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 86
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The membership of Springfield church in May, 1877, was about thirty-five. The church edifice was commenced in the summer of 1859, and finished in the spring of 1860. It is a frame building, thirty-two by forty-four feet in dimen- sions, surmounted by a spire, and will seat in the neighborhood of one hundred and fifty persons.
A Sabbath-school was organized some time before the church was built, and has been kept up ever since. The first superintendent was probably John W. An- derson. An Estey organ is used in the school and church, and the Sabbath- school also has a library of about seventy-five volumes.
The church stands in a pleasant location on section 22, in the eastern part of the settlement, and the society is in a comparatively prosperous condition, although the membership is not as large as formerly.
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280
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
VILLAGE OF DAVISBURGH.
The first settler on the ground now occupied by this thriving village was Cor- nelius Davis, who took up seven hundred and twenty acres of government land, including the whole of section 17, and eighty acres on section 20, and located on the eastern part of the site of Davisburgh in 1836. He was from Ulster county, New York, and was accompanied by his wife and seven children,-five sons and two daughters. They arrived in the fall of the year, and Mr. Davis and his son- in-law, Isaac J. Losee, built a log house, eighteen by twenty-eight feet, on land owned by the latter, in which both families lived that winter. A frame building had been commenced on Mr. Davis' place, but was not finished till the succeeding spring (1837). This was one of the first frame houses built in the township, and the very first in this vicinity. All the children of Mr. Davis are living except one son and one daughter, and all reside in Springfield township except one son, Jerome C., who lives in Rose, and one daughter, now the wife of H. W. Horton, of Groveland. John C. and J. H. Davis are residents of Davisburgh. Corne- lius Davis died August 14, 1857, aged sixty-six years, and his wife May 14, 1844, aged fifty-one.
Mr. Davis' son-in-law, Isaac J. Losce, was formerly from Dutchess county, New York, but moved to Michigan from Ulster county. He died February 11, 1853, aged forty-nine years, and it is his widow who is now Mrs. Henry W. Hor- ton, of Groveland township. Mrs. Cornelius Davis and an old lady by the name of Morley were the first persons buried in the cemetery at Davisburgh, Mrs. Morley's death occurring first.
In 1857 village lots were laid out by John C., Cornelius, and James H. Davis, J. C. Davis being the principal proprietor. Michael G. Hickey platted an addi- tion in 1865; G. M. Lyon, in April, 1866; Major M. Hickey, in May, 1866; and James H. Davis, in 1867. But a comparatively small portion of all the lots laid out are built upon, yet the population of the village is now claimed at about five hundred. It contains four general stores, one hardware-store, one drug- store, three shoe-shops, two millinery establishments, four blacksmith-shops, one wagon-shop, one cooper-shop, one harness-shop, one foundry and machine-shop, one steam saw-, plaster-, and feed-mill, one grist-mill, one hotel, two churches, one school building, one agricultural implement store, and one livery-stable ; also four physicians and a dentist.
The village was laid out very soon after the Detroit and Milwaukee railway was built. There had been a scattering settlement previous to this, and the comple- tion of the railway gave it a permanent start ; since which time it has been steadily progressing, and at the time these items were taken (May, 1877) a considerable amount of business was done, and every house in the village was occupied.
About 1851-52, Ebenezer McDowell sold the first goods brought to the village for that purpose. He occupied a frame building, which has since been used four- teen years as a hotel and for numerous other purposes. Part of it is yet standing on the west side of the Shiawassee river, and is occupied as a dwelling and shoe- shop. McDowell purchased his merchandise at Detroit, and kept a small general stock. When he failed to receive custom enough to keep him most of the time in the store, he took a peddler's pack into the country, and disposed of the goods after the fashion of peddlers in general. He also preached occasionally, being a Congregational minister, and a genius, as the term applies.
The first store of any consequence was kept by John C. Davis, who carried on an extensive business for the time. His store was in one part of his grist-mill, and he finally sold the stock to M. and A. Hickey, both now deceased. The Messrs. Hickey built the first regular store building, which is now standing, and occupied as a hardware-store by O. C. Thompson.
The grist-mill was built by John C. Davis, in the autumn of 1854. It is thirty-six by seventy feet in dimensions, and four stories high. A large custom and considerable merchant business is done. The mill originally contained two run of stone, and now has three. The dam was built several years before the grist-mill, by Cornelius Davis, who had also erected a saw-mill. J. C. Davis after- wards purchased the property, built the grist-mill, and repaired the dam. In 1870 he sold out to Reuben and George B. McCreary, but recently bought it back again, and is doing a heavy business. The fall here is sixteen feet, and the entire power is utilized, the river being but a small stream at any season.
