USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume I > Part 47
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
The first of the secret and fraternal orders to be established at Bir- mingham was that of Masonry. It was founded through the initial meet- ing of Birmingham Lodge No. 44, A. F. & A. M., which was held on the 25th of April, 1850. On January 9, 1851, the charter was granted and the following officers were installed at that time: William Brown, worthy master; Friend Belding, senior warden; Scribe Blakeslee, junior warden; Ebenezer Raynale, treasurer; George W. Marrill, secretary ; Horace Gray, senior deacon; Horace J. Johnson, junior deacon; Peter Dox, tyler.
For many years the meetings were held over the store of James W. Hunt; later they purchased from John Allen Bigelow the rooms over his store, corner Pierce and Maple streets, which was formally dedi- cated to Masonic uses on December 23, 1873, by Grand Master Hugh McCurdy, who had received his degree in No. 44, but afterwards be- came affiliated with Corunna lodge. Birmingham lodge has also fur- nished a grand master in the person of Alanson Partridge, who officiated in the year 1872.
Those who have served as masters are: William Brown, 1851-53; Friend Belding, 1852; Alanson Partridge, 1854-66, 1867-9, 1872-80, 1883 ; Elson W. Reynolds, 1867, 1881, 1882; William Brown, 1870-71 and 1884; Eugene Brooks, 1885-1895, 1897; Frank W. Blair, 1896; Daniel M. Johnston, 1898-1900, and 1908; George H. Satterlee, 1901 and 1902; Will W. Masters, 1903-4 and 1906; Almeron Whitehead, 1905; Ells- worth H. Randall, 1907; Charles J. Shain, 1909-10, and Earl R. Jenks, IgII.
The present membership of the lodge is two hundred and nineteen, of which the officers for 1912 are: Herman G. Hendrickson, worthy master ; James H. Terry, senior warden; Charles A. Brigham, junior warden ; John M. Rainey, treasurer ; Maurice R. Blair, secretary ; Percy W. Parmenter, senior deacon; Lynn A. Carmer, junior deacon; James B. Hunt, tyler.
Several years ago the lodge purchased rooms adjoining their then quarters, which they converted into banquet rooms, which gives them very comfortable quarters at present. In 1911 Birmingham released twenty-six members and jurisdiction of territory to aid in the formation of a lodge at Royal Oak.
Mary D. Hive No. 393, L. O. T. M. M., Birmingham, was organized
387
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
on August 16, 1893, with the following officers: Josephine Campbell, commander ; Emma Tibbits, lieutenant commander; Martha Blakelee, past commander; Lena Wilson, record keeper; Nellie Blair, finance keeper ; Emily L. Hunt, chaplain. In 1912 the following officers were elected : Flora Mudge, commander; Carrie Knowles, first commander ; Anna M. Parks, past commander; Emily S. Hunt, record keeper ; Helen H. Carson, finance keeper; Zina Mills, chaplain. The present member- ship of the lodge is thirty-four.
1
Vol. 1-25
CHAPTER XXVII HOLLY TOWNSHIP
DRAINAGE AND LAKES-FIRST ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT-OTHER PI- ONEERS 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.
The township of Holly, as we know it today, was created by act of the legislature, March 6, 1838, being formed from the west half of Groveland. The original townships of the county were Oakland and Bloomfield, formed in 1820 and, in 1827, divided into five, of which Pontiac included Groveland and Holly townships. As stated, the for- mer was divided in 1838. At that time the first land entry within the present limits of Holly township had been made eight years before, and the first actual settlement, seven.
DRAINAGE AND LAKES
There are few townships in the county, whose lakes and ponds are so generally distributed as those of Holly. They number some fifty, which, with Shiawassee river and Swartz creek, furnish sufficient water for the fertilization of the soil, as well as fish in season. The former flows through the southwestern corner of the township, and the latter. now generally known as Little creek, takes a tortuous course through the northwestern, central and southeastern sections, connecting a ma- jority of the little lakes and ponds. The most considerable bodies of water in the township are Bush (on the northeastern borders of Holly village), Crutched, Dickinson, Spring, Gravel, Strawberry, Fagan, Mitchell and Opinoconic. They are named generally as to their location north from the village of Holly, Opinoconic lake stretching into the extreme northwest corner of the township from Genesee county.
