After Michigan became a state in 1837, and before the railroads snaked their way across the state, a project called, the Clinton Canal Project was devised. The project was to connect Lake St. Clair to Lake Michigan, by way of a small canal. The route that was chosen, ran across the middle of the state, it was a way to connect many communities together. The only portion of the project being completed, ran from Mount Clemens, in Macomb County, to Rochester, in Oakland County. Two things led to the end of the project, one being the financial panic of 1837, and the other was the railroad. To help finance the project, bank notes were issued in the amounts of 2 , 3 , 5 and 10 dollar. The notes were issued by the Clinton Canal Bank, which had a bank in Pontiac, Michigan. The financial panic of 1937 did not fully stop the project at that time, however it was causing financial problems for the project. Construction began in 1838, soon the money backing the project disappeared, and after only 13 miles of canal was dug , the project came to an end. Parts of the canal had been dug to shallow and other parts to narrow for larger barges to navigate. Along the completed route that had been some locks constructed. Amos Brown, of Rochester, constructed a log flat boat and he and some friends, decided to take a ride down the canal. The first lock the came to was to narrow for the makeshift boat to pass through. The finished part of the canal had been put to some use, but a profit was never really made, around 1848 people stopped using the canal. When the project stopped, some of the workers, that were not paid, destroyed parts of the canal and stole some of the construction supplies, for at least one individual spent time in the state prison. Today parts of the canal can be seen in Bloomer Park and Yates Park.

The division of Oakland County bearing the above name was until 1835 a part of the original town of Oakland, established June 28, 1820. At page 1420, third volume of the “Laws of Michigan Territory”, appears the following:
” An act to organize the Township of Avon, in the County of Oakland.” “Section 1. Be it enacted by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan, that all of the part of the County of Oakland comprised in surveyed Township 3 N., Range 11 E, be a township by the name of Avon, and the first township meeting be held at the place to which the township meeting for the township of Oakland stands adjourned.
Section 2 that the Township meeting for the Township of Oakland shall be held at the new dwelling house of William Snell, and said Township, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.
Section 3. That this act shall take effect and be in force on and after the first Monday of April next.”
” Approved March 30, 1835.”
in this township the first settlement in a county was made, and the reason is unexplained by the name of Oakland was not retained here, where it properly belonged.
the surface of Avon is generally undulating, and along the streams rises to elevations worthy to be designated as Hills. Notably is this the case in the vicinity of Rochester, and in the northeastern portion of the township, along with Paint and Stony creek’s. But a very small area of marshy or uncultivable land is found, and although an earlier years much of the land in the Township was considered too poor for cultivate, a full system of farming and a judicious use of fertilizers have improved it that the bountiful returns amply repaid the agriculturalists for his outlay of labor and capital. Wheat is especially a good crop, both of various other grains, as well as a different fruits, yield abundantly.

the Township is well watered by the Clinton River, Paint, Stony, Sargent’s, Galloway’s, and other creeks, and numerous smaller tributaries. The larger streams or forward considerable power, which was utilized by the first settlers, and has been made to turn a number of mill wheels since. Clinton River has had no less than six dams built across it within the boundaries of the Township, and the Paint and Stony creeks have also performed their share in furnishing motive power for numerous mills and manufactories. The latter stream, though small, is a very rapid and constant, and several dams breasts its waters within the distance of a mile and a half.

the southern portion of the township is more generally level, and was originally white heavily timbered. A comparatively large area of timber is yet standing, and many trees from two to four feet through are seen. The varieties are elm, white oak, basswood, sycamore, ash, maple, and other indigenous to the soil of this region. Wherever there is an extensive tract of timber the growth is luxuriant, and in these days of exemption from forest fires, the underbrush is usually thick and heavy.

the Township contains the small village of Stony Creek and the Incorporated village of Rochester, and head of population in 1874 of 1856.

to Detroit and Bay City railway crosses the northeast part, passing through the village of Rochester, and having within the township limits a length of about 5 miles. The first passenger train over this world arrived in Rochester sometime in October 1872. The survey of the Michigan Air-Line Railway also passes across the township, following the Valley of the Clinton River. Nothing further has been done on this line than surveying it.

The first permanent settlement within the limits of Oakland County was made in the Township in 1817, and here cluster many of the associations of pioneer life of that day.
the first white persons to settle any Avon Township, or in Oakland County, where James Graham and his son Alexander, and Christopher Hartsough, who on 17 March, 1817, St. Patrick’s Day, arrived on the site of the present village of Rochester, and located on the bank of Paint Creek. James Graham soon after removed to section 21, and squatted on a farm afterwards, the spring of 1819, occupied by Doctor William Thompson. In early life old Mr. Graham resided near Tioga Point, on the Chemung branch of the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania. He afterwards removed to Oxford, and Upper Canada, in 1816 emigrated to Macomb County, Michigan, where he settled at Mount Clemens, and stayed there until his final settlement in Avon.

the first entry land in the Township and County was made by John Hershey, on the twenty-ninth day of October, 1818, including the southeast quarter of section 10, now within the corporate limits of the village of Rochester, the price being paid two dollars per acre. Mr. Hersey also nominally entered the Southwest quarter of the same section, but received no title for it, in the fall of 1819, it was taken by Messrs. William Russell and Benjamin Woodworth, the latter the proprietor of the old “Steamboat hotel” at Detroit. Russell was the only one of these two men who settled here. The latter parties also made the first entry in the present Township of Oakland, in March 1819.

in 1819 the following persons entered land and what is now Avon Township, viz: A. E. Wing, . T. C. Sheldon, Solomon Sibley, James Abbott, Daniel Leroy, Alexander Graham, William Williams, J. Baldwin, D. Bronson, J. Myers, Ira Roberts, Nathaniel Baldwin, George Postal, Doctor William Thompson, John Miller, and Isaac Willets. In 1821 land was entered by Cyrus A. Chipman and Frederick A. Sprague; in 1822, by Chaplin Green, Gad Norton, William Burbank, and Smith Weeks.

At the opening of the land offices in Michigan the public lands were offered at auction. Such as regards sold were subject to sale to individuals at two dollars an acre, one fourth to be paid down, the remainder in one, two, and three years, with interest. All the lands which were entered to the third day of July, 1820, he purchased under this act.

On the twenty-third day of April, 1820, Congress passed an act authorizing the sale of public lands at one dollar and a quarter and acre, payments in full at the time of purchase.

