History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 39

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 39

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).

Ortonville Lodge, No. 339, received a dispensation from the grand lodge, dated October 27, 1875, and was officered under the dispensation by Flavel J. Smith, W. M. ; William Acheson, S. W .; Squire M. Wiggins, J. W. The lodge received its charter on the 24th of January, 1877, bearing the names of Flavel J. Smith, William Acheson, S. M. Wiggins, Volney Cole, H. H. Markham, James Ball, T. H. Stuart, Oliver P. Gould, Jonathan Omans, and George M. Woolman. The present membership is twenty-four, with the same officers as named above. John D. McIntire is the present secretary.

Ortonville Grange, No. 385, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized April 22, 1874, with twenty-three charter members. B. F. Scott was chosen the first Master, and William Algor, Secretary. The grange has had a very flattering in- crease of membership, and now numbers sixty-eight. It meets in a handsomely- furnished hall, twenty-four by seventy feet, part of which is a store-room for the sale of supplies, purchased at wholesale, and sold at a slight advance. The present officers are Flavel J. Smith, Master, and B. F. Miller, Secretary.

For information furnished concerning this town we are under obligations to Geo. P. Thurston, Henry Houser, A. B. Travis, Thomas Lomis, Addison Cow- den, Isaac Truax, Joseph Shurter, Hiram Ball, Flavel J. Smith, John D. McIntire, George M. Woolman, Alfred Van Wagoner, Mrs. Alexander Huff, A. J. Wilders, and others.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

THOMAS N. LOMIS.

The life of this man affords another instance of the representative American farmer, and how useful a man may be, even though but a tiller of the soil, if he will only improve his opportunities.

The parentage of Thomas N. Lomis is traceable to the old Bay State. There his father, Jacob L. Lomis, married Nancy Noble, and, turning their eyes in the direction of the " star of empire," left their nativity for the then " west," settling in the town of Hamilton, Madison county, New York, where the subject of this sketch was born in 1807, and where, twenty years later, he was married. He re- mained a resident of New York until 1836, when he followed the example of his parents, and " went west" to the new State of Michigan, locating in the eastern part of Brandon township, in which vicinity he has lived ever since.

Upon coming to Brandon, Mr. Lomis at once identified himself with her inter- ests, and helped to develop her rich resources as a farming country, practically illustrating it by opening a large farm, which has prospered him pecuniarily. Nor did her public interests suffer at his hands. He was ever ready to aid in every good work, and was a church or school-house to be built, he was foremost with his contributions. He shirked not the petty cares and annoyances attending the hold- ing of township offices, and repeatedly filled them to the great satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. He was supervisor of Brandon during the trying times of the Re- bellion, and provided so well and liberally for the families of the soldiers that the record of that town speaks an abundance of praise for his patriotism and human- ity. Retiring from the active cares of the farm, he became a resident of the vil- lage of Oakwood, where he lives surrounded by the comforts of life, respected by his neighbors for his benevolence and generosity as well as his other good quali- ties as a citizen.

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP.

A LITTLE more than half a century ago the first white settler arrived in Com- merce, and after an almost solitary existence of four or five years left his habi- tation and moved away. This first pioneer was a man by the name of Abram Walrod, who located on the present site of the village of Commerce in 1824 or 1825. It is within the recollection of some yet living that where now we behold, with mingled feelings of admiration and pleasure, the cultivated farms and rural residences, thriving villages, abodes of wealth and happiness, naught but an un- broken wilderness met the gaze of the early settler. Who have wrought this change ? The pioneer men and women who sought a permanent home amid the primeval forests. in the solitary wilds of the west, and there, by energy and per- severance, persistent toil, and unremitting industry, planted an indelible impress of development and progress that is as admirable in its results as its accomplishment was difficult.

The township contains a remarkable diversity of soil, mostly a sandy loam, with here and there a small area of heavy clay. On the margins of the lakes a rich alluvial soil abounds, which, like the other, is fertile and productive. The surface is generally level, in places rolling, with occasionally a hilly spot.

The township is watered by the Huron river and several of those beautiful miniature lakes for the number of which Oakland County is noted. Among these the principal ones are Long lake, Lower Strait, Commerce, and Walled lake,* of which about one-third is in Commerce, the rest being in Novi township. These lakes are plenteously supplied with various kinds of fish, and afford both pleasure and recreation to the inhabitants of the township.

