USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume I > Part 48
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MAIN STREET, HOLLY
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ing good. The present plant was erected in 1909 and is operated under the Harris air lift system. The pumping capacity amounts to two hun- dred thousand gallons every twenty-four hours, and the supply goes both to village consumers and the railroads. The waterworks had a narrow escape at the fire of December 17, 1910, when the plants of the milling and electric companies were destroyed at a loss of $50,000. Many of the pipes were melted and the supply was shut off for several hours, but the pumps and walls were saved after a desperate fight by the firemen.
HOLLY NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper published at Holly was the Register, established by a Mr. Crawford in 1865. E. Frank Blair, Henry Jenkins and others were successive editors and proprietors previous to its disappearance from newspaperdom. It is said to have been the first in the county to adopt "patent" print.
In 1875 Thomas V. Perkins founded the Holly Times, a home print, which hardly survived its infancy.
The third paper to be established still exists-the Oakland Adver- tiser-and was founded by Fred Slocum on the Ist of May, 1877. It was established as a monthly folio and, greatly improved in appearance and expanded in scope, was continued by Mr. Slocum until March, 1897, when it was purchased by E. & F. Patterson. Patterson brothers continued to conduct it until September, 1907, at which time Fred Pat- terson became sole editor and proprietor, as at present.
INDUSTRIES
The Michigan Manufacturing & Lumber Company was organized in 1894 as the successor of the old Holly Manufacturing Company. At that time the capital stock of the company was $15,000, which has been increased to $55,000 common and $20,000 preferred. The firm is en- gaged in the manufacture of box shooks, wood specialties, floor trucks, etc., and the annual output of the factory is something like $250,000. They employ seventy-five people and the pay roll aggregates $3,000 a month. The main building is a one-story frame, while a later addition is a two-story brick affair. F. J. Barrett is secretary and general man- ager of the company, and it is to his careful and conservative direction of the affairs of the concern that its continuous advancement and solid financial status is due.
The Patterson Manufacturing Company of Holly, had its origin in the Holly Wagon Company, organized in 1902, the latter named com- pany being practically the founders of the village. The plant was not a success from a financial viewpoint, and in 1904 it was sold at forced sale, James W. Patterson, one of the original stockholders, buying. Mr. Patterson interested the Brown Brothers of Detroit in the project, and thereafter the business continued until 1909 under the firm name of the Patterson & Brown Brothers Manufacturing Company, Mr. Patterson having personal supervision of the factory. In 1909 he came into con- trol of the entire stock of $50,000, all of which is now owned by him-
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self or his family, and the plant is doing a large business, which is steadily increasing under his management and direction.
The plant covers four acres with floor space of thirty-three thousand square feet, the building being a one-story concrete affair. It has ten thousand feet of additional space in its power house and storage sheds. The products of the Patterson Manufacturing Company are farm wagons, bob-sleds, cultivators, land rollers, combination stock racks, garden wheelbarrows, stone boats, and all kinds of gray iron castings. The annual sales of the plant aggregate $65,000 and the annual payroll is $25,000, with about an equal amount paid locally for material. Its products find ready market in practically every state in the Union, from coast to coast, and the concern is known for one of the highly successful enterprises of Oakland county.
THE CHURCHES
Holly first enjoyed the preaching of the Gospel by a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church in the spring of 1856, when Rev. Ira W. Donaldson officiated in that capacity. A class was organized on April I, 1857, by Rev. Thomas Wakelin, then in charge of the Grand Blanc circuit. Seven members comprised the class, as follows : William R. Kendall, Sara E. Kendall, Fidelia P. Wightman, Elizabeth Wakelin, Sophia C. Bird, Ira Wightman and Abynia Warren. In 1859 a substan- tial frame building was erected, which is still in use. In September, 1870, the spire was struck by lightning, and when it was repaired a large bell was put in place, which was first rung for service on New Year's day, 1871. In the Holly charge are societies at Groveland, Goodrich and Atlas. The pastors who have served since the organization of the church here are as follows: Rev. Ira Donaldson, 1856; Thomas Wake- lin, 1857; Isaac Crawford, 1858; John W. Crippen, 1860; Isaac C. Cochran, 1861 ; L. C. York, 1863; William Taylor, 1869; Orlando San- born, 1874; S. B. Kimmel, 1875; William C. Way, 1878; N. G. Lyons, 1880-83; E. B. Bancroft, 1884-85; J. C. Wortley, 1886-88; C. L. Adams, 1887-90; D. Casler, 1890-93; J. D. Halliday, 1893-96; C. C. Turner, 1896; C. H. Rutledge, 1897; J. R. Beach, 1898-1901; F. E. Dodds, 1901-04; A. A. Lancaster, 1904-05; F. J. Walker, 1905; E. F. Johnson, 1906; J. T. M. Stephens, 1909, the latter being the present incumbent.
