History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 38

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 38

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The total expenses of the town for 1837 were fifty dollars and seventy-five cents, leaving a balance of sixty cents in the treasury. A wolf-bounty of three dollars was voted. This was increased shortly after to five dollars, and in a few years after that to ten dollars. Among those receiving bounties for wolves killed were Thomas Streator and Isaac Truax.

The principal officers elected for constitutional terms since 1837 were,-

Supervisors .- George P. Thurston, 1838, 1840; A. Kent, 1839; Heman D. Calkins, 1841 ; George D. Price, 1842; T. N. Lomis, 1843, 1846, 1849, 1851, 1856, 1860, 1863-65 ; N. D. Bingham, 1844; Caleb Stanley, 1845; Addison Cowden, 1847, 1850, 1855; Isaac P. Benjamin, 1848, 1868-72; Justin H. Butler, 1852-54, 1857-59 ; Fred. H. Kellicutt, 1861-62; Paine Chappel, 1866- 67 ; George D. Cowden, 1873; Leman Allen, 1874-75 ; John D. McIntire, 1876; Milton T. Young, 1877.

Town Clerks .- Schuyler D. Johnson, 1838; George Middaugh, 1839-40; Thomas J. Kellicutt, 1841-42, 1844, 1847, 1850; Isaac B. Shurter, 1843; John Shurter, 1845-46, 1848, 1852-53; Elisha H. Scott, 1849; Charles Der- byshire, 1851; Orimel G. Stuart, 1854; Sylvester Wells, 1855, 1857; David Young, 1856; Frederick H. Kellicutt, 1858, 1860; Thomas B. Johnson, 1859; Lewis H. Tucker, 1861 ; Barret Draper, 1862; Paine Chappel, 1863-65; John C. Jenkins, 1866; S. M. Wiggins, 1867, 1869-70; James Gordon, 1868; Wil- liam F. Bingham, 1871 ; Jonathan Omans, 1872; Horace H. Markham, 1873- 74; John D. McIntire, 1875-76 ; George M. Woolman, 1877.

Justices of the Peace .- Addison Cowden, 1838; John B. Seymour, 1839; George Middaugh, 1840 ; Asahel Kent, 1841; Heman A. Calkins, 1842; John Shurter, 1843; John W. Paine, 1844; Isaac P. Benjamin, 1845, 1849; David McKnight, 1846 ; George P. Thurston, 1847, 1851, 1855, 1859, 1863 ; James Bushnell, 1848; Samuel F. Gregory, 1850; Barret Draper, 1852 ; Alfred Van Wagoner, 1853, 1857, 1861 ; Alfred J. Burleson, 1854; Amos Orton, 1856; Sanford Maynard, 1858; Sylvester Wells, 1860; Joseph Mckay, 1862; Jacob Arnold, 1864; Orrin E. Deming, 1865, 1873, 1877; Andrew Govan, 1866; Daniel H. Polhemus, 1867; Charles B. Kent, 1868, 1872; Oliver P. Gool, 1869; Albert King, 1870; John Allen, 1871; Moses Taylor, 1874; William F. Bing- ham, 1875 ; James Arnold, 1876.

PIONEER MEETINGS AND CHURCHES.

The Baptist missionary " went up and possessed the country" as early as 1837. A Rev. Grow was one of the first to come. He preached at the houses of Oliver Draper and Addison Cowden to large and attentive congregations. At the first meeting sixty-two persons were in attendance, and, as no provision had been made for seating so many, the chamber floor, which was put down loose, was taken up and the boards used for seats. In 1838 a class of the Baptist faith was organized at Mr. Cowden's, consisting of ten persons. Regular preaching was now main- tained by Elders Potter, Fuller, and others. For a time the work was very pros- perous ; but dissensions arose among the members and caused the disruption of the society. Subsequently, an effort to unite those professing the Baptist creed was crowned with success. And from this has resulted

THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH,

at Ortonville, whose history was prepared for this work by Thomas Wilders.

