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 89
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At the first town-meeting, in 1827, when Royal Oak and Troy formed one town, fourteen road districts were formed. This number was increased until, in 1876, Troy alone had forty-two districts. The report of the commissioners in 1832 gives a glimpse at the condition of the roads as they then were : " We de- sire to report that we had assessed fifteen hundred and thirty-nine days of work, and that fourteen hundred and eighty-six days were performed; and that the roads are yet in a very bad condition, and require a great deal of labor to make them otherwise." This board, composed of William Poppleton, Ira Jennings, and John F. Keyes, did much to improve the condition of the roads, the former, especially, laboring with great zeal until he had persuaded his fellow-citizens that good roads were possible in Troy. How truly his ideas have been realized is attested by the roads of the township to-day. Nearly all the road-beds are firm, -many of them graveled,-and of the eighty miles of roads in the town hardly a mile deserves to be called poor.
PIONEER SCHOOLS.
The privilege of attending school was extended the youth of Troy soon after its settlement, but there is no record of the division of the town into regular dis- tricts until 1833, although a school-board was elected in 1831, composed of Clement Pearsall, S. V. R. Trowbridge, Erastus Crispy, Thaddeus Thompson, and Willard Daniels. A portion, at least, of this board was continued in office from year to year, and the divisions made in 1833 were, perhaps, based upon the report of this first board .. At that time seven whole and six fractional districts were formed, whose boundaries were so irregular that they cannot be described in the brief space here allowed. Later there were numerous changes, so that but few of the districts remain as when first established.
There are records of the examination of teachers in 1838, and of the licensing of Rosina Preston, Zylpha Phelps, Augustus C. Baldwin, Emily Gillett, Arabella Keys, Henry I. Pearsall, Sherman Pearsall, Silas Eaton, Truman Johnson, and Cyrus Smith to teach in Troy, they being adjudged the possessors of good moral characters, and the ability to instruct in the common branches.
Log school-houses were built in each of the newly-formed districts, where such buildings did not already exist, and these, in time, were supplanted by frame structures or brick buildings. But prior to this arrangement schools were taught in different parts of the town. In the central portion a school was taught about 1829, in the old Baptist log church, by a Miss Hopkins, where the Smiths and Pearsalls, and others of that neighborhood attended. Later, a school was kept in a deserted log house on section 15, by Miss Beulah Parks, and one on section
289
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
16, by Miss Hastings, at a still later day. Josephus Smith also taught in that neighborhood several years later. A school was established at Troy Corners at an early day, whose history will be detailed in that connection.
MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS.
Among the first marriages remembered by the people of Troy were those of Elizur Goodrich and Jesse Gregory. The former was a widower, his wife having died a short time previous to his coming to Michigan, and after he had made preparations for that event. The year following his settlement, in 1824, he mar- ried Mrs. Lucy Fish, a widow, who had come to Troy a few months before. Jesse Gregory married Laura Downer, an estimable young lady, about 1825 or 1826.
The honor of having been the first born in this new town appears to belong to Luther Stanley, now of Birmingham. He is a son of William Stanley, and made his appearance on the 3d of September, 1824. In the latter part of the same month, of that year, a son-Almeron-was added to the membership of Solomon Mathews' family. Both of these have become a part of the useful citizenship of Oakland County, being well known in its affairs. A third birth followed soon after. On Christmas day of 1824 the home of Silas and Amanda Sprague was blessed by the appearance of a gift rather unusual to the occasion,-a sprightly girl, who was named Sarah. She grew to womanhood, and married Colonel Robert Davis, of Pontiac.
Perhaps the first grown person who died in Troy was Mrs. Ramah Cole, in about 1827. She was interred in the Crooks cemetery. Riley Crooks was one of the next to depart this life. His death was accidental, having been caused by the falling of a limb from a tree which he was chopping down, on the 27th of April, 1830. He was a well-known citizen, and his untimely death was much lamented. A few years later a daughter of Captain Parks died, after a lingering illness ; also a Mrs. Demond and Mrs. Samuel Harding. The former were buried on section 7.
CEMETERIES.