A peculiar phenomenon is presented by the existence of subterranean lakes, over which is a thin crust of conglomerated decayed vegetable matter and a sward of grass. It was found very difficult in an early day, and also at a later period, to construct roads over these spots. A heavy growth of tamarack or American larch exists on the margin of these natural curiosities.

In the year of our Lord 1834 the congressional township of Commerce was detached from Novi and organized in the usual manner, of which more hereafter.

The consideration of the early settlement of the township and its subsequent development are items which now claim attention.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first permanent settlement effected was by Abram Walrod, who came in May. 1825, from the State of New York, and settled on section 10, in which Commerce village is now situated. He built a plain log house on the lot now occupied by William Till, and lived in it for two or three years, and then moved into one of the counties in the western part of the State. He was said to have been a worthy and industrious person.

Succeeding Walrod came the following: Walter B. Hewitt came in June, 1825. and settled in section 34, on the farm now owned by Sidney Case. He erected a plain log house, in which he resided for a few years, and then moved to Ypsilanti, where he now lives. He was an emigrant from the State of New York. Bela Armstrong arrived May 1, 1826, and settled on the farm now owned by J. J. Moore. He died the year following his arrival. He came from Monroe county, New York.

Cornelius Austin, a soldier of the war of 1812, and still a resident of the town- ship, accompanied by his family, was the next to add his fortunes to the strug- gling colony. Mr. Austin was born in New Jersey, but at an early age removed to Lyons, New York, from thence to Indiana, and next, in 1829, to Commerce, taking up his residence near the site now occupied by the dwelling of Sidney C. Case, about one hundred rods northeast of Deacon Denny's house, which was over the line in Novi township. Here he lived a year and then removed to his present residence, on the north side of Walled lake, where he has lived contin- uously for nearly half a century. He is now in his eighty-seventh year, hale and hearty, and bids fair to become a centenarian. As illustrating the simplicity of his habits we mention an assertion we heard J. D. Bateman make, which was to the effect that Uncle Austin wears the same clothes he wore forty years ago. We may add that the above has a dual signification. It illustrates the characteristics of both men,-the utter ignorance of the fashions by the one, and the penchant for grotesque bonhommie of the other.

* So called from the natural walled-like appearance of its banks, which somewhat resembles artificial stone.

The year 1830 was more prolific in the accessions to the settlement. Among those coming in this year were Jesse Tuttle, who came from Pennsylvania, and settled on section 34, on the present site of the house now occupied by Mrs. Martha E. Crumb, in Walled Lake village. Lewis Norton arrived in the fall of the same year, and settled on the farm now owned by Willard C. Wixom, on section 30. Mr. Norton removed to Livingston county in 1839, and soon after was killed by lightning while seeking shelter under a tree from a thunder-storm. Matthew McCoy, who is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-seven, on the place he first settled in 1830, came from New York city. The deed for his place bears date July 1, 1831, and is signed by Andrew Jackson. Alonzo Sibley, Esq., t settled on the farm he now occupies, being the west half of the southwest quarter of section 32, in May, 1831. William Gamble came from the State of New York, and settled on the farm now owned by G. H. Shear, on section 18, about the year 1832. William Loughrey came in and settled on the farm he now occupies, on section 7, in 1832. His house stood about eighty rods from its present location, in what used to be termed the Mormon settlement. Ephraim Burch emigrated from Canada in 1832, and took up two eighties, one on section 19 and the other on section 30. He made his home on the latter, which is now occupied by his son, William H. Burch. Ephraim, another son, has the eighty on section 19. Reuben Wright came from Orleans county, New York, in the fall of 1832, and took up one-eighth of section 10. He now resides in the village, one of the old and respected pioneers of his township.

Jesse Clark came in from Seneca county, New York, in 1833, and soon after his arrival returned for his family, and settled on section 19, a part of which he had purchased of the government. He erected his shanty on what is now the centre of the road, but subsequently built the frame house now occupied by David Morrison. Mr. Clark and his wife are both dead.

Among other prominent citizens who came in this year may be mentioned the following :

Seymour Devereaux, from New York, settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Orso Devereaux. William Riley, from Pembroke, Wyoming county, New York, as early as this year, possibly in 1832.

William Holmes came into the township from New York city in July, 1834, and settled in the place he at present occupies, on section 18.

Patrick Gillick came from Troy, New York, in the fall of the same year, and settled on the farm now owned by his son, Thomas, on section 30, where he died a number of years ago.

John Coulter arrived from New York city in 1834, and settled in the south- west quarter of section 8, which is now owned and occupied by his elder son, Andrew.