In the fall of the year 1848, Elder Wm. Wilders, an aged Baptist minister from England, with his family moved into the township of Brandon, and imme- diately commenced preaching in the school-houses. Finding a number of Baptist brethren and sisters residing in that neighborhood, who formerly belonged to a Baptist church in that township which had become extinct, an invitation was given to all such persons to meet at the Hoover school-house to consider the pro- priety of forming a new Baptist church. On the day appointed a number of brethren and sisters met, and after prayer and considerable discussion it was finally agreed to form a new church, to be called the Brandon Baptist church. The fol- lowing names were enrolled : Elder Wm. Wilders, Sr., Thos. Wilders, Elizabeth Wilders, Wm. Wilders, Jr., Melicent Wilders, Henry Wilders, Elizabeth Wilders, Israel Wilders, Ann Wilders, Samuel E. Wilders, Sophia Wilders, Daniel A. Am- merman, and Leah Ammerman. This was on the 31st day of December, 1849. Elder Wilders was unanimously chosen as their pastor. About this time a Sab- bath-school was formed in the Draper school-house, which was well attended. Wm. Wilders, Jr., was superintendent.

On the 12th of March, 1851, the little church was recognized by a council in which the churches at Hadley, Davisonville, and Groveland were represented. Elders W. D. Potter and T. H. Facer took part in the services of the day. Dur- ing the first four or five years of this church's history there was regular preaching alternately at the Draper school-house and at the stone church near the northwest corner of the town of Brandon. The congregations at both places were uniformly good, and though but few were added to the church, yet by the faithful preaching of the gospel and other public means the way was preparing for future prosperity. The hard feelings which individuals had towards each other, who had formerly seen members together in the old church, were gradually softening, so that some of them could meet and unite in prayer and covenant-meetings. During the whole of this time the church was very united and happy, and it was frequently said that few churches enjoyed more union and brotherly love than this little church. In the midst of this peace and harmony, and while the prospects around seemed encouraging, the aged and much-esteemed pastor was taken away by death. He died September 15, 1854, aged seventy-three years and nine months. He was pastor in England over the general Baptist church at Sutton, Bonington, twenty- six years, and over the general Baptist church at Kegworth fourteen years, after which he removed with his family to America, and settled in this place. As a minister he was plain and faithful, delighting to exhibit the love of God to poor lost sinners. After his death the church invited Elder S. Gardiner, of Oxford, to become its pastor. He commenced his labors among them at the close of the year 1854, and continued its pastor two years. About this time several of those who were formerly members of the old church came and united with this ; also several young converts from the Sabbath-school were added by baptism.

In March, 1857, after a sermon by Elder S. T. Grow, a most wonderful out- pouring of the Holy Spirit was manifest ; many in the room were crying for mercy, and asking God's people to pray for them. As the church was without a pastor, Elder Potter, of Hadley, was requested to come and hold a series of meet- ings. He came, and with a little assistance from Elders Grow and Gardiner con- tinued the meetings for two or three weeks. The result was that twenty-seven were baptized, and several backsliders were reclaimed. Elder S. T. Grow was in- vited to become pastor of the church about this time. He accepted the invitation, and continued to preach five years.

Elder W. H. Fuller became pastor June 13, 1862, and closed his labors with the church April 8, 1864.

Elder S. Gardiner became pastor a second time in October, 1865, and closed his labors among them in October, 1866.

In the summer of 1866 the Draper school-house, where most of the meetings of the church had been held, became so dilapidated that the church was compelled to find some other place to meet in. After mature deliberation the church resolved to hold its meetings in future in the school-house in Ortonville, until a meeting- house could be erected in that place. The following year a house was built, at an expense of about three thousand dollars, including the cost of the organ.

Elder W. H. Fuller, of Oxford, became pastor a second time February 16, 1867, and preached half the time, till compelled by sickness to resign in May, 1869; Elder S. T. Grow gratuitously preaching the other half.