There are four public cemeteries in the township, all controlled by the board of health, and all well-ordered and finely kept. The largest of these burying-grounds is on the southwest quarter of section 2, and contains about three acres. The lo- cation is good and the drainage excellent. A large number of interments have been made there, and it is now the principal cemetery in that part of the country. The next one, in point of area, is on the northeast quarter of section 20. It is generally known as the Crooks cemetery, and contains two and one-half acres. Some of the first interments in the town were made at this place, and the ground contains some fine monuments. A burying-ground of one acre is found in the western part of section 32, and another of the same size on section 7, which are used by the people of those localities. There is, also, a private burying-ground on section 10, belonging to the Niles family.
SOLDIERS OF 1812.
In the absence of a record of those who participated in the second struggle for American independence, the following list is made up from the recollection of neighbors of the departed heroes, and may not contain the names of all who are entitled to this honor.
Captain Robert Parks commanded a company in New York, and rendered good service, participating in several engagements. Elizur Goodrich also served in the American army in New York, and was wounded at the battle of Chippewa.
Solomon Caswell was another of those who aided the American cause, and after- wards came to Michigan, and Moses Benedict is also credited with such a service. Of these, two are yet alive,-Captain Parks, residing at Pontiac, and Solomon Caswell, on his farm on section 19.
TROY MANUFACTORIES.
This township has never been noted for its manufacturing interests. There are no streams affording water-power, and its rich agricultural resources have made farming an almost exclusive interest. Nevertheless, there have been several enterprises, aside from several small distilleries in the early years of the town, which deserve mention in this connection.
About 1852, Edmund Gillett built a steam saw-mill on the east part of section 22. It was an establishment of considerable capacity, and was extensively operated until it was destroyed by fire. In 1857, Gillett built a new mill on the south line of the same section. This soon passed into the hands of Pearl Mitchel, who sold it to a Mr. Bromley, and while he was operating it, about 1866, the mill was again burned. Mr. Bromley at once rebuilt it, near the old site, and then sold the property to John Lamb and Lewis Smith. The latter at present owns the mill and operates it several months in the year.
A man named Chilson erected a steam saw-mill on the southwest of section
34 about 1848. This soon became the property of Samuel Blair, who worked it some time, producing excellent lumber from the dense forests in that locality. It has been owned by a number of different men, and is at present the property of Henry J. Bowers, being still in a serviceable condition.
Johnson Niles built an excellent steam saw-mill on section 4, which was used to work up the walnut and other hard woods growing in that region. Large shipments of walnut were made to eastern markets, and the mill was a profitable enterprise as long as good logs could be procured. It was then, after being operated about twelve years, dismantled and the machinery taken to Lapeer county.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
The first record of a township-meeting held in the bounds of Troy is that of May 28, 1827, when the legal voters of towns 1 and 2, now Royal Oak and Troy, assembled at the house of Riley Crooks, on section 20, to hold their first annual meeting. Prior to this both these towns were a part of Bloomfield, having sustained that relation from 1820 to 1827. In 1836, Royal Oak was set off from Troy, and became a separate township.
The record of the first eight elections, then, includes Royal Oak. The result of the first election was as follows :
Supervisor, Stephen V. R. Trowbridge; Town Clerk, Riley Crooks; Assessors, Socrates Hopkins, Jehiel Smith, Elizur Goodrich ; Commissioners of Highways, Henry Blount, Wakeman Bradley, Calvin Marvin ; Collector, Edmund Downer; Overseers of the Poor, Robert Parks, Joseph Chase; Constables, Jonathan Chase, Zadoc Bates, George Taylor ; Road Overseers, District 1, Elizur Goodrich ; Dis- trict 2, Edward Martin ; District 3, Jesse Gregory ; District 4, Aaron Wellman ; District 5, Alva Butler; District 6, Joshua Davis; District 7, William Popple- ton ; District 8, Robert Crawford; District 9, Thomas J. Perrin ; District 10, James Volentine ; District 11, Abram L. Hoagland; District 12, Samuel Torbert ; District 13, James Landon ; District 14, Alanson Goodrich.
Daniel Burrows, Socrates Hopkins, and Henry O. Bronson were justices of the peace by appointment of the governor.
The next meeting was held at Riley Crook's, and subsequent meetings were held in barns, houses, and hotels, in different parts of the town, until 1848, when a frame town-house was erected on section 22, as near the centre of the town as practicable, where the meetings have been held ever since. The house is well adapted for its intended purpose, being provided with cabinet cases for the pres- ยท ervation of the records and other matter of interest and value to the town.
From the town records we make some excerpts, which will show the condition and progress of the township at different .periods.
At the meeting in 1828 it was voted not to come under the act regulating common schools.