John W. Carns came, in company with William Holmes, in 1834, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 32. He resided on his place till his death, which occurred under peculiarly melancholy circumstances, Tuesday, July 24, 1867. He was cutting wheat with a combined reaper and mower, when the wheel of the machine came in contact with a stone or some other obstruction, by which he was thrown under the horses' feet, by one of which he was kicked in the bowels. He was removed to his house and attended by Dr. J. M. Hoyt, but he was beyond the power of medical skill, and expired the day after the accident occurred.

The honored names of others who swelled the list of arrivals this year are H. C. S. Caruss, from Wyoming county, New York ; Joseph B. Tuttle, from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania ; James Welfare (father of George and James Welfare), from Ontario county, New York ; Charles Mascord, from Orleans county; born in England; resided in Commerce village for the past twenty-two years.

Among the prominent arrivals in 1835 were Robert E. and William Noe, from New York city; Charles Severance, Jonathan Van Gordon (now residing in White Lake township). Abraham C. Taylor came from Luzerne county, Pennsyl- vania, to Michigan in 1824, and first settled at Troy, Oakland county ; moved to Commerce, and located on section 21, in 1835, and has since lived in the town- ship. He now resides in Commerce village.

Somewhere about November, 1825, Constant Wood and wife emigrated from the town of Perrinton, Monroe county, New York, to the wilds of Farmington, being

t See biography farther on in this history.

158

RESIDENCE OF ALBERT BOWEN , COMMERCE TP, OAKLAND CO., MICH.

MRS. SETH A PADDOCK

SETH. A. PADDOCK.

RESIDENCE OF SETH A. PADDOCK, COMMERCE TP., OAKLAND CO., MICH.

RESIDENCE OF ALFRED H. PADDOCK, COMMERCE TP, OAKLAND CO., MICH

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

159

among the very first there. The next season, 1826, they were prostrated on beds of sickness, from which the husband was conveyed to the cemetery, he dying in October,-the wife from sickness being unable to be present at his burial. After her recovery this indomitable woman, surrounded by her little ones, took in the situation, learned the trade of a tailoress, and by dint of her untiring industry accumulated sufficient means for a comfortable home. But misfortune was still on her track. A little son about four years of age drank of some strong lye, from the effects of which he died in February, 1830. This was followed by the burning of her house, three weeks after, with nearly all its contents, the family barely escaping with their lives. Again she bravely went to work, and with the assist- ance of kind friends got material together and put up another house, on the ruins of her old home, when, needing a sight once more of her paternal hills, she with her little ten-year-old daughter went back to New Hampshire, leaving her two sons in Michigan. Returning after an absence of four months, she again took up the busy staff of life, and continued to reside there until 1836, when she again re- married, to Ahijah Wixom, and removed to Commerce. Here she lost a little son in 1840. Her eldest son, S. C. Wood, died in California in 1850. Her last husband died in 1855. She now spends her time between the houses of her son, Willard C. Wixom, of Wixom, and that of her son-in-law, Henderson Crawford, of Milford,-a loved and honored mother among her children, who honor them- selves in honoring her.

John Richardson came into the county in this year, but not into Commerce for some years subsequent. Seth A. Paddock and two brothers came in about this time. * Jared Newsom arrived in 1837, J. L. Humphrey in 1839, and Thomas C. Smith (the last two named reside in Commerce village) in 1840.

The first settlers were obliged to go to Pontiac and Detroit for their groceries and provisions, and to Northville and Farmington for flour. Roads there were none, and the pioneers joined in " underbrushing" their way to Pontiac, North- ville, and other settlements as soon as they became possessed of oxen and wagons. They had to undergo the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life every- where; but they were a robust and enterprising class of settlers,-none of the transient, semi-speculative sort. They came with the determination to effect a permanent settlement. How well they succeeded is shown by the present pros- perity and importance of the township. How vividly do those few who shared the toils and cares, the trials and sickness, of those days recall the close of the hard day's labor ! In the words of the poet,-

"The fire sank low, the drifting smoke Died softly in the autumn haze, But silent are the tongues that spoke The speech of other days. Gone, too, the dusky forms, whose feet But now yon listening thicket stirred ; Unscared, beneath its shade did meet The squirrel and the bird."

SUBSEQUENT IMPROVEMENTS.

Under this head various items pertaining to the progress and development of the township will be adduced.

The first log house erected in Commerce was by Abram Walrod, in May, 1825. It stood within the inclosure now occupied by the garden site of William Till, in Commerce village. In June following, Walter B. Hewitt built a similar struc- ture.

