USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests Volume II > Part 43
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
Mr. Pierce received a good common school education in his native state, and was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he followed throughout his active career. In 1867, believing he could find a wider field for his abilities in the west, he journeyed to Michigan, settling on a partly-improved tract of forty-three acres in Independence town- ship, the greater part of which, however, was in stumps. Here he erected a new house, added to the barns and outbuildings, and when he had cultivated his first purchase added an additional forty acres, a part of this land also having been cleared. This land, which Mr. Pierce still owns, is located in section 6, three and one-half miles north of Clarks- ton. General farming claimed the greater part of his time and atten- tion, but he also engaged to some extent in raising thoroughbred Short- horn cattle and Merino sheep, and managed his operations so well that each venture was brought to a successful conclusion. In political matters Mr. Pierce is a Republican, but he has been no office seeker, although he has done his duty as a public-spirited citizen by serving for several years as a member of the school board.
803
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Just prior to coming to Michigan, Mr. Pierce was married to Miss Diana Casler, also of Herkimer county, New York, and they had three children : William F .; Ada, widow of Lewis C. Mills, who now lives with her parents; and Ida, a professional nurse, who also lives at home.
William F. Pierce, son of Delavan J., was born on his father's farm in Independence township, March 30, 1868, and remained thereon until he purchased his present property, adjoining that of his father, a tract of seventy-six acres. He now operates both farms, having taken over the management of his father's tract at the time of the latter's retire- ment, and has been successful in his operations. He erected the present large bank barn, made numerous improvements to the house, and is considered one of the progressive and enterprising young agriculturists of his section. His land is devoted to general farming, and the large crops of grain raised thereon testify to his ability as a farmer, while he has also evidenced his skill as a stock raiser by breeding lambs and good Shorthorn cattle. At the age of twenty-six years he was married to Miss Ada Galligan, daughter of Edward and Emmeline Galligan, formerly farming people of Independence township, but now living re- tired in the city of Pontiac. Like his father, he is a stalwart Repub- lican, and his wife is well known as a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church.
In 1898 Miss Ada Pierce was married to Lewis C. Mills, who was born June 30, 1870, in Groveland township, Oakland county, son of Norman J. and Jane (Kellogg) Mills, natives of New York. The elder Mills was an agriculturist in Groveland township for a long period and died there well advanced in years. Lewis C. Mills spent his boyhood at home, and for two years acted as an attendant at the Pontiac Asylum. At the time of his marriage he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Inde- pendence township, but failing health caused his removal to New Mexico, where it was hoped he would recuperate. His death, however, occurred June 13, 1908, at his home in Groveland township, since which time his widow has resided with her parents. They had no children.
THEODORE S. PHILLIPS. The pioneer settlers in the region of In- dependence township had many difficulties' to encounter and overcome in the early days of Oakland county's settlement, but they were, for the most part, hardy and persevering men, and more than one lived to see his final triumph over all discouragements and misfortunes. Among them were persons of the various eastern and southern states, all alike struggling to acquire a competence, and all developing into excellent citizens, public-spirited and alive to the best interests of their com- munity. No pioneer family of Independence township is held in higher esteem than that of Phillips, which for more than eighty years has been a synonym for all that is best in American citizenship, and a highly respected representative of which is found in the person of Theodore S. Philipps, now living in retirement after a long and useful life spent in agricultural pursuits. Mr. Phillips has lived in Oakland county for more than three-quarters of a century, having been born October 27, 1836, on his father's farm in Independence township, three miles east of Clarkston, a son of Bildad and Jane Ann (Allen) Phillips.
