INTRODUCTION

We present this history with pleasure, because it deals with a pleasant subject—Oakland county. There is another reason for this attitude toward our subject:—the cooperation of contributors and of citizens has been so general and hearty that the historical work required has been transformed from a task into a labor of love.

Oakland county is peculiarly fortunate in the variety of her charms and riches, to which truth these pages bear witness. With her landscape beauties and sunny lakes, she is drawing thousands to her who seek restful homes and profitable investments. At the same time, her soil is fertile and invites the practical farmer, dairyman and horticulturist, while in the urban centers, the industrial and commercial interests have obtained a firm foothold and assure livelihood and profit to the citizen. No county in the state has better schools, and, as will be made plain in the progress of this history, in no section has woman had a more extended or elevating influence. In a word, Oakland is unexcelled as a home county; no more need be said to the good American, whether of native or foreign blood.

As to the collaborators on the history, too much cannot be said of the quantity and quality of the assistance rendered by Hon. Aaron Perry. In those homely words which so truly express our feeling toward him—"what could we have done without him!" Also as to Miss Martha Baldwin and Mrs. Lilian Drake Avery—"what could we have done without them," especially in setting forth the scope of woman's work, and the splendid part taken by the pioneers of the county in laying the foundation upon which the later generations have builded their comfort and prosperity. Thanks are rendered all our associate editors— Fred M. Warner, Thomas L. Patterson, Harry S. Gardner and Samuel W. Smith, for their willing and effective cooperation. The county and village officials, business men, farmers and manufacturers—all, in fact, who have worked to make Oakland county what it is today and are laboring for its greater future—have our sincere thanks, both for what they are doing toward the progress of this favored section of the state, and for what they have done in enabling us to picture it in this history of Oakland county. Thaddeus D. Seeley.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION

Wonderful Country Of Lakes—Cass And Orchard—Remarkable Natural Phenomenon—The Lake Orion Region—

Summer Re- Sort Features—Transportation Facilities—As A Farming And

Live Stock Region—Features Of The Transformation.

CHAPTER II

GENERAL PHYSICAL FEATURES Surface And Elevations

Immense Drift And Formations Beneath Soil And Climate—The Surface Geology Of Oakland

County.

CHAPTER III

INDIAN AND PRIMITIVE RECORD

Orchard Lake And The Great Chief Pontiac—The Legend Of Me- Nah-sa-gor-ing

Primitive Tillage And Industries—Contact With Known Tribes—Scars Of Battle

C. Z. Horton's ContriButions—Indian Camping Ground And Cemetery

Queer CusToms—The Passing Of We-se-gah.

CHAPTER IV

FIRST SETTLERS AND LAND OWNERS

Great Set-back To Settlement—Oakland County's First Settlers
The Mack Colony Of Pontiac—"uncle Ben" Woodworth

First Surveys—Locations Under The "two Dollar" Act

The "ten Shilling" Act—Great Event For The Pioneer Land Owner

Town Of Pontiac Settled—Orion And Oxford—Royal Oak And Troy

Avon And White Lake—Springfield And GroveLand—Farmington And West Bloomfield

Waterford And InDependence—Brandon, Southfield And Bloomfield

CHAPTER V

PICTURES OF THE PAST

Hervey Parke Comes To Oakland County—Bloomfield And Royal Oak In 1821

\Infant Village Of Pontiac—Governor Wisner And His Mullet Story

Becomes Horatio Ball's Assistant—Joseph Wampler's Assigned Territory

A Surveyor's Hardships—ReTurns With His Family—Birthplace Of John H. Parke

HomeStead At Last—Surveys From Pontiac—Running Lines Under Difficulties

Fresh Trails Of The Black Hawk War—Between Saginaw Bay And Lake Huron

Surveys In Black Hawk ReserVation, Iowa—Another Iowa Contract

Captain Parke's ReCapitulation—Recollections Of Benjamin O. Williams

Indian Near Death—Dear Old Oakland, The Best Of All A Picture Of Memory (by John M. Norton)

Advent OF The Pioneer—-Railroad As A Fun-maker—The Life Bequeathed By The PiOneers

Fifty Years Ago And Now (by S. B. Mccracken)— Contrasts Of Life—"granny" Mccracken

Father And Mother Mccracken—The Schools Of Fifty Years Ago

Mormon VisiTation Of 1832—Auburn And The Young Pioneers.