Not to have a pound.
To raise twenty-five dollars for the support of the poor.
To raise fifty dollars for the contingent expenses of the town.
" That this town will give any white person five dollars for every wolf that shall be taken and killed within the limits of the town the year ensuing."
In May, 1830, a special election was held to fill the vacancy in the office of the town clerk, caused by the accidental death of Riley Crooks. Ramah Cole was elected to fill the office.
At the election in April, 1836, a tax of ten dollars was voted to build a bridge across the Rouge river.
At the first annual settlement of the town board, in March, 1828, Supervisor Trowbridge reported the entire receipts as seventy-two dollars and fifty cents, and the expenditures as sixty-two dollars and eighty-one cents, leaving a balance of nine dollars and sixty-nine cents. This account was attested correct by Justices . Daniel Burrows, Socrates Hopkins, and H. O. Bronson.
Twenty-one years later, in 1849, the expenses were more than four hundred dollars. The assessed value of the town was one hundred and thirty-nine thou- sand and eighty-six dollars, and in 1876, twenty-seven years later, this had in- creased to five hundred and ten thousand seven hundred and thirty dollars. The entire tax in 1849 was thirteen hundred and twenty-six dollars and forty-seven cents, and in 1876 it was four thousand one hundred and eighty dollars and thirty-three cents, an increase of about three hundred per cent.
Since 1827 the following persons have been elected for constitutional terms, supervisors, town clerks, and justices of the peace :
Supervisors .- Stephen V. R. Trowbridge, 1828-30, 1838, 1847, 1858 ; Jesse Gregory, 1831-34, 1848; Johnson Niles, 1835-37; James Bailey, 1839 ; Sal- mon J. Mathews, 1840; William Poppleton, 1841-42 ; Edward Martin, 1843-44 ; William Cone, 1845-46, 1849-51, 1855-56, 1859, 1863, 1865 ; Benjamin Page, 1852, 1857 ; Jesse Lee Stout, 1853; Friend Belding, 1854; Josephus Smith, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1866, 1873-77 ; J. W. Mathews, 1861; Gurden G. Clark, 1867-69; Guy M. Trowbridge, 1870-72.
37
290
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Town Clerks -Riley Crooks, 1827-30 ; Socrates Hopkins, 1831-32; Samuel W. Harding, 1833; Edward W. Peck, 1834-36; Nathan Davis, 1837; John A. Jackson, 1838; Oscar H. Chipman, 1839; Hiram Smith, 1840-41, 1853, 1867-70 ; George A. C. Luce, 1842, 1844; Joel P. Toms, 1845-48; Clark Beardsley, 1849-52 ; Stephen G. Conley, 1854, 1862 ; Josephus Smith, 1855-59, 1871-72; John Buttolph, 1860-61, 1863-66 ; Adams Bailey, 1873-75 ; Dwight Buttolph, 1876-77.
Justices of the Peace .- William R. Crook, 1837; Charles Howard, 1838; Hiram Smith, 1839, 1843, 1857, 1865; Johnson Niles, 1840; S. J. Mathews, 1841; James B. St. John, 1842; George A. C. Luce, 1844; Israel Bickford, 1845 ; Edward W. Peck, 1846; Jesse Lee Stout, 1847, 1851 ; Samuel Gibbs, 1848; James Bailey, 1849; Benjamin Page, 1850, 1854, 1862, 1866, 1870, 1874; Abram Perry, 1852; Clark Beardsley, 1853; Mason I. James, 1855 ; William H. Phelps, 1856, 1860, 1864, 1868, 1872, 1876 ; Lorenzo D. Locey, 1858; William A. Dennison, 1850; Benjamin Daniels, 1861; Guy M. Trow- bridge, 1863, 1867; Gurden G. Clark, 1869 ; Montgomery Shutes, 1871, 1875 ; Josephus Smith, 1873, 1877.
BIG BEAVER VILLAGE.
The quiet little village of Big Beaver, or the Beaver, as it is most generally called, is located at the intersection of the cross-roads separating sections 22 and 23 and 26 and 27. The place derives its name from a large dam, erected by a colony of beavers, across the little brook near the place. This stream is now nearly, if not altogether, dry, and its name, Beaver creek, fails to express its true nature. The situation is favorable for a country trading-point, being surrounded by a rich agricultural country, which is quite densely populated.
