History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 26

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553

USA > Michigan > Oakland County > History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories > Part 26

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was delivered by P. McOmber, Esq. Revolutionary soldiers were invited free of expense.

Among the patriotic toasts was the following :

"The patriots and heroes of the Revolution.

"We love to think of Bunker Hill, . Yorktown and Brandywine; We love those old Green Mountain boys, Who mounted John Burgoyne."

INDIAN TRAIL.

The great Indian trail from 'Mount Clemens to Pontiac and Orchard lake passed through Auburn.

PRESENT SCHOOLS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

The township of Pontiac, outside of the city, has seven full school-districts, and there are five fractional districts, being composed of sections in the township and others in adjoining townships. There are eight school-buildings in the town- ship, outside the city, and three others in the fractional districts on the township lines. Probably the most populous district is No. 1, including the village of Auburn. Districts Nos. 11 and 17 are largely outside the city limits, but have their buildings in the city. The schools are all in a flourishing condition and have mostly good buildings; but in the absence of statistical reports we are unable to give particulars. The abolition of the office of county superintendent seems to have been an unwise step.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JUSTIN S. NEWMAN,

son of John and Mary (Hilton) Newman, was born in the town of Lima, Liv- ingston county, New York, July 16, 1811. He is one of a family of six chil- dren,-four sons and two daughters,-and is the only one of the sons now living. He has two sisters and a half-sister living. His parents were early settlers in Livingston county, New York. His father was one of three brothers, who settled at an early day in the State of Delaware. They were natives of England.

J. S. Newman's father died before he was old enough to know him, and in 1833 the latter, then in his twenty-second year, visited Michigan for the purpose of purchasing land. He finally bought the northeast quarter of section 12, in Pontiac township, Oakland County, from second hands, and returned to New York. On the 11th of January, 1835, he was married in the town of Ogden, Monroe county, to Miss Hannah A. Fisher, daughter of John Fisher, of that county. She is a native of the town of Covert, Seneca county, New York, where she was born September 30, 1812.

In the latter part of the month of May following their marriage (1835), Mr. Newman and his wife turned their course westward, and on finally arriving in Michigan, settled on the farm he had purchased in 1833. A log house, twelve by sixteen feet, roofed with basswood troughs, lapped over each other in order to shed rain, had been built by the former owner, George Teeples, who settled here with his brother Harry, probably previous to 1830. Into this primitive structure Mr. Newman and his wife moved their household effects, and began life as pioneers. George Teeples, from whom Mr. Newman purchased, afterwards joined the Mormons. Mr. N. owns the same land he originally purchased,-one hundred and sixty acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Newman are the parents of eight children,-four sons and four daughters. Five are married,-two sons and three daughters.

JOHN J. NEWMAN, the oldest son, was born January 6, 1836; now living on the old Utley farm, section 10, Pontiac township.

WILLIAM R., born August 1, 1839; living at home; lately purchased a farm on section 12, Pontiac.

CONDACE A., born June 4, 1841; now the wife of G. A. Giddings; living north of her parents.

HARRIET B., born March 16, 1843; married to C. L. Bullock, and living in Toronto, Canada.

ALFRED F., born June 24, 1845 ; living at home.

EDWIN F., born April 23, 1848; living on his brother William's farm.

MARY A., August 16, 1851; married to William H. Axford; living in Pontiac City.

ADA GRACE, born January 13, 1860; living at home.

Mr. Newman is yet an " old-line Abolitionist" in politics, and has never united with any party in particular, although ostensibly a Republican. When he and his wife were married the ceremony was performed in a Baptist church by Elder Zenith Case, who afterwards emigrated to the west, and died. They are now

* There was a small Methodist class and irregular preaching at Auburn as early as 1827. They never had a house of worship, and afterwards united with the church in Pontiac.

t There are no religious societies, outside the city of Pontiac and the village of Auburn, in the township.

VIEW FROMTHE SOUTH EAST.

