USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 10
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 month of February was pleasant and the honey bees were out flying in the air. One morning I discovered honey-comb near the foot of a hollow tree, from which we took two camp kettles' of as beanti-
49
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
ful honey as I ever saw, and from this time forward we were constantly supplied with honey.
"There was occasionally much excitement caused by the movement of the Indians, although after the battle of Bad Axe, on the Missis- sippi, where General Dodge gave them a terrible whipping, some of the principal warriors succeeded in crossing the Mississippi. Black Hawk was soon after captured, having left his warriors after crossing Rock river.
"One day, sitting there in camp, copying field notes to transmit to the officers, having sent the boys out to complete a couple of lines, I was a little startled in hearing the crack of a rifle close by, and rapidly approaching footsteps, followed by an Indian greatly excited, who pointed in the direction of the gun shot ; then stooping to the ground he picked up a piece of bark which he threw in the same direction. Shaking my head he saw I was determined not to understand him, and he looked sullen, mad. and much disappointed. Of course I thought he had an accomplice, and had I left would have robbed the camp. In a few min- utes two more Indians appeared and when within six feet of the tent placed the butt of their riflles upon the ground. I felt quite relieved. We exchanged the usual salutation of 'boo shoo,' at their first appear- ance. I invited them to lunch with me as was always my custom in Michigan, after which we parted good friends.
"I finished this work the last of April, and my men returned home, with the exception of my nephew, MI. B. Smith, who accompanied me to Cincinnati, as the surveyor general's office had been removed to the city.
"I had waited at Galena three weeks for the arrival of the first steamer going south. During my stay at Galena great excitement ex- isted in regard to Indians, as rumor said they were assembling by hun- dreds at Dixon's ferry, on Black river. One day a great scare occurred as a horseman appeared on the opposite side of the river, shouting 'to arms! to arms!' All the inhabitants were fleeing from Dixon's ferry to Galena in great terror. He plunged his poor, panting horse into the stream, rapidly urging him over. The poor animal feel dead soon after reaching the opposite shore. Laying aside my papers I set off for the ferry. where drums and fifes were playing and fifty or more men and boys had assembled. About the time I was leaving, the assembled mul- titude, fifteen or twenty young men mounted on horseback, were cross- ing the river to assist the women and children on their way. But as usual it proved a false alarm.
"While making returns at this time, the surveyor general suggested my entering into contract for surveying the exterior lines of townships in Indiana, and proceeding to the work as soon as I could make the necessary arrangements. Owing to the ill health of my wife when last heard from, I chose to defer giving an answer till I arrived home, when it was suggested my leaving a blank contract, to which I assented. The work in Indiana was afterwards given to Sylvester Sibley and another Michigan surveyor. For this act of the government agent the Indiana surveyors were much displeased, so much so as I was told, it was car- ried into congress at the next session. Vol. 1-4
50
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
BETWEEN SAGINAW BAY AND LAKE HURON
"During the following autumn orders were received by the surveyor general to cause that part of the territory lying between Saginaw bay and township 9. on Lake Iluron, to be surveyed. The chief clerk was instructed to fill the blanks in the above mentioned contract and for- ward the same to me. This work had been given to Joseph Wampler in the fall of 1822, embracing about eighty township exterior lines, ex- tending south to township 6, and from range 8 east to Lake Huron, he ( Wampler ) having surveyed about twenty-four townships, leaving the north line of township 10 unsurveyed, such being his anxiety to leave the swamps. It was the most dreaded portion of the lower peninsula, and would have been objectionable at the most favorable season of the year, but as there was one deputy surveyor, William A. Burt, at work near the lake, and another on his way, it was necessary the survey of the township lines should be continued or the subdivision must cease.
"I was on the ground with a full party or on about the first day of January, 1834, at the northwest corner of township to cast, and there- fore nearly forty miles east of township line (9 or 10) left unsurveyed by Wampler. To commence surveying it was necessary to cross the townships by ranging with pocket compass to intersect just south of quarter section corner, it being necessary to measure from said corner a half mile, at which point the town corner was established in readi- ness to run the line west. This operation was necessary to perform in every range of townships. The snow being eighteen inches deep and the evergreen underbrush bent to the ground, it was extremely difficult ranging to keep our course, which occasioned our falling two miles short of camp when overtaken by night, and the going of this, our first. day without supper, tent, or blankets. In running long lines among swamps, where it is impossible for horses to pass, it was a common thing for each man to shoulder and carry throughout the day a pack containing a blanket and several days' provisions. Continuing my work for a few weeks under great disadvantage, I concluded to return home and wait until the frost should bridge the streams, which would enable us to extend our lines into the interior.