The first frame house built after the town plat was laid was erected by A. B. Webster. It was a small structure, and is still standing. Webster lived in the house, and opened in it the first shoe-shop at the place.
Previous to the laying out of the town a blacksmith-shop was started by Mar- . tin Frisbie, and was the first in the village. It stood a short distance up from the east side of the river. Frisbie has been dead a long time.
Farley Craw became possessed of the idea that it was necessary for people to have barrels, and, like a good Samaritan, built a cooper-shop on a lot he had pur- chased from Mr. Davis, and began his work. The chip of the adze and the sound of the " driver," as he settled the hoops in their places, was soon heard, and the
clean, new barrels began to pile up in his little shop, which is yet shown to the seeker after curiosities and historical lore.
The first harness-shop was opened by John De Witt, about 1860-62, and the first wagon-shop was built by Phineas Reed soon after the laying out of the town. A Dutchman, named John -, at one time kept a cabinet-shop, but the busi- ness proved non-lucrative, and he shifted his abode to Saginaw. J C. Davis also sold furniture while his store was in operation. The undertaking business has been for several years, and is now, represented by E B. Murgittroyd.
Soon after the Rebellion of 1861-65, A. J. Hickey built the frame block on the east side of the river. In the lower story are several store-rooms, and the upper floor contains a public hall, known as " Hickey's hall."
About 1863-65 a steam saw-, plaster-, and feed-mill was established by Charles Weatherson, who is still operating it. The building used is one which was moved from Oakwood. The plaster is obtained at Grand Rapids.
A foundry was established in 1865 by William Hickey for the manufacture of agricultural implements. Mr. Hickey is still the proprietor, and carries on the business alone, the average value of the yearly productions of the foundry being about ten or twelve hundred dollars. The room in which the casting is done is small, and contains but one moulding-floor. Mr. Hickey manufactures plows, cultivators, land-rollers, scrapers, etc., and finishes them ready for use.
Myron Hickey was the first one of the family who located in Davisburgh, and for a year and a half or two years after his arrival he was employed as clerk in Mr. Davis' store at the mill. He and his brother Andrew finally purchased the entire stock of Davis, and removed it to the building they had erected for store purposes. Their father, Michael G. Hickey, originally from the town of Phelps, Ontario county, New York, and afterwards of Cuyahoga county, Ohio, removed with his family to Oakland County, Michigan, in 1839-40, and settled in Water- ford township. In 1845 he removed to White Lake township, and lived there until 1862-63, when he came to Davisburgh, where his sons, Myron, Andrew, and Wilson, had previously located. These sons all served in the Federal army during the Rebellion,-Andrew in the Third Michigan Cavalry, Myron in the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, and Wilson with General Kilpatrick, in the quarter- master's department ( Army of the Potomac). Michael G. Hickey died August 17, 1876, aged sixty-four years ; his wife is yet living, at the age of sixty-five.
In the cemetery at Davisburgh the following are among the persons whose re- mains are there at rest : Myron G. Hickey, died August 24, 1868, aged thirty- five years ; Lieutenant Andrew Hickey, died at Jackson, Tennessee, February 16, 1863, aged twenty-eight; Philip S. Frisbie, died December 21, 1866, aged nearly fifty-nine; William H. Cook, of Company G, Eighth Michigan Cavalry, died September 28, 1865, aged twenty-two; James T. McWithey, of the Fifth Mich- igan Cavalry, died at Detroit, December 1, 1862, aged twenty years ; Captain David Morley, died August 31, 1857, aged sixty-eight; his wife, Candace Morley, was the first person buried in the cemetery.
The first school in the village was established about 1856-57, and the first term probably taught by Emma Mosey. A frame school-house was built, and is still in use, although an addition, equal in size to the old edifice, has since been built to it.
About 1855-56 the first hotel in the village was opened by W. H. Springer, in the building previously occupied by Ebenezer McDowell. Springer conducted it a year or two, and was followed by A. V. Porter, who stayed about the same length of time. It then passed into the hands of D. B. Horton, who operated it about ten years. It contained a bar, as nearly all the hotels in the country did at that time, or, in fact, as they do at present. It was originally called the " Railroad Hotel," and afterwards the " Railroad House," and was an institution necessary to the times as well as peculiar to them.
