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 49
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Rochester's flouring mill. run under modern methods and with up-to- date machinery, is conducted by S. W. Barkham & Son.
THE SCHOOLS
The first school taught either in the township of Avon or the vil- lage of Rochester was opened in 1823 in the log house of Alexander Graham. In 1828 Gad Norton and William Burbank built the first regular house for educational purposes on the lot now occupied by the Congregational church, which had been donated for that purpose by the proprietors of the village plat. Miss Maria LeRoy was the teacher. It was a small frame building, subsequently moved to the corner of Main and Third streets and occupied by Dr. R. C. Sprague as a drug store. In 1850 it was removed to the opposite side of the street and used as a blacksmith shop until destroyed by fire in 1869.
The second schoolhouse was built in 1835 on Walnut street and was also burned, in the spring of 1843. From that time until 1846 the public school was taught in the basement of the Christian church.
During the year named the third schoolhouse was erected on Pine street, subsequently moved to the east side of Walnut street, in 1857 was sold to Henry Miller and still later was used as a town hall and for religious purposes. It. also, was a victim of the flames a number of years ago.
ROCHESTER UNION SCHOOL
In 1847 a building was erected for academic purposes and the so- called Avon Lyceum was opened by Professor Robert Kedzie. It at- tained a high standing as a private school. but in 1857 ceased to exist as such, and its property was transferred to district No. 5 of Avon
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1.
WATER WORKS WELLS
RESERVOIR UNDER CONSTRUCTION
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township. As that district adopted the graded, or union school sys- tem, in September, 1865, it has since been known as Rochester union school. The old Lyceum building was burned in 1881, and the following year the handsome structure of brick and stone was completed which is still occupied. The first cost of the building was $8,000, and in the summer of 1907 a $6,000 addition was erected to meet the demands for better accommodations.
Professor F. W. Wheaton, who has been at the head of the school for the past five years, is a most capable educator. Ile is assisted by nine teachers, the 340 pupils being divided as follows: Iligh school, 05; other grades, 275.
WATER WORKS AND FIRE PROTECTION
Rochester has a good system of water works operated on the gravity plan. As completed, it is thus described in the souvenir number of the Era issued in 1907 :
"About 1894 several Rochester gentlemen conceived the idea that the village could be provided with water on the gravitation system. On the faim of William Fox, two and a quarter miles west and north of Rochester, is a spring, or rather a series of springs, 150 feet higher than the village. A competent engineer was engaged who pronounced the project of conveying the water from the spring's to the village, feasi- ble. After several weeks of agitation the question of waterworks was submitted to the people and carried overwhelmingly. A plat of ground, covering one acre, was purchased by the village and the work of de- veloping the wells commenced. Since which time 23 acres more land adjacent have been acquired by the village. A series of wells were sunk in the springy soil to the depth of 60 feet or more, which were con- nected and run into a main 12-inch pipe, which was gradually reduced to 8 inches. The contract for building the works was let to T. C. Brooks, of Jackson, who employed home labor. Over six miles of pipe was laid, and the pressure being sixty pounds gives the village one of the finest plants in the country. All this at a cost of less than $35,000. Additions to the pipe lines have been added until today there are 10 miles of pipe and 375 water takers, with a revenue of $1,850 per year. The analysis of the water shows a purity unsurpassed by any water in the state. Rochester is proud of her waterworks system and well may she be. A well equipped fire department of two companies is maintained to still further protect the property of the village against fire. The first public test of the system was July 4, 1895.
"With the completion of the new reservoir at the waterworks the system is on better footing than ever. The new reservoir was com- menced in May, 1906, and completed August 8, 1907. The dimensions are 225 feet long, 100 feet wide and 22 feet deep, with a capacity of 2,000,000 gallons. The bottom, west and north sides, are of 6-inch cement, four and one, the bottom resting on 555 piles. The south dam is 26 feet high ( four under level) and is 9 feet at base, sloping up on the south side to an 18-inch top. This is made of 3 and I concrete and is heavily reinforced with carbonized steel rods. Water is furnished the
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new reservoir by springs from the bottom. A Io-foot driveway sur- rounds the reservoir, perfectly graded to a 6-inch slope from the inside. The old reservoir is 12 feet higher than the new one and consequently does not draw from the new until 12 feet of water have been exhausted in the oldl."
