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 59
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About 1837 the second, school-house was erected, on section 29. It was a small frame, made by Horatio Foster, one of the pioneer carpenters. The early teachers were Frank W. Fifield and William Stokes. Among the children who attended were Wilson and William Freeman, Jesse Maybee, Elizabeth and Mar- garet Green. The place was known as the " pinery school-house."
A year or two later a frame school-house, of fair size, was built on section 20, near its centre. Clara C. Anderson was the first to assume the teacher's position at this place. Her pupils were the Holcomb, Vleit, and Wheeler children. Cyn- thia Tallot and Robert Thompson also wielded the pedagogical rule at an early day.
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Independence has a number of fractional districts whose school buildings are located in adjoining towns. Some of these houses are remarkable for their archi- tectural beauty and completeness of arrangement.
PIONEER PREACHERS AND CHURCHES.
The Methodist missionary was, perhaps, the first to preach the gospel in the present bounds of Independence, their ministers being the "circuit-riders" of all the country between Detroit and Saginaw. They were followed, in 1834, by Revs. Davidson and Cansar, who continued the work begun by their predeces- sors, and laid the foundation of the Methodist church at Clarkston. At that time services were held in school-houses and in barns, while often the private house was thus used. Meetings were sometimes held at the houses of Adam Fisher and Peter D. Voorheis, and it mattered not what denominational name they bore, so that they were characterized by a Christian spirit, all were welcome. The Baptists looked after the interests of their church at an early day by sending Elders Martin, Keith, and Tupper among this people, and that faith found lodg- ment in the hearts of many, who afterwards aided in forming the society at Clarkston. That devoted pioneer minister of the Congregational church, Rev. J. W. Ruggles, also preached to the people of this region of the country, and was largely instrumental in building up one of the oldest societies. In 1845 the eastern part of the town was the scene of a remarkable revival, held first in the school-house, and afterwards in Marcus Riker's barn. For the time being all denominational differences were forgotten, and men of every creed united in the effort to bring the "glad tidings" to the eager congregations assembled there day after day. Unlike the guests bidden to the " marriage feast" of old, the settlers excused themselves not, but came with eager haste, leaving the plow and the harvest-field to attend to their spiritual interests. As a result of this effort seventy persons professsed conversion, and the moral tone of the community was entirely changed.
THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF INDEPENDENCE.
Following the missionary efforts of Rev. Ruggles was Rev. Philander Barber, who organized a society on the Congregational order in the northwestern part of Orion, near the Independence line, in 1840. Meetings were then held at the Block school-house and at the Sashabaw school-house, in the morning and after- noon of every Sabbath appointed for services. In 1841 the society called Rev. Albert Worthington to the pastoral office, which he filled several years. Rev. George Hornell succeeded him, and remained until 1845. It was at this period that there was so much diversity of opinion concerning the orthodoxy of the " Oberlin Profession" and other creeds, which were thought to be at variance with the doctrines enunciated in the Westminster Catechism. The discussion of these questions induced the withdrawal of Rev. Hornell, with a portion of the members, while the remainder made an expression in favor of Presbyterianism. The membership at that time was about fifty. The society now became known as the " Church of Orion and Independence," and selected an official board, com- posed of Thomas Beardslee, Philip Losey, Peter Voorheis, and Asa Walters. Rev. Andrew Govan was chosen pastor, and served them faithfully until 1848. In 1849, Rev. S. A. Clayton was called as his successor, and came, rendering good service for two years. For several years the society was without a pastor, and was served in connection with other charges. The Rev. Clayton returned in 1854, and urged the members to build a house of worship.