In the summer of 1869, Mr. Horton built the present "Davisburgh House," aud is still the proprietor. This hotel is four stories in height, with a fine hall on the upper floor, and contains fourteen sleeping-rooms, besides a bar-room, sitting-room, kitchen, parlor, dining-room, etc.
Mr. Horton's wife, Sarah C. (Springer) Horton, is a daughter of John Springer, who emigrated from Wayne county, New York, in 1836, and settled with his wife and seven children one mile south of Pontiac, near the Bloomfield township line. Two sons were afterwards born in the family, and of the nine children but three are now living,-Mrs. Horton, at Davisburgh, one son in Genesee county, Michigan, and another in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Springer both died at Davis- burgh.
Davisburgh post-office was established about 1854, and John C. Davis was the first postmaster. This was before the railroad was built, and the mail was at first brought from Austin post-office by Mr. Davis' brother, Thaddeus C. Davis. After the railway was completed a daily mail was received. Mr. Davis held the office until Lincoln was elected president, when it was given to Farley Craw, who was the " village cooper." Since Craw the postmasters have been Myron Hickey,
GARTER & SON'S MILLS.
MRS. MOSES GARTER.
MOSES GARTER.
RESIDENCE OF MOSES GARTER, SPRINGFIELD TP, OAKLAND CO., MICH.
282
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
NOLTON BIGELOW.
MRS. NOLTON BIGELOW.
NOLTON BIGELOW.
The person whose life and labors are here briefly treated upon was born in Whitestown, Oneida county, New York, June 4, 1815. His parents were Elea- zer and Lydia Bigelow. When Mr. Bigelow was a mere lad, seven or eight years of age, he began work in a cotton-factory, and eventually became a thorough master of that branch of manufacturing, and followed it for a livelihood many years. When quite young he had made such progress in the business that he was enabled to assume charge of the carding, spinning, and weaving departments, and was thus employed in a number of mills. In 1837 he was foreman of the " Ida mills," at Troy, New York, which closed that season, owing to dullness of trade and hard times. In the fall of that year he came to Michigan, in company with a younger brother, Spencer Bigelow, arriving in Springfield township some time during the month of October. Immediately afterwards they built a log cabin, or " shanty," seven by nine feet in dimensions, and in it enjoyed bachelor life until the spring of 1838, when two larger cabins were built, one for their parents and the other for the family of their elder brother, George Bigelow, to whom the land belonged.
Nolton Bigelow lived with his parents until the fall of 1840, clearing and im- proving the land during the summer and teaching school in the winter. In 1840, being in somewhat straitened circumstances, he returned to the State of New York, and sought employment at his old trade. He was given work in a cotton- factory at Hartsville, Dutchess county, and remained at that place until June, 1846, when he returned to Springfield on a visit. His brother George finally per- suaded him into purchasing the farm they had settled, and after so doing he be- came a permanent resident of the township, and a successful farmer. More land was added to the place and greater improvements introduced, and up to the year 1864, when his fine barns were swept away by fire, his was one of the best- arranged farms in Springfield township.
Mr. Bigelow's early advantages for obtaining an education were very limited, yet, by dint of making good use of what he had, he made a mark in the path he chose to follow through life which reflects great credit upon his energy and perse- verance and strength of character. He became a prominent citizen of Spring-
field, and in 1849 was elected to her chief executive office,-that of supervisor, -the duties of which he discharged for one year.
On the 16th of March, 1852, he was married to Miss Letitia Parker, who was a sister of the wife of Mr. Fred. Foster, now living in Springfield. Two children were born to them,-a daughter, Lydia E. Bigelow, January 16, 1854, and a son, Charles Nolton Bigelow, April 22, 1862. Both are now living.
Mrs. Bigelow was a native of Leicestershire, England, where she was born February 14, 1822. In 1832, when ten years of age, she accompanied her father, William Parker, to the United States. Mr. Parker settled in Erie county, New York, and made his home there until his death, although for four years previous to his decease he had been most of the time with his children in Michigan.
Nolton Bigelow died October 16, 1874, aged over fifty-nine years. His wife had preceded him through the " dark valley of the shadow of death," her demise occurring April 30, 1874, when in her fifty-third year. In Mr. Bigelow's decease his children were deprived of a loving father, and the community of an upright citizen and worthy representative of the type of people which were moulded from the pioneers of the land. His loss was a greater blow to his children because his beloved partner-their fond mother-had been taken so short a time before.