The village has a volunteer fire department of some twenty mem- bers, divided into two companies, under a chief. It was organized in 1896. the year after the water works were placed in commission. and is considered an adequate auxiliary to the protection afforded by the strong water pressure.
ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER
Rochester has an adequate and well built electric light and power plant erected by AAmbro Bettes in 1897 and 1900 sold to the Detroit United Railway. Then it became an Edison concern and in 1909 the Rochester Electric Light & Power Company, its present owners, came into possession of it.
ROCHESTER NEWSPAPERS
The Rochester Era was established May 22, 1873. by T. B. Fox. who conducted it until his death in 1893, and its editor and proprietor has since been his son, W. A. Fox. It is a weekly and independent.
The next Rochester paper was the Star, which began to shine May 19. 1876. under the manipulation of Van Burget & Macoy. It has been a "back number" these many years.
The Clarion ( weekly ), the second existing newspaper to publish the good points of the locality and the county, issued its first number August 19. 1898. Charles S. Seed is its present editor and proprietor. The Clarion is also independent.
THE CHURCHES
The Congregational church, of which Rev. A. G. Gates is pastor, was organized on the ist of July. 1827, and is therefore the veteran religious society of Rochester. Rev. Isaac W. Ruggles, of Pontiac, was most instrumental, among the clergy, in forming the new society, and per- haps the most prominent laymen were William AAbbott and William Burbank who were chosen its first elders. The first services were held in a little log cabin on the Burroughs farm, but were continued "from house to house," until the erection of a church building about 1839. Rev. Luther Shaw and Rev. A. S. Wells were the first settled pastors. During the eighty-five years of its history. the society has had some forty-five pastors. The church edifice now in use was dedicated in 1854. during the pastorate of Rev. S. N. Hill.
The First Baptist church at Rochester was formed in the Stony Creek Baptist church edifice on June 1. 1854. and the following trustees were elected: L. W. Cole. L. G. Tanner, N. J. Millerd, Lemuel Taylor and Charles Copeland. At the annual meeting. January 1, 1855. trus-
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tees were again elected to fill vacancies and a building committee ap- pointed. In 1855 the society purchased the Christian church edifice and completed it, which they occupy to the present day. It affords three hundred sittings and is valued at something like three thousand dollars. Zena Coleman was the first pastor and served from June, 1855, to 1857. He has been succeeded in the pastorate as follows: Elder E. Steele, 1857-59; Martin Coleman, 1859-61 (died in November, 1861); Elder Snyder, supply from November, 1861, to September 4, 1862; Elder King. 1862, until he entered Civil war service, and again on his return therefrom in 1865. During Mr. King's absence the society had no pastor. Mr. King resigned October 1, 1866, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Tenney, who supplied the pulpit from January 1, 1867, to December, 1868; Rev. D. Gostellow, 1868-69; Silas Finn, February 1, 1870, to July 1, 1871 ; A. M. Swain, October 29, 1871, to February, 1874; Rev. E. D. Daniels, supply from August 18, 1874, to April 10, 1875; R. S. Chase, to September 1, 1875, when he was succeeded by Rev. T. S. Wooden, who served from 1875 to July, ISSI; E. Chesney, October. 1881, to September, 1883; W. H. Miles, July, 1885, to December, 1887; S. Hendricks, January 1. 1888, to 1889: John Shephard, May, 1889. to May, 1890; H. Churchill, August, 1890, to October, 1891 ; George M. Adams, April, 1892, to July, 1894; A. S. Forshee, November, 1894, to November, 1897; L. D. Dunning, November, 1897, to December, 1898; H. N. Conrad, December, 1898, November, 1901 ; D. Q. Barry, April, 1902, to September, 1903; C. L. Marriman, December, 1903, to Decem- ber, 1904: Rev. Ferris, October, 1904, to August, 1906: A. Rose, Octo- ber, 1906, to October, 1908; H. V. Gould, November, 1908, to Novem- ber, 1909; Rev. Wright, February, 1910, to September, 1910; Wilson Whitney, March II, IQII, to the present time. The church has a pres- ent membership of one hundred and is enjoying a pleasing state of prosperity in all its branches.