In the summer of 1868 the meeting-house was dedicated by Elder S. W. Titus, of Flint. The collection, with pledges, was sufficient to pay off the entire in- debtedness. Elder I. C. Atherton became pastor of the church July 1, 1869, and preached half the time (Elder Grow preaching the other half ), till compelled by sickness to resign, in March, 1870. E. N. Selleck commenced his labors with this church on the first Sunday in April, 1870, and was ordained to the gospel ministry in August of the same year. He closed his labors with them in Octu-

156

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

ber, 1873. A parsonage was built in the summer of 1870, costing about eight hundred dollars.

May 4, 1872, the name of the church was changed from the Baptist church of Brandon to the First Baptist church of Ortonville. Elder W. H. Fuller be- came pastor the third time in October, 1873, and closed his labors, through de- clining health, in October, 1874. S. Needham, a licentiate, preached for the church one year, commencing November, 1874. Elder Samuel Smith, from Par- shalville, became pastor November 14, 1875. In January, 1877, he labored hard in a union protracted meeting with Elder Howard, of the Free-will Baptist church, which resulted in the conversion of a considerable number of young persons, and, though he continued to preach for about eight weeks, it was evident to his friends that his health was gradually declining. Consumption seized upon him, and on the 26th day of April, 1877, he closed his labors on earth to enjoy his reward in heaven, aged fifty-nine years. Elder W. H. Prentiss, the present pastor, commenced his labors in May, 1877.

Since the formation of the church its statistical changes have been as follows : Baptized, ninety-seven ; received by letter, sixty-eight ; received by experience, twenty-five; restored, sixteen; dismissed, sixty-nine; excluded, twenty-nine ; dropped, ten ; died, twenty-one ; present number, eighty-two.

The pastoral changes have been as follows :

1849-54, Elder Wm. Wilders ; 1854-56, Elder S. Gardiner ; 1857-62, Elder S. T. Grow ; 1862-64, Elder W. H. Fuller ; 1865-66, Elder S. Gardiner ; 1867- 69, Elder W. H. Fuller ; 1869-70, Elder I. C. Atherton ; 1870-73, Elder E. N. Selleck ; 1874-75, S. Needham ; 1875-77, Elder S. Smith ; 1877, Elder W. H. Prentiss.

Number of scholars in Sabbath-school, one hundred and forty-five; number of volumes in library, one hundred and forty-three; W. H. Parker, superintendent.

THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF ORTONVILLE

was organized in February, 1859, at the house of M. H. Fillmore, about two miles north of Ortonville. The original members were Rev. C. P. Goodrich, Elam White, Harriet White, Cornelius B. Allen, Harriet M. Allen, Myron H. Fillmore, Sarah Fillmore, and Malvina Goodrich (eight).

The first pastor was Rev. C. P. Goodrich, and the place of holding meetings was a public hall over the store of Amos Orton.

The present church building was erected in 1861, and the number of members at that time had increased to fifteen.

During the winter of 1867 a protracted meeting of thirteen weeks' duration was held by Rev. A. A. Myers, which resulted in the addition of one hundred and twenty-six to the membership of the church, and greatly strengthened the adjoin- ing churches. The present number of members is one hundred and twenty-nine.

In the fall of 1867, Rev. A. W. Westgate succeeded Rev. C. P. Goodrich ; and in the spring of 1870, Rev. Geo. H. Howard, the present pastor, entered upon his labors.

A Sabbath-school was sustained just prior to the organization of the church, and has been kept up to the present time, numbering now one hundred and twenty-five.

The first superintendent was Thomas Wilders, and the present one is Hiram Ball. This church has from the first been thoroughly earnest in its advocacy of tem- perance, and for a number of years has used only unfermented wine at its commu- nion services.

The Methodists entered Brandon about the same time as the Baptists, but con- fined their labors to the southern part of the town, preaching in the neighborhood of Seymour lake. Here they organized the first religious society in the township, at the house of Joseph Shurter, in 1837. Some of the persons then joining were John Shurter, Elizabeth Shurter, Elvira Rathbun, Elizabeth King, and Louisa Kingsley. This class was the germ of the society which now worships at

THE SEYMOUR LAKE CHURCH.