"In six weeks I entered the second time, after having obtained the field notes of a survey in township 9, where the timber, beech, denoted hard land, indicating that pack horses could be used. With this view I made a deposit of provisions at Mill Creek in addition to that made at Lapeer, and Burch's mill on Black river, six miles north of Port Huron. In addition to the horses, I engaged an extra pack-man, and proceeded by way of Romeo to Mill creek. Crossed the creek carly in the morning, but soon plunged into almost an unpenetrable swamp, where I had expected being able to proceed with the horses, but they repeatedly sank, were unpacked, dragged out through mud and water, repacked, but soon down again. until night overtook us, when we chanced to find a section corner by which we learned we had progressed one and one-half miles. Finding it impossible to get the horses through, I sent them with two men, back to Romeo, with orders to proceed to Port Huron, then up to the lake shore about twenty miles, thence
1
51
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
northwest to the point designated. The axeman, two chainmen and cook, headed by myself, each with a blanket and two weeks' provisions, pocket compass in hand, course northeast, set off through the marsh, readily finding the corner left in my first trip. We commenced work, continuing two weeks, our provisions much reduced, and not hearing from the pack-men, I decided we would go in pursuit. Taking an east course, we intersected Black river, followed down stream, boarded a shingle shanty, and were informed by the men that the men and horses had crossed the river and gone west. Turning back in our course we followed their tracks, and in due time met together. When running west I dispatched our new pack-man, directing him to go southwest by the pocket compass and, when eight miles, look sharply for an cast and west line I had surveyed, follow it until be found what I had de- scribed on paper ( handing it to him) and he would find provisions in a basswood trough covered with a like made trough, secured by heavy logs for safety.
"Finding the provisions he made a full pack from the deposit and set off to meet the surveying party. But his return was long delayed. Fortunately the other packer, Steinbrook, was returning from my other deposit-Burch's mill-and met the lost and bewildered man, when the two returned to camp the following day. Of course he had a long story to tell of his adventures and sufferings during his two weeks' solitude in the wilderness. For six or eight weeks the land in the vicinity of the heads of Cass and Black rivers ( the English of the Indian name is 'Big Marsh') was under water from knee to waist deep, and we were obliged to dispense with our horses while extend- ing range and township lines, while each man carried on his back his own blanket and provisions.
"Our progress, of course, was slow, making two and one-half to three miles per day. We were frequently obliged to lay down poles and pile on them hemlock boughs to keep out of the water while we slept. I remember we built one camp-fire on the earth-covered roots of an overthrown hemlock, after driving center-poles to scaffold up to the fire. The difficulty of transporting provisions caused us to be on short allowance, and I well remember, at one time, when our hun- ger had not been satisfied for days, and while establishing a corner on the bank of Lake Huron, a couple of the boys killed a coon when start- ing for camp, and not being able to reach it before night, we roasted one quarter of the coon for supper, and lay down blanketless for our night's repose. The remainder of the little animal, with the last pint of flour at camp, was quickly disposed of on our arrival.
"In April, finding I was accomplishing so little after two months' hard work, I decided to return home and await a more favorable sea- son. When making returns of the work performed I was offered twelve townships subdividing, with privilege of selecting my own location. This I accepted, and early in the autumn started on my third trip. When recommencing my work on Lake Huron another surveyor was landing his provisions, preparatory to commencing subdividing where I had already surveyed the township lines, and another party was said to be on his way for like purposes. It seemed as though the government
52
IHISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
was determined the survey of the part of the Lower Peninsula should be completed, twelve years having passed by since Wampler commenced the township lines. I found the condition of the country more favorable, the water having passed off. We found plenty of game, elk, deer, and indications of moose.