The first hewn log building was erected in 1834, for a school-house, and as such was used for twelve or fifteen years, when it was superseded by a frame house. These buildings were located in school district No. 1, section 25, on the farm now owned by Dr. J. M. Hoyt.

The first frame house was built by Hiram Barritt, commonly known as 'Squire Barritt, in 1833. It stood on the north side of the old Pontiac and Ann Arbor road, on the farm now owned by J. M. Hoyt, M.D., who married one of the 'squire's daughters.

Thomas Caruss erected a frame house about the same time, doing all the work himself, he being a carpenter. The house has been improved, raised, and added to, and is now occupied by John Decker. Enough of the old fabric remains to constitute it a landmark and to leave the impress of venerable antiquity.

Harry Dodge, the first supervisor of the township, also built a frame house about the same time. It stood on the site of the horse-barn of John J. Smith, on section 26.

The first brick building was the school-house, in the Patten district, about 1851. It stands on section 33.

The first farm was opened by Abram Walrod in 1825, but he made very little improvement on it.

The first wheat (?) was sowed by Eliphalet Hungerford, on section 34, in 1831. He also set out the first orchard on the same place and in the same year.

The first improved farm machinery consisted of fanning-mills and revolving horse-rakes. The former were manufactured by Jesse Clark, at Northville, as early as 1835, and were quite extensively used by the early farmers. The latter were manufactured by Hungerford & Carlisle, and were introduced by several persons contemporaneously about 1838. The first reaper was brought in by Mark A. Green, about 1840. 'Squire Sibley had a reaper and mower combined as early as 1845.

The first road was laid out in 1833 or 1834, and was then known as the Romeo and Ann Arbor road, and at that time passed diagonally through sections 24, 25, 26, and 34. It was also known as the Pontiac and Walled Lake road. It was a Territorial road, and first ran on the north side of the lake, but is now on the south side of it. Hervey Parke was the surveyor, and Judges Bagley and Le Roy and Samuel J. Close were the commissioners.

The first post-office was established about 1832, the route being from Farming- ton to Walled Lake. The mail was carried by Deacon William Tenny, on horse- back. About the same time an office was established at Commerce village, and Richard Burt was appointed postmaster, the office being supplied from Pontiac. The receipts averaged about fifty dollars per year at both offices for two or three years. Mr. Burt used to carry the mail in his pocket, and Deacon Tenny, who required a larger depository, used his hat.

The first stage-route was established by George C. Hungerford, between Pontiac and Milford, by way of Walled Lake and Commerce, in 1851. About the same time a route between Pontiac and Ann Arbor was started by Joseph Morris.

The first tavern was kept by Warren Jarvis, at Walled Lake, in 1830. The sign was half the head of a flour-barrel, placed on a pole with a split in the top, and the word " INN" painted on it. The first regular hotel was kept by Jesse Tuttle, about 1833, at the same place.

The first mechanics were - Godfrey, blacksmith, built a small board shop in 1833; Randall Calvin, carpenter, about the same time; W. H. Banks, cooper, log shop in 1833 ; F. H. Banks, mason, same time. The latter resided at Walled Lake until 1872, when he removed to Northville.

The first physician was Dr. Henry K. Foote, ; who located in the southwest part of the town, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Lucy A. Kelsey, on section 31, in the year 1831-32. He was of the regular school of medicine. He also represented the fourth district in the legislature in 1860.

The first lawyer was Joseph G. Farr, who was admitted to the bar about 1845, but had practiced before justices' courts about ten years prior to this time.

The first marriage was that of Eber Hungerford to Maria Burgess, in the winter of 1831-32, by Rev. Caleb Lamb. William, their elder son, and two or three of their younger children now reside at Algansee, Branch county, Michigan, where they died a few years ago.

The first white birth was that of Robert, son of Matthew McCoy, who was born July 1, 1831, and now lives with his parents near the village of Walled Lake.

The first death was that of Bela Armstrong, who died in September, 1827, one year and three months after his arrival in the township. He was first interred on his farm, and subsequently in the burial-ground near the village.

The first grave-yard was laid out on the farm of Bela Armstrong, then owned by his widow, about 1834. Most of the remains interred in this place were taken up and re-interred in the Baptist burying-ground near the village, laid out about 1837. This cemetery is used by all denominations, though controlled by the trustees of the Baptist church. No records touching the cemetery exist, so we are debarred from giving a more extensive history of it.