The first meetings were held in houses, and at the school-house when that was erected. The first quarterly meeting was held at Joseph Shurter's barn. The circuit preacher at that time was Rev. Flavel Britton. His successors were : In 1842, Revs. Salmon Steele and Richard Pengilly ; in 1845 and 1846, Revs. John Gray and John Burnham. At that time it was known as the Brandon class, and formed a part of Oakland circuit. In 1845 it became a part of Clarkston circuit, and was supplied in that connection, and in 1850 it became a part of Oxford cir- cuit. This relation was maintained until 1869. It was then united with the class at Oakwood, and made a separate charge, called the Brandywine circuit.

Rev. John Wesley was the first preacher in charge. He remained two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Seeley. In the fall of 1872, N. G. Lyons, then a young local preacher, was appointed by the presiding elder-Rev. Seth Reed-to this charge. The preacher was then supported partially by the mission-

ary society ; but during his connection the charge became self-supporting, and raised one hundred dollars missionary money per year beside. At the close of the first year the members requested the return of Rev. Lyons. The elder con- sented, on condition that they would build a church. This they agreed to do, and the corner-stone was laid May 29, 1874, by the Rev. William Fox and others. It is an imposing frame edifice, thirty-four by sixty-two feet, and is very hand- somely finished, at a cost of four thousand dollars. It was dedicated October 27, 1874, by Dr. B. I. Ives, of New York, assisted by Revs. Fox, Bancroft, Cordon, Wood, and Lyons. The membership of the church is at present eighty-five, seventeen of whom were added the past year. Rev. Lyons was succeeded by the Rev. B. H. Hedger, the present pastor, who has served the church since 1875. Rev. Lyons is now a member of the Detroit conference.

THE CHURCH AT OAKWOOD.

The Methodist class at this place has had preaching in connection with the Seymour Lake class. Until the summer of 1877, their meetings were held in the Congregational church. The increase of membership the class had the last few years induced it to build a church of its own. The building is now (1877) in process of erection, and will be essentially like the Seymour Lake church.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT OAKWOOD

dates its origin to the labors of Rev. Ruggles, and others of that belief, in 1840- 48. In May, 1848, the present society was organized, with the following members : David McKnight and his wife Elizabeth, Mrs. Sophia Barnes, John L. Farrar and his wife Phoebe, Isaac Parker, Elvira Huff, and Huldah Hunt. The first board of trustees was composed of William Campbell, Alexander Huff, Welcome Camp- bell, Edwin Baldwin, and David McKnight. The society had a prosperous career, and commenced to build a church at Oakwood in 1854. It was a frame build- ing, thirty-four by fifty-four feet, containing three hundred sittings. The cost of the edifice was fifteen hundred dollars ; three hundred dollars of this amount was donated by the Congregational union. On the 16th of January, 1855, it was formally dedicated by Rev. D. L. Eaton, The pastoral connection since then has been Revs. Branch, Winters, Whitney, Phillips, Hovender, and Bullock, who is now the pastor, having been called in September, 1876. Until that time this church was connected with the one at Orion, and was served conjointly with that, some of the pastors residing at Oakwood, the others at Orion. There are now services every Sunday, which have been the means of increasing the spiritual life of the church and adding largely to its membership, which is at present sixty-four.

A Sunday-school was established in this church some years ago. Deacon Mc- Knight was the superintendent. It is still continued, and has at present a mem- bership of eighty-five. Paine Chappel is the superintendent, and Miss Frances Hill is secretary.

OAKWOOD VILLAGE.