"Trappers had marked their lines with numerous dead-falls for mar- tin and other animals, valuable for their furs, having coasted along the lake shore, as we found their boats well secured at the mouth of one of the streams.
"My work of subdividing lay partly on Saginaw bay. I completed it and returned home in February.
SURVEYS IN BLACK HAWK RESERVATION, IOWA
"In the autumn of 1836 I received a contract for surveying the ex- terior lines of about sixty townships in lowa, extending from the south boundary of the territory to a point five miles north of Rock island, being equal to about one-third of the Black Hawk reservation.
"Arrived on the left bank of the Mississippi, opposite Burlington the 23d day of December, 1836. The river nearly filled with thick cakes of ice, it was with great difficulty that a ferryman, with my assistance in throwing a line to them from shore, by which they hauled the boat to land, having floated with the current far below the city. The packer. going down the river twelve miles, was able to cross over with the pack-horses, returning to the party in about two weeks. During this two weeks were extending lines, putting up at night with the settlers.
"During the time required for the performance of this work up to June following, the party suffered extremely with the severity of the weather, it being an open tract of country, principally prairie. The great wonder among the 'squatters' was, why we came to survey in winters. 'Why.' they say, 'you cannot survey half the time, as you can- not endure the cold.' In addition to this, the snow was sixteen inches deep for eight weeks.
"Much time was lost daily in travel to and from timber, for camp- ing. We continued many days working, while the 'squatters' were sit- ting by the firesides. I well remember one rainy morning during this month, entering the open, wide-spread prairie six miles west of Bur- lington, when running a range line ( the pack-man with the horses turn- ing to the right for wood shelter ), my nephew. M. B. Smith, said, 'Uncle, your face is frozen.' This was about the middle of the day. Such was the sudden change of weather in three or four hours' time. and increasing, that were it not that we had reached the town corner. and running east with our backs to the wind, we should have been com- pelled to flee to the timber to avoid freezing.
"One terrible cold night the prairie winds blew out all our fires, and our full supply of blankets seemed to afford no protection. Some of the boys started on a bee line for the nearest house, going in their stocking feet as the fire had been insufficient to thaw hard frozen boots. The remainder soon followed and I remained alone in camp until stin- rise, when I was glad to follow. the entire company's blankets being
53
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
insufficient protection from such terrible cold and wind. During the month of March the reflection of the sun on the snow was extremely painful to our eyes, and notwithstanding we adopted the Indian custom of blacking our faces, it was unsuccessful, and I was compelled to send a long distance for green glasses, giving relief at once.
"After the middle of April our work went on finely. . Approaching the western boundary of the reservation, we were anticipating some trouble with the Indians, as they had manifested some dissatisfaction regarding the line as surveyed their encampment. But the only an- noyance we received from them was stealing the only remaining pack pony, and, as I had sent his mate off with the packman, this compelled the party to carry packs when extending lines. This was the fourth horse stolen by the Indians during my surveys. Completed this work the first of June, having been absent from home about six months.
ANOTHIER IOWA CONTRACT
"Receiving another contract for subdividing twelve townships, also in Iowa, extending from Dubuque to Turkey river, and two ranges west to an extensive prairie, I left home on the 22d day of August, 1837, it being the second day of election under the territorial law. Arrived at Dubuque on the 6th of September, and before the first township was completed three of the party were taken down with the ague and fever, causing much delay with our work. Nevertheless we finished the sub- division in due time, and commenced the survey of the islands in the Mississippi, and when about two-thirds completed the January thaw breaking up the ice compelled us to discontinue our work, the only con- tract I ever failed to fulfill. After waiting a week in vain for a change of weather we crossed the river with much trouble, for home via Ga- lena, as there was no road open further north. Arriving at Chicago the principal topic was the Michigan wild-cat money, followed by the Canadian patriot war. We frequently met sleighs overloaded with fami- lies fleeing from their Canadian troubles.
"Arrived home the latter part of February. I then intended dis- continuing the survey of public lands. However, in the autumn of 1844, I received a letter accompanied by a contract for resurveying the township of Salem ( township I south, range 7 east). The county surveyor declined making further surveys. It furthermore was en- joined on me to pay strict regard to the instructions transmitted, they having emanated from the hand of the commissioner of the land office. This work required three weeks.