FIRST ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT
The first entry of land in Holly township was made by Nathan Her- rick on September 16, 1830, his claim being a part of section I, on the old Saginaw trail.
388
389
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
William Gage, a New Yorker, came with his family in 1831 and built a log house on section 6. He was the first actual settler and his the first house in Holly township. It is further probable that his son, John, born in 1832, was the first native white child.
OTHER PIONEERS OF THE TOWNSHIP
In the spring of that year, Nathan Herrick erected a log dwelling on his claim and moved into the house; so that he was the second to settle in the township. He became quite prominent in public affairs, and in April, 1835, was elected first supervisor of Groveland township when it included Holly.
Terrence Fagan, who came from Otsego county, New York, brought his family with him, and in the spring of 1833 entered land in sections 2, 3, and II, in the northeastern portion of the township. His log house was the third erected. Mr. Fagan lived in that locality until his death in 1852. Both he and his wife, who survived him but a few years, were buried in the old Hadley cemetery, on sections 18 and 19, Groveland township, which contains the remains of many of the pioneers of Holly.
The first marriage in Holly township was between Peter Fagan, one of his sons, and Eliza L. Dains, on the 18th of November, 1838. Mr. Fagan was long one of the leading citizens of the township.
SETTLERS IN 1832-1837
The following is believed to be a nearly complete list of those who settled in the township from 1832 to 1837, inclusive: 1832, Nathan Herrick, Calvin Herrick, Peter Fagan, John Fagan and Hannibal Vick- ery ; 1833, Terrence Fagan, Thomas Fagan, Alonzo R. Rood and Vin- cent Runyon ; 1834, Burnett Scott and Asa Beech (who kept a tavern on section 12) ; 1835, Darius Austin, John Runyon, Matthew Moorehouse, Jonathan T. Allen, Edwin Edwards, Alexander Galloway, George Mitchell, John Forsyth and Masten W. Richards; 1836, William Young, Moses Smith, William Haas, Robert Kennedy, Stephen Dains, John Dains, Ira C. Alger, Edward Bray, H. H. Bartlett, Isaac Springer, Nicholas Yorton, Isaac Taylor, Meshek G. Norris, Sr., Edward Hull, John Stringer, John Stone, Sylvanus Bartlett and Filer Frost ; 1837, David Ackerson, Wil- liam B. Decker, William Bevens and Willet C. Day.
FIRST EVENTS.
The first town meeting held in the township of Holly proper was at the house of John Runyon, in April, 1838, and the following officers were elected: Jonathan T. Allen, supervisor ; Ira C. Alger, clerk ; Willet C. Day, treasurer ; Peter Fagan, Daniel Donaldson, Edwin Edwards, highway commissioners; Ira C. Alger, William Gage, John Stone, jus- tices of the peace; Daniel Donaldson, William Bevins, Calvin Herrick, constables ; Peter Fagan, Edwin Edwards and the supervisor ex officio, assessors.
The first hotel in the township was built at Stony Run, in 1834, by Smith Jenks and Thomas Irish.
390
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
In 1839 William Young erected the pioneer blacksmith shop on section 22.
The first road in the township was completed in 1834, being that portion of the Detroit & Saginaw turnpike which crosses the northeast corner, on sections I and 12.
The log schoolhouse, opened in 1833, on the line between Groveland and Holly, was the first built in either township. Its teacher was an Irishman named Hugh Dougherty, and his first class comprised twelve pupils.
QUAINT ALONZO R. ROOD
Alonzo R. Rood bore the honor, for many years, of being the pioneer settler of Holly township. He came from Genesee county, New York, in 1822, and, with his wife and eight children, settled first in Bloomfield township. Four children were afterward born to Mr. and Mrs. Rood. In the fall of 1833 the family moved to section 26, Holly township, where he resided to a very advanced age. Mr. Rood and his brother-in- law, Vincent Runyon, came together, and the first timber cut in the neighborhood went into his log house. About 1837 he erected a frame dwelling, which is claimed to have been the first in the township.
Mr. Rood was still living on the land of his first choice in 1898, and the following is an article published in the Detroit Journal which tells the story of his life up to that time :
"The oldest living settler in Holly township, as well as one of the most eccentric characters in the state, is Alonzo R. Rood, who resides on his old farm about two and a half miles northeast of Holly village. He is now a man of eighty-five years, and the story of his life as told by himself is possessed of all the spirit of adventure of a novel. Al- though he has passed through a great many hardships, he is as hale and hearty as a man of sixty years and can do a day's hard farm work as easily as most men half his age. He is known for miles around for his great hardihood.