The village of Oakwood is situated in both the towns of Brandon and Oxford, principally in Brandon. The place was formerly known as Campbell's Corners, and dates its settlement from 1836. That year Alexander Huff, from Chili, Monroe county, New York, settled on section 12, on the forty-acre lot which now forms the principal site of the village. The Campbell brothers settled on the Oxford side about the same time. The improvements these men made, in the shape of log houses, were the only ones in the place for a number of years, but they were the nucleus of the present village ; and when, in 1843, a blacksmith- shop was built here by Thomas Streator, the other adjuncts of a village followed, as a matter of course, in the succeeding half-dozen years. A wagon-shop, built by Samuel Gregory about 1848, was the next mechanical industry. A hotel, by Welcome Campbell, was opened about the same time. The post-office came next, with mails from Pontiac to Lapeer. Dr. Lathrop was the first physician to settle here, about 1850. Some years after, Dr. Armstrong also located, and both prac- ticed for some time at this place. The settlement began to grow, and it was thought a saw-mill was the next essential to the welfare of the place. Alexander Huff undertook the project of erecting a steam saw-mill, although with but a faint prospect of success, for the machinery was crude and skilled labor rare. The work had so far progressed by May 2, 1854, that the mill was set running on that day. The first lumber sawed was purchased by Addison Cowden. Now followed a series of vexations. The mill got out of order so frequently that there was no dependence on it ; besides, it was found that the enterprise did not pay: there was not enough demand for lumber. About this time the property passed into the hands of William Giddings, and, in 1856, he and his son changed from sawing to grinding. They procured mill machinery, with two run of stones, and operated the mill three years, only to find that it was an unprofitable enterprise. The mill was then dismantled, and the machinery removed to other points. In this period several stores were kept at Oakwood. The first in 1854, by A. Huff; shortly after by Huff & Lathrop. Welcome Campbell also embarked in a mercan-

RESIDENCE OF G. L. HUMMER, SEC. 10, BRANDON TP., OAKLAND Co., MICH.

RESIDENCE OF B. F. SCOTT, SEC. 5, BRANDON TP, OAKLAND CO, MICH.

A. COWDEN.

MRS. A. COWDEN.

T. N. LOMIS

MRS T. N. LOMIS.

157

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

tile enterprise about this time. Other interests were developed in time, and the village has had its successive stages of prosperity and adversity to the present, leaving the business in Brandon township as follows :

Dry goods, M. M. Frost; groceries, D. Swain; boots and shoes, Erastus Bache- jor ; harness, C. S. Swain ; hotel, Fred. Madison ; physician, W. J. Bachelor ; postmaster, M. M. Frost; Congregational church, Rev. M. A. Bullock.

T. H. Rice is the proprietor of a foundry, which is a pretty extensive establish- ment, manufacturing plows, castings, and general farm machinery. The main shop is thirty by fifty feet, the moulding-room is twenty-four by thirty feet, and the wood-shop is eighteen by twenty-six feet. Being located in a rich agricultural country its work finds a ready sale at home, although some shipments are made.

VILLAGE OF ORTONVILLE.

Aside from an occasional farm-house there were no buildings at what is now Ortonville prior to 1848. That year Amos Orton built a dam across Kearsley creek, near the south line of section 7, and erected a small saw-mill to work up the pine growing on sections 7 and 8. This mill was operated with more or less intermission until 1865, when Messrs. Algor and Elliott, who then owned it, re- placed it with a new mill, which is still in working order.

In 1852, Amos Orton also built a small feed-mill, with one set of burrs, near his saw-mill. This remained until 1856, when he erected the present structure, a frame three stories high, thirty-six by forty-eight feet long. The mill has three run of stones, giving it a capacity of three hundred bushels per ten hours. Both mills are now the property of M. H. Fillmore.

The first house erected where Ortonville now stands was a small frame, by Orsamus Doty, in 1850. It was destroyed by fire in April, 1877, and was the only building ever consumed by that element in Ortonville.

Thomas Tripp was the next to build, in 1851. Amos Orton and Hiram Ball both built houses in 1852. All these buildings yet remain in good condition.

A small blacksmith-shop was built by Amos Orton in 1850. Here Nelson Chase carried on his trade for several years. In 1852, Israel Jay built a shop near the present mill, where he did something for nearly a year. The building is now used by Mr. Waterfield as a barn.

George Wiggins built a wagon shop about 1853. He was the first worker in wood at Ortonville.