The first Presbyterian church of Holly was organized in the school- house on Saginaw street, on July 7, 1859, with the following members : Mr. and Mrs. William Stiff; Clarissa Stiff ; William Johnson Stiff; H. H. Palmer and Lucy Palmer, his wife, and Thomas and Martha Hadley. The first pastor was Rev. George Winter. The Sunday-school was organized in January, 1862, with a membership of thirty. Their first superintendent was A. P. Waldo, and Mrs. Plum; Thomas, John, Mar- garet and William Hadley were the teachers. The church was built in 1861, and occupied for the first time on January 1, 1862. In 1877 the membership of the society was about one hundred and fifty. Follow- ing the ministry of Rev. George Winter, who served for one year, there have been the incumbents named hereafter: Rev. Thomas Wright, 1860-62; Rev. W. P. Wastell, 1862-65; Rev. George Winter, 1865-66;
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Rev. I. Sanford Smith, 1866-68; Rev. W. A. Cutler, 1869-70; Rev. Edward Dickinson, 1870-74; Rev. Joseph Swindt, 1874-1880; Rev. Ed- ward Harvey, 1880-1882; Rev. Richard H. Hookin, 1882-1885; Rev. Charles A. Evans, 1886-1887; Rev. Thomas Fowler, 1887-89; Rev. Charles P. Bates, 1890-95; Rev. William S. Buck, 1895-1901; Rev. F. A. Kuder, 1901-04; Rev. D. S. Carmichael, 1905-07; Rev. James B. Warner, 1907-09. On May 1, 1910, Rev. Charles D. Ellis became pastor of the church, and is now occupying that position. Mr. Ellis is a worthy gentleman, educated and cultured, and in every way fitted for his posi- tion in life.
The church has a membership today of about one hundred and thirty members, and is in excellent condition, both spiritually and materially.
The First Baptist church of Holly was organized in 1839, at the Jones schoolhouse in the township of Rose. Its first pastor was Rev. Samuel Jobes. In 1858 the congregation removed to Holly and held services in the old schoolhouse on Saginaw street, under the leadership of Rev. H. Stowitts. In 1862 the present church was built, being at first somewhat smaller than it is now. It was enlarged to its present size in 1870, through the efforts of Rev. J. H. Morrison, then its pastor. A Sunday-school was organized in May, 1862, with James E. Church as superintendent. Mr. Morrison was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. A. A. Hopkins, who resigned in February, 1878, and the subsequent pastors of the church have been: Rev. C. VanDorn, supply, 1880; Rev. J. H. Morrison, closed his second pastorate in April, 1893; Rev. O. M. Thrasher, served from November, 1893, to September, 1896; Rev. W. G. Clark, 1896 to 1904; Rev. H. C. Tratert, November, 1904, to Septem- ber, 1906; Rev. E. M. Blanchard, May, 1907, to February, 1908 (time of decease) ; Rev. T. J. Wright, April, 1908, to April, 1909; Rev. G. T. Curtiss, May, 1909, to February, 1911; Rev. E. H. Harbridge, from February, 1911, to the present time. Mr. Harbridge is a retired Con- gregational minister, who began his service in the Baptist church with his Holly pastorate. The present membership of the church, including non-resident members, is about fifty.
SOCIETIES
Mother Hur Court, No. 17, of the Tribe of Ben Hur, was organized in Holly in May, 1887, with a membership of about fifty. The first officers were : Chief, E. H. Lake ; past chief, Mrs. J. E. Benedict ; judge, Alice Smith ; scribe, C. E. Humphrey ; keeper of tribute, Elizabeth Pom- eroy ; teacher, Ida Joslin ; guide, J. R. Fraser; captain, Lillian Melioken. The present membership of the lodge is about one hundred and fifty, with the following officers: Chief, Anna Burnham; past chief, Emma Curtis; judge, Addie Bensett; keeper of tribute, Myrta E. Lakewood; teacher, Olive Wheeler; captain, Lyle Tuttle.
The lodge is in a thriving condition and is one of the live spots in the fraternal life of the village.
