examine a location, consisting of Messrs. Castle, Curtis, Babcock, Dodge, Price and Voorheis; and at the March sessions, 1835, Messrs. Castle, Curtis and Voorheis were elected a committee to take charge of the funds already raised therefor, and to purchase and fit up a farm for county poor purposes at an expense not exceeding $800, to be paid in four annual installments. This committee purchased the east half of the northeast quarter of section 2, in Waterford, of Thaddeus Alvord, for $1,050; and in March, 1836, there was an allowance of $788 made for the stock, farming utensils and superintendent's salary.
The total expenses on account of such relief in 1835 amounted to
$1,591.31. On May 2, 1835, the committee advertised the building as ready for occupancy.
In 1839 the county commissioners abolished the distinction of county and township poor, assuming them all as a county charge. Theretofore, only those persons who had acquired no legal residence in the county had been helped directly by the supervisors as a county body corporate, the townships providing for actual residents. At the first meeting of the commissioners in January, 1839, they also elected the first county superintendents of the poor, viz.: William Price, Harvey Seeley and Friend Belding, whose terms of office were fixed at three years. The expense of the poor farm system the first year was $2,083.68. This farm bought in 1835 was occupied by the county until 1857, when it was turned in for a payment on a new farm purchased of one Mead, in Waterford, of three hundred and seventeen acres, the old farm being taken at $40 per acre, and the balance of the purchase-money on the new purchase, $9,466.40, secured by mortgage. The land was situated in Waterford, and was known as the northeast quarter and west half, southeast quarter and southwest quarter, section 27, except ten acres reserved there from. There were good buildings on the farm. In January, 1858, the board resolved to dispose of the Mead farm and buy another containing about one hundred acres, and a committee reported in favor of disposing of a portion of the Mead farm and erecting buildings on the balance. Mead offered to take back the land on the north side of the road at $35 per acre, which proposition was not accepted by the board of supervisors, but about the year i860 the farm reverted to the original owner, Mead, by default in the payments on the mortgage, and the first farm and the expense involved in remodeling the buildings on the second farm was lost by the county. William W. Martin, of Bloomfield, was then engaged by contract to support and care for the county poor for some years, and received nine shillings per head weekly for the same. At the October meeting. 1863, the committee on the poorhouse, F. W. Fifield, E. B. Comstock and Noah Tyler, reported as follows: "In regard to the system now practiced of farming out the paupers, it is extremely objectionable, repugnant to humanity, and in opposition to the true interests of the county. The paupers under this system are not cared for, or as comfortably situated as the dictates of humanity or the requirements of justice demand, notwithstanding the keeper is doing the best he can for them. The buildings in which they are kept are inadequate to the wants and absolute necessities of the inmates, and are uncouth, unshapely, and, worse, uncomfortable and unwholesome, and the committee recommends the purchase of eighty acres of land and the erection of suitable buildings at once."
In 1864, in accordance with the recommendation, the board authorized the county superintendents to purchase a farm, and they accordingly bought, April 1, 1864, one hundred and twenty acres, being the one-half of the northwest quarter, section 35, and the southeast quarter of southwest quarter, section 26, township 3 north, range 9 east, of Joel Benedict, for $4,833. This farm was subsequently sold to T. F. Harrington, and on June 23, 1866, one hundred acres purchased of Mortimer F. Osman, being the east part of the northeast quarter, sec
Vol. 114
tion 24, in Waterford, for $6,000. On the 6th of April, 1869, thirty acres or more were purchased from Ira K. Terry, being the southwest part of the northwest quarter, section 19, township 3 north, range 10 east, for $2,500, the total cost of the land being $8,500, and the farm containing about one hundred and thirty-seven acres. In January, 1866. the superintendents of the poor were authorized to receive proposals for buildings on the county farm, the cost of which should not exceed $15,
000. The buildings were erected in 1866-67. The value of the property was estimated by the county superintendents in their report to the secretary of state as follows: Farm and buildings, $29,295; live-stock on the farm, $1,330; farming implements, $488; all other property, $900; total valuation, $32,013.
County Superintendents Of The Poor
The county superintendents of the poor have been as follows: 1839-42, William Price, Harvey Seeley and Friend Belding; 1842-44, Samuel White, Ziba Swan, Jr. and Ira Donelson; 1845, Salmon J. Mathews, Orison Allen and Ira Donelson; 1846, George Patten, Ziba Swan, Jr. and George Dow; 1847, C. H. Woodhull, Ira Marlin and George Patten; 1848, Isaac L. Voorheis, George Patten and Francis Darrow; 1849, Francis Darrow, G. Robertson and Friend Belding; 1850 to 1853, inclusive, James A. Weeks, I. I. Voorheis and William Yerkes; 1854,
1. I. Voorheis, Stephen Reeves and D. M. Judd; 1855, Stephen Reeves, F. Belding and Phil S. Frisbee; 1856, H. W. Hovey, Henry Mead and F. Belding; 1857, Almeron Whitehead, J. H. Button and F. Bradley; 1858, Almeron Whitehead, J. H. Button and Stephen Reeves; 1859-60, no superintendents elected; 1861, J. H. Button, Robert M. Davis and William Cone; 1862, James Newberry, J. H. Button and Andrew Bradford. In 1863, three superintendents were elected, one for one year, one for two years and one for three years. Andrew Bradford was elected for the long term, James Newberry for two years and J. H. Button for one year. J. H. Button was elected in 1864 for three years and again in 1867 for three years, but resigned in 1869. Bradford resigned in 1865 and Francis Baker was elected to fill the vacancy. James Newberry was reelected at the end of his first term of two years for a term of three years. To continue the roster: Horace Thurber, 1866-69; Caleb Terry, 1868-71; John W. Leonard, 1869-71, to fill vacancy of J. H. Button; William M. McConnell, 1871, 1874 and 1877; J. W. Leonard, 1872, 1875 and 1878. Augustus W. Hovey was first elected in 1870 and served for about thirty years. J. S. Stockwell holds the second record in length of service, as he was in office from 1886 to 1901. E. C. Beardslee, one of the three incumbents, was elected in 1902 and commenced his first term of service January 1, 1903; his present term expires January 1, 1915. Frank Harris served from 1901 until his resignation, June 15, 1908, and was succeeded by William A. Brewster, whose term will expire January 1, 1913. The third superintendent is E. D. Spooner, who commenced his first term January 1, 1905; his present term expires January 1, 1914.
The farm and grounds of the county home compromise one hundred acres (the old Osmun property) in Waterford township, and thirtyseven acres in the township of Pontiac. Although it has been improved, modernized, and virtually rebuilt (mostly in 1902) the original residence building was erected in 1868. Both interior and exterior, including the surrounding grounds, are neat and cheerful. In 1870 the building (forty by forty feet) now used as a horse barn, was erected, but all the large outbuildings have gone up within the past decade. These include the following: A house for the keeping of tools and agricultural implements (thirty by forty feet) and an ice house (twenty by twenty-two feet) in 1902; the hog house and corn barn (forty by forty) in 1904; the large barn (thirty-six by seventy-six) for other live stock and grain, in 1905; the hen house (twenty by thirty) in 1907 and the pumping plant, for fire protection, in 1909. It is the evident desire of the present superintendents of the poor, who are well supported by the board of supervisors, to not only safeguard all those committed to their care, but to make their lives comfortable and pleasant. From seventy to one hundred are thus cared for, of whom two-thirds are men. The total value of the county home property is estimated at $35,000.