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 34
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
26-
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
memorating affairs of national import, such as Reciprocity day, have been in turn observed fittingly by the club. Various programs have been arranged dealing with nature studies, civic reform, etc.
The club is limited in membership to twenty-five, and the roll is now full, with several names on the waiting list. Meetings are held on every alternate Monday during the year. The circle is affiliated with the county and state federation of women's clubs, and its members have always taken an active and important part in the work of those organizations.
Since the beginning of the West Side Reading Circle. the various presidents have been as follows: Mrs. Turnbull, first president : Mrs. Alex Buchanan : Mrs. Albe Lull ; Mrs. C. E. Hawkins ; Mrs. Daniel John- son ; Mrs. N. A. Dewey; Mrs. F. J. Poole; Mrs. H. M. Dickie; Mrs. Pardon Doty; Mrs. G. M. Campbell. Officers for 1912-1913 are as fol- lows: Mrs. F. J. Walters, president ; Mrs. C. S. Johnson, vice president ; Miss Fannie Anderson, second vice president ; Mrs. John Fowler, record- ing secretary; Mrs. Newton Beach, corresponding secretary; Mrs. J. Springer, treasurer; Mrs. G. M. Campbell. parliamentarian ; Mrs. Roy Middleton, reporter ; Mrs. F. J. Poole, delegate to state federation ; Mrs. F. H. Walters, alternate.
WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION
The W. C. T. U. of Pontiac was organized on April 3. 1877, in the old Congregational church, with a membership of about two hundred and fifty. The first officers of the society were : Mrs. Cressy, president ; Mrs. William Albertson, recording secretary: Mrs. Gelston, treasurer ; Mrs. J. W. Rice, corresponding secretary. Some of these officers only held for a brief time, there being numerous changes during the first year. There were no vice presidents during that year, but in later years a vice president was chosen from every church in the city.
At the first annual meeting Mrs. William Albertson was elected presi- dent ; Mrs. Harrison Voorheis, vice president : Miss C. E. Cleveland. corresponding secretary ; Mrs. C. B. Turner, recording secretary; Mrs. J. W. Rice, treasurer. The present officers are Mrs. Maud Chattuck, president : Mrs. Electa Rice, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Annette Fisher, recording secretary : Mrs. Jane Ogden, treasurer. The vice presidents are : Mrs. Catcher, representing the Presbyterian church ; Mrs. Newbiggins, of the Episcopal church ; Mrs. Hodge of the Baptist church : Mrs. Wright of the First Methodist Episcopal church ; Mrs. Kendrick of the Central Methodist church; and Mrs. Beach of the Congregational church. The present membership of the society is one hundred and twenty-eight.
BIRMINGHAM PUBLIC LIBRARY
In the year 1869 a few persons gathered at the home of Mrs. Edwin Baldwin for the purpose of forming a Library Association. About forty dollars had been secured from persons who had been members of a Good Templars' lodge, recently disbanded. The first purchase was thirty-nine volumes. As years passed the society grew and was soon incorporated under the state law.
269
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
The old Methodist church was bought and was used by the society till 1893, when a lot on one of the main corners of Birmingham was bought and a building erected at a cost of thirty-five hundred dollars. Money was raised by the women in every conceivable way by holding baby shows, fairs, balls, dramatic entertainments, dinners, banquets, etc., till there were twenty-five hundred books on the shelves. In 1907 the society offered their property to the village provided a tax of one-half mill on a dollar was voted for the support of a free public library. Miss Martha Baldwin, who had served many years as secretary of the society, offered to give to the village a mortgage of twenty-five hundred dollars, held by her upon the building. After a hotly contested election, the library won. The decision was carried to the Supreme Court and there the library won again. It was not till August, 1907, that it was catalogued under the Dewey system and opened to the public. Its success has far exceeded the expectations of its friends. It is now open four times a week with a skilled librarian in charge. It was the first public library in the county. It now numbers four thousand volumes and many magazines and papers are on the reading tables.
Birmingham is proud of its library and it is also prouder of the women who worked for it and of the men who voted for it. A list of those is kept in the library records.
Miss Baldwin has been president and Miss V. Post, secretary of the board since its organiaztion.
The present board is composed of the following : President, Miss M. Baldwin ; vice president, Mrs. Mary Cooper : secretary, Miss V. Post ; treasurer. Dr. J. Rainy; Mrs. J. A. Bigelow and Mrs. Lena Wilson.
BIRMINGHAM LITERARY CLUB
The Women's Literary Club of Birmingham was organized in 1890. It is a member of the county and state federations. Mrs. Helen Brey is president ; Mrs. Stanley Todd, secretary; Mrs. William H. Poole, corre- sponding secretary.