The passage of the act establishing the price of public lands at one dollar and a quarter and acre was followed by a large immigration into Michigan, and the fact that after settlers had paid their money they were in no danger of losing their property from inability to pay balance caused a widespread feeling of early. They became owners at once of homesteads, and a vote times by be so hard that it was difficult to secure a good living, yet the conviction that they possessed homes led the pioneers of the land to plod on perseveringly in the wilderness, and he succeeded in erecting a proud inheritance for their children, and most of them past the latter part of their lives in comparative ease after years of toil and Privation.

In old settler gives the following list of persons living in Avon township in 1821, according to his recollection: Hon. Daniel Leroy, Francis Leroy, Robert Leroy, Hon. Daniel Bronson, William Bronson, Hon. Mr. Davis, William Woos (blacksmith), John Hersey, James A. Hersey, George Hersey, Obadiah Murray, John Sargent, Dr. William Thompson, Capt. John Miller, George Postal Sr., George Postal jr., Elisha Postal, Mr Secord, Ebenezer McCoy, James graham, Alexander Graham, Benjamin Graham, John Wilson Sr., John Wilson Jr., Stephen Wilson, William Russell, Nathan Fowler Sr., Nathan Fowler jr., Daniel Fowler, Samuel Fowler, Thomas Sturgess, Benjamin Sturgess, Moses Olmstead, Salmon Olmstead, James Ellison, Gideon Ellison, Jonathan Perrin, David Perrin, Samuel Beeman, Ira Roberts, Hon. Roger Sprague, Walter Sprague, Frederick A. Sprague, Roger Sprague Jr., Asahel Sprague, George W. Sprague, Thomas Sprague, Cyrus Chipman, Samuel F. Chipman, John M. Chipman, M. D. , Cyrus A. Chipman Daniel C. Chipman, Linus Cone.

of the many are now deceased, others have moved to different localities, and but a comparatively small number are left in the Township to tell the speaker after historical lore details of other days.

George Postal Sr. came from Canandaigua, Ontario County, New York, settling with his wife and seven children, four sons and three daughters, in section 20 1818. One son was born after the settlement, and of the eight children but for are living, three in Oakland County, George and two sisters, and one son in Macomb County. Mr. Postal entered 160 acres of land, for which he paid at the rate of two dollars per acre. He died on the old place at the age of seventy-two years.

When he came into Oakland County they passed up the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair to the mouth of the Clinton River, ends up that stream to my Clemens, Macomb County, then across the country to Utica, and finally to the new home in Avon. The trip was made in this manner, as there were no roads running any distance out of Detroit at that time. On arriving at the spot destine to his future abiding place, Mr Postal built a log house, 18 x 24’ and dimensions, forward with split Basswood logs. It was quite a respectable house for the time, although, which was made of white elm bark, soon began to give evidence that it could not withstand beating of the rain, and the consequence was, article in the house could be kept dryer in a storm then they would have been exposed completely.

About 1825, Mr. Postal erected a sawmill on his place, the power were being furnished by the Clinton River, and a number of years afterwards a son, Charles Postal, built a Gristmill nearby.

George Postal Jr., now residing on section 29, is the earliest settler at present living in the township. Although but a lad with his parents moved to the town, he is now a man well advanced in years, having reached the age of seventy-one, born February 2, 1806, and is past nearly 60 years of his life in a neighborhood where he lives. He is occupied his present farm since about 1828, and witnessed since his settlement here the wonderful transformation which has been made in the aspect of the country. His first wife was a sister to James A. Weeks, Present Secretary of Oakland County Pioneer Association. George Postal Sr., was a carpenter by trade, and is said to have built the first frame dwelling in a County, at Pontiac. Doctor William Thompson locating Avon in the spring of 1819, then made some improvements on the farm now owned by P. Lomason, section 8, but finally settled on section 21, where James Graham had squatted, in 1817. Sometime afterwards sold his property to Levi Leroy. Daniel Leory had settled in the spring of 1819, but Levi did not arrive until considerably later. In 1820, Doctor Thompson built the first frame barn in the township. Another frame barn was in the southwest part of town, but sometime later, it was struck by lightning and partially destroyed. The place it was on was at the time occupied by one Doctor Bradley, teacher in the early schools.

The vicinity of Auburn, Cayuga County, New York, furnished a large number of people who settled in Oakland County, many of them locating in the township of Troy. Aaron Webster, senior, from Aurelius, near Auburn, settled in Troy in 1820, on section 6. He was accompanied by his wife and seven children, four sons and three daughters. They lived in Troy about two years, then removed to Auburn, Pontiac Township, where in 1823, he built a sawmill, and was preparing also to build a Gristmill, but died in August of that year, before completing the latter.

Aaron Webster Junior, purchased the place where he now resides, on section 35, Avon, about 1839. About 1842, he built a blacksmith shop on the northwest corner of this section, where the stone shop now stands. It was the first one at that place, and was largely patronized.

the following extract from a letter written by William Bronson, from California, March 11, 1875, to Doctor F. M. Wilcox, of Rochester, will prove interesting as Mr. B. He lived over half a century in Avon :

“I was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, November 23, 1793. My father Daniel Bronson, moved to Genesee County and settled in East Bloomfield February 15, 1794, and moved from thence, in 1818, to Michigan, by sleighing, and locating in Avon , Oakland County, before the County was organized, on section 24, Township three north, range eleven east, where he lived and died. I lived in Michigan fifty-five years. I crossed the plains and Rocky Mountains in 1853, and five months, with my son , Marion; returned in 1854, water, in twenty-three days, to New York; went to California, by rail, in 1873, in seven days, having been absent twenty years and twenty days. Three of my boys are in California, one in Oregon. ”

Mr. Branson’s last journey to California was made when he was eighty years of age, and was quite beneficial and partially restoring him to health, he having been afflicted for some time.

the following article, from the pen of Cyrus A. Chipman, is given as it was published in Rochester in 1876, and is a truthful and vivid description of the trials and incidents attendant upon the life of the early pioneers. It will refresh the memory of the gray-haired men who experience them, and illustrate accurately to the younger people the hardship of their sires and grandsires found it necessary to brave in order to erect homes for themselves and their families in the howling wilderness.