SOUTH COMMERCE BURYING-GROUND.

In 1838 a burying-ground was laid out in South Commerce, opposite the resi- dence of Alonzo Sibley, Esq., and a company organized, under the title of "The South Commerce Burying-Ground Company," of which Mr. Sibley was elected the first president (and has held the office continuously ever since), Ahijah Wixom the first secretary, and Justin Walker treasurer.

The first interment was that of the wife of Justin Walker, who was buried in it soon after it was laid out. Among other prominent pioneer citizens of that part of the township whose remains repose therein are those of Mrs. M. Sibley, Rev. Samuel Wire, Ephraim Burch, Sr., Deacon Darius Wright, Ahijah Wixom, and Daniel Curtis.

The present officers of the company are : Alonzo Sibley, president; Mark Fur- man, secretary ; Ephraim Burch, treasurer.

The burying-ground is tastefully decorated with flowers and shrubs, and is care-

* See biography.

+ See under head of "Medical History."

160

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

fully and neatly kept. It contains some fine monuments and other evidences of reverential regard, and numerous tokens of affectionate remembrance of those who " sleep the sleep that knows no waking" beneath its verdant sward.

The first school-house was erected in the summer of 1833, on the ground now occupied by the house of Theodore Moore, at Walled Lake. It was a rudely- constructed log building, and covered with oak "shakes," which were manu- factured by Lyman Hathoru. The first frame school-house was built on the Bar- ritt farm. now owned by Dr. J. M. Hoyt, by Hiram Barritt, about 1836.

The township of Commerce. as before stated, was erected by an act of the Ter- ritorial legislature, approved March 7. 1834, and the first township-meeting was held at the house of Henry Tuttle, on the 7th of April following. The subjoined are the proceedings of the first meeting :

Officers were elected as follows: Supervisor, Harvey Dodge; Township Clerk, Hiram Barritt ; Assessors, George Spencer, Richard Burt, Amos Wilson ; Direc- tor of the Poor. Eliphalet Hungerford, Jeremiah Curtis, William H. Banks; Commissioners of Highways, Levi Willetts, Daniel Dutcher ; Collector, George Cook ; Constables, George Cook, Edwin Bachelder ; Commissioners of Common Schools, John Hodge, Jr., Justin Walker, John Cook ; Inspectors of Common Schools, Reuben Wright, Eleazur Thurston, Harvey Dodge, William R. Adams, Henry K. Foote. M.D.

The following gentlemen were elected overseers of highways and fence-viewers in their respective districts, namely :

Medad Barritt, district No. 1; Christopher Sly, district No. 2; Ephraim Burch. district No. 3; Joseph Hawkes, district No. 4; Andrew Cook, district No. 5; Henry Tuttle, district No. 6.

The minor officers were chosen by dividing the electors, and the other officers were balloted for separately.

Below we give the names of those who have occupied the offices of supervisors, township clerks, and justices of the peace, from 1834 to 1877, inclusive :

Supervisors,-Harvey Dodge (three years), Lemuel M. Patridge (two years), Hiram Barritt, Jonas G. Potter, Stephen Hungerford, George Patten (two years), Thomas Sugden, George Patten (two years), James M. Hoyt, M.D., Benjamin Bullard . three years), George Patten, Mark A. Green (two years), George Patten ( two years), Mark A. Green, Hiram Barritt (three years), Abraham Allen (two years 1. Seth A. Paddock,* Stephen Bennett, Abraham Allen, Seth A. Paddock, Albert Richardson (four years), Thaddeus A. Smith (two years), George Killam (five years), Albert Richardson, present incumbent.

Township Clerks .- Hiram Barritt, Reuben Wright, W. R. Adams, Reuben Wright ( two years), Job Fuller, Charles H. Paddock, A. T. Crossman, Allen W. Eddy, Isaac S. Taylor, James M. Hoyt. M.D., Charles H. Paddock (two years), Daniel H. Ketchum (two years), William R. Marsh, John Comstock, John C. Clark. James F. Fairbank (three years ), Thaddeus A. Smith (four years), William Donaldson ( five years). Thaddeus A. Smith (three years), Joseph B. Moore, Thad- deus A. Smith. J. D. Bateman, George R. Tuttle (two years), Thomas R. Ken- nedy. George R. Tuttle, Oliver Evans, Alfred H. Paddock, Stephen M. Gage ( two years). present incumbent.

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.

History of Oakland County, Michigan, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, palatial residences, public buildings, fine blocks, and important manufactories, Part 39

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