.As early as 1858 a number of places were opened for Methodist sery- ices in the Oakland circuit and the pastor of that circuit was requested to supply preaching for the various points. The size of the circuit, how- ever, prevented the granting of the request. Application was made to Rev. S. Calkins, presiding elder, who sent Rev. Daniel Birney, from Canada West, to the new territory as a missionary. He held preaching services at Mount Vernon, Stony Creek, Hubble's schoolhouse, Rochester, Ewell's schoolhouse and other points, until the meeting of conference in 1850, at which time these points were formally organized into a separate circuit, called the Rochester and Stony Creek circuit, and Rev. L. T. Mitchell appointed in charge. The next year the Stony Creek circuit was recognized, and Rev. Mitchell was appointed preacher in charge. At the conference of 1860, a committee was appointed to purchase a par- sonage at Stony Creek, which was done accordingly, and eighty-one dol- lars subscribed for repairs on the building. The entire cost of the build- ing was five hundred dollars. In 1861 Rev. Alexander Gee was appointed in charge. and in 1862 conference united the Stony Creek circuit with the Utica circuit, but in 1863 disunited them. Rev. James R. Noble and Rev. Francis W. Berry were the pastors of the united circuit. In 1863 Rochester was made one of the regular appointments of the Stony Creek
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cirenit, and Rev. W. J. Johnson was the preacher in charge. In 1800-07 Rev. William Taylor was presiding elder and Rev. James E. AArmstrong pastor. On July 7, 1866, the parsonage at Stony Creek was destroyed by fire, and the lot was sold to pay the encumbrance therecon. As a church edifice had been purchased in Rochester in 1866 and as the greatest num- ber of members in the circuit were located at this point, the name of the circuit was changed to the Rochester circuit, and a church formally organized as the First M. E. church of Rochester, on July 7. 1866. Rev. R. MeConnell was the pastor this year, and the first trustees of the church to effect a legal organization under the laws of the state were Jonathan Hale, John N. Dewitt, Samuel G. Niles, William Newell, and James Riggs. The church and lots at Rochester cost about six hundred dollars, Rev. J. B. Varnum served from 1867-69; Rev. H. Hood from 1860-70, and Rev. S. Johnson from 1870-71. In 1871 a church was built at Mount Vernon, costing two thousand dollars, and the parson- age at Rochester was commenced and completed in 1872, Rev. Johnson being largely instrumental in bringing about these changes. In 1872 Rev. A. B. Clough was pastor and Mount Vernon and Graham were appointments of the Rochester circuit ; during the last six months of the year, however, the appointment of Graham was supplied from Troy, and the numerical strength of Rochester charge thus lessened materially. Rev. R. Bird was the pastor in 1875-76, and John Armstrong succeeded him in the pastorate in the latter named years. In 1876 a fine new chapel was built at a cost of three thousand eight hundred dollars. It was erected on the old site, and has a seating capacity of three hundred. It was constructed with a view to rearing a main edifice in front of the present chapel, should the growth of the society make that desirable, and is a well equipped and convenient place of worship. Rev. Arm- strong's pastorate lasted until 1879, and he was variously succeeded as follows: Rev. William Way, 1879-83; Rev. J. P. Varner. 1882-83; Rev. Eugene Yager, 1883-84: J. P. Frier, 1884-86 ; Rev. J. O. Robinson, 1880- 89; Rev. R. L. Ileirson, 1889-1800; Rev. J. R. Beale, 1890-91 ; Rev. William J. Campbell, 1801-05 ; Rev. D. C. Challis, 1805-08: Rev. O. 1. Blackford, 1898-or: Rev. C. 11. Morgan, 1901-02; Rev. Thomas .\. Greenwood, 1902-04 : Rev. 11. C. Whitney, 1904-06; Rev. D. H. Yokem. 1900-10; Rev. Fred Irving Walker, who assumed the duties of pastor in 1910 is yet the incumbent of the charge, and is conducting the affairs of the church with characteristic zeal and fervency. The present mem- bership of the church is one hundred and seventy-five. The Sunday- school, which has a goodly attendance, is one of the most thriving branches of the church work.