The proposition met with favor, and a church building society was organized, January 20, 1855, which chose the following as a board of trustees : Peter Voorheis, John C. Fisher, J. M. Fair, E. T. Beardslee, and George Beardslee. It also passed a resolution instructing the trustees " to use immediate and efficient measures to raise the requisite funds and build a suitable church, for the accommodation of the society." These instructions were carried out as expedi- tiously as possible, the trustees advancing the money to begin the work. A very fine location was secured on the northwest quarter of section 35, and in the summer of 1855 the work of building was begun, by Pratt and Tuttle, of Pontiac, who had taken the contract for this purpose. The church is a neat frame, sur- mounted by a spire, and has sittings for three hundred. It was built and furnished at a cost of about three thousand dollars. Rev. S. A. Clayton, the pastor, dedicated it in June, 1856, and remained with the society until 1859. The Michigan presbytery had been in the mean time petitioned to change the society's name to that of " The First Presbyterian church of Independence." This request was granted by that body in 1856, and the church thus recognized became independent of the connection it had in Orion township. In 1861, Rev. L. Leonard was called to the pastorate, and remained with the society two years, when, in 1863, Rev. J. W. McGregor became the pastor, remaining in this connection until 1865.
Another critical period in the history of the church followed. The question of
accepting the doctrines of the new school caused the withdrawal of some of the members who could not subscribe to those doctrines, and yield to the practices which the new school required. For several years the church was without a head, then Rev. Geo. Winters came, the latter part of 1866. He had served the society in its pioneer existence, walking many miles to keep his appointments. In 1871, Rev. S. Lord became the pastor, and served three years. He was succeeded, in 1874, by Rev. E. G. Bryant, the present pastor. The present membership of the church is forty.
A Sunday-school was organized soon after the church was built, and has been conducted, with some intermissions, ever since. Gideon Gates is the superinten- dent of the present school, which has sixty-five members.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
As per proclamation of the governor, the electors of Independence assembled at the house of Arthur Davis, in April, 1837, for the purpose of holding their first town-meeting, having up to that time been connected with Pontiac township. Daniel Burrows was chosen moderator, and Arthur Davis clerk. The following list of officers were then chosen : Supervisor, Jeremiah Clark ; Town Clerk, Arthur Davis ; Justices of the Peace, Jeremiah Clark, Peter D. Voorheis, Thomas Johnston, William Wyckoff; Assessors, Jacob Walter, Thomas Johnston, Stephen Bishop ; Commissioners of Highways, Asa Walter, Peter D. Voorheis, Joseph Tindall ; Commissioners of Schools, Asa Walter, John C. H. Woodhull, Peter Gulick ; Overseers of the Poor, William Stephens, Thomas Beardslee; School Inspectors, Thomas Johnston, Joseph Van Syckle, Peter Voorheis; Collector, Linus Jacox ; Constables, Moses Cross, Linus Jacox, James McKinner.
At this meeting it was voted " that a lawful fence be four and one-half feet high, and sufficiently tight to turn all hogs weighing over fifty pounds."
A bounty of five dollars was voted for every wolf-scalp, worn by a full-grown wolf, caught in the town. Marcus W. Riker was paid the first bounty for a scalp thus obtained.
On auditing the accounts on the 26th of September following, it was found that the expenses of the town had been sixty-six dollars and forty-one cents, of which amount the clerk received nearly one-fourth. The second meeting was again to be held at Arthur Davis'.
The principal officers elected for constitutional terms since 1837 were as follows :
Supervisors .- Jeremiah Clark, 1838-39, 1843-44 ; Horace Robinson, 1840; Joseph Van Sickle, 1841; Daniel Burrows, 1842, 1848; Bildad Phillips, 1845-47 ; William Axford, 1849-52, 1854, 1859-60, 1868; Enos Church, 1853, 1856 ; Peter Voorheis, 1855 ; Nelson W. Clark, 1857 ; Charles Allen, 1858, 1861-65 ; Ezekiel Dennis, 1866-67 ; Orsamus Beardslee, 1869-72, 1877 ; Edwin G. Clark, 1873-76.