” in 1821 a company of six or seven of us left Ontario County, New York, for Michigan, to look at the country, with a view of finding a new home for the families belonging to several of the parties.”
” Black Rock we ship the board of the old ’Walk in the Water,’ the first steamboat ever built on Lake Erie, commanded by Captain Sherman, and which was wrecked in November of the same year. The party consisted of the following named persons: Roger Sprague Sr., Dr. Cyrus Chipman, Gideon Gates, Asahel Bailey, Alanson Weston, Richmond Pitts, Walter Sprague, and Cyrus A. Chipman. On reaching Lower Sandusky we were joined by my brother-in-law, Jaques Hulburd. There we procured horses for two of the oldest men of the party, and most of the company preceded by boat to Detroit. Mr. Hulburt, Mr. Pitts, and myself took the horses and came by land through the Black swamp by a rather blind bridle path, the horses being obliged to jump logs sometimes half as high as their backs.”

” we reached Fort Meigs, on the Maumee River, about dark, and stayed overnight at a small settlement at the foot of the rapids of the river, and in two days more reached Detroit, and found the rest of our company all safe and in good spirits. Here we were joined by others, which made up a company of eleven, a man by the name of Hill, and one by the name of Le Verity, a Frenchman, and we engaged as a guide and a cook.”

“At Detroit we laid in the stock of provisions, and hired a man and his team to take us to the Flint River where the city of Flint now stands. Only one wagon had been through before. The Campaus of Detroit had built a trading house there for the purpose of traffic with the Indians. We stayed in Pontiac the first night from Detroit, and reach Flint on the third day out. For about two weeks, up to this time the weather had been dry and pleasant, but the rain now set in, and we have a very wet time. We went a little way up the river, and fell a large pine tree, and dug out a new large enough to carry four men and our provision chest, which was started down the river for Saginaw, with directions to the men to stop at Reaum village, in Indian settlement, about 16 miles by land from our camp on the river, and wait for us until we came up with them. We started the next morning, expecting to reach their by noon, but it rained hard all night, and some of the small creeks were so much swollen that we had to swim are horses over, and fell some trees to cross on ourselves, which sold the latest that we did not reach the place until night, but our great disappointment the men with the canoes and provisions had passed on without waiting for us. Here we were, in a fix; we had eaten our breakfast of Flint, and had no dinner, and with a certainty we should nothing until we reached Saginaw the next night. We were obliged to stay with the Indians that night. They were very kind and friendly, and cleaned out an old wigwam, and lay down some fresh bark for a floor, and roasted and pounded some corn, and seasoned it with bear grease. Little of it did we eat. We fought the musical mosquito all-night, and the next morning we bought of the Indians one canoe and hired another, which were sufficient to carry the whole party. We proceeded down the river, sometimes browsing on the tender twigs of the basswood which hung over the stream.”

“about 4:00 PM we came to Saginaw, glad to find the men with the provisions all safe. We had been about thirty-six hours without food; our dinner relished well.”
” one night while encamped at Flint a rattlesnake its way into our tent, which soon made a scattering among the inmates. His ship soon dispatched and cosigned to the flames.”
” we examine the country about the Saginaw River, and concluded it was too low and wet for farming purposes, and probably would be sickly, which proved to be the case. When the government undertook to establish a garrison there they were obliged to withdraw it on that account.”
’’ Our French cook and guide was not of much service to use as a cook. He would often scratch his head with a knife he was eating with. We thought this would hardly do for Yankees, and one of the party was substituted in his place.”
” While at Saginaw it rained almost constantly, until it produced quite a flood. Large trees were often floating down the river, which was torn by the waters above. Above the mouth of the Titabawassee the Prairie on both sides of the river presented the appearance of a large lake. The wild rice, which sits in eight or ten feet high when we went down, and now disappeared.”

” We now concluded to return to Detroit. Campau, when he trading house also has Saginaw, at a large quantity of Indian sugar which he wished to send to Detroit, so a part of the company, with our French guide, loaded a barge with the sugar and went by the way of Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron. Three of us took the canoe we had hired at the Indian village, and an Indian for a guide, and started into the mouth of the small Creek; following at a little way, we struck off by marked trees, the water standing up as high as the marks on the trees. Thus we went 9 miles to heavy timbered land, and struck the Flint by a much shorter route than following of the river. We made land about 40 rods from the river, and had to draw her canoe over and launch it again in the stream. We had hung our Portmanteau containing our provisions on a whole of an Indian wigwam while we were hauling over the land; when we came to examine it we found the Indians had stolen all of our provisions. We had eaten nothing since morning, and might not get anything to eat until the next afternoon. We rode up the river until we found an open spot on the banks, where we pitched our tents for the night.”

“We had encountered a heavy thunder shower coming through the woods. We were asked thoroughly drenched as though we had been in the river; our blankets as wet as we were.”
”We built a large fire at the mouth of a tent to keep the mosquitoes out, and laid down in our wet clothes and wet blankets, none the better for it the next morning. We found are horses at Reaum village, where we left thumb on our way down. We reached Campau’s trading house on the Flint sometime in the afternoon, having again gone nearly 36 hours without food. In today’s more we reach Detroit. The balance of our company not having yet arrived, we took a trip West as far as the river Huron, where now stands the city of the Ypsilanti. At that time there was but one house west of Dearborn. We returned to the city the next day, and glad to find the balance of the company all safe. We then took a trip north by the way of Mount Clemens, and followed up the Clinton to Utica. There was then living near where the village now stands a family by the name of Huntley, another by the name of Scott, and another by the name of Squires, whose son is now living just below the town. A few miles north, we came to Job Hoxey, who was somewhat notorious in a time of Jefferson’s embargo in running a boat called the “Black Snake’ to escape the revenue officers. He was a squatter on Uncle Sammy’s land, and made a small opening, and was raising some vegetables. The land was bought from under him soon after by Mr. George Wilson, who lived on it until a few months since, when he deceased. We went as far north as Romeo. I like the land west of what is now the main street of the village, but my father thought there was too little timber, and we returned to Detroit without selecting any land. On his return to Detroit my father passed through here and was quite pleased with the land, but we made no purchase then.”