"Mr. Rood was born among the beautiful hills of Orleans county, Vermont, on April 19, 1812. When ten years old his parents caught the western fever and prepared to follow the 'star of the empire' and set out to seek their fortune in the new territory north of the Ohio. Mrs. Rood and the children traveled from Buffalo to Detroit by water, but the steamer was not large enough to carry the oxen and old Mr. Rood drove them overland.
"'When we landed in Detroit,' said Mr. Rood, 'it was a straggling little hamlet that could be put into a ten-acre lot, and here we waited for father to come up with the cattle. When he arrived we immediately set out for our new home-a piece of the wilderness near the present site of Pontiac.'
"Ten months of the year Alonzo helped his father to reclaim the forest and the other two months were spent at school. Here the scholars were taught to read, spell and cipher. By great perseverance in home study he got a fair education for those days.
"On attaining his majority Alonzo was given a yoke of oxen and a cow. This made him rich, and in the fall of 1832 he decided to begin
391
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
life on his own hook. He struck an Indian trail and went several miles further into the primeval forests and located on eighty acres in what is now Holly township, and which was then a section of a vast territory called Copmeconic. He built a rude hut to shelter himself and his stock during the coming winter.
"Young Rood found the life a rather lonely one. He might ramble for miles in any direction without seeing the face of a civilized being. He was the only white man in that section, which was a wilderness. Yet the young man was not dissatisfied. He did not have time to fell trees, so he girdled them and next spring he planted and raised his first crop of corn in the shade of their leafless branches. The Indians stole half of his crop before it was gathered, but they were inclined to be friendly, and Alonzo did not kick. There were wolves in plenty, but they did not cause the young man as much fear as did the wild hogs.
"Once or twice a year Rood would go to Pontiac with a grist or two to pay his taxes. His father died and Alonzo became the possessor of a herd of more than fifty cattle. He was now a rich man, indeed. Other settlers were coming into his section of the wilderness, and be- coming tired of his hut he determined to build himself what he called a mansion. This consisted of a frame dwelling one and a half stories in height, sided up with real sawed lumber. Its dimensions were fifteen by twenty feet. In order to build this house Mr. Rood hauled logs twenty-two miles to Pontiac and had them sawed into lumber which he drew back. He acted both as architect and carpenter. Nails were worth twenty cents a pound. Rood bought one pound with which to put his doors together, and for the rest of his house he used wooden pegs.
"This house, more than sixty years old, yet stands. It has the dis- tinction of being the oldest building in Holly township. The outside boards are worn as thin as paper in some places from the action of the elements. Its most striking features are its windows which are six inches wide and very high. It was necessary in the days when the house was built to construct windows in this shape to keep the Indians out while the family were in the fields. The house is a great landmark and is being carefully preserved. His daughter, who is married and resides in Detroit, being desirous of securing possession of the old homestead on her father's death, has entered into an agreement whereby she is to pay him a certain sum of money each year as long as he lives, and at his death the place descends to her. From the present indica- tions she will pay dearly for the property, for if serious accident does not befall him, the old man is certainly destined to see the century mark.
"Mr. Rood has been married four times. His first wife died after a few years of happy married life. 'My second wife,' said Mr. Rood. 'was young, and did not like my ways, and finally left me. A third fol- lowed in the footsteps of the second. Wives, you know,' continued the old man, 'are somewhat like cattle --- they like a change of pasture. So I let them go. My present wife is the best of all.' Mr. Rood believed that a wife should remain at home all the time unless she was working with him in the fields.
"Mr. Rood has one of the finest apple orchards in the county. The trees all grew from seeds planted in the ground where they now stand,
392
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
and some of them are more than sixty years old. On the north and west sides of the orchard are green walls more than thirty feet high, which are formed by hundreds of fir, pine, spruce and hemlock trees, which were planted as a wind break years and years ago.
"The orchard yielded one thousand barrels of apples last year, every one of which was handled by the old man. He brought them into Holly to be shipped. Mr. Rood was in California for three years in the fifties, and he spent a week at the world's fair at Chicago. These were his longest trips away from home."