CHAPTER VI

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS AND "DAUGHTERS"

County's First Settler, A Revolutionary Soldier—The Graham Family—Nathaniel Baldwin—George Horton—Stephen Mack
Colonel Mack's Family—Joseph Todd And Party—Ithamar Smith—William Nathan Terry—Joshua Chamberlin And Enoch Hotchkiss

Elijah Drake—Ezra Parker—Jeremiah Clarke—Benjamin Grace—Caleb Barker Merrell—Levi Green —Joel Phelps—Elias Cady

Samuel Niles—Silas Sprague— Esbon Gregory—Zadock Wellman—Caleb Carr—Hooper Bishop —Derrick Hulick — Caleb Pratt

Solomon Jones — Lydia Barnes Potter—James Harrington And Jacob Petty—John Blanchard—Altramont Donaldson—Joseph Van Netter

Benjamin Bulson—Nathan Landon—General Richardson Chapter, D. A. R.—The Revolutionary Graves Marked—MemBership Of The Daughters

CHAPTER VII

PIONEER RECORDS

County Pioneer Society Founded—The Supervisors' Picnics—Bet-

Ter Preservation Of Records—Society Incorporated—Pioneer

Women—Officers Of The Society—Pioneer Relics In The Col-

Lection Of The Society

CHAPTER VIII

DEVELOPMENT OF JUDICIARY

Territorial Supreme Court—Old District Court—County Courts

— Change In Supreme Court—Circuit Courts And Judges—The

"one-horse" Court—Under The 1850 Constitution—A Sum-

Mary—Under The Present Constitution.

CHAPTER IX

THE BENCH OF OAKLAND COUNTY

County Courts And Judges—Probate Courts And Judges—Circuit
Courts And Judges—The Court Of Chancery—Circuit Court

Commissioners.

CHAPTER X

THE BAR OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Daniel Leroy—William F. Mosley—Thomas J. Drake—Origen D. Richardson—Gideon O. Whittemore

Robert P. Eldredge—Seth A. L. Warner—William Draper—Randolph Manning—Charles Draper—Rufus Hosmer

George W. Wisner—Alfred H. Hanscom—Governor Moses Wisner—Augustus Carpenter Baldwin—John S. Goodrich

Levi B. Taft—Hester L. Stevens— Michael E. Crofoot—Henry M. Look—Mark S. Brewer—Living Members Of The Bar

Judge Thomas L. Patterson—Joseph EdWard Sawyer—George W. Smith—Robert j. Lounsbury—Aaron Perry—Daniel L. Davis

Kleber P. Rockwell—Arthur R. Tripp—Elmer R. Webster—James H. Lynch—John H. Patterson —F. L. Covert—Henry M. Zimmerman

Andrew L. Moore—H.H. Colvin—Peter B. Bromley.

CHAPTER XI

BACKWARD GLANCES AT BENCH AND BAR

Judge Crofoot's Recollections—Bench And Bar Prior To 1840 (by

Judge Baldwin)—Chief Justice Moore's Pictures—Aaron

Perry's Contributions.

CHAPTER XII

CIVIL AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTY

First Official Act—County Seat Fixed—Original Two TownShips—Present Boundaries Established—Oakland County

Under The Territory—Territorial Legislative Council—LegisLation Affecting Town And County—Township Government

Established—First Supervisors' Meeting—Some Early AssessMents—Circle Of Townships Completed—Roster Of County

Officials—Assessments And Taxes—Population For Ninety Years—Incorporated Cities And Villages

The County Court Houses—Cost Of County Building—Present Court House—The Oakland County Home

County Superintendents Of The Poor.