Mr. Bigelow's life in the wilds of Michigan, and that of his wife in New York, are replete with incident and overflowing with memories of severe trials, which find counterparts in the lives of nearly every man and woman who ventured to the frontier of every State in the Union. The life of the early settlers was ac- cepted beforehand with all its privations, and all honor be to those who shrank not back from the ordeal, but boldly strode forth, and with their axes literally cut themselves homes amid the haunts of the savage and the lairs of the wild beasts. Their labors are generally finished, and, with Mr. and Mrs. Bigelow, many have gone to their eternal rest ; yet posterity is grateful for the work they performed in laying the foundation whereon is built so broad and prosperous a country,-for the people make the country,-and with a tear to mingle with the dust of the de- parted, the thanks due them are also expressed, while their memory is fondly cherished by those who are left to mourn for them.
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
281
Alexander Ter Bush, and H. C. Burnam, the present occupant. The latter gentle- man came to Pontiac in company with Stephen Chaffee, when but seven years of age, from Middleton, Rutland county, Vermont. This was in the spring of 1834. Mr. Burnam has lived in Davisburgh since 1850, and since 1861 has kept a general store. He was appointed postmaster September 6, 1870.
The first physician in the place was Dr. William E. Fenwick, a disciple of the allopathic school.
Davisburgh Grange, No. 245, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized February 7, 1874, with thirty-six members. The first officers were: Master, Horatio Wright; Overseer, Jefferson K. Tindall; Lecturer, David Garner; Steward, William Jones; Assistant Steward, Wilson Hickey; Chaplain, Michael G. Hickey ; Treasurer, John C. Davis; Secretary, David A. Wright; Gate-keeper, Eli Brondige; Ceres, Mrs. David Garner; Pomona, Mrs. J. K. Tindall ; Flora, Miss Victoria Griswold; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. J. C. Davis.
The society is in a flourishing condition, and had in the summer of 1877 about thirty members, with the following officers : Master, Jefferson K. Tindall : Over- seer, William Jones; Lecturer, David Garner; Chaplain, E. J. Bigelow; Steward, Porter Wright; Assistant Steward, Henry Rohm; Secretary, Horatio Wright; Treasurer, Eli H. Day; Gate-keeper, H. Lee Wright; Ceres, Mrs. David Garner; Pomona, Mrs. Horatio Wright; Flora, Mrs. J. K. Tindall; Lady Assistant Steward, Mrs. J. C. Davis.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A class of this denomination was formed May 11, 1846, with a small member- ship. The names of the early pastors do not appear on the church records, so we are unable to give them ; those from 1858 have been as follows: 1858, Thomas Wakelin ; 1859-60, Isaac Crawford; 1861, John W. Crippen; 1862, I. C. Cochran ; 1865, E. B. Prindle; 1866-67, J. O. Bancroft; 1868-69, - Whitcomb; 1869-71, Samuel Bird; 1872-74, J. W. Scott; 1874-75, J. S. Joslin ; 1876-77, R. C. Lanning.
The membership in May, 1877, was about one hundred and thirty. The present fine frame church was built in 1866, the contract being four thousand dollars, and H. C. Burnam the contractor for building. The building committee consisted of John C. Davis, Eli Brondige, Myron Hickey, and Michael G. Hickey. The trustees at the time were Robert Pepper, John C. Davis, Eli Brondige, H. C. Burnam, and William H. Elliott, and Rev. J. O. Bancroft the preacher in charge. The church is thirty-six by sixty feet in dimensions, and is surmounted by a neat spire. It was dedicated July 7, 1867. The entire cost of the church, including estimated value of lots (which were from property owned by J. C. Davis), in- surance, furnishing, grading the ground, etc., was four thousand eight hundred and thirty-two dollars and fifty-two cents. A tasty parsonage was built in 1870, at a cost of eleven hundred and ninety-two dollars and thirty-six cents. The barn and parsonage lot cost two hundred and twenty-four dollars and fifty cents, and the bell which hangs in the spire, including freight, one hundred and sixty- four dollars and thirty-five cents.
The present pastor, Rev. R. C. Lanning, emigrated to Michigan in 1840, from Steuben county, New York, and located in the western part of the State. About 1845 he came the first time to Oakland County, and his home most of the time since has been in the town of Southfield. Was a young man on his first arrival in Michigan. He has resided in Davisburgh, and had charge of the church since September, 1876.
PROTESTANT METHODIST CHURCH OF DAVISBURGH.
The first preaching by any denomination held at Davisburgh was a sermon preached in Cornelius Davis' house, by Rev. George Hornell, a Presbyterian minister, from the First Presbyterian church of White Lake. This was in the neighborhood of 1840. The first quarterly meeting of the Protestant Methodist society was held about 1850-51, in John C. Davis' barn, and was the first meeting of this description held in the village by any society.