Subordinate Lodge No. 972, Independent Order of Foresters, was organized at Holly, on January 6, 1892, with the following officers : Court deputy, C. W. Mosher; chief ranger, Case J. Allen; past chief
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ranger, James C. Patterson; vice chief ranger, B. F. Jarrard; recording secretary, S. W. Van Sickle; financial secretary, Charles H. Baird; treasurer, C. H. S. Poole. The present officers of the lodge are: Court deputy, B. F. Jarrard; chief ranger, William R. Smith; past chief ranger, Charles E. Smith; vice chief ranger, A. W. Curtis; recording secretary, H. A. Horton ; financial secretary, F. S. Beebe.
Subordinate Lodge No. 11, Knights of the Loyal Guard, was or- ganized at Holly, on March 25, 1895, with the following officers: Cap- tain general, James B. Starker; senior captain, William A. Hart; junior lieutenant, Perry Jacobs; junior captain, Charles Tharrett; junior lieu- tenant, William H. Beardslee; recorder, Elmer J. Macomber. The present officers are: Captain general, James B. Starker ; senior captain. Charles Tinsman; junior lieutenant, James W. Clarke; junior captain, Charles A. Best; junior lieutenant, James Reed; recorder, Caroline Calkins.
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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.
According to the original act dividing Oakland county into two town- ships, approved June 28, 1820, Bloomfield township embraced the southern two-fifths of its area and Oakland township the northern three- fifths; Avon, of the present, therefore was included in the old Oakland township, and so remained until the 6th of April, 1835. As the first settlement in the county was made within its present limits, it has gen- erally been considered a miscarriage of historic justice that it did not retain the name of Oakland itself.
JAMES GRAHAM, ORIGINAL SETTLER *
These historic events are embalmed in the following statements : James Graham, the bona fide pioneer of the county and the township, was an Irishman who emigrated from his native country some years before the Revolutionary war and settled among the Pennsylvania Dutch. His neighbors are said to have pronounced his name as if spelt "Grimes," and at his death, or, at least, as his eulogy, Albert G. Greene, a Rhode Island literary man and scholar who spent the later years of his life in what was then the west, wrote:
"Old Grimes is dead, the good old man; We ne'er shall see him more ; He used to wear an old blue coat All buttoned up before."
James Graham raised a large family before he moved to Avon town- ship, having previously lived six years in Canada. His first location in
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Michigan was at Mount Clemens, Macomb county, which township his son, Benjamin, assisted to survey in 1816, under Colonel Wampler. On the 17th of March, 1817, which happened to be St. Patrick's day, the elder Graham, his son Alexander and Christopher Hartsough, with their families, arrived on the banks of Paint creek and proceeded to plant the seed which has grown into the flourishing village of Rochester. James Graham made a squatter's claim on the northwest quarter of section 21, a short distance southwest of the present site, but he had already thrown up a log shack at a point where it now stands, so that Rochester was founded for all practical purposes. The original Graham claim was the farm afterward located by Dr. William Thompson, and the sons,
AVON TOWNSHIP HALL
Benjamin and William, bought the southwest quarter of section 23 to the east, to which the veteran and ex-soldier of the Revolution finally moved to spend his last days.
Alexander Graham settled on the east side of what afterward be- came Main street, in the house built by himself and father, where was born his eldest son, James, in 1818. The latter was the first white child born in the county. The proprietors of the village subsequently gave the lot on which James Graham was born to him while he was still a youngster, and he owned it until his decease.
Christopher Hartsough married one of the daughters of James Gra- ham, the elder, and after stopping a short time with his brother-in-law, Alexander, settled near Plymouth, Wayne county, where he died shortly after.
THE HERSEY-RUSSELL-GRAHAM COMBINE
The first entry of land in the county was made by John Hersey, on the 29th of October, 1818, his claim being the south half of section IO,
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which embraced the northwest quarter of the present village plat of Rochester. He paid $2 an acre for it, only the first quarter of the pur- chase money being made at the time of location. In the summer of 1819 Mr. Hersey sold his claim on the southwest quarter of section 10 (the tract not included in the present Rochester plat) to Benjamin Wood- worth, a hotel keeper of Detroit, and William Russell, who had but recently located and built himself a log house. Mr. Woodworth never resided in Rochester, although he invested considerable money in its enterprises.
In the summer of 1819 Messrs. Hersey, Russell, Woodworth and Alexander Graham combined their skill and capital to build a sawmill in section 10, on the banks of Paint creek. This was the first of Roch- ester's industries. The first sawing was done in October of that year, and subsequently a single run of stone was added for gristing purposes. The stones were thirty inches in diameter, were taken out near Stony creek, and dressed by one of the Messinger family. The old Hersey mill, as it was long called, stood near the site of the Eureka mills, erected in 1868 by Doctors Jesse and Jeremiah Wilson.