Bildad Phillips was born in Ashfield, Massachusetts, and was mar- ried in Sophronius, Onondaga county, New York, his wife's home. In 1830, with their three children, they made their way via Brockport,
804
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
the Erie Canal and the Great Lakes to Detroit, from whence they at once removed to Troy township, Oakland county. One year later they moved to Independence township, Mr. Phillips entering the land in section 23 where Theodore S. was later born. During the first year the family had little or no capital to work on, and Bildad Phillips went to work at the carpenter trade, making fanning mills in order to se- cure money with which to purchase necessities. Later he cleared fifty acres of timber land, burning all the valuable timber that was not used in building his necessary farm buildings, the farmers at that time be- ing ignorant of the fact that this wood was to be of great value in only a few short years. Progressive and enterprising in all things, he was the first to introduce wool growing as an occupation in Oakland county, and so successful was he in this line that he continued to keep sheep on his farm throughout his life and at the time of his death left a large flock of valuable animals. He taught the first regular term of school in the township, on Sheshaba Plains, although a year before a Miss Holden had taught a short term in a temporary cabin, and some years later he also acted as educator in his home district, some of his own
children being his pupils. A staunch Whig in politics, he was an influ- ential figure in local matters, was chosen to name the various town- ships, and helped to organize Independence township, which was so named because each of the organizers favored a different name and all were independent. He also acted as one of the first board of super- visors, served his community in various capacities for some years, and when his death occurred, October 10, 1856, at the age of fifty-nine years, his county lost one of its most able and public-spirited citizens. His wife passed away at the age of eighty-one, having survived him a number of years. They had a family of ten children, as follows: Ruth, who married Henry West, of Independence township, and died in 1906; Mary, who married Nicholas Smith, both spending their lives in Clark- ston, and being the parents of the Hon. Samuel Smith, member of Congress from this district; Pitts, who enlisted in the United States Army at the age of twenty-one years, and of whom all trace was lost after his discharge in the west; James, who became a farmer in Inde- pendence township, and enlisted for service in the Civil war, through which he served as a Union soldier, and from the hardships of army life died soon after the close of hostilities; Edmund, a harness maker by trade, who went to the state of Ohio in 1861, and died there in 1911; Theodore S., whose birthday falls on October 27, the day of Theodore Roosevelt's birth; Lydia Ann, who died in 1911, the wife of John Mey- erhoff, of Tuscola county; Sylvester, a farmer in Independence town- ship, four miles northeast of Clarkston, Laura, who passed away in childhood, she and her father and sister, Mary Ann, all dying within a period of ten days; and Jane, who married Jerome Vliet, and re- sides in the village of Clarkston.
Theodore S. Phillips was only nineteen years of age when his fa- ther died, but at that time he assumed the responsibilities and duties of taking care of the home farm, which he conducted for five years for his mother. He was married at the age of twenty-four years, but continued to work the old family homestead for three more years, then purchasing a tract of forty acres in the northeast part of the township. After a year and one-half on this property he sold out and purchased land adjoining the old homestead, three miles east of Clarks-
,
805
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
ton, on which he continued to operate until his retirement in 1898, adding to it from time to time until he had one hundred and twenty acres, and with a nephew, Melvin West, owning the old Phillips homestead. Dur- ing his residence on his land Mr. Phillips erected new houses, made numerous modern improvements, and saw and participated in the move- ments which transformed the whole country from the woods to fertile, well-kept farms. Industry and energy brought him a handsome re- ward for the evening of life, and he is now regarded as one of his com- munity's most substantial citizens. Although he gave the greater part of his attention to general farming, he also continued the wool grow- ing operations of his father, and in these as in other ventures he was uniformly successful. Mr. Phillips is a Republican in his views, but resides in a strong Democratic territory, which would probably give him but little chance of securing political preferment even should he desire it. He takes a great interest in any matter that is liable to bene- fit his community, and is especially well known in the Grange. With one exception, Edwin Foster, he is the only living charter member of this organiaztion in Independence township, having joined it in 1876, since which time he has been active in its work and has served almost continuously in official capacities. On one occasion he has been a dele- gate to the State Grange, but is of a modest and retiring nature and has never mounted the platform as a public speaker.