Town Clerks .- Arthur Davis, 1838-42 ; John Fisher, 1843, 1845 ; Cyrus O. Pool, 1844 ; Morris Abernathy, 1846-47; Warren N. Briggs, 1848-50 ; John E. Martenis, 1851 ; John Davis, 1852 ; Jonas Edmondson, 1853; Enos Church, 1854; John H. Dresser, 1855-56 ; Nicholas B. Smith, 1857, 1859 ; Jeremiah Brown, 1858 ; Lee Bingham, 1860-62, 1864-66; Benjamin Campbell, 1863; Moses G. Spear, 1867-68 ; James G. Demarest, 1869-70; John S. Fletcher, 1871-72; John H. Dresser, 1873-77.
Justices of the Peace .- William Wyckoff, 1838, 1842, 1847 ; Thomas Johns- ton, 1839; Peter D. Voorheis, 1840 ; William Axford, 1841, 1852; Arthur Davis, 1843, 1848; John C. H. Woodhull, 1844 ; Jeremiah Clark, 1845 ; Levi L. Totten, 1846 ; Enos Church, 1849, 1856, 1863 ; Horatio Foster, 1850, 1854, 1860; Joseph H. Linabury, 1851, 1855; Michael G. Hickey, 1853; Charles Allen, 1857 ; Jacob J. Young, 1858; Erasmus E. Sherwood, 1859 ; Morris Green, 1861; Waldo F. Wait, 1862; E. G. Clark, 1864, 1868, 1872; William Holcomb, 1865; John H. Dresser, 1866, 1874 ; Moses G. Spear, 1867 ; Ezekiel Dennis, 1869, 1873, 1877; John Baker, 1870; Benjamin F. Ellwood, 1871; Harvey Fleming, 1875 ; Howard Polhemus, 1876.
CLARKSTON VILLAGE.
Excepting a few houses at Clarkston Station, the shipping-point of Clarkston, and distant about two miles, there is no other village in the township. Clarkston is beautifully located at the head of several small lakes, and on the Clinton river. The situation is elevated, and broken by several hollows, affording splendid drain- age. The general healthfulness of the place is not excelled by any other point in the county. The Clinton river divides the village into two unequal parts, the main portion being east of that stream, on high and sloping ground. South and west of the village is a chain of beautiful hills, at whose base nestle many cosy homes. The river affords water-power at this point, which has been well im- proved, and the place is noted for its excellent mills, and as being a fine trading- point. There are many neat and pleasant homes in the village, and the entire
VIEW OF RES LOOKING SOUTH."
VIEW OF RES FROM THE LAKE
MRS. H.WALTER.
H. WALTER.
RESIDENCE OF H. WALTER , ( SEC.17) INDEPENDENCE TP, OAKLAND CO., MICH.
HON. JEREMIAH CLARK
E. G . CLARK . )
MRS. E.G. CLARK
TENEMENT HOUSE , OPPOSITE RESIDENCE .
RESIDENCE OF HON. EDWIN G. CLARK, INDEPENDENCE, MICH.
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
place presents a prosperous appearance. The population of the village is about five hundred.
The first house erected within the bounds of Clarkston was the cedar-pole shanty of Linus Jacox, in 1830. It remained as built for several years, and was the home of nearly every family coming into the country until a new home could be provided.
Butler Holcomb built the second house, in 1832. The first saw-mill was built by Holcomb, the same year. In 1838 he sold his interests to Jeremiah and Wil- son W. Clark, who at once began to build a grist mill. The place now began to improve, and was called Clarkston a few years later.
In 1842 the Clark brothers platted a tract of land on section 20 for a village, and gave it the above name. Additions were made to this plat in 1854 by M. G. Cobb, and in 1858 by John Derrick. Further additions were made by Wil- liam Holcomb and N. W. Clark.
About 1838, William and John Axford erected a shanty, hastily making a clearing by cutting away the brush and young trees, and put in a stock of goods, which was the first store at Clarkston. Soon after, the Axford brothers built a frame house for a store-room. This building is now used for a dwelling.
In 1842, Nelson W. Clark opened a store in a large frame building, which is at present used as a store by the Howe brothers.
