1) Orisson Allen, During the past week, Deacon Orisson Allen, the last of the Pioneers of Pontiac, has passed away. He died at noon Jan 17, 1871, at the residene of his son-in-law Joseph R. Bowman, Esq.He was born at Granville, Washington County, New York, Mar 8, 1784, and was the sixth of a family of eleven children. Though suddering much from ill health for years past, still he had kept about most of the time, and outlived the other members of his father's family. His parents are remembered by some of our oldest citizens for their sterling worth and earnest christian principles. They were connected with the Baptist Church in shich his father, Gideon Allen, long held the office of Deacon, his mother was Phebe Beardsley. The grandfather of Orisson Allen was Timothy Allen, who gave six sons to the Revolution, Gideon Allen was one of these who served his country. He lived in Pawlet, Vermont.Orisson Allen's early life was spent in Washington County, New York. It was there he was first married, and in less than a year buried his wife. The same or following year he united with the Batpist Church. He was a soldier in the was of 1812 in New York Light Artillery, and was in the engagement between our troops and the British at Black Rock, and was at Buffalo when burned by the British and Indians Returning to the arts of peace, he settled in Pembroke, Genesee County, New York, a few miles east of Buffalo, where Jan 15, 1815, he was married to Catherine Todd, she was born Aug 18, 1796 and died Mar 18 1845 at Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. she is the daughter of mahor Todd. Four of seven children still survive him. Remaining in Pembroke until Nov 1818, having visited Michigan the summer before, he crossed Lake Erie with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, one of whom is now Mrs. J. R. Bowman. he came to Detroit by Lake Erie, the trip being made in that time by a schooner. leaving his family at Mt. clemens, he came to Pontiac, then uninhabitated save by indians, the forest tree furnishing the only shelter. his first night's lodging was beside a log near the bend of the Clinton River, west of Saginaw street. In January 1819, he made a second visit to Pontiac, bringing his family with him. He was then accompanied by three other families, Mr. Lester, Joseph Todd and his son Joseph J., the name of the other family is thought to be Spaulding. Ezekiel Allen, a brother of the deceased, remained at Mt. Clemens, and died there. As yet no road had been out through from Detroit to Pontiac, so they came in this roundabout way by an indian trail. these Pioneers immediately put up their log houses. Joseph J. Todd, then 19 years of age, and still residing here, hewed the flooring with a common axe for his father house. Thus the first settlement of this city commenced. Mr. Allen had formerly been a tanner and for some years of his residence here engaged in the business of manufacturing leather boots and shoes. In 1820 he commenced the erection of a hotel, where the National Block now stands, but sold his interest before its completion. In 1832 he was appointed Sheriff and hel the office until 1836, the year the state government was organized. He was one of the constituent members of the Baptist church in this city, organized in 1822, and then the only Baptist church in the territory, and was one of the first deacons thereof, which relation he actively austained till disabled by the infirmities of age. He continued to attend upon the services of the sanctuary whenever his failing strenght would permit, and for the last time on thanksgining Day, making a special effort, because as he said, that would be the last Thanksgiving service he would ever attend. Deacon Allen was a man of undoubted integrity of character, professing a humble yet firm trust in God, faithful in every relationship of life. He was beloved in the church, of which he was a solong an honored member, and universally respected in the community. Deacon Allen settled in POntiac Jan 19, 1819; we buried himi in Oak Hill Cemetery, Jan 19, 1871. He died as he had lived in the triumph of faith in christ, and his memory and reward are that of the just. At the time Mr. Allen was Sheriff they confined those in jail who could not pay their debts and also the insane were kept there. An insane man from Rochester was put there. He would not eat on the tin dishes furnished the prisoners, and after eating would call to my grandmother who would be listening, "Come mother we are going to have an auction." She would hurry to his call, but if she was not there when he said "Gone," the dishes would be thrown and smashed. I have heard my mother say she had seen tqo or three hundred indians who were going to or returning from Detroit, where they receives their bounty, camped around the jail, waiting to see some of their friends who were there. Never more than five or six were admitted at one time, not knowning what they would do. Sketch of the first settlement of Pontiac as given by Mr. Orisson Allen to Mrs. E. M. Sheldon Stewart in 1850. "I came from Niagara, New York, left Buffalo Oct 20, 1818, on a sailing vessel. We were twenty-eight days crossing Lake Erie, were driven back to Erie Three times. Finally landed at L'Anse Creux and went in wagons to Mt. Clemens. I stayed there awhile and then the Pontiac Company urges me to come to Pontiac. I hired a team and was three days coming here, passed four houses on the road, at two of which I stayed the night. One of these log houses, twenty feet square, was occupied by two families.In Jan 1819, Joseph Todd, William Lester and I moved our families to Pontiac. The village consisted of one log house, built by the Pontiac Company. Into this house we al moved, making a little community of fourteen