Dr. Thomas B. Johnson was the first settled physician in the place, coming about 1855. Dr. Drummond followed him in 1860, and he was succeeded by Dr. R. E. Campbell. In 1867, Dr. C. P. Felshaw located at Ortonville, and re-, mained until 1876.

About 1856, Dr. Johnson opened a small store in a building which stood on the site of the present hotel. Amos Orton purchased this some years after, enlarged it, and kept a good country store.

A post-office was established in or about 1855. Amos Orton was the post- master, who appointed Hiram Ball deputy. He kept the office in his dwelling. The mail was brought via Clarkston to Goodrich, by Samuel Laraby. He also had a stage-line, which was purchased several years after by N. E. Duel. Orton- ville now has daily mails from Thomas, its shipping-point, via Oakwood. An express runs over the same route.

A frame school-house was erected at Ortonville in 1864, which was used until the district purchased the seminary building. This house was erected by a stock company, called the Seminary Association, in 1867. It is an imposing structure, thirty-four by fifty feet, twenty-four feet posts, surmounted by a dome twelve feet square. It has a square roof, relieved by fine brackets. The building can ac- commodate two hundred pupils, and is well furnished. The seminary was opened in the winter of 1867, under the principalship of Professor Parker. It was con- ducted as a private school a few years, when the building became the property of district No. 10, and a graded school was formed. This is at present taught by Professor J. B. Allen, assisted by competent teachers.

Ortonville having assumed fair proportions, and giving promise of future growth, was platted in 1866 by Hiram Ball, L. P. Miller, W. H. Parker, Charles Herrington, George Wiggins, James Quill, William Algor, and N. K. Elliott. The principal site is on section 7, with a few blocks on section 18. In 1868, Jonathan Ball and L. P. Miller platted an addition of several acres on section 7. Since that time the village has had a slow but steady growth. Its present manu- factories are-

Ortonville Foundry, established in 1875, by William Brokenshaw, the present proprietor. The products are plows, harrows, and general farm machinery.

Marble-works, W. H. Parker proprietor, and established by him in 1856. Principal shop is eighteen by forty feet, and gives employment to four hands. This establishment has an excellent reputation, and produces some artistic work.

Carriage-factory, by W. L. Guiles; main shop is thirty by sixty feet, and was built in 1874. This factory employs four hands.

The general business of Ortonville is transacted by the following firms :

Blacksmiths, J. H. Wells, Cole, Guiles & Woolman, James Waterfield; boots and shoes, O. Cummings, Sevener & Keller, R. Leece; cabinet-maker, George Eaton ; cooperage, J. J. Walter ; dentistry, G. L. Webster ; drugs, A. J. Wilders ; dry goods, William F. Bingham, John Omans; groceries, William Cobb, N. E. Irish ; harness, L. C. Truax, H. R. Jones, J. J. Everett; hotel, S. Bellenger ; joiner, T. H. Stuart ; jewelry and notions, Hiram Ball; livery, Flavel J. Smith ; millinery, Mrs. H. Ball, Mrs. T. H. Stuart, Mrs. William Cobb; meat-market, Adelbert Carr; physicians, William Acheson, W. T. Sheadel; postmaster, A. J. Wilders ; tinware, N. E. Irish ; undertaker, L. M. Torrance ; wagon-makers, Jonathan Ball, S. M. Wiggins.

SOCIETIES AND ORDERS.

Oakwood Lodge, No. 100, F. A. M., was granted a dispensation on the 3d of June, 1857. On the 16th of January, 1858, it was chartered with the following members : Sloan Cooley, Allen McKey, Abram Hunt, Joseph McKey, D. M. Fitch, Alexander Huff, Benjamin Reed, William Giddings. The present mem- bership is sixty-five, with the following officers: Geo. D. Cowden, W. M .; M. Armstrong, S. W .; Henry McKey, J. W .; Abram Hunt, Treasurer; E. R. Skinner, Secretary ; Homer A. Thomas, S. D .; Austin Deming, J. D .; Ralph Hunt, Tyler.

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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 38

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