Milton H. Clark built a store in 1844, on the site now occupied by him. It was used for mercantile purposes until 1872, when his present store took its place. Mr. Clark is the oldest merchant in the place, having been in business nearly all the time since 1844.
Abbey & Robinson were the first to engage in the drug business. Their store was on the corner now occupied by Smith's drug-store.
Albert Birdsell built the first blacksmith-shop, about 1838, where the Demarest House now stands. It was simply a board shanty, with a ground-floor. He car- ried on his trade several years, having a good reputation as a workman. In 1840 he and Philip Foy formed a partnership to manufacture fanning-mills, and to carry on general blacksmithing. A new shop was built near where Smith's store now stands. Ebenezer Lawrence and a man by the name of Smith were also among the early blacksmiths.
Nelson Rundel had the first wagon-shop, in a small frame building, about 1840, where he worked at his trade about six years.
William S. Blake was the first to engage in shoemaking. His work was fair and square, and Mr. Blake lived here many years, highly respected for his good qualities and worth as a citizen.
Horace Foster opened the first harness-shop. He kept a fine grade of goods, and did a fair business.
In 1840, John Hertwig, a German, built a small frame house on the present site of the Johnson House, where he opened a tailor-shop, working at that trade . several years. Hertwig abandoned the tailor's goose in 1842 to open a tavern, being among the first to offer accommodations to the traveling public; John H. Pratt having had, perhaps, a public-house, for a little while, a short time previous. Hertwig conducted the business several years, then the building was enlarged, and Jacob Walter succeeded as host. Other keepers were John H. Dresser, Wood Brothers, N. E. Deuell, John Campbell, and David Johnson. It is not used for hotel purposes at present. The Demarest House was erected in 1872, by J. G. Demarest.
The legal profession was represented in 1843 by Cyrus O. Pool, who opened an office at Clarkston, and practiced law several years. He is now an attorney in Brooklyn, New York.
The sick were first healed by Dr. Samuel C. Allen, who practiced medicine at Clarkston about ten years. Dr. Nelson Abbey located here about 1845. He was an excellent physician, having an extensive practice, and remained here until his death, in 1873. There was also Dr. Robinson, who practiced in the township, living at the time of his death at Clarkston. His death was invested with a tragic interest. It appears that he had gone into the woods to hunt wild turkeys, adorning his cap with the feathers of that fowl, and using a decoy whistle to tempt their near approach. Thus arrayed, he hid himself in a cluster of bushes and used his whistle. Another hunter hearing this approached, and seeing the feathers in the bushes, mistook them for a turkey, fired, and mortally wounded the doctor.
The present business interests of Clarkston are represented by the following firms and establishments :
Blacksmiths, Herbert Lewis, Vincent & Brother, Yeager & Son ; boots and shoes, Charles Seymour ; cooperage, George Green ; dressmaker, Mrs. Calvin Green ; drugs and groceries, N. B. Smith, Bower & Sons, R. N. Clark ; dry goods, Howe Brothers, Allen, Bruce & Co., M. H. Clark ; express, B. F. Ell- wood ; furniture, W. V. Vliet; hardware, M. H. Clark ; harness, Reed & Mills ; hotel, Captain Cook ; insurance, J. H. Dresser; jewelry, Alexander Young; livery, B. F. Ellwood; meat-market, Croup & Brown ; millinery, Mrs. E. Frank,
J. N. Haight, M. A. Root ; physicians, J. Goodenough, O. J. Perkins, E. A. Romig ; post-office, Mrs. Phoebe J. Abbey ; tinware, J. N. Haight ; wagon-makers, George Vliet, Richard Broomfield.
The Clarkston telegraph is a private line from the village to the station, con- structed in 1877 by the citizens of Clarkston. Messages are forwarded to the station, two miles distant, where they are transmitted in the regular manner.
Bingham Hall, a commodious brick block, has seats for four hundred.