The first house erected at this point was that of Ira Smith, of Middlebury, New York, who settled on section 27 in 1825. IIe kept the first tavern in this building, about 1828, continuing it about six years. About the time he discon- tinued his tavern Benjamin Wooster opened a blacksmith-shop at the corners, but he stayed only a short time, when he removed to the western part of the State. From this time until 1855 there was no effort made to establish any shops at this point, and the only thing to mark the place as different from other cross-roads was the post-office and a store about half a mile north.
The first store kept in the southern part of Troy was opened by Benjamin Sturgis, on the east line of section 22, about 1848. He carried a fair stock of goods, and continued in business there until his store was burned, about 1862. In 1863, Mr. Sturgis started a store at the corners, keeping it but a few years, when he was succeeded by Gurden Clark, who conducted it three years, then sold out to Andrew Ebling.
In 1857, Ira Smith erected a frame store-house on section 26, in which he put a stock of goods well adapted for the trade of the place, and carried on the busi- ness for nearly ten years. This was the second store in that section of country, and the first at Big Beaver.
Six years later, in 1863, Michael Ebling built a fine two-story brick house, twenty-two by thirty-four feet, on the corner of section 22, which he designed for mercantile purposes, and where he opened an excellent store a short time after, which he kept six years. George Felker succeeded him, and for about a year carried on the business, when Andrew Ebling purchased his interest and established a trade, which he still continues. Mr. Ebling enlarged the building in 1876, and now has a very fine room, which enables him to carry on the busi- ness successfully.
In 1873, John Eager opened a store in the building erected by Sturgis, where he continued in trade about three years, leaving Mr. Ebling the sole merchant of the place.
The post-office at Big Beaver was established about 1837; Ira Smith was appointed postmaster, and held that position until 1856, when Michael Ebling was appointed his successor. The latter served until 1860, when the office passed back to Ira Smith, who retained it a few years, and was then succeeded by Gurden Clark, who served until the appointment of Andrew Ebling, the present post- master. The office was supplied with daily mails when first established, which were carried from Royal Oak to Romeo, and from Royal Oak to Lapeer county, several stage-routes passing through the place. Among the early drivers was Ira Pearsall. A Mr. Rose was another of the mail-contractors and stage-owners that succeeded Pearsall. When the Grand Trunk railroad was built, east of this region, the daily mails were discontinued, and a tri-weekly mail was supplied from Royal Oak to Troy Corners, and return. This arrangement still continues.
Aside from the log tavern kept by Ira Smith, there was no regular hotel until about 1857, when Edmund Gillett erected a frame house for this purpose, on the corner of section 23. Here he dispensed comfort for man and beast for about five years. There was at that time considerable travel on the Paint creek road, which passes through this place, and the hotel did a thriving business. The
house was enlarged from time to time, and changed hands frequently, among the keepers being Samuel Benton, James Bingham, and Nicholas Mooney, who closed up the house in 1873. These numerous changes were not favorable to the character of the house, and it soon lost what reputation it had acquired at an early day, becoming more noted, at last, as a place where Bacchus delighted to hold his court. The old building has been changed into a private residence.
The first blacksmith to settle permanently at Big Beaver was Andrew Ebling. He is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and came to America in 1854. A year later, he settled at Beaver to carry on his trade. He built a good brick shop, getting the material of Henry Judd, on the southeast corner of section 22, and there, for fourteen years, he swung the hammer to the music of the anvil, doing a thriving trade. When Mr. Ebling engaged in mercantile pursuits, he was succeeded by George Terry, who is the present smith at this stand.
There were other blacksmiths at this point, having shops opposite Ebling's, among them Gillett & Son and Nicholas Mooney. Neither carried on the trade more than a few months at a time.
In 1855, Alvin Shadbolt, a New Yorker, opened a wagon-shop at Big Beaver, opposite the brick blacksmith-shop, where he worked about four years. His interests were purchased, in 1860, by Frederick Schlaack, of Mecklenburg, Ger- many, who carried on the trade until his death, in 1872, when Augustus Schultz, the present owner, succeeded him.
A shoe-shop was opened about 1857 by a German named Gage, he being the first in that business at Beaver. Other shoemakers were a man named Deere and John Pax, a Canadian, who has carried on the trade about twelve years.
A tailor-shop was opened in 1875 by Frederick Eckelberg, and is still con- ducted by him.
A cooperage was established about 1850 by E. W. Millard, near the corners, where he has carried on the trade ever since, having now the only shop of this nature in the township.