A. A.SNYDER.

MRS. A. A. SNYDER.

E.A. SUMNER, DEL.

RESIDENCE OF A. A . SNYDER , SEG. 33: ADDISON TP., OAKLAND CO, MICH.

L.H. EVERTS & CO., PHILA. LITH.

MRS. S. E. FERGUSON.

S. E. FERGUSON.

$2.2%

RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL E. FERGUSON, SEC 1. ADDISON TP, OAKLAND CO, MICH

GEORGE M. BOICE.

MRS. GEORGE M. BOICE .

RESIDENCE OF GEORGE M. BOICE, SEC. 29, ADDISON TP, OAKLAND Co., MICH.

a .!

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

123

members of the Oakland Baptist church of Oakland township, with which organi- zation they united in 1844 or 1845. Mrs. N. was a Baptist previous to her marriage, having professed religion in 1830, and joined that society.

Mrs. Newman's father, John Fisher, was born in the State of New Jersey, March 21, 1772, and emigrated from Monmouth county to New York. His wife, Sarah (Praul) Fisher, was born July 16, 1774. Mr. Fisher settled in the town of Covert, Seneca county, New York, with his wife and five children in 1809. Two children were afterwards born in the family in that county ; these were Mrs. Newman and her next older sister. Mrs. Fisher died in Seneca county, Novem- ber 30, 1820, and in 1822 her husband removed to the town of Ogden, Monroe county. In 1835 he accompanied his son-in-law, J. S. Newman, to Michigan, and lived with his son, William Fisher, south of Mr. Newman's, until February 24, 1864, when he died, having reached his ninety-third year. While living in Monroe county, New York, he married Mrs. Mary Newman, Justin S. Newman's mother, in October, 1822. One daughter was born to them, and is now living. His second wife died December 16, 1851.

MORGAN J. SPENCER.

[WAYNE COUNTY.]

Was born in the parish of St. Mary's Church, in Glamorganshire, South Wales, on the 13th of July, 1816. He was the son of William Spencer, and the second

of ten children. He remained at home, working on his father's farm until 1837, when, like thousands of others, he concluded to try and better his condition, and accordingly emigrated to America, settling at first in Syracuse, New York. He subsequently learned the tanner and currier trade with his uncle, John Spencer, living twelve miles south of Syracuse.

On the 7th of February, 1839, he married Margaret Jones, daughter of David Jones, Esq., of St. Faggans, Glamorganshire, South Wales. Her father died in his native country some years before, and the family came to the United States in 1837, along with Mr. Spencer's family, and settled at Syracuse.

Mr. Spencer removed to Webster, Washtenaw county, Michigan, in 1846, where he purchased a fine farm on Boyden's Plains, and built one of the best farm residences in that county.

Here he remained until 1864, giving his attention to the ancient and honor- able employment of agriculture, and making grain-raising a specialty.

During his residence in Washtenaw county he occupied the honorable position of postmaster for a period of twelve years, and held several other offices in the township and county.

In 1864 he disposed of his farm, and removed with his family to Plymouth, Wayne county, Michigan, where he remained two years, when he purchased the farm where he now resides.

In 1867 he was elected justice of the peace, and has held the office continu- ously since. He also holds the office of notary public by appointment of the governor.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP.

THE extreme northeast township of Oakland County is called Addison. It is a full congressional town, described as town 5 north, range 11 east, and, until 1837, formed a part of Oakland township. The surface of Addison is greatly diversi- fied,-generally level in the east, broken by lakes and marshes in the centre, and hilly in the west. The only local elevations are in the southwest, having the na- ture of a plateau, whose height above the general level is about one hundred feet. Its surface is tillable, and there is a tradition that the Indians cultivated several hundred acres of it before the settlement of the whites. Nearly the entire area of the township was originally covered with a growth of timber, a considerable portion of which was pine. Dense forests of this timber yet exist in the northern part of the township, and it is estimated that fifty million feet of timber can be cut in that region without exhausting the supply. . Fine groves of oak also abound, and other varieties of timber grow in limited quantities. There are no extensive plains in the township, and the soil generally is a loamy clay, susceptible of easy cultivation, and remarkable for its fertility. Three-fifths of the area are under cultivation, and the acreage of the several products for 1873, by the census returns, was as follows : Wheat, 3244 acres; corn, 920 acres; oats, 400 acres ; barley, 300 acres ; and the remainder in grass. Bushels of wheat, 40,727; corn, 30,690 ; all other grains, 29,766.