GREENWOOD CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, BIRMINGHAM
In September of ISSI, two women were strolling through the village cemetery. Dr. Raynale, who had done so much for its care and preserva- tion, had finished his labors and was at rest within its limits and there was no one to carry on the work.
The younger woman was loud in her praises of the good conditions of a neighboring ground. The older one said nothing, but thought "what they can do, we can do, and more." Within a week a dozen women were called together and an association formed. The yearly dues were placed at fifty cents. The grass was mowed and the grounds cleaned.
In 1885 the society was incorporated under the laws of the state and two and one-half acres of adjoining land were bought at a cost of $500. This was platted according to the landscape gardening plan. The dues were raised to one dollar per year. In 1901 and 1904 further additions were made ; a new tool house was built, water pipes laid, a gasoline en-
270
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
gine put in which pumps water from a creek. By the payment of twenty- five dollars perpetual care is insured. There is now twenty-five hundred dollars in that fund. Since 1903 no lot has been sold except with per- petual care.
In 1910 a vault was built that will hold nine bodies. Since 1881 the same person has held the office of secretary and superintendent (Miss Martha Baldwin). The association is officered entirely by women and all business is done by them. They have had to combat old-time preju- dice, but the up-to-date condition of the grounds reflects credit on their arrangement.
LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
The Ladies' Library Association of Holly was organized February 1, 1877, with Mrs. L. L. Morrison president of a managing board of twelve ladies. For many years the members of the association paid one dollar a year dues, and had the privilege of drawing two books per week. Later it was made a free library with reading room attached and was open two days of the week. During this time the funds for carrying on the work were obtained by public subscriptions, library lecture courses and other entertainments of various natures. In February, 1911, after thirty- four years of existence as a Ladies' Library, and after having expanded to something more than two thousand volumes, it was made a township library, largely through the efforts of the president of the board, Mrs. F. J. Barrett ; Mrs. T. L. Patterson, treasurer, and Mrs. A. Steinbaugh, secretary.
CHAPTER XIX
MILITARY MATTERS
OAKLAND COUNTY SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812- NAPOLEONIC SOL- DIERS-EARLY MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS-THIE MEXICAN WAR- THIE WAR OF THE REBELLION-FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY-SECOND INFANTRY-GENERAL I. B. RICHARDSON-THE SECOND REGIMENT- THIRD INFANTRY -- THE FIFTHI INFANTRY-SEVENTH REGIMENT- EIGHTH AND NINTHI INFANTRY REGIMENTS-THE TENTH INFANTRY -DEATII OF ADJUTANT COWLES-THE FOURTEENTII INFANTRY- THE FIFTEENTHI AND SIXTEENTII-TWENTY-SECOND INFANTRY- GOVERNOR MOSES WISNER-TWENTY-NINTH INFANTRY-THIRTIETH INFANTRY AND "MECHANICS AND ENGINEERS"-CUSTER'S MICHIGAN CAVALRY BRIGADE-TIIE EIGHTII CAVALRY-NINTHI AND TENTIE CAVALRY REGIMENTS-MICHIGAN LIGIIT ARTILLERY-ONE IIUN- DRED AND SECOND UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS-MILITARY MATTERS OF LATE.
In Chapter VI has been recorded the careers of those soldiers of the Revolution who settled in Oakland county, some of whom became prom- inent in her citizenship. For several years previous to the War of 1812 the military spirit of the Revolution had been kept keenly alive by the campaigns of the American soldiery against the Indians, inspired and sup- ported by the British, and at the time of the defeat of Tecumseh by Harrison in November, 1811, a large force of home troops had been col- lected in Ohio ready for contingencies. They were divided into three regiments and placed under the command of Colonels McArthur, Find- lay and Cass. A fourth regiment under Colonel Miller joined them, and the entire command was placed under Governor Hull, of Michigan ter- ritory. His disgraceful surrender of the American army, so eager to uphold the native name for bravery and patriotism, is, unfortunately, a matter of history. So far as the War of 1812 directly affects the record of Oakland county and her citizens, lies in the fact that a number of those who participated in its campaigns afterward located within her limits. In this connection it should be remembered that the county's first permanent settler did not appear until 1817.
OAKLAND COUNTY SOLDIERS OF THE WAR OF 1812
The list of soldiers of the War of 1812 who became citizens of this county is as follows: Addison township-Derrick Hulich and Jesse Elwell; the latter died in 1874.
271
272
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Avon township-John Sargent served from 1812 to 1817; was sta- tioned for a long time at Fort Gratiot.