"Early in the year 1845 the office of the surveyor general was re- moved from Cincinnati to Detroit, when one of the early pioneer sur- veyors, the late Hon. Lucius Lyon, received the appointment of sur- veyor general.
CAPTAIN PARKE'S RECAPITULATION
"The number of miles of established lines which I surveyed in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa, from March, 1822, up to the middle of
54
IHISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
January, 1838, including the survey of township i south, range 7 cast. Washtenaw county, if performed in subdividing, would be equal to more than three times the size of Oakland county, amounting to 5.400 miles, the ground twice walked over, amounting to 10,800; to this add the daily walking from and return to camp, about equal to thirty miles to the township; to this add the travel to and from my districts, some- times several hundred miles from home. and the whole number wouk] not fall short of 20,000 miles.
"I have not penned the foregoing as being anything extraordinary, as there are thousands of men in Michigan who could go through the same fatigue if they would form a resolution to do so. We suffered much from frozen feet, the painful effects of which I am still hourly reminded, after a lapse of forty years .*
"It was not uncommon to carry packs of blankets and provisions camping, when overtaken by night.
"In the prairie country we occasionally carried poles from two to three inches in diameter, from which to cut posts to set in mounds every half mile, when raised in the spring. These posts we marked with the marking iron-township, range and section. I have occasion- ally entered a prairie with three poles, equal to nine posts, with com- pass and staff in hand.
"Our food was healthy, highly relished, and never gave us dyspepsia. Our breakfast was eaten before daylight, from October to June, that we might reach our work before sunrise, traveling three or four miles in prairie or open country. This meal consisted of a strong tea, fried or cold boiled pork, and shortcake, yellow with saleratus and rich with pork drippings. Our lunch. finished by io or HI o'clock, and eaten while walking, for we never stopped in winter, consisted of a bite of cold pork and a piece of bread-the latter often frozen too hard for tise, until the axe was used to cut it into small pieces. We worked un- til near dark, and, arriving late in camp, the hot bean soup with bread and tea was eaten with great relish.
"Before leaving the subject I would like to record the names of some of the men who assisted me in this work. They were the follow- ing : Samuel F. Byran, Oliver Torry, Lucius Hunt, David Wilcox, Calvin and Chester Ball, Moses Peck and brother. John Powell, C. P. Webster, Wm. Phillips, M. B. Smith. Pliny Skinner. Geo. Case. Jed Van Wagoner, Samuel Steinbrook, Marvin Tyler, I. Welch, Davis, George Galloway. C. Killient, Hannibal, Sawtelles, Pike, Gould. Phipps, Hart, Meacham, Dixon, Walter Ostrander, Allen, Michael Van Buren. E. J. White, and others I do not remember.
"I will mention the name of Clark P. Risden, United States sur- veyor, who published the first map of the surveyed part of Michigan territory and had several contracts. I hear he is still living. and must be near my own age, eighty-six in April next. We are probably all that are left of the pioneers employed by government in surveying the lands of Michigan."
This narrative of Captain Parke is quoted quite generously not only because much of it relates to Oakland county and vicinity, as well as
* Written in 1876.
53
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
to a character well known in the days when the country was a wilder- ness and for many years after it had become developed into prosperous communities, but because it furnishes pen pictures of the trials and hardships endured by the men of the compass and tripod who run those lines through forest and swamp which must always precede the pur- chase of lands and the guarantee of permanent homesteads.
RECOLLECTIONS OF BENJAMIN O. WILLIAMS
Major Oliver Williams was one of the first half a dozen settlers to make Oakland county his home ( he located on Silver lake) and, as noted by his son, Benjamin O., in an address at one of the pioneer re- unions he himself "thought himself the first settler in the county." The bulk of the address is given, as follows:
"Having never considered it a fortunate circumstance to have been reared in a new country, deprived of most of the advantages enjoyed by those brought up in well educated communities and surrounded by highly cultivated people and works of art, I have never felt any especial pride in having been raised a pioneer in the backwoods of even old Oakland county. I would have greatly preferred that fortune should have permitted my parents to have remained where nearly all of their children were born, and, although not quite among those who, accord- ing to John G. Saxe's facetious remark of those born in Boston, 'need no other birth,' yet would gladly have been sufficiently near to have received a good education-the greatest blessing to mankind, except it be that 'second birth.' But fate would not have it so, and most of us, at least while young, had to submit to her sway. And fully believing that 'there is a divinity that shapes our ends,' I have ever felt that my honored parents, did all in their power, under the circumstances, to make their children happy, while aiding somewhat to develop the re- sources of Michigan while a territory.