ROCHESTER SOCIETIES
Rochester Masonic bodies date their existence from the year 1850, when the Stony Creek Lodge, the original Masonic lodge in Michigan, was removed to Rochester and its name changed to Rochester Lodge No. 5, A. F. & A. MI. The early history of Masonry in Michigan is of a most interesting nature, the organization of the Stony Creek Lodge being effected prior to the formation of the grand lodge of Michigan.
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that lodge being granted its charter from the grand lodge of the state of New York in the year 1826. The exact date of the organization is not known, owing to the destruction of the records by fire in 1868, but among the original members of the lodge were a number of pioneers. whose names were recorded in the memories of the younger generation and thus their identity with the lodge established. Some of these are: Jesse Decker, who was one of the earlier worshipful masters of the lodge; Joshua Taylor, who was worshipful master more than eighty years ago: Daniel B. Taylor, Peleg Elwell and Calvin Chapel.
The old lodge was the one and only lodge in the territory to keep its lights burning during the reign of the anti-Masonic excitement which endured from 1827 to 1840. The lodge members built their meeting place on one of the summits that crown the heights of the hamlet of Stony Creek. It was an octagon shaped room, and they named the site Mount Moriah. Here, for twelve years or more, Joshua Taylor and his confreres kept the lodge illuminated on the nights of its regular meetings, and when at last the waves of passion and prejudice which had assailed the mighty organization had subsided in some degree, and the grand lodge of Michigan, after a long period of inactivity, returned to the labors of the order, Stony Creek lodge appeared before the grand lodge and received her charter as Stony Creek Lodge No. 5. The lodge continued to exist thus until 1850, when, as stated above, it was removed to Rochester and its name changed to Rochester Lodge No. 5. A. F. & A. M.
Again in 1868 the hall of the lodge was destroyed by fire and for a second time the records were burned, thus rendering it impossible to secure a complete list of those who filled the Oriental chair previous to 1853. Since that time the office of worshipful master has been filled as follows: J. V. Lambertson, 1853-68: Dr. J. C. Wilson, 1869; Samuel Barnes, 1870-1884; William H. Jackson, 1885-87; Arthur E. Collins, 1888-89: Richard D. Watson, 1890-91; Arthur E. Collins, 1891-97; Alexander Ross, 1897: Richard D. Watson, 1898-99; A. L. Craft, 1890- 1905: Joseph M. Flumerfelt, 1906-07; Louis E. Becker, 1908; William J. Fraser, 1909 ; Richard D. Watson, 1910-11 ; Philip E. Butts, 1912.
Present officers, other than worshipful master: William D. Mercer, J. W .; O. J. Lasenby, S. W .; H. J. Taylor, treasurer; I. W. McCornoe. secretary ; William Tienken, S. D .; John F. Jackson, J. D .; H. F. Stone and G. M. Thompson, stewards; H. F. Strong, tyler.