CHAPTER XIII

OAKLAND COUNTY IN STATE POLITICS

Question Of Land Titles—Governor Cass Brings Stability— Champions Of Public Improvements—The State Constitutions
Oakland County's Part In Constitution Making—Doctor Ray- Nale, Delegate To 1835 Convention

Seneca Newberry, DeleGate To 1835 And 1850 Conventions—State Officials, Elected And Appointed

Territorial Council Representatives—SPEAKERS And Clerk Of The House—Michigan Legislators From OakLand County

State Senators—State Representatives—DISTurbances Of War Issues

CHAPTER XIV

THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

Basis Of Public School System—Central University And Branches —First Academies In Oakland County—Heads Of The County System

Remains A Perpetual Fund—Duties Of The Teacher Of Today — Standings Required — District Libraries — High School Scholars

District Schools Of The County—Present Status Of Schools

CHAPTER XV

MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION

First Oakland County Highway—Other Roads Established—ImProvement Of The Clinton River—First Michigan Railway Chartered

Detroit & Pontiac Railroad Company—Finally Completed To Birmingham—Detroit & Milwaukee Railway Company

Establishment Of Present Systems—Coming Of ElecTric Lines—The Grand Trunk System

The Michigan CenTral.—Pere Marquette Railroad—Detroit United Railway— Summary

CHAPTER XVI

BANKS AND BANKING

Oakland County's First Bank—The "wild-cat" Banks—One "safety Fund" Bank—National Banks In The County

The State Banks—Pontiac Savings Bank—The Oakland County Savings Bank—First Commercial Bank Of Pontiac

The AmeriCan Savings Bank—First State Savings Bank Of Birmingham— Farmington Exchange Bank

Rochester Savings Bank—Holly Savings Banks—Farmers' State Bank Of Oxford

Royal Oak Savings Bank—The Orion State Bank—State Savings Bank Of South Lyon

CHAPTER XVII

THE MEDICAL PROFESSION

Pioneer Conditions—Primitive State Of Medical Practice—AlloPathic Practitioners Prior To 1837—Dr. William Thompson,
First Physician—Drs. Olmstead And John Chamberlain—Dr. Ezra S. Parke—Dr. Cyrus Chipman—Drs. Lamb, Lamond And Alger

Dr. John C. Emery—The Old County Medical Society —Allopathic Practitioners From 1837 To 186(5—Three Early- Time Homeopaths

Present County Medical Society—Pontiac Medical Society—Present Practitioners

CHAPTER XVIII

WOMEN'S INFLUENCE IN THE COUNTY

What Women Have Done For Oakland County (by Martha BaldWin)—Women's Work In Pontiac—The Pontiac City Hospital
—Pontiac Public Library—Women's Literary Club Of Pontiac —The Round Table Club—West Side Reading Circle

Women's Christian Temperance Union—Birmingham Public Library— Birmingham Literary Club

Greenwood Cemetery Association —Ladies' Library Association Of Holly

CHAPTER XIX

MILITARY MATTERS

Oakland County Soldiers Of The War Of 1812—Napoleonic SolDiers—Early Military Organizations—The Mexican War
The War Of The Rebellion—First Michigan Infantry—Second Infantry—General I. B. Richardson—The Second Regiment
Third Infantry—The Fifth Infantry—Seventh Regiment— Eighth And Ninth Infantry Regiments—The Tenth Infantry
Death Of Adjutant Cowles—The Fourteenth Infantry— The Fifteenth And Sixteenth—Twenty-second Infantry-
Governor Moses Wisner—Twenty-ninth Infantry—Thirtieth Infantry And "mechanics And Engineers"—Custer's Michigan
Cavalry Brigade—The Eighth Cavalry—Ninth And Tenth Cavalry Regiments—Michigan Light Artillery

One HunDred And Second United States Colored Troops—Military Matters Of Late.