On April 3, 1861, Mr. Phillips was married to Miss Mary King, daughter of William and Eliza (Cross) King, who came to Independ- ence township and settled one and one-half miles northwest of Clarks- ton about 1844, coming from Port Byron, Cayuga county, New York, where Mary was born June 6, 1837. They remained on their farm until Mr. King's death in 1864. He was a farmer by occupation, but had also learned the cooper's trade in his youth, and conducted a shop on his land. That he was a skilled and careful workman is evidenced by the fact that several articles made by him a half a century ago are still in daily use, including a half-bushel measure owned by Mr. Phillips, and a wash tub, one of Mrs. Phillips' most highly-prized possessions, which was given her by her father as a wedding present, and which is still in use at this time. Mrs. King passed away in 1892, and Mrs. Phillips is now the only survivor of her parents' family of six children. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips have one son, Clarence K., who is engaged in cultivating his father's farm. He married Miss Virginia Pool, and they have three children, namely: Ethel, Mary and Edith, the first-named, a bright and accomplished miss, being a student in the Clarkston high school, although only thirteen years of age.
On April 3, 1911, at the Grange Hall and in charge of the local Grange, was held the golden wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, at which the numerous friends of the worthy couple, some of whom had come from various distant states, paid their respects to two of Clarkston's best-beloved residents. Genial, sociable people, with the memory of well-spent lives to comfort their declining years, they have drawn about them a circle of acquaintances who recognize and appre- ciate their many admirable qualities of mind and heart. One of the most carefully-preserved possessions of the family, and a record that will probably be of great interest to future generations, is a diary for- merly kept by Mr. Phillip's mother, and since her death by Mrs. Phil- lips, in which have been written the happenings of the neighborhood
806
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
and the events that have marked the changes of the community in which the family has spent so many years.
EDWARD J. MILLER is most successfully engaged in farming opera- tions on his finely improved estate of three hundred and twenty acres just outside of Clarkston, in Independence township, Oakland county, Michigan. He is possessed of ambition and determination and his energy, courage and business judgment have brought him to a position of esteem and influence among the citizens of Oakland county, where is a man of mark in all the relations of life. He is deeply and sin- cerely interested in community affairs but has never participated in public matters, preferring to give his undivided attention to his ex- tensive business interests.
A native of Independence township, Oakland county, Michigan, Ed- ward J. Miller was born June 2, 1866, and is a son of David Miller. Mr. Miller was reared to maturity in this county and was educated in the district schools. He remained at home, working for his father, until he had reached his thirtieth year, when he married and settled on his present farm just outside the village of Clarkston. The Miller residence lies within the corporate limits of the town. This estate comprises three hundred and twenty acres of some of the very best land in the county. It was originally known as the old Holcomb Farm, but is now called Cedar Glen Farm. Mr. Miller has recently erected a great barn-eighty-four by one hundred feet in lateral dimensions- with accommodations for nine horses, twenty head of cattle and three hundred sheep, in addition to which it has extensive lofts for storing hay, grain, etc. It is considered one of the "great" barns of the county. Mr. Miller feeds two hundred lambs each year and also raises hogs and cattle, in addition to which he is engaged in general farming, mak- ing a speciality of potato crops.
Cedar Glen Farm borders for nearly half a mile on Deer Lake, a popular summer resort, and also on Cedar Glen, from which it takes its name. The farm is an attractive place for summer coolness and shade and it abounds with the fragrant odors of the native forest. In politics Mr. Miller is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party, but his great business interests keep him from participating actively in matters politic. He is affiliated with a number of representative fra- ternal organizations and in religious matters he and his wife are devout members of the Methodist church, in whose faith they are rearing their children.
On February 25, 1897, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Maud Fitch, who was born at Sash-a-bagh Plains, a section of Independ- ence township lying two miles east of Clarkston, the date of her nativ- ity being January 14, 1871. She is a daughter of Henry and Hannah (Cowden) Fitch, the former of whom is deceased and the latter of whom is now living with her children in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have six children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth,-Beryl, Donald, Ferris, Frances, Lauren and Maurice.
While undoubtedly Mr. Miller has not been without that honorable ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regards the pursuits of private life as being in them- selves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. In community affairs he is active and influential and his support is readily and generously given
807
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
to many measures for the general progress and improvement. His life history is worthy of commendation and of emulation, for along honor- able and straightforward lines he has won the success which crowns his efforts and which makes him one of the substantial residents of Oakland county.
