History of Oakland County, Michigan
VOLUME I
We present this history with pleasure, because it deals with a pleasant subject — Oakland county. There is another reason for this attitude toward our subject: — the cooperation of contributors and of citizens has been so general and hearty that the historical work required has been transformed from a task into a labor of love.
Oakland county is peculiarly fortunate in the variety of her charms and riches, to which truth these pages bear witness. With her landscape beauties and sunny lakes, she is drawing thousands to her who seek restful homes and profitable investments. At the same time, her soil is fertile and invites the practical farmer, dairyman and horticulturist, while in the urban centers, the industrial and commercial interests have obtained a firm foothold and assure livelihood and profit to the citizen. No county in the state has better schools, and, as will be made plain in the progress of this history, in no section has woman had a more extended or elevating influence. In a word, Oakland is unexcelled as a home county; no more need he said to the good American, whether of native or foreign blood.
As to the collaborators on the history, too much cannot be said of the quantity and quality of the assistance rendered by Hon. Aaron Perry. In those homely words which so truly express our feeling toward him — "what could we have done without him!" Also as to Miss Martha Baldwin and Mrs. Lilian Drake Avery — "what could we have done without them,"' especially in setting forth the scope of woman's work, and the splendid part taken by the pioneers of the county in laying the foundation upon which the later generations ha\e builded their comfort and prosperity. Thanks are rendered all our associate editors — Fred M. Warner, Thomas L. Patterson, Harry S. Gardner and Samuel W. Smith, for their willing and effective cooperation. The county an
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I
THE GREAT TRANSFORMATION... 1
CHAPTER II
GENERAL PHYSICAL FEATURES... 9
CHAPTER III
INDIAN AND PRIMITIVE RECORD... 19
CHAPTER IV
FIRST SETTLERS AND LAND OWNERS... 27
CHAPTER V
PICTURES OF THE PAST... 37
CHAPTER VI
REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS AND "DAUGHTERS"... 72
CHAPTER VII
PIONEER RECORDS... 99
CHAPTER VIII
DEVELOPMENT OF JUDICIARY... 110
CHAPTER IX
THE BENCH OF OAKLAND COUNTY... 117
CHAPTER X
THE BAR OF OAKLAND COUNTY... 126
CHAPTER XI
BACKWARD GLANCES AT BENCH AND BAR... 158
CHAPTER XII
CIVIL AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTY... 188
CHAPTER XIII
OAKLAND COUNTY IN STATE POLITICS... 214
CHAPTER XIV
THE COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM... 227
CHAPTER XV
MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION... 234
CHAPTER XVI
BANKS AND BANKING... 242
CHAPTER XVII
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION... 249
CHAPTER XVIII
WOMEN'S INFLUENCE IN THE COUNTY... 259
CHAPTER XIX
MILITARY MATTERS... 271
CHAPTER XX
VILLAGE OF PONTIAC... 286
CHAPTER XXI
CITY OF PONTIAC... 296
CHAPTER XXII
INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS PONTIAC... 320
CHAPTER XXIII
PONTIAC SCHOOLS... 333
CHAPTER XXIV
PONTIAC CHURCHES... 340
CHAPTER XXV
PONTIAC'S FRATERNAL SOCIETIES... 362
CHAPTER XXVI
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP... 271
CHAPTER XXVII
HOLLY TOWNSHIP... 388
CHAPTER XXVIII
AVON TOWNSHIP... 401
CHAPTER XXIX
OXFORD TOWNSHIP... 418
CHAPTER XXX
ROYAL OAK TOWNSHIP... 428
CHAPTER XXXI
ORION AND MILFORD TOWNSHIPS... 440
CHAPTER XXXII
LYON AND FARMINGTON TOWNSHIPS... 449
CHAPTER XXXIII
ADDISON AND BRANDON TOWNSHIPS... 461
CHAPTER XXXIV
INDEPENDENCE AND COMMERCE... 466
CHAPTER XXXV
SPRINGFIELD AND HIGHLAND... 471
CHAPTER XXXVI
ROSE AND WEST BLOOMFIELD... 476
CHAPTER XXXVII
NOVI AND WATERFORD TOWNSHIPS... 482
CHAPTER XXXVIII
TROY AND OAKLAND... 487
CHAPTER XXXIX
SOUTHFIELD, GROVELAND AND WHITE LAKE... 491
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The average number of lakes in each township of Oakland county is eighteen, though Troy, Royal Oak, Southfield, Farmington and Lyon are very deficient in comparison with other sections of the county. The largest of the lakes and the most generously supplied of the townships lie west and southwest of Pontiac. Orion, toward the northeast, is also the center of one of the most important development of resorts and homes in the county, as it is the nucleus of some of its most charming lakes, the largest of which is the body of water which gives the place its name. In the Pontiac group are Cass, Orchard, Elizabeth, Sylvan, and Pine. Walled lake to the southwest, lying in both Commerce and Novi townships, is also one of the larger bodies, all of which are over three hundred and fifty acres in extent. The largest is Cass, covering about twelve hundred acres, or nearly two square miles. It was named after Governor Cass, and lies mostly in West Boomfield township, with two of its arms extending into Waterford. Its extreme length from south- west to northeast is about two and three quarter miles and its extreme breadth, not measuring its arm, is a trifle over a mile.
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