Rochester Chapter No. 137. R. A. M. was organized November 24, 1896, with officers as follows: P. C. Butts, high priest ; D. B. Kressler, king ; C. G. Lomason, seribe ; A. E. Collins, treasurer ; W. W. Gifford, secretary ; A. E. Collins, C. Il. ; Edward G. Palmer, P. S. ; M. L. Mc- Clure, R. A. C. : H. F. Jones, third veil ; A. A. Griffin, second veil ; A. L. Mann, first veil.
The present officers are: W. J. Fraser, high priest; O. J. Lasenby, king: F. 1. Fisher, scribe; II. J. Taylor, treasurer; E. J. Lambertson, secretary : H. V. Rabin, C. H .: J. M. Flumerfelt. P. S .; S. A. Newman, R. A. C .; W. F. Skrine, third veil; C. W. Upton, second veil; W. A. Fox, first veil; H. F. Stone, steward: G. M. Thompson, steward ; Wil-
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liam Frenken, organist ; F. C. Miller, chaplain ; F. T. Taylor, sentmel. The lodge has a total membership of sixty-four members.
Rochester Lodge No. 68, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was instituted April 19, 1866, by R. W. Denis, grand master of Michigan, and the first officers of the lodge were as follows: W. J. Weir. N. G .: Dr. F. M. Wilcox. V. G .; C. S. Goodison, recording secretary ; John II. Hutaf, per. secretary : C. F. Cook, treasurer: 1. Woodward. P. G. ; 11. King. chaplain. Six candidates were admitted at the first meeting. The present officers of the lodge are: 11. Hotchkiss, noble grand ; E. Louden. vice grand; H. Bigger, financial secretary; G. Goodison, treasurer ; . 1. Steward, conductor ; William Wood, warden. Present number of mem- bers about two hundred.
Rochester Rebekah Lodge No. 390, was organized on February 25. 1903, with the following officers: Worthy grand. Matilda Fisher; vice grand, Gertrude Fox; recording secretary, Emma Drabner ; financial secretary, Louise Heinze; treasurer, Ann M. Goodison. The present officers are: Worthy grand, Eda Goodison ; vice grand, Carolyn Spauld- ing ; recording secretary, Gertrude Fox : financial secretary. Eva Living- ston ; treasurer, Lena M. Bridges. The lodge has a present membership of seventy-seven members.
BIOLOGICAL FARM, PARKDALE
Close to the village of Rochester is situated one of the most unique enterprises known to the country,-the Biological Farm at Parkdale. owned and operated by the Biological and Research department of Parke, Davis & Company, wholesale druggists, of Detroit, Michigan. This pro- gressive concern has for many years been deeply engaged in the study of therapeutics and has given valuable aid to medical science through their research department.
In 1908, in the furtherance of their work. it was decided best to pur- chase a suitable farm near Detroit where horses producing antidiphtheric and other sera, cattle producing small pox vaccine, and other animals. might be kept under the best possible natural conditions. After a great deal of search it was finally concluded that the district around Rochester. offered almost ideal conditions, the country being rolling uplands with a certain amount of well drained river bottoms, thus offering a variety of forage grasses throughout the grazing season.
The farm consists of three hundred and forty acres, located directly east of and immediately adjacent to the corporate limits of the village of Rochester. It is most excellently drained by Clinton river, which crosses the farm from the west, and Stony creek, which crosses it from the north, joining Clinton river on the premises. All low spots have been drained by tiling. Clinton river and Stony creek are natural trout streams. the water being clear, cold and swiftly flowing. their sources being in the numerous springs in the gravel hills extending along their banks. In those fields which are not supplied naturally by the streams, springs have been developed and their waters conveyed into large cement troughs. which insures that every field in which animals are kept is well supplied with the best of living water. Special endeavors are being made to de-
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velop the natural beauty of the farm by conserving and adding to the trees and shrubs growing upon it at the time of purchase. Private road- ways have been laid and graded and trees planted along their borders and about the buildings. The farm is bisected from west to east by a roadway, which two years ago was carefully regraded by the state.