CHARLES H. ELY. A prosperous resident of Farmington, for many years engaged in farming and stock-raising and identified with the enter- prises and movements for the advancement of the community welfare, Mr. Ely began his career as a poor boy and by hard work and honest dealings advanced to prosperity and influence.
Charles H. Ely was born in Wayne county, Michigan, February 12, 1857, and was twelve years old when his parents moved to the farm in Oakland county which he now occupies. The father afterward moved to Northville, where he died in 1898, and the mother in 1892.
After his education in the common schools, Mr. Ely began for him- self as a farm hand at monthly wages in the employ of his father, and in this way obtained his start in life. On the Ioth of December, 1879, he laid the foundation for his own home by his marriage to Miss Addie Hatten, who represents one of the well known families of Oakland county. Her parents were Richard and Mary Hatten. Her father, who was born in England, when two years of age was brought by his mother to New York state, where he was reared, and from that state went to Canada, where he learned a trade and was married. About a year later he moved to Ohio, where he resided three years, and then came to Farmington township, where he took up a homested of eighty acres. After a few years he moved to the John Thomas farm, where his death occurred in 1874. His widow is still living on the old farm at the ad- vanced age of eighty-two.
For two years after his marriage Mr. Ely continued his residence on his father's farm, and then bought a place three miles north of Farming- ton, where by industry and attention to details he and his wife made a good beginning in their career to prosperity. After sixteen years' res- idence there, in 1897, he traded his first place for the old homestead of two hundred acres on which he had lived as a boy and young man. This is one of the really fine farms of Oakland county, and for upwards of half a century has been developed under the labor and management of one family. He has been engaged in general farming, and for part of the time has kept a fine herd of cattle for milk and stock raising.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ely, namely: Carl R., who owns a farm and is also proprietor of a garage and blacksmith shop; he spent two years in the State Agricultural College at Lansing. Jennie H., who is now Mrs. John Melow, was a teacher for nine years prior to her marriage. Mary A., the wife of Harrison Johnson, of Farmington, also taught three years in the district schools. E. Imogene, who spent two years in teaching, is now Mrs. Bickings, of Farmington. C. William is a graduate of the Farmington high school and is associated with his father on the farm. Alma E., the youngest of the family, graduated from the Farmington high school in 1912 and lives at home.
As a progressive agriculturist Mr. Ely has taken much part in the organized activities of country life. He was president of the Farmers Club prior to its disbandment. For many years active in the Grange, he was Master of the local order until its abandonment, and in 1907 was
808
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
delegate to the State Grange in Grand Rapids. He is a director and general manager of the Farmington Canning Company .His political associations have always been with the Republican party, but he has never sought office. As a practical farmer he has given good service in the development of the substantial resources of the county, has reared a good family, and has been a broad-minded and public-spirited citizen.
WILLIAM J. MCCRACKEN. For more than seventy years has Mr. Mc- Cracken been a resident of Oakland county, where he was reared to man- hood and where many years of industry and honorable citizenship have been spent. Of the residents who have devoted their careers to the substantial vocation of agriculture, probably none has given a better account of his husbandry than Mr. McCracken. He has always been devoted to the best interests of his home and community, and has been a producer to the net resources of his generation.
Representing a family that has had its seat in America since colonial times, William J. McCracken was born in the state of Vermont on May 24, 1837, the only son of Charles G. and Jane ( Pettibone) McCracken. The McCrackens were of Scotch-Irish stock, among those who left the North of Ireland during the eighteenth century and found new homes in America and gave a peculiar vigor and vitality to a number of the old Atlantic commonwealths. This particular family located in New York. One of its representatives was a Colonel McCracken, who went from Washington county, New York, according to the best tradition, and served with the New York continental line in the struggle for American independence. This revolutionary ancestor was the great-grandfather of the Oakland county citizen above named. Joseph McCracken, son of the Colonel, was the father of Charles G. In 1841 the latter, with his wife and family, came west and settled on a tract of land in the school section one mile west and two miles north of Farmington. Their place of settlement was near the Pernambuco Mill, a pioneer institution erected by a Mr. Steele on Steele creek. When the son William J., was ten years of age the family moved to Commerce township, but after fifteen years there returned to Farmington township and settled on some partially improved land which comprises the present fine country es- tate of William J. McCracken.