“We returned to New York, and about the last of August my father with his family of eleven children left are native home for Michigan, arriving in Detroit the first week in September I came with my father out here to see the land, and on our return to Detroit purchased the Southwest quarter of section 26, town 3 N., Range 11 E., I which I had lived ever since. There were then were Rochester now is to have, besides a vacant one into which we move in a few days. There were two boys of us able to do man’s work, and some smaller ones could help some, a hired man, who came through Canada with several cows, one of which, after being landed on the Canadian shore, was not pleased with his Majesty’s dominions, walked a distance up the river at Lewiston, plunged into the stream, and swam safely across to the United States again. The boat returned and brought her back again, with the assurance she should see the United States once more. The cows were wintered well on basswood browse and a little corn. The man was Mr. Champlin Green, now living in Farmington, in this County, a genial companion, who did much to and live in the dull hours of the first year in Michigan. We immediately built a shanty on our new place, and soon had logs cut for a house. We would take our provisions from Rochester sufficient for a few days, and sleep in our shanty at night. Moonlight evenings we are go out and fell large trees for the fun of the great noise they would make in the still of the night. By the next summer we had nearly 30 acres cleared ready for summer crops and wheat in the fall from that we raise provisions enough for her own use.”

”At a meeting of pioneers of Oakland County a short time since, one gentleman stated that he came to this County in 1830, and that there were then but three houses in Pontiac. Either he or the printer was at fault, for there were as many as three houses there in 1821, and in 1830 it was quite a flourishing village; being a County seat, it could not have stood still for nine years. It is now a respectable city. At the time of my coming here the following persons were living in this town, viz. Dr. William Thompson, Daniel Leroy, Judge Bronson, William Bronson, John Hersey, Nathan Perrin, Samuel beeman, Nathan Fowler, Samuel Fowler, Thomas Sturges, George Postal, Roger Sprague, and Solomon Olmstead. Mr. William Bronson, son of Judge Bronson, Daniel Fowler, and George Postal are still living in this town. Gideon Gates and Asahel Bailey late in the same autumn settled at Romeo. Mr. Hill, of our party that went to Saginaw, and myself are the only surviving members of the company. ”

” there were in the County at this time of those I can now remember, besides those mentioned above, Aaron and Joel Wellman ,and their father, Erastus Ferguson, Diodate Hubbard, Ezra Baldwin, Dr. and Tilea, and Elias Swan, Amaza Bagley, William Morris, Judah Church, Dr. Olmstead Chamberlain, Orson Allen, Colonel Hotchkiss, Oliver Williams, Alpheus Williams, and Archibald Phillips, and it may be several other individuals I do not now remember.”

“Cyrus Chipman, M.D., was a second position in Avon Township, a practitioner under the old allopathic school of medicine. He was nearly 60 years of age when he settled here, and only practiced from necessity. Thaddeus Thompson, M.D., a brother of Doctor William Thompson, settled not long afterwards in Troy Township, and Doctor Chipman resigned his practice to him.”

” the Chipman family, at the time of the settlement in Avon, consisted of the Doctor and his wife and ten children, six sons and four daughters, while two other children stayed in New York. Doctor Chipman died in 1840, four years after the death of his wife.”

”Cyrus A. Chipman was married in 1828, to Mary Lawson, a resident of Macomb County, Michigan, where she located with her parents in 1827. She was a native of the state of New Jersey. Her death occurred in March 1876 ”

Hon. Roger Sprague was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1769, and in 1791, when twenty-two years of age, walked to the Genesee country, New York, carrying his necessary provisions, clothing, etc., on his back, and settled in the town of East Bloomfield, Ontario County, becoming one of the first settlers in that region. He was married in the town is he settled in, and became the father of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, all born in New York. He was sheriff of Ontario County seven years at an early period, nearly the whole Western New York being included in his field of operations. The auction sale of land in the Holland purchase was held at his house, and Aaron Burr came all the way from New York City on horseback to bid them in. Sprague made out to deeds to purchasers, and after his settlement in Michigan frequent application was made to him for testimony regarding the sale and the parties who purchased.

Mr. Sprague was a member of the legislature of the state of New York at the time of the passage of the bill authorizing the construction of the Erie Canal, probably in 1816 –17, as the canal was begun in 1817 and finished in 1825. In 1820 he visited Michigan, looking for land, and finally purchased on sections 26 and twenty-seven, and what is now Avon Township, Oakland County. In August 1821, he moved his family and located with them on section 27. A small shanty was first directed, in which they lived until the fall of the same year, when a log house 20 feet x 20 feet was built, and occupied by them Of Mr. Sprague’s children but three sons are now living. He passed from life in July 1848, sincerely mourned by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. His wife died on the old place, and Avon, in 1827, and was buried in the garden, being the first of about twenty persons interred there.

Mr. Sprague was a member of the first legislative Council of the territory of Michigan, in 1823, and was elected to the Council several times afterwards while a resident of Ontario County, New York, he was elected judge to the County courts, and his memory is preserved to those who knew him by his title of “judge”. His son, Roger Sprague jr., located on the place where he is now living, section 23, Avon, about 1830, and made the first improvements upon it. In other son, Thomas, has been a resident of California for thirty years, and the other son now living, Asahel Sprague, reside in Avon Township. Judge Sprague’s old place is now occupied by his grandson, Edward N. Sprague, son of R. Sprague jr.

Linus Cone, who settled in this County in 1821, emigrated with his parents from Durham, Connecticut, at an early date, and settled in Bloomfield, New York, Ontario County. He was one of six children who accompanied his parents to New York at that time. When was seventeen years of age, Mr. Cone started with ten dollars in his pocket, on foot and alone, for the great west. He stopped one year at Port Stanley, and six months at St. Thomas, in Canada; and in November 1821, started with a stout heart any fortune of eight dollars for Michigan, arriving in Troy Township, Oakland County, the last day of that month. He first settled land in that town, and after a year or two traded it for a place in Avon where his son, Frederick Cone now lives. Mr. Cone was one of the most successful farmers in Michigan, and his experience was remarkable, inasmuch as he cut the first timber and made the first improvements on his farm, and lived long enough upon it to see it made the best regulated and finest improved farm anywhere in his locality. His articles published in the columns of the old Michigan Farmer, and subsequently in the Genesee Farmer, also in the early numbers of the Rural New Yorker, the standard authority on the subjects they treated regard agricultural matters.

among the early pioneers of Avon, the name of Colonel John Frank must not be overlooked. He emigrated from the state of Vermont in April 1823, and purchase government land in this Township. In December of the same year he was married to Arabella Chipman, daughter of Doctor Cyrus Chipman, and became the father of eleven children. His wife died in 1847 and on 1 March, 1849, he was married to Adelaide Kettle, of Troy Township. Of those who were in his townsmen and neighbors when he first came here, but few are now living.