There are about two thousand acres of waste land in the township, including one thousand acres of water-surface. The natural drainage of Addison is good. There is a general depression, several miles wide, extending north and south through the town, containing a chain of lakes. Lakeville, the largest of these, is situated principally on sections 22 and 27. Its area is about seven hundred acres, which was produced, to a great extent, by the dam across its outlet. This had the effect of overflowing the intermediate surface of several small lakes, producing a vast pond or lake. The water, consequently, is shallow in places, affording excellent feeding-grounds for the finny tribes. The contour of the lake is very irregular, and its circuit embraces many miles. Its extreme length is one and one-half miles, its width three-fourths of a mile. There are some fine islands compassed by its waters, one of which has been improved for pleasure parties. The outlet of the lake is Stony creek. This stream has a southerly course for a short distance, then flows east along the south line of sections 26 and 25 into Macomb county. It receives the waters of several streams, and drains the contiguous country. There is also a series of small lakes in the northern part of the township. They flow in a general easterly course, and their outlet is a small stream flowing in a southeasterly direction through section 12. A number of springs are found in the western part of the township, and excellent water can everywhere be procured at a moderate depth.

FIRST ENTRIES OF PUBLIC LANDS

The pioneer did not enter the bounds of Addison as soon as some of the adjacent towns. The tide of immigration flowed by on the south, passing west- ward. The first entry of land of which we have any record was that made by Henry Connor, in January, 1826. He then bought a lot on section 27. Four years later, in 1830, Samuel D. Wells purchased a tract of land in Addison. This was followed, about the same time, by

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Sherman Hopkins, an enterprising New Yorker, located the mill-site on section 27, in 1830. He built a small house of cedar poles, and at once commenced work on a dam for a saw-mill, getting workmen from Macomb county. After operating the mill a short time he sold it and all his interest in the place to Addi- son Chamberlain, in 1831. Mr. Chamberlain had come the year before, and had determined to cast his lot in this new country. He was a man eminently fitted to take up the work begun by Hopkins and carry it to a successful completion. Bringing his family from New York, his native State, he began developing the resources of his property with a zeal that inspired the new-comers with confidence; and he was always their friend,-generous to a fault, and honorable in all his transactions. He was instrumental in introducing many improvements, and was for many years the leading town official.

In 1832, Nicholas Ferguson, of Wayne county, New York, located on section 12. He built a log house twenty-four by twenty-six feet, dressed smooth on the inside, and neatly chinked. It was in those days a building of aristocratic pre- tensions. He also cleared twelve acres, and seeded nine of them to wheat that fall. He was a great worker, and made a useful citizen. The same year brought a settlement to section 36. Aristarchus Willey, a Baptist elder, and David Tan- ner, had located their lands the year before, and they now brought their families. Mr. Tanner had a son named Lewis, who settled on the same section, near his father, in 1832. He had also a son, D. W. Tanner, who still resides on that section. Jonathan Niphon, a New Yorker, settled on section 36, in the fall of 1832.