"With her eight children my dear mother arrived in Detroit six- teen days before the county of Wayne was, by the proclamation of Governor Cass, organized and named. She, with my father, had selected their farm while it was still in the county of Wayne, and moved their family into a large, well-built house in less than two months after the governor, by proclamation, organized and named Oakland county, as your county history shows.
"Presuming that it is well known that I have contributed to the history of this county in the State Pioneer and Historical Society's Col- lections, and fully believing that my father was the first to break through the almost impassible woods and swamps back of Detroit, by clearing and opening a road from the end of the Leavenworth road to this place, and to his farm in the fall of 1818, before the county was named, the Pontiac company formed, or their land selected; and, no doubt, in en- tire ignorance of the fact that the Grahams, Mr. Hersey, Mr. Hart- sough, and possibly the Hoxies, had followed up the Huron river from Mt. Clemens and formed a settlement, as did my father from another direction, before the boundaries of the county were fixed or its name given, he very naturally thought himself the first settler in the county.
56
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
But, Mr. President, I have already occupied too much time on this un- important subject, and should not have alluded to it but for the fact that you sent me, last year, a list of the first entries of land made in the county, taken by yourself from the books of the United States land office ; and why my father's or brother's entries of land did not appear under their proper dates, is to me, a mystery. For I do know that, quite early in the fall of 1818, the lands were selected, and that improvements were commenced and the house built, and do not believe it was left subject to entry by others at the land office, until the time, by your list, it ap- pears to have been purchased.
"Instead of the above I might have described to you the sickness, privation and hunger endured; the killing by the tyrant chief, Kish- korko and his band, of one of Mr. Austin Durfey's valuable oxen in front of the house on Drayton plains, and of the fight or the breaking of Capt. Archibald Phipps' leg, near Allen Durfey's house, a little south of Drayton Plains station, and of the surgical skill of our family phy- sician, who, upon arriving at the house, decided that it was not neces- sary to set the limb before the inflammation subsided and the muscles relaxed, for which about one week's time would be necessary; of the hopeless look of the captain when he heard it; of our sending for Doctor Richardson and carrying Phipps home on a litter, and, the -same day or the next, myself extending the limb while the doctor ad- justed it to the great relief of all present. Of the great number of rattlesnakes ; while mowing a marsh one day, we killed twelve before noon and none of us wore boots ; Mr. Harvey Durfey was barefoot and wound a twisted rope of marsh hay around both feet and legs and worked in safety. One massasauga the same day stuck its fangs into brother Ephraim's tow pants and was dragged several rods before discovered and shook off. Of the wolves we killed without thought of bounty, and of their depredations on our sheep and swine; of the pigeons by the million, and their digging acorns out of the deep snow: of the ducks and geese that blackened the surface of the lakes; of the bee-trees from which we took hundreds of pounds of honey from a single tree ; of the pine trees and logs we borrowed from 'Uncle Sam, and how we rafted the lumber down the Huron river to Ann Arbor from the Wal- rod place; of my father, Doctor Thompson, and Judge LeRoy. at a very carly day, going in our large canoe with an Indian guide down the Clinton river to Orchard lake, and borrowing from the island a boat- load of apple trees in the spring of the year-most of these died from having their roots in the water too long-and of Captain Hotchkiss' first drill of militia by platoons, saying he wanted them to wheel to right or left just as his big barn door swing around; or of the lynch- ing of a tramp who robbed his benefactor, Acker Toule, of about $800. all the money he had, and that he had just returned from the east with. (You may be sure that the thief gave up the money. ) And of three Indians one day after concluding the sale of skins, furs and beeswax, exhibiting seven skins, stretched nearly round, with the remark, as the oldest man drew from his medicine bag, that 'he didn't suppose my father would care to buy them'; they were once worth five dollars a piece.
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.