The Clarkston mills, erected in 1839, by Jeremiah and N. W. Clark, have three sets of burrs, with a capacity of four hundred bushels a day. The power is fur- nished by the Clinton river and a fifteen-horse-power engine. The plaster-mills adjoining are operated by the same power. E. Stiff is the present proprietor.
The first iron-foundry was erected by Arthur Davis, in 1845. It was con- ducted by him about five years, when it became the property of John Davis. Since then the property has changed hands several times, and the works have been materially altered. The present foundry is operated in connection with the Clarkston carding-mills. This enterprise was inaugurated in 1847, by N. W. Clark. The power was furnished by water conveyed in an underground trunk from Park's lake. For some time woolen goods were manufactured, but subse- quently it was operated only as a carding-mill. This property, as well as the foundry, is at present owned by Clarence Paddock.
THE UNION SCHOOL.
About 1850, Nelson W. Clark erected a large two-story frame house, on a spa- cious and beautiful lot, on the west shore of Park's lake, which he designed for an academy. This building became the property of Professor Isaac C. Cochran shortly after, who opened a select school in it, which he continued for many years. In 1862 it was sold to the public for district school purposes. A graded school was commenced that year, with O. S. Ingham as principal. It is an excellent school, well attended, and is at present conducted by Professor Hagle, assisted by the Misses Walter and Drake.
MASONIC.
Cedar Lodge, No. 60, was chartered on the 13th of January, 1852, with ten members. Horatio Foster was the first Master. The Masters since then were Enoch Church, Henry F. Hirst, N. B. Smith, John P. Peter, and John H. Dres- ser, the present incumbent of that office. The membership at this time (1877) numbers seventy.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Following the missionary efforts of Elders Martin and Grow was the organiza- tion of a Baptist society in 1843, by the Rev. Asahel Keith. The meeting was held at the school-house at Clarkston, and twenty-one persons-ten men and eleven women-united in membership. Regular services were now sustained with such gratifying results that it was determined, in 1847, to build a house of wor- ship at Clarkston, the society in the mean time having held its meetings in the school-house. A neat frame church, thirty-six by forty-six feet, with a belfry, was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. This has been the home of the society ever since, and here it has grown from its humble beginning to its present respectable condition. There have been several seasons of revivals, which have greatly affected the history of the church, the one resulting from the labors of Professor Van Dorn, in 1873, being especially marked by a number of conver- sions and many accessions to the church membership, which is at present sixty.
Since the formation of the church, in 1843, fourteen pastors have ministered to it, in the following order : Revs. Asahel Keith, William Tuttle, A. R. Tupper, T. H. Facer, O. E. Clark, Aaron Potter, A. R. Tupper, John Ross, - Strong, David Hill, - Hickey, W. R. Northrup, W. H. Serviss, and Professor Van Dorn, who is the present pastor.
A Sunday-school was organized in the church about 1850, and is maintained as part of its work. John B. Harris is the present superintendent, and has filled that office for a number of years. The school has seventy-five members, and sup- ports a library of one hundred and sixty volumes.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The history of this society dates from the early missionary efforts made in the years 1834-37, classes of the Methodist faith having been formed in that period in the eastern and western parts of the township. In the former section, there is a record of what was then known as the "Sashabaw class," of which William Curl was the leader in 1842. The membership at that time was eighteen, which was increased, in 1843, to thirty-one. In August of that year, Rev. Salmon Steele, then in charge of the circuit, organized another class of nine members, in the Johnson settlement, of which John W. Bird was the leader. In 1836 there was a small class in the vicinity of Clarkston, comprised of Arza Crosby and wife, John Merrill and wife, and William Malby and wife. Mr. Crosby served as leader. About 1840 this small band received a valuable addition, in the person
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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
of Silas Smith, who also served as a local preacher. He induced the members to begin the erection of a church, and as he was a carpenter, and lumber was cheap, the project was undertaken about 1841. A fair-sized frame house, which took two days to raise, was built on the site of the present church, not, however, being finished until about 1847, the poverty of the society preventing it from buying glass for the windows. This unfinished building was used, to some extent, when the weather permitted, otherwise the meetings were held in the school-house until the later-mentioned period.