Brandon township-James Arnold from New York; Adam Drake, who died in 1874, aged ninety-seven years.
Commerce township -- Cornelius Austin.
Farmington township-A Mr. Burns.
Oakland township-Ezra Brewster, served in Captain Lacey's com- pany of New York militia; also Josiah Dewey and James Coleman, in the same command.
Oxford township-Peter Stroud, served in Captain Abraham Matte- son's company of New York troops.
Pontiac township-Elizur Goodrich and Robert Parks, settled in Troy in 1822-3; former afterward moved to Auburn for a time.
Troy township-Solomon Carswell and Captain Robert Parks. Waterford township-Isaac Willets.
NAPOLEONIC SOLDIERS
It is known that at least two soldiers of Napoleon the Great have been residents of Oakland county-Joseph Laubley, a native of the canton of Berne, Switzerland, who settled in Groveland township in 1836 and died in 1841 ; and John Oliver, who located in Rochester about 1830 and died there' about 1875.
EARLY AHILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
Under territorial laws every man between the ages of seventeen and forty-five was liable to be called upon for military service, and a regiment was organized in Oakland county as early as 1825. Among its earliest commanders were Colonel David Stewart, Henry O. Bronson and Calvin Hotchkiss. Within a few years the regiment grew so rapidly that it had to be divided into what were known as the Rifle and the Militia (or Flood- wood ) regiments.
The first company organized in Pontiac was commanded by Calvin Hotchkiss, who subsequently rose to the rank of general of the state militia. A general muster occurred annually in the autumn and the com- pany drills were of frequent occurrence. At the time of the celebrated "Toledo war" great preparations were made by the Pontiac contingency to cover itself with glory; but its efforts, as is well known, were fruit- less. In 1826 Almon Mack was elected ensign of Captain Hotchkiss' company and T. J. Drake, lieutenant. Lieutenant Drake afterward re- signed and G. O. Whittemore, formerly ensign, was promoted. Ensign Mack was promoted lieutenant in the fall of 1827 and detailed as acting adjutant the same year.
Governor Cass was present at the general muster in 1827 and made an address to the regiment. The Governor was a strong Jackson man and the regiment is said to have had three Jackson men in its ranks: so that his really interested andience was very select.
Colonel Stephen Mack, so prominent in the early affairs of Pontiac, received his military title in Vermont previous to removing to Michigan,
-
273
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
as he was a colonel of a Green Mountain regiment before the War of 1812.
In 1835 the military of Oakland county formed the Third brigade of the Second division, Brigadier General John Stockton, commanding, Col- onel Wells Waring commanding the brigade. In 1837 the brigade was commanded by Colonel Calvin Hotchkiss. In 1838 Oakland county con- tained two regiments-the Ninth and Tenth, of the Fifth brigade, Third division. William Crooks was colonel of the Ninth, and Orange Foote of the Tenth.
Avon, as one of the townships first settled, was quite prominent in military matters. The Avon Riflemen were considered a star organiza- tion. Calvin Chapel was captain of the company: Calvin A. Green, first lieutenant ; Almeron Brotherton. second lieutenant : Thomas Stewart. third lieutenant, and Christian Z. Horton, Ormul Stewart, Francis Brotherton, and Calvin H. Potter, the four sergeants. There were four corporals, two bass drummers, two snare drummers, three fifers and forty-four privates. The first officers were commissioned July 9. 1838, Almeron Brotherton being elected captain in May, 1840.
THE MEXICAN WAR
Oakland county was represented in the Mexican war by Company A. Fifteenth Regiment United States Infantry, which served from the com- mencement of hostilities in 1847 until it was mustered out of the service July 30, 1848. The privates numbered a full hundred and most of the men enlisted in March and April, 1847, nearly a half being enlisted by Lieutenant Samuel E. Beach in Pontiac. Captain Eugene Van de Venter was the first commander, being afterward promoted to major, his com- mission for the latter rank dating from December 22, 1847. He was trans- ferred to the Thirteenth Infantry.
Company A saw active service at Chapultepec, Churubusco. Vera Cruz and the city of Mexico, and her dead and wounded were practical tributes to the bravery of the boys who went from Oakland county. The officers of the command who led the soldiers into the field were as fol- lows: Thornton F. Brodhead, captain ; William R. Srafford, first lieuten- ant ; Samuel E. Beach, second lieutenant, breveted for meritorious con- duct at Contreras and Churubusco and promoted first lieutenant, Febru- ary 28, 1848; Edwin R. Merryfield, second lieutenant ; Lewyllen Boyle, second lieutenant ; Charles Peternell, second lieutenant, promoted first lieutenant January 26, 1848; Thomas W. Freelove, first lieutenant.