DESCENDANTS OF THE PIONEERS
Not long ago the venerable Thomas L. Patterson, of Holly, re- marked to the writer that there were few localities in Oakland county in which so many of the descendants of the pioneers still resided on the old homesteads as in Holly township. In the following contribution to this history he proves his assertion: "The record discloses," he writes, "that Nathan Herrick took from the government the first patent for land in the township on section I. Soon after, Mr. Gage located on section 6. A little later Terrence Fagan also located as among the first, as did also George Mitchell, who located on sections 9 and 10. Hugh Belford was also among the oldest.
"This reminiscence is not undertaken or given to individualize, but to show some of the work and the lessons taught by the early pioneers that have been recognized and adhered to by their children, heirs and kindred, and to estimate a percentage of the original locations that are still kept in the families of the pioneers.
"The years 1835-1839, took all or nearly all of the government lands in Holly. That is, the lands were mostly located and settled by pioneers within those years. Of the lands located in the first five years of the thirties, there are but eight of the locations so made by them that are held by descendants in direct line, viz. :
"Land of Hugh Belford, held by his sons, Joseph and Henry, on sections 3 and 4.
"Land of John D. Parker, held by his son Henry, on sections 5 and 6. "Land of William Gage, held by grandchildren, in part, Mrs. John Fagan and George White, on section 6.
"Land located by Morris Green, held by himself and son.
"Land located by George Mitchell, held by his son, David Mitchell.
"Land located by Terrence Fagan, held by his grandson, William Fagan, on section II.
"Land located by Darius Austin on sections 10 and 15, held by his daughter Nellie.
"Land located by Jonathan T. Allen, held by his granddaughters, daughters of Mr. Ira Allen, Mrs. J. W. Mothersill and Mrs. T. S. Pat- terson, on section 35.
"There are now owned and occupied by the kindred of those who located lands in the township in the last five years of the thirties, fifteen families, viz. :
"Land located by Samuel Green, held by himself, on section 4.
393
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
"Land located by Patrick Cunnien, held by his two sons, sections 6 and 8.
"Land located by W. Traphagan, held by his son, Abram Traphagan. on section 7.
"Land located by Daniel Minnock on section 9, held by his daughter, Mrs. W. R. Smith and son, Michael Minnock.
"Land located by Elisha Marsh on section 12, held by grandson, Elmer Marsh.
"Land located by Henry Lehring on section 14, held by Frederick Lehring.
"Land located by Hiram Austin on section 15, held by Handy Austin. son.
"Land located by Samuel DeCue on section 19, held by son, John DeCue, and sisters.
"Land located by C. P. Quick, held by sons, John, Charlie and Wil- liam, and a daughter, on sections 21 and 22.
"Land located by Moses Smith on sections 25 and 36, held by grand- sons, Fred and Howard Smith.
"Land located by James Patterson, held by grandson, W. F. Patter- son, section 28.
"Land located by A. M. Joslin, held by sons, James and John Joslin, section 28.
"Land located by C. F. Harback, held by Charles Herrick, grandson, section 30.
"Land located by Peter Fagan, held by sons, John, Thomas H., Edwin and William, and daughter, Mrs. Spaulding.
"This statement is made from facts which have come under the personal observations of the writer since 1847, and from personal talks with some of the very earliest settlers of the township, the writer having been a resident of the township for sixty-five years.
"The percentage of estates of the pioneers who located homes in Holly, as will be seen, is small, but a golden thread runs through time and connects the homes of the early settlement of the township with the present hustling and progressive population of township by kindred. But few remain of the settlers of the last half of the thirties and the whole of the forties, not to exceed seven, I think-among them, Morris Green, C. F. Harback. Harrison Smith, David Mitchell, Mrs. John Danes and the writer. Other descendants of the early pioneers are resi- dents of Holly, but of a later generation. My estimate is that seven per cent in number of the locators of the lands in Holly from the gov- ernment are now represented by direct descendants, and about ten per cent of the acreage.'
FOUNDING OF HOLLY VILLAGE
The village of Holly owes its existence to the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, which was completed to that point in October, 1855. A small settlement had already sprung up, Ira C. Alger having built a sawmill and a grist mill at that point more than ten years before.
Mainly through the influence of Peter Fagan, a postoffice was es-
394
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
tablished there in 1846-the first in the township. The postmaster was Marcus Young. As Mr. Fagan induced the government to call the new postoffice "Holly Mills," the origin of the village name is readily under- stood.