Near the center of the farm are located the two dwelling houses and the barns that are used especially for farm purposes. The biological buildings proper have been located, in order to avoid dust and arrange for the most sanitary conditions possible, about eighty rods from the highway on a commanding hilltop which overlooks the entire premises. The beautiful valley of the Clinton river and Stony creek is spread out like a map immediately in front of the buildings and offers an extremely attractive combination of stream, hillside and woodland.
The buildings were all designed especially for the purposes for which they were to be utilized, the simplest and most sanitary construction available being employed. There are two large stables designed espe- cially for horses, a commodious vaccine propagating building, which is so located that the two floors may be entered from the ground at dif- ferent levels. This building is most complete in its equipment and con- tains numerotts specially constructed aseptic rooms for the handling of biological products, sterilizing room for preparing glassware, boiler room. dynamo, pump and various other types of machinery needed for work of this kind. All the biological buildings are supplied with run- ning water from an elevated tank which is kept filled by a power pump taking the water from a well about three hundred feet deep.
There are two hundred horses kept on the place, numerous goats, sheep and other animals. In order that the animals may receive the best possible attention, the resident superintendent is an experienced veterin- arian as well as a biologist. The farm, for its management, requires a force of about twenty men. All operations pertaining to the production of the sera and vaccines are carried out with the most careful atten- tion to sanitary requirements in keeping with the main biological labor- atory located in Detroit. It is the aim to produce therapeutic agents of the highest possible quality. The products are but partially elaborated at Parkdale and shipped in bulk to Detroit for further attention. It is believed that as time passes greatly increased facilities will be needed to keep pace with the great developments that are being made in medical and veterinary biological work.
FERRY SEED FARM
In December, 1902, the Ferry Seed Company which had formerly conducted a farm near Pontiac purchased a half section of land (south half of 36), a few miles southeast of Rochester for $50,000. This has been developed into one of the greatest seed farms in the country, and is widely known as "Oakview."
CHAPTER XXIX
OXFORD TOWNSHIP'
CIVILLY ORGANIZED-FIRST SETTLERS OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST ROADS AND RAILROAD-THOMAS-LAKES-OXFORD VILLAGE INCORPORATED -SCHOOLS-OXFORD CHURCHES-NEWSPAPERS AND SOCIETIES-OX- FORD INDUSTRIES-MICHIGAN PRESSED BRICK COMPANY-C. L. RANDALL & COMPANY.
Oxford is among the northern tier of townships and was cut off from Oakland township in 1837. It was named before it was born; which is a somewhat remarkable circumstance. In the fall of 1836 the citizens of the territory who desired separate organization petitioned the legis- lative council to that effect, and a committee consisting of Samuel Ax- ford, Otis C. Thompson and John Rossman, was appointed to select a name for the proposed town. Mr. Thompson insisted that nothing could be more appropriate than Oxford, since nearly all the settlers had ox- teams and probably would hold on to them for some years to come. His suggestion prevailed, although one of his associates, a rabid Yankee and anti-Britisher, fought it quite savagely on the ground that the coming generations, at least, would not understand the significance, but surmise that the township was named after old Oxford, England.
OXFORD CIVILLY ORGANIZED
But "Oxford" the township was named, and in April, 1837, a civil organization was effected by the election of the following at the house of Fite Rossman, on section 27, at the site of the present village : Super- visor, Peter D. Makely ; clerk, Daniel Haines ; assessors, Samuel Axford, Daniel 1. Ingals and Harlan Hollister; justices of the peace, Daniel F. Ingals, Justin Bixby, Rufus K. Moore, and Levi Smith; commissioners of highways, Addison Aleutt, Rufus K. Moore, and Hezekiah B. Killam ; school inspectors, Daniel FF. Ingals, Robert Mckay, and Samuel Axford : collector, Morgan Axford; directors of the poor, John Rossman and William Coates ; constables, Adam Rossman and Horace Hovey ; pound- master, Joseph Furguson.
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