CHAPTER XX

VILLAGE OF PONTIAC

Colonel Mack's Company—First Pontiac Settlers—Works Of Mack, Conant And Sibley—Colonel's Mack, Father And Son

Settlers Of 1822-1836—County Seat And Courthouse—TownShip Organization—The Village Of Auburn (amy)

Pontiac Village Incorporated—Early Trustee Meetings—Real Estate Item—The Mill Pond Nuisance—The Fire Of 1840

Early Bridges—Common Council, The Governing Body—The Village Fire Department—Gas Works Inaugurated

Heads Of The Village Government

CHAPTER XXI

CITY OF PONTIAC

First Election—City Police Department Born—First City Hall—Value Of Property In 1876—"john P. Foster No. 2"

Smallpox Epidemics Of 1881-82—Newspaper Sensation—Resignation Of Chief Engineer Foster—City Finances In 1876

Board Of Water Commissioners Created—The New Fifth Ward—Original SysTem Of Water Works

Electric Lighting And Telephone Sys- Tems—First Gamewell Fire Alarm Telegraph—Municipal Government In 1894

First Three Years Of Water Service— Lighting And Telephone Service Again—Sewerage System InAugurated

Extension Of Water Works—Telephone Service Up To Date—Commission Government Adopted—Early MeasUres Passed

Increased Efficiency Of FIre Department—The Present City Hall—Mayors Of Pontiac—The City Press— Oak Hill Cemetery

Gas Lighting And Electric Power— Postoffice And Postmasters The Pontiac State Hospital

CHAPTER XXII

INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS PONTIAC

Direct Successor Of 1820 Mill—The Howard Interests—The Old Paddack Mills—Charles Dawson And His Work

Pontiac City Mills—Pioneer Machine Shops And Furniture Factories— Early Breweries

Fathers Of The Auto Industry—Pontiac And Other Mills Of 1852—Pontiac's Early Business Men

AutomoBile Industry Of Pontiac—Oakland Motor Car Company—GenEral Motors Truck Company

The Flanders Plants—The CarTercar Company—Monroe Body Company—The BeaudeTT Body Works

Slater Construction Company—Pontiac Brewery— Pontiac Commercial Association

CHAPTER XXIII

PONTIAC SCHOOLS

Sarah Mccarroll's Sketch—The Old Pontiac Academy—First Common Schools—Public System Organized

The "old Union" —High School Building Of 1871—School Superintendents And High School Principals—

The New High School—Public Sys- Tem And List Of Schools—Michigan Military Academy

CHAPTER XXIV

PONTIAC CHURCHES

Earliest Methodist Preachers—First Methodist Church In County—Pastors From 1826 To The Present—Mrs. Shattuck's Reminiscences

Central Methodist Episcopal Church—TheFirst Baptist Church—First Presbyterian Church—HOW The Church Was Built

First Congregational Church—Third Congregational Church In The State—New Building—St. Vincent De Paul's Church

All Saints Episcopal Church— St. Trinitatis Lutheran Church—The African M. E. Church —Young Men's Christian Association

Red Ribbon Club Of Pontiac

CHAPTER XXV

PONTIAC'S Fraternal Societies

Masonry In Pontiac—Third Lodge In Territory—Pontiac Lodge No. 21—Past Masters—Pontiac Council No. 3, R. & S. M.

Oakland Chapter No. 5, R. A. M.—Pontiac Commandery No. 2, K. T.— Pontiac Chapter No. 228. O. E. S.

Masonic Temple AssociaTion—Canton Pontiac No. 3. I. O. O. F.—Pythian Knights And Sisters

Dick Richardson Post, G. A. R.—Knights Of ColumBus—Royal Neighbors Of America—B. P. O. E.—Other Lodges.

CHAPTER XXVI

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

Physical Features—A Good Many Dead Indians—First Land EnTry—Formative Township Period—Three Competing Taverns

Mills And Stores Outside Of Birmingham—Bloomfield Center —Birmingham Village Plats—Old Times At Piety Hill

VilLage Of Birmingham—Reincorporated—Village Presidents And Clerks—Public Works

Soldiers' Monument—Birmingham Churches—Secret And Fraternal Societies

CHAPTER XXVII

HOLLY TOWNSHIP

Drainage And Lakes—First Entry And Settlement—Other PiOneers Of The Township—Settlers In 1832-1837

First Things —Quaint Alonzo R. Rood—Descendants Of The Pioneers— Founding Of Holly Village

Village Schools—New Union School—Township And Village Libraries—The Waterworks

Holly Newspapers—Industries—The Churches—Societies

CHAPTER XXVIII

AVON TOWNSHIP

James Graham, Original Settler—The Hersey-russell-graham Combine—Memories Of The Old Hersey Mill