The original plat of the village of Holly was laid out by James G. Mitchell in 1855 and in 1858 he made an addition which was called J. G. Mitchell's northern addition. Several other additions were made pre- vious to its incorporation by act of the legislature in 1865.
VILLAGE SCHOOLS
The first school in Holly village was taught by Miss Caroline Norris in the winter of 1845-46. The old schoolhouse stood on Saginaw street and was used for various purposes.
The first Holly Union school building was begun in the fall of 1867 and completed the following summer at a cost, including grounds and furniture, of more than $26,000. The Union school was organized in the fall of 1868 and the school census of that year shows an enroll- ment of three hundred and seventy-five pupils and an average attendance of two hundred and fifty-five. The cost of maintaining the school was $2,280.
The teachers for the school year of 1876-77 were: Principal, Wil- liam Thomas; preceptress, Miss Alice Cooper; grammar department, Miss Kate M. Miles, Miss Ella A. Farnsworth; primary department, Mrs. Amelia Norris and Miss Georgia Holland. The total annual ex- penses of the school, including the salaries of teachers, janitor's wages, fuel, lights, etc., were more than $3,000. The first building was a large brick structure, three stories in height, surmounted by a belfry, in which hung a fine bell. The school was located in the eastern part of the village, occupying the south half of the block bounded by Maple, Center, East and College streets.
The Union school building being deemed inadequate for the proper accommodation of the large number of pupils, a one-story brick school- house was erected in the southwest part of the village at a cost of $1,000. The teacher for the school year of 1876-77 was Miss Ada Plummer.
The attendance at the Union school has kept pace with the general growth of population, and in 1912 was placed at about three hundred and forty-the high school enrolling over ninety pupils. .
NEW UNION SCHOOL
Holly has from the beginning been noted for her good schools, and recent developments in the educational system of the town have further advanced her prestige in that respect. For a considerable period many have felt that the old buildings were no longer adequate to the demands of the place, and agitation for a new building to house both high school and grades has this year been brought to a successful conclusion. As a result, there is now (July 1, 1912) nearing completion in this enter- prising town, a $30,000 Union structure, one hundred and twenty-five by one hundred and fifty feet-a building so unique and so nearly per-
395
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
fect for the purpose which it is to serve that we call attention to some of its salient features, briefly.
First: The building being a one-story affair, all danger from fire is avoided. There is no basement in which flames might spread before discovery; there are no dangerous stairways; the corridors are unob- structed and open at both ends of the building; each grade has an out- side room.
Second: The sanitary arrangements are as nearly perfect as is possible to make them. An ample supply of fresh air is brought into each room at all times without the necessity for a draft. Separate toilets are provided on the main floor for the grades and for the high school, instead of being put into a mischief-making basement, as is too often done.
Third: The lighting scheme is ideal. Light is admitted from one side and above, making dark corners impossible and doing away with all need of artificial light.
Fourth: The high school and grade rooms have separate corridors so that the younger pupils do not come into contact with those of the high school while in the building.
Fifth: A fine aduitorium is provided, with a large stage which is fully equipped in every way. Thus a place is provided where all literary and dramatic functions of the school can be presented.
Sixth: The plan of the building is very elastic. As the school grows, a room or rooms can be added at any time with slight extra expense and without injuring the appearance or utility of the building.
The average attendance of the high school is ninety-two and of the primary and grammar grades, one hundred and fifty-eight, making a total average attendance of two hundred and fifty pupils. The schools employ a teaching force of ten teachers.
TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE LIBRARIES
The township library of two thousand volumes is installed in the Union school. In March, 1911, the village voted to accept what had previously been the Ladies' Library and in April the township followed its action, a tax limited to two mills on the dollar being also voted to maintain it.
The Free Public Library at Holly was the first to be founded in the county and is second only in size to that at Pontiac. It contains three thousand volumes; librarian, Miss Lillian Daisy. Durkee. The library building was erected in 1893 and the institution has been virtually man- aged by the women of the place from the first. At present its board of directors consists of five women and one man.
THE WATERWORKS
In 1899 the waterworks were built by the village and operated by the Holly Electric and Power Company and the Holly Produce and Milling Company. The electric company pumped the water from wells under contract with the village corporation, the same arrangement still hold-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.