The following article was written by Christian Z. Horton, and old settler of Avon, in 1874, and is preserved in the records of the Oakland County Pioneer Association: “it having been suggested that history of the pioneers of Michigan would be interesting the many of the citizens of Oakland County, I thought I would give a history of events of the emigrated of my father stamp to this county, in the year 1825, as my father was the principal actor in bringing the number of persons comprising the company to this territory. The company consisted of the following heads of families namely: George Horton, the father of the principal actor, wife, and daughter; Cornelius Decker, wife and four children; a brother-in-law, Robert Crawford, wife, and five children, among which was the now Reverend Riley C. Crawford, Chaplain of the state prison at Jackson; Benjamin Horton, wife, and six children; together with two hired men, named respectively Calvin Chapel and Truman Burgess. There were also three Teamster’s employee, who returned, named Squire Johnson, Isaac Van sickles, his son James, and one Benjamin Doan, who remained some three or four months and returned. The company consisted of thirty persons, with four wagons, 8 o’clock son, the relationship four wagons and eight yolk of oxen, one yolk of steers, eight cows, four head of young cattle, one horse, fourteen sheep, and eight swine. “We left the South Yarmouth, Elgin County, Ontario, on 25 February, 1825. On the first day we arrived beyond what was called the ‘Five Stakes’ in Westminster, at one Lyon’s, a log inn. There are an incident occurred, which was this: as we approached near the inn a horn was blown with much vigor; it was for Mr. Lyon, who was engaged in his Sugarbush, to return to his house, not because the company coming, but upon the account of his higher girl, although unmarried, was about to become a mother, all of which quite satisfactory. On the twenty-six, after proceeding a mile or two further, traded dogs! At night we arrived at Brigham’s on the Thames, at Delaware, and he immediately commenced the river. Our company here divided for the evenings accommodations to one Allen’s opposite. On the twenty-seventh several teams that assisted returned. An incident occurred with one of the swine, which, after being ferried across the river, determined not to proceed farther, and rushed into the river and swam nearly across; was driven back, and Burgess, endeavoring to catch them to prevent another rushed,.dat and the rest, when some of the management The head and settled him. His remains were left to enrich the Dominion. We proceeded on and after passing the burial grounds of the Moravian Indians arrived at Ward’s.”

"During the night it rained some: misty and quite mild. The 28th, proceeded to 'Alhoe's,' seven miles in the long woods. Mar 1, proceeded on our weary journey some nineteen miles to a French Inn, 'Shepard’s, ‘near Chatham, on the opposite side of the river. On the morning of the 2nd there were some two or three inches of snow. We Proceeded, and arrivedat 'Wilcox's' at the mouth of the Thames, having concluded the forty miles travel through the long woods this day, although fain we were out of sight of timber. Remained over the 3rd, it being the Sabbath. On the morning of the 4th we resumed our journey along the shore of Lake St. Clair. The lake was very low, in places, being nearly a mile to the water. A countless number of wild geese could be seen flying, and swimming in the lake, and also ducks were numerous. We drove most of the way on the beach, for the reason the road was rutted by the vehicles of the Fremch, not being as wide as ours, and they using one beast, and, if more, it was attached in front, never by the side. Here it made hard work for our teams, making ninety-five miles. Arrived at Levallus Inn, nine miles from Windsor. On the 5th arrived at Windsor, and immediately commenced crossing Detroit River. The river was low that for several rods the sows had to be drawn by teams, and wagons driven into the river to receive the goods. In unloading and loading and pushing off the scows. Here father lost a silver watch worth then thirty dollars, supposed to have drawn from his pocket in assisting loading. We finished crossing on the 6th, and our goods were seized by the Hon. Warren Wing, assistant custom house officer of Detroit, which cost us, I think, thirty dollars to be sent on our way rejoicing towards our new home in Michigan. Besides, my youngest brother, Hugh A., a babe of one and a half years, being quite sick, we put up at one Holly Hotel. It stood between Woodbridge Street and the river, east side Woodward Ave, a frame building. The proprietor was a brother-in-law of the late Charles C. Hascall, of Flint. The weather was fair and quite warm during our crossing the river. In crossing, Squire Johnson caught me after we passed the dentre of the river and ducked my head in the water, he said to baptize me and make me an American citizen of me. On the 7th we proceeded on our first travel in Michigan. The rain, which had come out of the ground in many places, especially in low, swampy ground, and streams were overflown with water. Our wagons would at times sink to the hubs. Some five miles out of Detroit we passed old Mother Handsome's known by most of the immigrants coming in northern Michigan. After leaving Mother Handsome's a short distance our road meandered west of the turnpike or gravel road, and in the travel we passed the residence of one Flinn, an old acquaintance of father's; thence to Royal Oak, when it commenced to rain. We continued on, and arrived at David Crawford's residence, corner of west half south west quarter section 33. Here was the destination of Robert Crawford, who settled on the north half of said quarter section, beside his father. On the 8th we left Mr. Crawford's and proceeded, passing the residence of Josiah Alger, south west quarter section 32, and one Park’s, son-in-law of Alger, northeast quarter section 32, Ira Thomas, on the southeast quarter section 20, Jones, northeast quarter section 21, Murray on the southwest quarter of section 9, and Silas Sprague on the southwest quarter section 4. These are all the residences I remember. Passing through the town of Troy, on the southwest quarter of section 33, in Avon, Walter Sprague and Linus Cone's residences were passed; then we meandered through this section 33, passing the residence of Henry Vannatter, crossing the north line near the present residence of Albert Terry. Nathan Fowler's residence and blacksmith shop were to the left, on the southeast quarter of section 28, near to Terry's."