The first school-house in this locality was a log building on the east half of sec- tion 22, near its south line. This was replaced by a frame house about 1845, which was used for school purposes until 1857, when a fine brick building was erected on the east line of section 22, which is the present school-house. Re- ligious meetings were also held in these houses, and the brick building was used for this purpose until 1875, when
THE FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
was built at Big Beaver.
The history of this society dates back to 1845, or perhaps prior to that period. The Methodist missionary hunted up those professing that faith, and, as soon as circumstances warranted, established regular preaching-places at the houses of the pioneers and in the humble school-houses. Among the first Methodist members were William Phelps and his mother, and a Mr. Davy, a local preacher. Among the first pastors was Salmon Steele, and later pastors were Revs. Baughman, Allen, Hedger, Warren, Hood, Crane, Davidson, and Bird. These ministers resided at Birmingham, and supplied this class in connection with the church at that place.
In 1861 the membership of the class was about twenty ; this was increased until there were fifty-five members in 1875, the increase being largely the result of a revival in the winter of 1873-74.
The connection with Birmingham was severed in 1873, when the class became a part of Troy circuit, which relation is still preserved. The pastors since this change were Revs. Hedger, Houghton, and Tuttle, who is now the minister in charge. Andrew Ebling, a local preacher, has also labored among this people for fifteen years.
The class had nearly sixty members in February, 1875, when it was determined to erect a church at Big Beaver. A society, called the First -Methodist Episcopal church of Big Beaver, was formed, and a board of trustees, composed of A. Eb- ling, Wm. H. Phelps, John Lamb, Sr., John Lamb, Jr., and Adrian Gibbs, was chosen to immediately begin the work of building. A site of one acre of ground on the east line of section 22 was purchased, and a very fine frame church, thirty- four by fifty-two feet, with a spire containing an excellent bell, was ready for dedi- cation on the 17th day of October, 1875. The consecration services were per- formed by Dr. Joslyn, of Albion college, and his appeal for aid to free the church from debt met with such a hearty response that enough was secured for that pur- pose and a balance for the contingent expenses. The entire cost of the church was about three thousand six hundred dollars. The house is handsomely finished, and has three hundred sittings.
A Sunday-school was organized at Big Beaver about 1850, with William H. Phelps as superintendent. Its meetings were held in the school-house until the completion of the church, when the school was transferred to that building. Its membership is at present one hundred, and Adrian Gibbs is the superintendent. The school is supplied with periodical literature.
291
HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
Big Beaver is making a steady but unremarkable growth, and now contains about twenty-five houses, with a population of seventy-five.
THE VILLAGE OF TROY CORNERS.
The first to make settlement at this place was Johnson Niles, in 1822, who built on the northeast corner of section 9, and began at once to lay the foundation for making it a trading-point by supplying himself with trinkets, with which he bartered with the Indians. A larger stock of goods was procured several years after, and a store started on a small scale, but which proved so successful that Mr. Niles opened a full stock somewhere about 1830. He continued in trade about twenty-five years, although not at the same place, the changes in the business making it necessary for him to seek more commodious quarters. About the time that Mr. Niles opened his trading-room he also opened a tavern, entertaining the traveler in a right royal manner in his log house, which had become a double building by the addition made to accommodate this business. He was also ap- pointed postmaster in 1833, thus giving the new settlement weekly mails from Detroit.
In the mean time Guy Phelps, who owned the southwest quarter of section 3, opened a shoemaker's-shop, being the first of his craft to engage at that business in the place.
A blacksmith-shop was next opened, about 1831, by John Miller, who took Guy Phelps' old log shanty for a shop. Miller built himself a frame house, which is still in use in the place. He conducted his trade a number of years, and had the reputation of being a skillful workman.
The place now began to assume an air of considerable importance. It became a centre of trade, and, as it was on one of the most important thoroughfares lead- ing from Detroit to the northern part of the Territory, there was a strong proba- bility of its becoming one of the future towns of the then rapidly-settling county. The idea was quickened into life when Johnson Niles announced his intention to make it the leading place north of Detroit, and to this end held out flattering in- ducements to such as were seeking a location. Men of capital, mechanics, and professional men soon found a home here ; churches were built, schools were established, and the cross-streets of the place were crowded with the teams of those who had come for miles around to trade and supply themselves with pro- visions to carry into the regions beyond.
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