In 1848 the Clarkston class had thirty-five members, led by Harris Stilson, and the Sashabaw class had about the same number, under the leadership of J. C. H. Woodhull. Flavel Britton was at this time preacher in charge. In 1850 the membership of the Clarkston class was fifty, and the work of the church was going on at an encouraging rate. Then followed a season of diminution of interest, in which the membership dropped to thirty. Jonathan Petty was the class-leader. This depression was followed, in 1857, by a gracious revival and many accessions to the church. The membership increased to sixty-five, with Jonathan Petty as leader, and Rev. Ira W. Donelson as the pastor. The church enjoyed another notable revival under the preaching of Rev. J. A. Bancroft, in 1872, when thirty were added to the church-roll.
The old building had meanwhile become too small and dilapidated for the grow- ing wants of the society. It was decided on the 14th of January, 1873, that a new and more commodious edifice be erected. E. Stiff, J. T. Peter, and M. B. Vliet were appointed a building committee, which began its work at once, so that the corner-stone was laid about the 1st of June of that year. A very fine brick edifice, forty by sixty feet, two stories high, surmounted by a stately spire, was erected upon this foundation that summer. It was finished in modern style at a cost of nine thousand dollars, and was dedicated December 14, 1873, by Dr. Ives, of New York. There are sittings for three hundred persons, which can be in- creased to five hundred.
The present membership of the church is seventy-five, and its official board is composed of E. Stiff, Thomas Carran, Clark Seymour, Clark Crosby, R. F. White, Robinson Beardslee, and R. N. Clark.
The following reverend gentlemen have had pastoral connection with the society since 1839 : Silas Smith, O. F. North, William Mothersell, Salmon Steele, Horace Hall, R. Pengilly, Flavel Britton, Hiram M. Roberts, Andrew Bell, S. Calkins, Ira W. Donelson, G. N. Belknap, C. T. Mosher, Lewis Mitchell, H. Hood, Wil- liam Henner, B. F. Pritchard, J. A. Bancroft, G. W. Owen, A. B. Wood, J. R. Cordon, and J. S. Joslin, the present incumbent.
The early records of the Methodist Sunday-school are missing. The present school has a membership of one hundred, with E. Stiff as superintendent. A - library of two hundred volumes is maintained by the school, which is in a flourish- ing condition.
INCIDENTS.
The beautiful plain in the southeastern part of the township is invested with traditionary history of unusual interest. But fifty years ago it was still a famous hunting-ground of a tribe of Indians, of which Sashabaw was a chief. Hither he led his braves, from year to year, to hunt and fish, for nowhere else in all the country round was there a greater abundance of everything which would make the red man happy than in the many pretty lakes of Waterford, and the country which borders on them. The plain in Independence especially delighted the old chief,-and it was a tract of land which would evoke praise from any one, however obtuse to the sense of the beautiful,-and he bestowed his name upon it and the little stream which meanders through it, as an expression of regard for the place. This name has been retained in its purity, for the early settlers had learned to love the forest nobleman whose integrity was above reproach, and whose every action was stamped with the die of honor. Sashabaw looked upon the white man not as an intruder upon his domain, but as a brother with whom he would share the bounties which nature had so profusely spread over the land. He lived among the whites, their friend ; and his presence was a sense of protection which dispelled every fear. For Oliver Williams this chief had conceived a special friendship. He regarded him as an elder brother, to whom he loved to come for advice, and whom he counseled, in turn, about those things in which the craft of the Indian surpasses the wisdom of the white. Thus he lived near his pale brother, realizing that his race was nearly run, and that his earthly sun would continue to illumine his forest pathway for but a brief period. An incurable disease had fastened upon the noble Sashabaw, and, after a lingering illness, his spirit was released from his crumbling tenement, and his body was interred on the peaceful banks of Silver lake, near Oliver Williams' home.
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