The latter was reared on a farm, getting an education in the district schools, and throughout his long career has made agriculture his prin- cipal business. At the age of twenty-one he began life on his own re- sponsibility, and five years later, on March 19, 1863, laid the founda- tion of his own home and happiness by his marriage to Miss Miriam N. Norton. The present writing finds them only a few months from their celebration of fifty years' companionship. As husband and wife they have accomplished much during the last half century, and children and granchildren and hundreds of friends hope for a continuance of their health and strength beyond that golden anniversary of wedded lives. Mrs. McCracken was born in Allegany county, New York, in 1837, and lived there until her marriage, after which the young couple came at once to Oakland county. Mr. McCracken had already acquired the old homestead in Farmington township, and this has been the scene of all the subsequent fifty years, where the children were born, and about which center the thousands of associations and memories of family life.
The four children, who have come to them are as follows: Harry
809
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
N., who assists in the management of the home farm, married Miss Belle Mckinsey, of Nova Scotia, and they are the parents of three sons ; Donald E., Howard W. and Harold M., aged respectively eight, six and four years. May is the wife of W. T. Hewitt and their home is in Detroit. They have two sons, Frederick and Edward. Arthur N., who is a resident of Wabash, Indiana, has a daughter, Margaret, born to his first marriage, and his present wife before her marriage was Miss Hattie Reed, of Wabash. Nellie is the wife of Arthur Green, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and they have one son, Wendell.
In politics Mr. McCracken has been a Democrat from the time of casting his first vote, but has always supported the best man for local office. He himself has never sought any official honors. To his home and his farm he has devoted the best efforts of a long life, and his beauti- ful and comfortable country place is the best evidence of his diligent and careful management.
LOUIS STORZ. There are turning points in every man's life called op- portunity. Taken advantage of they mean ultimate success. The career of Louis Storz is a striking illustration of the latter statement. He came to America from Germany when he was a lad of but seventeen years of age, and after trying his hand at various occupations he engaged in the general merchandise business at Royal Oak, in Oakland county, Michigan, in 1876. Here he has continued to reside during the long intervening years to the present time. Diligent and ever alert for his chance of advancement, he has progressed steadily until he is recognized to-day as one of the foremost business men of Royal Oak. Here he is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, who honor him for his na- tive ability and for his fair and straighforward career. He has been the popular and efficient incumbent of a number of public offices of im- portant trust and responsibility.
Louis Storz was born in Germany, on the 20th of November, 1854, and he is a son of Frederick and Fredericka (Schad) Storz. both of whom died in 1857, when the young Louis was a child of but three years of age. He had three brothers, two of whom are still living, in 1912. After the death of his parents. Louis Storz lived with relatives until he was able to care for himself. He attended school until his fourteenth year, when he entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the shoemaker's trade. In 1871, at the age of seventeen, he decided to seek his fortune in the New World and accordingly bade farewell to native land and friends of his youth and embarked for America. After land- ing in this country he proceeded directly to Michigan, locating at De- troit, where he had an uncle. He worked in the shoe business for about three months, at the expiration of which he obtained railroad employ- ment on the Grand Trunk Line, in the vicinity of Royal Oak. A few months later he was in the employ of Mr. Starr, in his brick and tile yard at Royal Oak, and after devoting eight months to that line of en- terprise he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and thence to Indianapolis, In- diana. He soon returned to Royal Oak and worked on the railroad and along other lines until 1876, when he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness in this place, which has since represented his home. He is the owner of a fine store which is well stocked and which caters to the very best trade in this section of the county. His sterling integrity of character and honorable business methods during more than a quarter of a century's residence in Royal Oak have won him the unalloyed confidence and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact.
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.