persons. There as no chamber, no chimney, and no floor except some split logs where we laid our beds. Here we all live till April. Before the ground broke up in the spring I bought a barrel of flour in Detroit and hired it taken to Birmingham. Then I carried it on my back from Birmingham to Pontiac as we needed it. I cound carry thirty of fourty pounds at a time. wWith this flour and wild game we got along very well until the first of June 1819. Then I found I could not live in such a precarious way. Food could only be obtained from Detroit via Mt. Clemens, and then a strong team could only draw half a load. Worst of all my money was gone, and our supplies were nearly exhausted. Finally I concluded to go to Detroit to see if I could find any work to support my family. When I reached Detroit I went into Judge Sibley's office and told him I must leave Pontiac. he asked the reason, and I told him If I stayed there I shold starve, my money was gone and there was no work to be had. It was the only time I had ever known want. The Judge burie dhis face in his hands and sat silent for some time. Finally he said,'You must not leave, we will furnish you with food and you may pay when you can.' I said 'No, I might not be able to pay, and then I should wrong you.' 'We need more help,' said the Judge, 'and if you will stay we will give you employment, and I will direct our agent to furnish you with provisions.' Early in the spring of 1819, the Pontiac Company had built a large trading house twenty by sixty feet and divided it into three rooms, and stocked it with goods for the indian trade, and with provisions for the men in their employ. It was from this agency that Judge Sibley promised me supplies. The next morning after this intervies, I started for Pontiac with a number of men employed by the company, three oxen and a cart, and one woman passenger, we had to cross a swamp about six miles wide, which was like a sea of mud, The team got stuck and the woman was obliged to wade out. I reached home at dark, and my wife brought me a peice of bread, about half as large as my hand, all the food there was in the house. I could not eat it, nor could I reat that night, from fatigue and anxiety. early the next morning I went to the trading house to learn the Judge's orders, and was regoiced to find that they were: 'Let Mr. Allen have all the provisions he wants.' Pork, flour, beans, a very few potatoes, and tea was the entire list of supplies, but I was glad enough for a share of these. It was not until a year afterwards, that Col Mack's store was opened. In the spring of 1819, Mr. Todd and I moved into houses we had built, and in the early summer a family by the name of Sterling came to Pontiac and moved into the house with us. The two families numbered eighteen persons, and in July we were all sick, and not one of is able to help the others. It was a full month before we were better. Of course the diaease was fever and ague. Dr. William Thompson was the only physician in the county, and he lived eight miles from Pontiac. Every year for seven or eight years the whole region was very sickly from July until the autumnal frost, and this was from great hinderance to cultivating and harvesting the crops. Indeed for a number of years we depended largely on Ohio. The French were poor farmers and raised but little for market. The hogs brought here for sale were the poorest quality, and we used to call the pork 'Working pork.' Indians were very numerous. Pontiac was on the great northern trail and this was their camping ground, but they were not troublesome. Kishkauko, a celebrated cheif, sometimes came here. He always had a body guard of ten or twelve Indians, and neither he nor they would hesitate to kill anyone who offended them, though no such tragedy occure at Pontiac. One of Joseph Campau's sons once told me that during the wat of 1812, he saw a white man tortured there on the old camping ground by sticking pine splints in his flesh and setting fire to them. Wolves were very numerous and bold. They would even come to the house and take chickens from the coop built against the house. The indians would not kill wolves or snakes. I was once traveling to a pay-ground beyond Flint, with six of seven Indians, when they saw a ver large blue racer. The Indians would not kill it, nor see me kill it. The indians called the wolves 'brother hunter.' Sugar made by the Indians was all the sugar used here for years, none was made in this vicinity. The Indians also brought us apples from the island on ORchard Lake. The trees are said to have grown from seeda planted by white prisoners during the Revolutionary War. My busoness led me all over the country, and I have often lain down beside a log to sleep, not knowning that there was a human being within twenty miles. Mrs. Allen had a very narrow escape from the Indians, a party came along one day and wanted bread or flour. She said she had none, and seing the threatening sttitude, passed swiftly through the door into the house. One of the Indinas threw a hatchet and it struck the door, and as long as the house stood, the cleft could be seen. "
Orisson had the following children:
2) i Marcenas born 1817
3) ii Louisa born Jun 10, 1818 in Genesee County, New York
iii William died young
4) iv Catherine born Apr 14, 1823 in Pontiac
5) v Mary born 1825
6) vi George
7) vii Julia born 1832 in POntiac, in the old jail, when her father was sheriff
2) Marcenas Allen (Orisson) born in 1817 at Pembroke, Genesee County, N. Y., died Jan 6, 1853 in Pontiac, Mich. married abt 1840 at Castile, N. Y. to Harriet Lightbody, who was born Dec 6, 1823 at Skeneatles, N. Y. and died in Jul 1896. He lived nearly all his life in Pontiac but spent several years at Drayton. He was a carriage maker and blacksmith.