Mill Stones From Bowlders—Stony Creek Village—Rochester Platted— Pioneers Outside Of Rochester

First Corporation Officers— Rochester Industries—Western Knitting Mills—Creamery And Flouring Mill

The Schools—Rochester Union School— Waterworks And Fire Protection-—Electric Light And Power

Rochester Newspapers—The Churches—Rochester Societies— Biological Farm, Parkdale—Ferry Seed Farm

CHAPTER XXIX

OXFORD TOWNSHIP

Civilly Organized—First Settlers Of The Township—First Roads And Railroad—Thomas—Lakes—Oxford Village Incorporated

Schools—Oxford Churches—Newspapers And Societies—OxFord Industries—Michigan Pressed Brick Company

C. L. Randall & Company. 418

CHAPTER XXX

ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP

Origin Of The Name—Governor Cass "sees For Himself"—Settlers Of 1822-1826—Township Organized—Royal Oak Village

CorPoration Record—Royal Oak Schools—Churches—Societies

Urban Rest And Ferndale—Roseland Park Cemetery

CHAPTER XXXI

ORION AND MILFORD TOWNSHIPS

Orion's First Settlers And Events—A Township Of Lakes—Orion Village Churches—Milford Township Formed

The Ruggles Brothers—Pioneer Mills—The Present Village—Milford Churches

CHAPTER XXXII

LYON AND FARMINGTON TOWNSHIPS

First Settlers Of Lyon Township—New Hudson And Kensington— Village Of South Lyon—Schools And Churches

South Lyon Industries—The Power Colony Founds Quakertown (farmIngton)—Other Pioneers Of The Township

Doctor Webb Adds Distinction—First Mills—Recollections Of P. Dean Warner —Village Of Farmington—Schools

The Churches—The MaSonic Lodge—Clarenceville And North Farmington. 449

CHAPTER XXXIII

ADDISON AND BRANDON TOWNSHIPS

Lakes Of Addison Township—LakeviLLe's Early Promise—TownShip Organization And District Schools—Village Of Leonard

Brandon Township—Its Pioneer Settlers—Village Of OakWood—Township Organization—Village Of Ortonville

CHAPTER XXXIV

INDEPENDENCE AND COMMERCE

Sashabaw Plains, Independence Township—Water Courses— Settlers At Clarkston And The "plains"

The Primitive Schoolhouses—Clarkston Up To Date—Commerce Lakes And Streams

First Settlers At Commerce And Walled Lake—Commerce Of Today—Township Organization And First PostOffices

Wixom And Switzerland

CHAPTER XXXV

SPRINGFIELD AND HIGHLAND

Springfield Township Organized—Springfield And Anderson SetTlements—Davisburg—Highland's Physical Features

First Settlers—Highland Post office And Station—Village Of Clyde —Methodism In The Township

CHAPTER XXXVI

ROSE AND WEST BLOOMFIELD

Physical Features Of Rose Township—Rose Center, Or Rose— Bloomfield As A Lake Township—Earliest Pioneers

Sale Of Indian Reservations—First Post office—Orchard Lake PostOffice—The Polish Seminary 476

CHAPTER XXXVII

NOVI AND WATERFORD TOWNSHIPS

The Name "novi"—The Colony Of 1825-26—Novi Corners, Or Novi —Waterford Township And Its Lakes

Coming Of The WilLiams' Families—Waterford Village Founded—Schools And Churches

Waterford Of Today—Drayton Plains—Old ClinTonville

CHAPTER XXXVIII

TROY AND OAKLAND

The Trowbridge Family Of Troy Township—Johnson Niles And Troy—Big Beaver And Clawson

United Presbyterian Church Of Troy—Oakland Township In General—Goodison's

CHAPTER XXXIX

SOUTHFIELD, GROVELAND AND WHITE LAKE

Southfield Township's Flrst Settlers Franklin And SouthField—Groveland Township—Groveland And Austin

Almost A Railroad—White Lake Township—Oxbow And White Lake.