This congregation was organized by Rev. Lorenzo Warren, in the year 1843, with some seven members. They have maintained their denominational identity with varying success for a period of thirty-four years. In 1873, during the pas- toral charge of Rev. Frederick Traver, they erected the present fine brick church, at a cost of about five thousand dollars. The building was dedicated January 1, 1874. It is thirty-six by fifty-six feet in dimensions, surmounted by a spire, and will seat about three hundred persons. The membership in the month of May, 1877, was between fifty and sixty, and the pastor was Rev. William Bradley, who succeeded Rev. Charles B. Clark. A parsonage is owned by the society, and is located near the church. The financial standing is kept up, and the church is now prosperous. Among the early preachers were Revs. - Earle and Laban Smith, who were the first ministers of the gospel in this part of the county. The meetings of the society were held for many years in the school- house in district No. 1, Rose township, and also in the one at Davisburgh.
36
To the following persons the historian is indebted for assistance furnished him in gathering the items which make up the foregoing pages : D. B. Horton, E. D. Turner, John C. Davis, Milton Sargent, Eli H. Day, Levi W. Churchill, J. G. Hutchins, Harlow Watson, Mrs. John Pepper, at Davisburgh ; E. J. Bigelow, J. K. Tindall, Samuel and Frederick Foster, Eli Brondige, Isaac Friday, Mrs. Crosby, Mrs. Merrell, J. W. Anderson, Robert Pepper, Dr. Edward Bartlett, Mrs. D. A. Wright, and many others.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
FREDERICK FOSTER
was born in Kent, England, April 19, 1822, and in 1828, when but six years of age, accompanied his parents to Utica, Oneida county, New York. His father, Horatio Foster, Sr., emigrated to Michigan in 1837, with his wife and two sons, and located in Independence township, near the present site of Clarkston Station.
Frederick Foster was married October 21, 1845, to Miss Ann Parker, of Erie county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are the parents of five children, their births occurring in the following order :
EDMUND, born August 20, 1846.
FREDERICK HORATIO, born September 17, 1849; died June 29, 1872. LETITIA ADELAIDE, born October 14, 1850.
CLARA SOPHIA, born December 5, 1853.
WILLIAM, born March 1, 1856; died the 27th of same month.
Mr. Foster is now living on section 25, Springfield township, on land settled by A. Hurst. This is on the southeast quarter of the section, and that which he owns on the northeast quarter was originally entered by Julius Baldwin and a man named Bostwick.
MRS. FOSTER was born in Leicestershire, England, June 7, 1820, and in 1832 came with her father, William Parker, to the United States. Mr. Parker settled in Erie county, New York, and resided there until his death, with the exception of the last four years of his life, which he spent mostly in Michigan among his children, although his home was still in New York. A sister of Mrs. Foster, Letitia Parker, who also came with her parents to America, afterwards became the wife of Nolton Bigelow, of Springfield township. Both are now deceased, while Mr. and Mrs. Foster bid fair to sojourn for many years yet among those who have learned to love and respect them.
JAMES NEAL
was born on the Isle of Man, November 3, 1835, and accompanied his father, Joseph Neal, to - Michigan in 1855, locating in the township of Bloomfield. James soon after moved to Springfield, but for some time purchased no land. He has lived on his present farm since about 1864. He was unmarried on his arrival in the country, and on the 3d day of June, 1857, was married to Ann Eagle, then living with her father, Solomon Eagle, in Pontiac. She has been in the country several years longer than her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Neal (the name originally spelled Kneale) are the parents of ten children, their names and births as follows :
LUCY, born April 2, 1858.
WILLIAM E., born July 27, 1859.
CHARLOTTE, born January 2, 1861.
JANE, born December 10, 1862.
ROBERT, born December 10, 1864.
CHARLES, born February 12, 1867.
MILLIE, born May 29, 1868.
NELLIE, born May 18, 1870.
JAMES, born July 27, 1872.
ELIZABETH, born November 5, 1874.
The farm on which Mr. Neal now lives he purchased of the heirs of Thomas Lapham. The place at the time Mr. Neal came to it had an old log house stand- ing upon it. The present fine frame dwelling and the large barn now standing were built by Mr. Neal, who has also greatly improved the farm in many respects. Mr. Neal has three brothers and one sister living, all in Michigan except one brother, who is in California. His sister lives with her father, in Rose township, and two brothers are residents of Clinton county.
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