They had the following children:
i. Julia Maria Allen born Aug 10, 1842 at Castile, N. Y., died Mar 22, 1925 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Married May 13, 1867 at Pontiac, Mich to George Keys, he was born in May 1840 in England, was a soldier in the Civil War, and later resided at 181 12th St. Detroit, Mich. He died Dec 15, 1917 in Michigan.They had the following children:
a. Harriet Keys born May 1871 in Michigan, died Jul 13, 1952 in Detroit. She never married.
b. Alice Keyes
c. Georgie Keyes she was born in Sep 1876 at Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. Married Mar 27, 1905 in Essex County, Ontario, Canada to David Lightbod Barr, he was born Aug 22, 1879 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, the son of Alexander Barr and Isabella Gorman. In 1950, they both were still living in Detroit.
ii. George Albert Allen born in 1845, died Apr 18, 1868 at Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan. He was a member of Co. C 5th Regt. Mich. Vol. Inf
iii. Kate Louise Allen born May 23, 1848 in Pontic, Mich., married Nov 24, 1872 in Syracuse, N. Y. to Henry Ormsbee. He was born May 29, 1848 and died May 3, 1901 at Ogdensburg, N. Y. They had no children.
3) Louisa Allen (Orisson), born Jun 10, 1818 in Genesee County, New York, died Feb 20, 1872 at Pontiac, Mich. Married May 28, 1838, to Joseph R. Bowman, who was born in 1816 at Brough, Westmoreland County, England, coming to Pontiac in 1830. Mr. Bowman decided to learn the printing business, coencing as printer's devil in the office of the Oakland Chronicle, staying there until the paper was discontinued and murged into the Detroit Free Press, although offered a good position if he would go to Detroit, he declined. Then going to Auburn, now called Amy, which at that time was larger than Pontiac, began clerking for Mr. Haskell. Returning to Pontiac, he for some years clerked for H. O. Howard, Elisha Beach and Frank Darrow, respectively. Becoming tired of clerking for others he resolved to embark in business for himself, and opened a general store in the building , corner of Saginaw and Lawrence Streets. After a successful business career, he sold out and accepted a position in the patent office at Washington D. C., where he remained a year and a half. On returning home he took up the study of law, and in 1854 was admitted to practice at the Oakland County Bar. in which he labored up to the time of his illness. He was county clerk for several years, also justice of the peace for many years. He was the first secretary of the Oakland County Agricultural Society, to which position was elected to again and again. When Mrs. Bowman died, she had lived in Pontiac longer than any other lady then living, occupied the same house thirty-six years.They had the following children:
ii. Frank E. Bowman he was born Apr 22, 1846 in Pontiac, Mich., he died Dec 17, 1851 ar Pontiac, Michigan.
iii. Helen Jane Bowman, born Sep 8, 1842 at Pontiac, Mich., died Mar 31, 1909 in Pontiac, Mich. Married Dec 5, 1866 to Martin Beekman, he was born Apr 28, 1838 in Southfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan, died Feb 23, 1910. Mrs. Beekman died in the old house her grandfather, Orisson Allen, purchased in 1836, on South Saginaw St. opposite Auburn Ave. an who sold it to her father in 1839. Her mother was married there, her brothers and herself were born there, then also her two sons. Mrs. terbush and Mr. Beekman were married in the same room as their mother. Four generations were carried from one room to their last home, Orisson Allen, his daughter, Mrs. Bowman, granddaughters Mrs. Terbush and Mrs. Beekman, and their brother, and his two great grandsons, children of Mrs. Beekman. Although always an attendant and worker in the Baptist church, she idd not unite with it until her husband also became a communicat in 1894. Mrs. Beekman was a member of the General Richardson Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Pontiac, Her great grandfather, Joseph Todd, having served in the Revolution.They had the following Children:
a. Mart Beekman he died Nov 12, 1875, at the age of 3 years
b. Joseph Bowman Beekman born May 3, 1878, died Jul 23, 1888
iv. Junius Alexander Bowman born Jan 26, 1850 n Pontiac, Mich. died Dec 17, 1851 Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan.
4) Catherine Allen (Orisson) born Apr 14, 1823, the first white girl born in Pontaic, died Apr 5, 1909 in Pontiac, Mich. whe married Jan 13, 1859 to John H. Benson,he was born Dec 24, 1820 in Springfield, Otsego County, New York. He was one of the first photographers in Pontiac, where he continued this business until he died Jan 21, 1901. Mrs Benson was an active member of the first Methodist Episcopal Church. They had the following children:
i. Baby Benson born and died Dec 13, 1859 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan
ii. Lena Benson born Sep 8, 1862 in Pontiac, died Nov 20, 1945 at Pontiac, Mich. Married Phillips Henry Starke, born abt 1858 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, died May 3, 1896 at Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. They had no children.
Fred John Benson born in 1863, died in 1869.
5) Mary Allen born in 1825, married Sep 29, 1842 to Dighton Voorheis, he was born Jan 29, 1818 aat Ovid, Seneca County, N. Y., died Jul 25, 1901 in Romeo, Macomb County, Michigan, he is the son of Jacob Voorheis and Hannah Hathway.They had the following children:
i. Della Voorheis married Mr. Washer, resides in Detroit.
ii. Julia Voorheis died Oct 15, 1882, at the age of 25 years, she was buried on the Beekman Lot.
6) George Allen born abt. 1828 in Pontiac, Mich. married Roslyn Dunning.They had the following children:
i. a daughter that married Mr. Beaufait, residing in Los Angeles.
Etta Allen married M. Mosier, residing in Rochester, N. Y.