"Our road continued to cross the east line of section 28 and west line of 27, some sixty rods north of the section corner opposite the dwelling of one Secord. We continued to William Burbank's residence, about one hundred rods east of the northwest corner of section 27, our place of destination. Mr. Burbank, having heard of our coming, met us near the residence of Mr. Secord. On Monday, the 10th, Johnson Vansickles and son started on their return home. Grandfather and Uncle Decker and their fammilies settled on the southeast quarter of section 21, and my father, Benjamin Horton, on the southeast quarter section 22, on the 12th day of March, 1825. Our immediate neighbors were as follows: On southwest quarter section 23, Nathaniel Baldwin; northwest quarter section 23, Ira Roberts; east half northeast quarter section 27, Roger Sprague, Sr., southwest quarter section 26, Cyrus Chipman, M.D.; southeast quarter section 27, Jonathan Perrin; northwest quarter section 35, Morris M. Anderson and Champlin Green; southwest quarter section 35, James Green; northeast quarter section 34, Samuel Beeman; Southeast quarter section 26, John Frank; southwest quarter section28 James Graham; northwest quarter section 28, John Wilson; northwest quarter section 22, Stephen Shippy; southwest quarter section 15, Alexander Graham; on section 13, John Sheldon; east half northwest quarter section 15, John Hersey; southeast quarter section 10, with his family of several children; and several others, whose names I have forgotten. Among them was a Mr. Wood, a blacksmith, who was also a bell maker. He made a bell, and bet ten dollars it could be heard all the way to Pontiac. The bet was taken. He borrowed a pony, tied the bell to the pony's neck, and got a man to go with him, and went to Pontiac, and returned and claimed the bet."

"Mr. Hersey erected in his saw mill a run of stone for grinding grain, and bolted the same by hand, and also a mill for swinging flax, which proved a failure."
"On the west half, southwest quarter section 9, John Sargent resided; on northeast quarter section 15, Gad Norton, Esp., owned and ran a saw mill; and on the northwest quarter of section 14, Colonel Stephen Mack owned a grist mill, a man by the name of Ruby having charge of the same. There were many transient persons at work around, whose names I have forgotten. In Stony Creek and vicinity were Lemuel Taylor, Joshua B. Taylor, Elisha Taylor, and their father, also Nathaniel Millerd, Levi W. Cole William Price, Eleazar Millerd, one Comstock, who kept a small store, Craig Parmenter, bellows and Thorpe, and many others whose names I have forgotten."

The settlers for a number of years after the first arrivals, were subjected so trials innumerable, the roads not yet being in good condition, and accommodations for man and beast extremely meagre. Illustrative of the time fourteen years after the first settlement was made in the county, we give the following.

I was born A. D. 1799, in the township and county of Tioga, in the state of New York. I lived there until March 1823, when, with my family, I moved to Monroe County, western New York. I lived there eight years, when, in company with my late brother David, I emigrated to Michigan. We started from Brockport, on the Erie canal, On Thursday, the 12th day of May, 1831, and arrived in Buffalo on the Saturday following. We stayed there until Monday morning, when we shipped on board the steamer 'William Penn.' After a very rough voyage we arrived at Detroit on the 20th, at about four o'clock p.m. We put up at the "old Yankee Boarding House.' After getting my family stowed away, i went down to the dock to see to my 'old traps.' This done, I came to the tavern about twelve midnight. I had some trouble to find my family, but after a while found one of my children in a 'field bed' on the floor. I asked where the rest of them were, and they told me they did not know, but they were somewhere. As I did not wish to disturb them further, I camped sown on the floor, with my clothes on, and lay quite until morning. There was then a general rush. The house was jammed full of emigrants, and such snarling among children I never heard before. After breakfast I put out to find a yoke of oxen. I soon found some for sixty-five dollars. Went to a shop, and bought a yoke for them, and driving down to the dock, hitched them to my wagon; put on a few things, drove up to the tavern, put my family on board, and started out fof Oakland."

"The mud was hub deep, and I had to walk by my oxen's heads, for as I did not know what caper they might cut up. We came to what is now called 'Four Mile House' the first night. Just before reaching this place we had to drive over a large whitewood tree that had fallen across the road. I knew that my oxen could not jump over the log while they were hitched to the wagon, so, driving as near as I could, I unhitched them and made them jump over; then hitching the chain to the end of the tongue of the wagon, soon pulled it over. We stayed here all night, and but little sleep did we get, for the mosquitoes were determined to have one fill. The next morning the landlord came to my room and told me that there was a man who wished to see me; I hurried out, and behold it was Linus Cone. He came there some time in the night, on his way to Detroit. The landlord told him there was an immigrant there who was moving to Rochester. He wished to bring back a load of goods, and wanted fifty cents per hundred. I thought this a big price, he said I would not think so by the time I got there. I gave him an order for my goods, and made up my mind it was cheap enough. We started for his place soon after breakfast, with two or three other teams in company, for Royal Oak. At noon we arrived at a place then called 'Mother Handsome's;' took dinner there, but had nothing for my oxen. I told the old lady that we were not very hungry, but wanted a good cup of tea. She said 'By God!, you shall have it!' We got it, and so strong I did not know whether it was herb tea or what. After dinner we started from there, and farther on came to Chase's Corners, on the Crooks road, where, seeing a good bite of grass in Mr Chase's garden. he let me turn my oxen in to bait. They ate up what there was in a hurry. I bought a bushel of potatoes, and started on. Our next stopping place was at Mrs. Guy Phelps, in Troy. It being Saturday night we stayed there until Monday morning, when we took an early start for our home. Got as far as Benjamin Horton's ny noon, we ehere took dinner, after which we resumed our journey and arrived at our present home, on the northeast quarter of section 23, the township of Oakland, now Avon, on the 23rd day of May. Nothing more occurred suring the summer worthy of note until the 12th of September."

Born and county was James Graham, a son of Alexander Graham, his birth occurring early in the year 1818. Abraham Hill, now residing at Stony Creek, was born Jan 14, 1819, and George W. Hersey in the succeeding March. Mr. Hill is the only one of three now living.

The first person married who is a resident of Avon Township, was John Sergeant, who lived west of Rochester. The date of this marriage of we are unable to give. Mr. Sargent’s choice was a young lady named Sweet, probably Amy Sweet, a resident of Shelby, Macomb County. The ceremony was performed and the letter Township, by Squire Scott who was appointed justice of the peace under the territorial governor. This is the first time he had been called upon to perform the marriage rite, and was consequently and occasion of considerable importance. The Squire had committed the marriage service to memory, so as to be ready in case of an emergency, but when the time arrived for him to tie the knot his memory failed him, and he was obliged to return to his home for the necessary document before he could proceed with the ceremony. Once back, with the book before him, all was right, and happy couple were soon united, and, when on their way rejoicing.