A number of settlers came in 1833, and settled as follows: Dennes Snyder, a native of New Jersey, on section 33. By the roads he had to go at that time it was four miles from any settlement. He located there on account of the excel- lent water afforded by numerous springs. Near some of these he hastily built a log house, without doors or windows, hanging up a blanket for a door. They did their cooking out of doors, in the most primitive fashion. With the assistance of his sons, Cornelius, Jacob, and Abram, he cleared twelve acres of ground, and

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

seeded it that fall. He also built a good log house, completing it some time in November, about the time of the great meteoric shower. This event was regarded by the superstitious as a sign of the dissolution of material things. But a work- man on Mr. Snyder's house took a more practical view of the matter : "Get up! get up!" he shouted, " and see the stars shooting. It will be as cold as Green- land to-morrow." And his prediction came true. A cold, stormy season fol- lowed, putting the settlers to much inconvenience, and causing some suffering. James McGregor located on section 26, Timothy Townsend on section 15, Lester Sowles, from Genesee county, New York, on section 11. He helped to build the dam at Hopkins' saw-mill, and was at one period a joint owner of Hopkins' second mill. Caleb Gilbert, on section 12; Philarman Cook, on section 36. He opened a small store there a few years after. Peter Brewer settled on section 25. He had four sons when he came to the township,-Addison, Peter, John, and Abra- ham .- who have identified themselves with the interests of Oakland County. Mark S., another son, was born in Addison. He was elected to Congress in 1876. In 1834 and 1835 immigration was large, and Addison received a fair proportion of those coming to Oakland County. Lyman Boughton, a well-edu- cated New Yorker, located on section 3 in 1834. He was elected the first super- visor. Rev. William T. Snow, from New York, on section 28, in 1835. He was an excellent man, and did much for the town. The Indians esteemed him highly, and under his preaching many embraced Christianity. Joel Dudley located in the northwestern part of the town. Hiram and Stephen Ferguson came about the same time, and located on sections 12 and 1; David Bolton and John Glover also settled on section 1 in 1835. Elathan Townsend, from Green county, New York, came to Oakland County in 1833, and in 1835 settled on section 24 in Addison. Jacob Snyder, of New Jersey, on section 15; William Raub and Samuel Miller, Pennsylvanians. on section 15; Jefferson Teller, a New Yorker, on section 14; John Ryman, on section 35 ; and John Wallace, on the same sec- tion, about the same time. Nicholas Boice, a native of New Jersey, settled on section 29; Morgan Freeman, on section 32; and Peter Dudder and Alonzo Marvin on the same section. Samuel D. Axford, on section 22; and Phineas Bell, on section 33. William Hagerman, a native of Northampton county, Penn- sylvania, located on section 4 in 1834. He received a patent from the govern- ment for five hundred and sixty acres, and was at that time and for many years the largest land-owner in the township. He had four sons, Alfred, John, Frank, and Cornelius, all now citizens of Oakland County. After selecting a good build- ing site, he constructed a shanty, which answered very well for all the purposes of his household until the weather became warm. Then the mosquitoes became so troublesome that he had to construct sleeping apartments of his wagon-box. He raised it several feet from the ground, and, by keeping the cover closed, man- aged to outwit the "pesky critters." Mr. Hagerman cleared fifteen acres, and sowed it with wheat that fall. Next spring he built a good log house.

Among those settling in the township from 1836 to 1838 were Oliver White- head and Henry Blanchard, natives of New York, who located on section 11; George Fisher, on section 1; George Crawford and Enoch Fosbinder, on section 15; and Jacob Bowers, William Lockwood, Robert Arnold, Jesse Elwell, James Clack, Lyman Sowles, Zimri Curtis, John Layton, Peter Shoemaker, Ernest Mann, Leonard Kingsbury, and Seymour Arnold, locating principally in the western part of the town.

THE FIRST FRAME HOUSE.

Addison Chamberlain erected a small frame house in 1832, near his saw-mill, now in the village of Lakeville. It was used for a dwelling-house for some years, and subsequently for a tavern. It was enlarged by numerous additions, until it was quite an extensive establishment at the time it was destroyed by fire, in 1870.

In 1834, Mr. Chamberlain also built the first frame barn. It was opposite his house, from which it was separated by a street. The frame was thirty by forty feet, and is still in use.