MEMORIES OF THE OLD HERSEY MILL
Fifty-five years after the building of the Hersey mill, Christian Z. Horton, one of the first settlers of the township, tells the story of the good uses to which his fellows put the big boulders of Stony creek and vicinity, in the following :
"Over fifty years have passed away since the first sawmill in Oak- land county was built by Mr. John Hersey, in the town of Avon, on Paint creek, a few rods west of the mill of the Wilson Brothers. It stood on a line parallel with Walnut street, perhaps a little west. In this mill was placed a run of stone, manufactured by one Mr. Wood, a blacksmith by trade, out of our common boulders, which abound in this section. By the use of these stones Mr. Hersey ground the grain raised by the farmers in this vicinity, and what flour was made was bolted by a hand-bolt, also in the mill. No other mill was nearer than a few miles this side of Mt. Clemens, on the north branch of the Clinton, some twenty miles distant, owned by Mr. Tremble (pronounced Trom- bley), which was built some time in 1818 or 1820, or thereabouts. One of the persons who assisted in working Mr. Tremble's mill, lived in this village in 1842, named Joshua Sly.
"I will here relate an incident which was currently reported amongst the early settlers of this part of Michigan in regard to this mill, before there was any other mills in the territory, except windmills and a mill in Detroit worked by oxen. The incident was this: John and William Graham had occasion to take a large grist of wheat to be ground and bags sufficient for the bran, and on the way they agreed to a course of action in order to ascertain the means by which such large grists should shrink so much by grinding, and especially a good sample of wheat, which enigma had for a long time been circulating through the coun- try unsolved. They drove to the mill, the grist was received but could not be ground till late in the night. William had taken a good supply Vol. 1-26
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of buffalo robes and blankets, and resolved to sleep in the mill-mak- ing his bed near the hopper. Mr. Tremble wanted them to go to Mt. Clemens for a gallon of whiskey. John, however, went while William slept-one eye open. Mr. Tremble took the required toll. After John returned, and the night rolled along-the mill ground slowly-the grist needed another tolling, which was done; whereupon William arose from his slumbers, replaced the last tolling and as much more. An hour or so passed and a third tolling was done. The result was that William arose again, replacing as before. Still the grist lingered, and another resort of tolling was had, with the same result; and another until all the wheat that William could find in the mill was dumped into the hop- per. Then when the grinding was done, they (the Grahams) had not bags enough to hold the flour, so they left the balance and the bran to be taken at another time, which time has never come.
MILL STONES FROM BOULDERS
"My object in writing this sketch is more particularly to bring to notice the use some of the boulders that have been promiscuously strewn over this country were put to in an early day by the pioneers, and by whom. I cannot give the precise date when Mr. John Shippy, then a young man (since deceased), commenced manufacturing mill stones from boulders, but think it was in 1824 or 1825. His first set was for the late Mr. Nathaniel Millard of Stony Creek. The next set was for Mr. H. Lathrop, which were put in the old mill, the frame of which composes the upright of Barns and Brothers' paper mill. An incident in the manufacture of this set of stones is worthy of notice: Mr. Lathrop's hand, employed to assist Mr. Shippy on the stone, had left and by request of Mr. Lathrop, Mr. Shippy employed his younger brother, Mr. Smith Shippy; to assist him. He worked for him two days, when, in using the hammer, his fingers became so cramped that it was with difficulty he could unclasp them from the handle, besides being fearfully swollen. Mr. Lathrop paid him the sum of two dollars for his work-a bill on the bank of Ypsilanti-it being the first money he ever received for work. He was very choice of it, intending to buy a sheep with it. So laying it one side until a chance offered, some three weeks passed, when he was told the bank had broken.
"Mr. Shippy manufactured a set of stones for Mr. Lyman J. Wilcox, which did good service. After Mr. Wilcox built his new mill he sold the set to parties in Lapeer county. It is supposed that Mr. Shippy made a set for Mr. James A. Henry also. He also went to Grand Rapids and manufactured one or two sets there. The set of stones was taken from the mill of Mr. John Hersey to the Saginaw valley by Mr. Williams, and what has become of the others I am unable to tell, hoping, however, they are doing good service for the inhabitants of the country."
STONY CREEK VILLAGE
The little settlement of Stony Creek, about half a mile northeast of Rochester, had its origin in the locations and labors of the Taylors.