Indians of Avon and the surrounding county is replete with many items of interest, yet the subject has been to generally treated upon to admit of much space here. When the Township was first settled yet parents of the surface of the ground with such as they indicate that had at some distant day then tilled and made to produce crops of some kind, most probably Indian corn or maize. Ridges some of the rows of corn hills were found wanting in a direction is a west of north and east of south, and being about four feet apart each way. Besides this, all the stones have been piled up, with the exception of a few scattering ones which are deeply embedded into the earth.
near the dwelling of Edwin T. Wilcox, some 2 miles south of Rochester, on the Paint creek road, there were deep indentations in the ground, from 10 to 12 feet across, some of them over two feet in depth. They numbered perhaps 100, and were from 4 to 6 feet apart, following the line of the rich, and were parallel, having the appearance of masses of the earth thrown up around the winter wigwams. It was afterwards discovered, I digging into them, that they contained ashes and charcoal. On the lot owned by Simeon P. Hartwell the same indications of former occupation and cultivation were observed, and on the Chipman farm was an old burial ground. It is said that the signs were never noticed north of the Clinton River.
The Indians, who always chose the best soil for raising what crops they use and the best localities for their villages and winter encampments, certainly did not choose unwisely when they located their habitation on the fertile lands of the southern part of Avon. Here were timber, water, plenty of game, and a long ere this sound of the settlers axe rang in the sea like solitude, the red race held undisturbed sway admits the handiwork of nature as here displayed.

The first meeting for the Township of Avon proper was held on the sixth day of April, 1835, at the house with the last town meeting of the town of Oakland was held. Nathaniel Millard was chosen moderator, John S. Livermore, clerk. The following Township officers were elected; supervisor, William Price; Town Clerk, Hiram Higley; assessors, Bennett Beardsley, Nathaniel Miller, Horace Foot; collector, Lyman J. Wilcox; Commissioners of Highway, Orange Foot, Elijah Hamlin, William H. Jewett; Directors of the Poor, Abner Livermore, John Bigler; Constables, Lyman J. Wilcox, Silas D. McKeen; Commissioners of Common Schools, Joshua B. Taylor, Abner Livermore, Uri Adams; Inspectors of Common Schools, John S. Livermore, Herrick Bromley, Abner Livermore, Silas D. McKeen, Martin Hayden; Overseers of Highways, district No. 1, Gad Norton; No. 2, Jonathan Perrin; No. 3, Eleazer Millerd; No. 4, John H. Axford; No. 5, Ezra Thorp; No. 6, Calvin Chapel; No. 7, Benjamin Horton; No 8, George A. Chipman; No. 9, Bennett Beardsley; No. 10, William S. Adams; No. 11, Leonard Adams; No. 12, John Bigler; No. 13, Charles Baldwin; No. 14, Milton Sargent; No. 15, William H. Jewett; No. 16, George Postal; No. 17, John H. Ackerman; No. 18, Roswell Bromley; No. 19, Philip Ernsberger; No. 20, Lewis Tibbals; No. 21, Wilder Winslow.

The supervisors of the Township, from 1836 to 1877 inclusive, have been as follows: 1836, Almon Mack; 1837, John F. Hamlin; 1838, Seneca Newberry; 1839, Amos Brown; 1840-44, Charles Baldwin; 1845-47, Norman Ransford; 1848, Charles Baldwin; 1849, Norman Ransford; 1850-52, Almeron Brotherton; 1853, Charles Baldwin; 1854, Alermon Brotherton; 1855, Charles Baldwin; 1856, Lysander Woodward; 1857, James Newverry; 1858, Charles Baldwin; 1859-60, Almeron Brotherton; 1861, Eli H. Bristol; 1862-75, Albert Terry; 1876-77, Lysander Woodward.

Township Clerks: 1836, Rollin Sprague; 1837, no choice at regular election; special meeting held Apr 15, at which Henry Miller was elected; 1838-45, Henry Miller; 1846, Hiram Higley; 1847, George W. Hersey; 1848, Henry Miller; 1849, John H. Kaple; special meeting held July 3, at which E. P. Harris was elected to fill the vacancy; 1850, Hiram C. Farrand; 1851-52, James Newberry; 1853-54, Rollin Sprague; 1855, Seneca Newberry jr.,1856, George Middaugh; 1865-66, Hiram Lambertson; 1867, F. D> Newberry; 1868-70, Hiram Lambertson; 1871-72, Joseph Reimer; 1873, Hiram Lambertson; 1874-75, Julian S. Peters; 1876-77, John J. Blinn.

Justices of the Peace: 1836, Charles Baldwin, John Bennett, Uri Adams, Cyrus A. Chipman; 1837, Orange Foot; 1838, Cyrus A. Chipman; 1839. Calvin H. Hamlin; 1840, John L. Smith; 1841, Orange Foot; 1842, Hiram Higley; 1843, Charles Baldwin; 1844, Nathaniel A. Baldwin; 1845, Almon Mack; special election held Nov 4 of this year, at which John F. Hamlin was elected to fill vacancy caused by death of N. A. Baldwin; 1846, Rollin Sprague' 1847, John Frank; 1848, Weller Warring; 1849, henry Miller; 1850, John L. Smith; special meeting held Nov 5, at which Calvin Parks was elected to fill vacancy; 1851, Charles Baldwin; 1852, Almon Mack; 1853, Lysander Woodward; 1854, Eli H. Bristol; 1855, George Middaugh, William Price;1856, Almon Mack; 1857, Hezekiah Shoot; 1858, Robert R. Harper; 1859, Wm Burbank, Joshua Van Hoosen; 1860, Henry Miller; 1861, Peter F. Le Roy; 1862, Jeremiah C. Wilson; 1863, James Newberry; 1864, Jedediah Millerd; 1865 Samuel Barnes, John Kinney; 1866, J. C. Willson; 1867, William Burbank; 1868, Johnson Matteson; 1869, Joseph Reimer; 1870, Elliott R. Wilcox; 1871, James Newberry; 1872, Isaac W. Richardson; 1873 Newland C. Jones;, 1874, Henry M. Look; 1875, James Newberry; 1876, Asa J. Bateman, Edwin O. Patch; 1877, Isaac Lomason.

The first settlers on the side of this village were Lemuel Taylor Sr., and his five sons, Lemuel jr., Elisha, Joshua B., Henry, and Daniel, the latter the youngest. Of these not one is now living; the last one to be consigned to the universal inheritance of mankind, "six feet of earth" being Henry, who became an able physician. His death occurred in the spring of 1877. Mr. Taylor's son-in-law, Nathaniel Millerd, was also one of the party, but for a year he lived in the township of Troy.