Mr. William Hagerman planted an orchard in 1835, which was, perhaps, the first one of any size in the town. He procured his trees in Macomb county.

Arnold Mack, an enterprising farmer, used the first reaper, in 1847. It was a Seymour & Morgan machine, and was purchased in New York, and shipped to Mr. Mack direct.

Thomas Baker was one of the earliest, if not the first carpenter in the town- ship. He was assisted by his son-in-law, Andrew Myers, and most of the early houses and barns were constructed by them. Many of them remain as they were erected.

A country store was kept by Philarman Cook, on section 36, about 1836. It was the only trading-place ever established in the township outside of the village of Lakeville. Mr. Cook continued in business only a short time.

MANUFACTURES.

In its strictest sense, Addison is purely an agricultural township. The chief

industry of its people has always been the cultivation of the soil; but it has some manufacturing interests which deserve a place in this connection.

Immediately after Sherman Hopkins had built his cedar-pole shanty, he began work on a saw-mill, and built a dam across Stony creek, on section 27, near the outlet of Lakeville lake. This was in the summer and fall of 1830. When Addison Chamberlain bought the milling privileges at that point the property passed into his hands, and was very successfully operated by him for a number of years. The saw-mill was subsequently destroyed by fire.

In 1832, Sherman Hopkins, John Sowles, and James Thornton purchased one hundred and sixty acres of government land on sections 1 and 12, including a splendid body of pine timber and a fine mill-site. They built a saw-mill on section 1, on the stream which drains the lakes in the northern part of the town, and had a good power. Subsequently the mill was burned down, but has been rebuilt and improved, giving it a much greater capacity than that of the original mill. The property is now widely known as the Brewer & Killam saw-mill, and is one of the best in the northern part of the county. These gentlemen have important lumber interests in Addison township and Lapeer county, and manufac- ture a large quantity of lumber annually.

The Beach mill was erected by Milton Beach, on the west half of section 1, about 1840. Its capacity was never great, and it has seldom been worked to its fullest extent.

About 1854, Samuel Miller built a saw-mill at the head of Lakeville lake. Soon after, he met his death while on his return from the east, whither he had gone for funds to prosecute his work. The property remained in the possession of his family for some time thereafter, but at present belongs to Thomas J. Baker, and is known as the Baker saw-mill.

About 1838, Addison Chamberlain erected a grist-mill about thirty rods south of his saw-mill. It was a small structure, having but one set of burrs. It was known as the Chamberlain mill. Robert Jarvis was the miller, and the flour he produced was a delight to the pioneer housewife. The mill was consumed by fire in 1846.

THE CIVIL ORGANIZATION

of Addison was effected in April, 1837. Until then it was annexed to Oakland township, and had a fair representation in the meetings of that town, electing several of her citizens to prominent offices. The name Addison was bestowed on the new town as a compliment to one of these, Addison Chamberlain, and the first town-meeting was held at his house, the small frame building already men- tioned as the first one in the town. David Tanner was chosen moderator; Caleb Gilbert, Joel Dudley, and Lyman Boughton, inspectors ; and William T. Snow, clerk. A full list of officers was elected, as shown in the following roster :

Supervisor, Lyman Boughton. Town Clerks, William T. Snow, Caleb Gilbert. Assessors, Uriah Townsend, William Hagerman, Leonard Kingsbury. Com- missioners of Highways, David Tanner, Caleb Gilbert. Collector, Ephraim B. Case. Constables, James S. Deming, Lester Sowles. Commissioners of Schools, Addison Chamberlain, Seymour Arnold, A. Willey. Directors of the Poor, William Hagerman, Dennes Snyder. Justices of the Peace, Lyman Boughton, William T. Snow, Joel Dudley, Philarman Cook.