That the soldiers who went from Oakland county were honorable men is proven by the records which note but two cases of desertion. On the other hand the list of killed in battle and died of wounds and sick- ness is large, in proportion to the number enlisted and recruited.
Killed in battle :- Samuel Carney, at Churubusco, August 20, 1847. and John Haviland, at Chapultepec, September 13. 1847; both privates.
Died of wounds :- Iliram Brown, battle of Churubusco, October 26, 1847: William R. Koch, battle of Chapultepec. September 17, 1847; Henry Wydner, battle of Churubusco, Angust 28, 1847.
Died of sickness :- Thomas Ainsley, Vera Cruz, July 2, 1847: John
274
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Aseltine, Jr., Chapultepec. December 1, 1847 : William R. Buzzell, city of Mexico, October 29, 1847 ; Charles Calkins, Puebla, July 28, 1847; Chand- ler Delong, Puebla, July 28, 1847; Andrew J. Griffin, Perote, August 20, 1847 : Daniel D. Haines, Perote, July 15, 1847; Edward Kelley, Camp Rio San Juan, June 13, 1847; James M. Proper, Chapultepec. December 9. 1847 ; Claudius H. Riggs, Vera Cruz. July 12, 1847 ; Henry Clay Rice, Vera Cruz, July 2, 1847; George Scudder, Chapultepec, December 8, 1847 ; Jacob Strobe, Perote, September 20, 1847.
THE WAR OF THE REBELLION
In proportion to her wealth and population, Oakland county was sec- ond to none in Michigan in her contributions of men and funds to sup- port the Union. The amount of money raised by the county and its townships during the Civil war was $586.556.98, which sum was exceeded only by Wayne county in the state of Michigan.
Under the Soldiers' Relief law $127.993.38 was expended, and large amounts were raised for sanitary purposes by the Sanitary Commission and the various Ladies' Aid Societies. "God bless the women" was no empty sentiment in those days, when uttered by the soldiers in the field or hospital.
The State Sanitary Commission included as delegates from Oakland county: Rev. J. M. Strong. of Clarkston, Rev. W. P. Wastell, Holly : Rev. J. W. Allen, Franklin, and Rev. John Pierson, Milford, all attached to the Army of the Potomac and all engaged for six weeks with their duties of relieving the soldiers of Michigan in the field. Among the volunteer surgeons from Oakland county were Drs. John Smith, J. E. Wilson, and F. B. Galbraith.
In the fall of 1864 commissioners were appointed by the governor. under authority of the state legislature, to proceed to the various sections of the country at which Michigan troops were in service and superintended an election for presidential electors ; in other words, to place the priv- ilege of the franchise within the hands of the soldiers in the field from their state. Upon this commission was Asher E. Mather, of Pontiac. who had charge of the casting of the presidential ballots by the Ninth and Twenty-second Infantry, Army of the Cumberland.
No commonwealth has a more magnificent memorial to its soldiers and sailors than has Michigan at Detroit, and upon the board of direct- ors which brought the enterprise to such a splendid conclusion were M. E. Crofoot and W. M. McConnell, of Pontiac. They officially represented a county which had sent to the front more than 3.700 of its brave men. of whom more than 400 laid down their lives for the Union cause in battlefield, prison and hospital. Scattered throughout the county are also minor monuments which stand as mute memorials of love and honor erected by the living, while many a grave in the beautiful homes of the dead is yearly covered with the flag which the sleeper loved so well. In Oak Hill cemetery is an especially gallant company-Major General 1. B. Richardson, United States Volunteers, mortally wounded at Antietam : Colonel Moses Wisner, Twenty-second Michigan, died at Lexington, Kentucky; Captain T. C. Beardslee, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry,
27.