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Lemuel Taylor, a Baptist exhorter in broken health, with his five sons, purchased a tract of two hundred acres. The land, which was divided by the father among his sons, included a mill privilege, and in 1824 Nathaniel .Millerd, a son-in-law, joined the Taylors in the improvement of the property. They built a sawmill and a gristmill of the usual crude construction and furnishings, but as the elder Taylor died in August, 1827, he did not live to see the projects of himself and family greatly prosper.
Lemuel Taylor was a chairmaker and a wheelwright by trade, and very soon after coming to Stony Creek built a shop where he made these articles, thus combining practical with religious affairs.
In 1824 Elisha Taylor, one of the sons, opened a blacksmith shop, and Mr. Millerd (afterward Judge) exposed a small general stock of goods for sale at his log residence. Soon after, a more pretentious store was established by Elkanah Comstock, who had erected a small building for the special purpose.
A postoffice was established at Stony Creek the year following the coming of the Taylors and Mr. Millerd was appointed postmaster. The latter continued to reside there until his death, and was locally honored in every way.
In the spring of 1824 the Herseys, Rochester promoters, moved to the vicinity of Stony Creek, John Hersey and Burton Allen building a dam and sawmill some distance up that stream. This was shortly after the Taylor-Millerd mill was erected. Mr. Hersey died in March, 1856, his son, James A., afterward becoming a resident of Oakland township.
Stony Creek was laid out as a village in October, 1830, by Nathaniel Millerd, and Elisha and Joshua Taylor, sons of Lemuel. Mr. Millerd made an addition in 1842, and in 1847 completed a gristmill. In 1867 the plant was remodeled by Johnson Matteson into a woolen mill which was active for some years. But Stony Creek did not fulfill its early promise, or the expectations of its founders.
ROCHESTER PLATTED (1826)
The founding of Rochester has already been narrated. In 1826 Governor Cass, Austin E. Wing and Charles Larned, of Detroit, laid out the original plat of the village. Nine small houses then formed the settlement. Previous to that year few settlers had arrived; besides those already mentioned, John Shippy, the Jacksons and a Mr. Hill, on the Clinton river. In 1823-24 the flouring mill was built on the Clin- ton by Perrin & Mack and David Dort was the resident miller.
Seneca Newberry, Rochester's first merchant, came to the village in 1827, being a cousin of the widely known Oliver Newberry of De- troit. He continued to do business in the village for many years, and died therein May 13, 1877, at the age of seventy-five.
William Burbank came to Rochester in 1828 and, with his family, was one of the original members of the Congregational church.
In September, 1830, Almon Mack, son of Colonel Stephen Mack, founder of Pontiac, settled in Rochester, and opened the second store in the village. He went to the legislature afterward and was esteemed
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during his subsequent life one of the good and able men of the village and the county. The post office at Rochester was first established in 1829, with George N. Shaw as postmaster. The mail was first brought in on horseback, and afterward by stage, from Royal Oak.
The first hotel was opened in 1828 by John M. Mack in the house built by Mr. Shaw in the previous year.
PIONEERS OUTSIDE OF ROCHESTER
A number of prominent citizens of the township settled outside of both Rochester and Stony Creek, some of them moving to the former when it was evident that it was going to be quite a place. About 1819 George Postal, Sr., came from Ontario county, New York, with his wife and seven children, and took a claim on section 20, along the Clin- ton river. There, in 1825, he erected a sawmill, and a number of years afterward his son, Charles, built and operated a gristmill.
In the spring of 1819 Dr. William Thompson located on section 8, west of Rochester, but finally settled on section 21, to the south (the old Graham "squatter's" claim, of 1817). In 1820 Doctor Thompson built the first frame barn in the township.
Daniel LeRoy had settled in the spring of 1819, but Levi did not arrive until considerably later.
Roger Sprague, who was a man of middle age and an "Honorable" when he moved his family from New York to section 27, about two miles south of Rochester. He died in July, 1848, sincerely and gen- erally mourned.
Others might be mentioned; but these are certainly representative, and lack of space is the excuse for omitting a more extended list.
FIRST CORPORATION OFFICERS
The village of Rochester remained under the general government of the township of Avon until April 12, 1869, when the following officers were elected of the new corporation: President, Jesse E. Wilson ; trus- tees John H. Hutaf, William Newell, Daniel L. Jennings and George W. Vandeventer; clerk, Marsden C. Burch; assessor, William J. Weir ; treasurer, Hugh D. Bitters ; marshal, Herman Bennett. Mr. Burch was also appointed city attorney.
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