Since 1837 the full-term principal officers have been,-

Supervisors .- Addison Chamberlain, 1838-39; Seymour Arnold, 1840-43, 1856; Jacob Bowers, 1844-45, 1855, 1857-62, 1864-67 ; Joseph Arnold, 1846 ; William T. Snow, 1847-54 ; Lewis Maek, 1863; M. D. Ribble, 1868-77.

Town Clerks .- William T. Snow, 1838-39 ; Joseph Arnold, 1840-45 ; N. P. Winans, 1846-47 ; E. B. Case, 1848-50; Thomas C. Carr, 1851-52; Robert Arnold, 1853; Francis Hagerman, 1854, 1863-64; John N. Donaldson, 1855- 62, 1868-70; Matthew D. Ribble, 1865-67 ; D. B. Ketcham, 1871-73 ; Wil- liam H. Wilkinson, 1874-75 ; John W. Anderson, 1876-77.

Justices of the Peace .- Peter Townsend, 1838; Addison Chamberlain, 1839 ; Jacob Bowers, 1842, 1846, 1850, 1854, 1858, 1862, 1866 ; E. M. Phelps, 1843 ; Seymour Arnold, 1844, 1853; Stephen Ferguson, 1845, 1849 ; Robert Arnold, 1847, 1852; John Johnson, 1848; Horace P. Winans, 1851 ; Harvey Perkins, 1855 ; Joseph Arnold, 1856; Matthew D. Ribble, 1857, 1861, 1865, 1872; Lester Sowles, 1859, 1868; William Baker, 1860; Lyman Sowles, 1863; Lewis Mack, 1864 ; Samuel E. Ferguson, 1867-76; George W. Allen, 1869, 1873-77 ; Abram A. Snyder, 1870, 1874 ; William H. Wilkinson, 1871 ; John H. Butts, 1875.

Some interesting excerpts have been taken from

THE TOWN RECORDS.

It was voted at the first election, " That Addison come under the act regulating common schools."

" That each section line shall be deemed a public road."

" That all sheep and cattle shall be free commoners."

" And that the next town-meeting be again held at the house of A. Chamberlain."

...

HENRY PURSE

MARGARETTA M. PURSE .

RESIDENCE OF H. PURSE, SEC. 6. ADDISON TP, OAKLAND CO., MICHIGAN.

C. SELFRIDGE.

MRS. C. SELFRIDGE.

RESIDENCE OF C. SELFRIDGE, ADDISON TP., OAKLAND CO., MICH .

125

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

In 1838 it was decided to have a town-pound, although there is no record of a law to restrain animals. "That a pound twenty feet square and seven feet high be constructed of tamarack logs, near Chamberlain's saw-mill, in the cheapest possible manner ; and five dollars be raised for building it." Ephraim B. Case was invested with the title of pound-master.

For the sum of one dollar, paid to Supervisor Chamberlain, George Larzelier was licensed to keep tavern, in 1839, at what is now known as Lakeville. Mr. Larzelier's efforts to entertain the public must have been appreciated, as he was again licensed to retail spirituous liquors, and to keep tavern, in 1841, " when he shall have paid five dollars into the treasury."

ROADS.

The resolution passed at the first town-meeting, ordering roads on section lines, was carried out as far as practicable, and these roads, and such other highways as have been found necessary, are the only avenues of communication the township possesses. No railroad or turnpike has ever been built within its bounds.

SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES.

Considerable interest was manifested in educational matters by the early settlers of Addison, and a year after the town was organized eight districts were formed. In the fall of the same year,-1838,-Elizabeth Arnold, Sally Ann Hoyt, and Mariette Tedman were examined by the town school-board, " in respect to moral character, learning, and ability to teach," and were adjudged worthy to receive certificates. The following year Miss Kendricks was complimented in a like manner.

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History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 26

Author: Durant, Samuel W Publication date: 1877 Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co. Number of Pages: 553

Author: Durant, Samuel W
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Philadelphia, L. H. Everts & co.
Number of Pages: 553