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
died at Nashville; Lieutenant Samuel Pearce, Fifth Michigan Infantry, killed at the crossing of the North Anna, Virginia; Lieutenant Percy S. Leggett, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, killed near the Rappahannock; Lieu- tenant Richard Whitehead, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, killed near Hanover Courthouse; Lieutenant Joseph McConnell, Eighteenth United States Infantry, killed at Stone river ; Sergeant Major William Churchill, Seventh Michigan Infantry, killed at Antietam ; Captain William North, Fifth Michigan Cavalry, killed at Cedar creek. Memorial day has generally been observed in Pontiac, especially interesting and impressive ceremonies being observed on June 4, 1869. Upon that occasion Rev. W. H. Shier delivered the principal address of the day. Among other statements which he made were that twenty-seven soldiers ranking from a major general down to a private lay in the Oak Hill cemetery, and out of that number he knew of but one who had nothing to mark his resting place, and that was Major General I. B. Richardson (or, as he was more famil- iarly known in the army, "Fighting Dick"). He proceeded to state that the General was a graduate of West Point, fought under General Scott in all the important battles in the Mexican war, and as soon as the rebel- lion broke out was one of the first to offer his services to his country. He fought bravely in the Army of the Potomac up to the time he was killed, but after he had gained such a national reputation as a patriot and a fighting general, being the first to be created a major general, a stranger desirous of visiting his grave could not find it in Oak Hill cemetery, as it remained up to that time ( 1869), wholly unmarked .*
THE FIRST MICHIGAN INFANTRY
The First Michigan Infantry was naturally a three months' organiz- ation. Under Colonel Wilcox, it lead the advance of state troops to the front, and at the battle of Bull Run fixed the standard of Michigan troops for the entire period of the Civil war. The boys from the Wolverine state were both stubborn and dashing, and at Bull Run, as in many a hard fought battle afterward, the dead of the First Regiment were found nearest the enemy's works.
Among the loss to the regiment were Captain Butterworth, Lieutenants Mauch and Casey wounded and taken prisoners ( who afterward died of their wounds in the hands of the enemy ), and Colonel Wilcox, who was wounded, taken prisoner and held at Richmond for fifteen months.
The regiment was mustered out at the expiration of the three months' term of service, August 7, 1861, but was soon afterward reorganized as a three-year's regiment. It returned to the Army of the Potomac, August 16th, under command of Colonel John C. Robinson, who was succeeded on his promotion to a brigadiership, by Colonel H. S. Roberts.
THE SECOND INFANTRY
The Second Infantry was commanded by Oakland county's most dis- tinguished and popular soldier, Israel B. Richardson, who was wounded
* A tasteful and impressive monument was erected to the memory of General Richardson. Vol. I-18
276
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
at the battle of Antietam and died November 3. 1862. \ West Point cadet from his native state of Vermont, upon his graduation from the military academy he was breveted second lieutenant and assigned to the Third United States Infantry. As first lieutenant, to which he was pro- moted in September. 1846, he commanded his company in the Mexican war ( at Cerro Gordo ), and was afterward breveted captain and major for gallantry at Churubusco and Chapultepec. It was soon after the close of the Mexican war that he moved to Oakland county, where the War of the Rebellion found him.
GENERAL I. B. RICHARDSON
On the first call for volunteers General Richardson offered his services. Governor Blair at once appointed him colonel of the Second Michigan Infantry, and, when he arrived at Washington, General Scott fittingly acknowledged his services in the Mexican war by assigning a brigade to him. Ile was in the first battle of Bull Run; was soon after promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and both his dash and judgment in the peninsula campaign under Mcclellan were so conspicuous that he was advanced to the major-generalship. As had been well stated: "At An- tietam his zeal led him to do a colonel's work, and in leading a regiment he received his mortal wound."
General Richardson's remains were brought home to Pontiac for interment, and the funeral obsequies were performed November 11, 1862, a little more than three weeks after the battle of Antietam at which the splendid soldier received his death wound. At the courthouse the dead general lay shrouded in the colors to which he had sworn fealty in boy- hood and which he had so faithfully and ably defended in two wars. Detachments from the military organizations then in the state were in attendance, including the Detroit Light Guards and Captain Daniel's battery of light artillery. Rev. Mr. Eldridge, of the Fort Street Presby- terian church, Detroit, delivered the funeral oration; the procession to Oak Hill cemetery was formed and commanded by General Henry D. Terry, a companion in arms ; and the remains of "Fighting Dick" were laid to rest with the solemn ritual of the Episcopal church and the soldiers' volley.
THE SECOND REGIMENT
The Second Regiment was under the immediate command of Colonel O. M. Poe, in Richardson's brigade, participated in the engagement at Blackburn's Ford and covered the retreat of the army at first Bull Run. Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Malvern Hill, second Bull Run and Chantilly followed; and in 1863 it participated in Grant's Mississippi campaign. being also with Burnside in east Tennessee and the defense of Knoxville. In General Sherman's pursuit of Johnston it is credited with making one of the most daring and gallant charges of the war, it being then com- manded by Colonel Humphrey. The regiment also won bright laurels at the siege of Knoxville by Longstreet in November, 1863. Its charge of the 24th against a force of investing confederates was another notable event of the war. Afterward the Second returned to the Army of the
277
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Potomac and participated in the famous campaign of General Grant in 1864. the last notable operations in which it participated being the siege of Petersburg from June 17, 1864, to April 5, 1865.
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.