The Taylors settled here in 1823, Lemuel Taylor Sr., purchasing five lots of eighty acres each, and giving his sons, with the exception of Daniel, then very young, forty acres each. Mr. Taylor lived with his son Elisha. While a resident of the State of New York he had become a Baptist exhorter, and after removing to Michigan, exhorted about a year, and was then ordained. He was a man of weak constitution, and had become so much broken in health as to be unable to perform manual labor, and on the 7th of Aug, 1827, his long and eventful life was closed, when he had reached the age of sixty-seven years.
The land settled by the Taylors included a mill privilege, and in 1824, Mr. Millerd removed here from Troy township, purchasing an interest in the property, and he and the Taylors built a saw-mill and a grist-mill. Both were frame buildings, and the grist-mill contained originally but one run of common stone. An old fashioned tub wheel was used, and for the space of two or three years the mill had but little custom. Finally, a run of burr-stones was added, and the business increased as the country became more thickly settled

Lemuel Taylor was a chair maker and a wheelwright by trade, and very soon after his settlement he built a shop in which those articles were manufactured.
A blacksmith shop was opened in a small log building, in 1824, by Elisha Taylor and Peter Groesbeck. The latter was the blacksmith and preformed the work, while Taylor furnished the means for carrying on the business.
The first store, containing a small general stock, valued at two of three hundred dollars, was established by Judge Millerd, probably at his residence. Very soon after, in 1824-25, a larger stock was opened by Elkanah Comstock, who had erected a small building for the purpose. Millerd continued his residence as Stony Creek until his death, and was sincerely mourned by the entire community, as well as by the people of the county, who had elected him to positions of trust, and became acquainted with his many virtues, his sterling integrity, his force of character, and the many attributes which bind a man firmly to his associates and render his memory dear to them. In 1836-37 a frame building was erected, which John Bennett opened as the first hotel. It was quite an extensive establishment for those days. At present the village is without an institution of this kind.
A post office was establish as early as 1824-25, and Judge Millerd appointed the first postmaster. This was probably the second post-office in the township, the first having been established a short time previously at the house of Dr. Cyrus Chipman, on section 26, south of Rochester. Dr. Chipman was appointed postmaster, and is said to have been the first who held that position in the old township of Oakland. The office was called Oakland, and Dr. Chipman held it for twelve years.

In the spring of 1824 the Herseys, who settled ar Rochester in the fall of 1818, removed to the vicinity of Stony Creek, and some distance up the creek, John Hersey and Burton Allen built a dam and a saw mill, getting the mill in operation immediately after Millerd and Taylor mill began work. Hersey & Allen placed a run of stone three feet and nine inches in diameter in their mill, and did considerable grinding. Mr Hersey had sold his interest in the mill at Rochester to Charles Larned, of Detroit, and the latter afterwards became one of the proprietors of that village. A flax-spindle was, after two or three years, added to the establishment on Stony Creek, but was never used much, as but little flax was grown. Mr. Hersey died in March , 1855 or 56, in the eightieth year of his age.
His son, James A. Hersey, now resides in the township of Oakland.
Stony Creek village was laid out Oct 18, 1830, by Nathaniel Millerd, Elisha and Joshua B. Taylor. Mr. Millerd made an addition in 1842.

The building now occupied by this establishment was erected about 1845-47, for a grist-mill, by Judge Nathaniel Millerd, being the second one he built in the vicinity, the first at the village by Millerd and the Taylors in 1824. In 1866 Johnson Matteson purchased the property and converted it into an establishment for manufacturing woolen fabrics. He sold half interest in 1867 to a man named Beale, and the two operated it until Dec 5, of that year, when Beale sold his interest to Philander Ewell. Early in Aug. 1866, Mr Ewell also purchased Matteson's interest, and has since been proprietor. He has built up an excellent reputation and a large business, the latter entirely domestic. About sixteen thousand pounds of wool are used annually, the running time of the mill averaging about nine months in the year. The machinery used is of the best manufacture, and is as follows: one set of cards for manufacturing and two for custom work; one spinning jack, with two hundred and forty spindles; three Crompton looms, one broad and two narrow. Water is the motive power used, which furnishes a twenty feet head. A team and sale wagon are kept on the road constantly. Mr. Ewell emigrated from what is now Wyoming County, New York, in 1830, and settled in Macomb County, Michigan, where he resides until 1869, since which time he has lived at Stony Creek.

The deed for the lot on which the cemetery is located was given Mar 8, 1839, by Nathaniel Millerd and wife to Richard Lacy and others, the land to be used for burial purposes, and the consideration amounting to fifty dollars. The cemetery association was organized as a corporation on the 21st of Feb. 1861, with the following officers: President, William Bradley; Clerk, Johnson Matteson; Treasurer; Peter Thorpe Sexton, Robert Gregory. These gentlemen were also trustees.
The first person buried in this cemetery was Michael Van Wagoner Sr., who settled in 1823, and died in 1824 or 25. The remains of many of the pioneers of this region are here at last "peacefully at rest," among the Millerd’s, Millers, Taylors, and others, whose names are fresh in the memory of those now living who knew them well. Their record is universally bright, and their fame shall long live after them, a stanch monument to their worth.
The cemetery has a fine location on the hill southwest of Stony Creek, on the Rochester road, the land being part of the northeast quarter of section 11. Many neat headstones are placed here, indicating to the stranger the last resting place of those who conquered the wilderness and bought prosperity upon the land; who endured hardships unappreciable by those who have never experienced them, and after lives toil and usefulness passed peacefully to their reward.

"For no more the blazing fire shall burn, Nor busy housewife ply her evening care, No children run lisp sire’s return, Nor climb his knees the envied kiss to share."
"Oft sis the harvest to their sickle yield; Their furrow oft the stubborn glebe has broke; How jocund did they drive their teams afield! How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy stroke!"

This organization was chartered probably in 1825, and included in its membership many of the most prominent citizens of the vicinity. An octagon house he built on one of the hills at the village, and a lodge rooms were kept in it. The location was called mom Mariah. This lodge was the only one in Michigan sustained its organization and kept its lodge room open under a meeting occasions during the anti-Masonic excitement consequent to the Morgan affair. It was up by one man, who was determined that he should not lose its identity, no matter what the excitement. It was the nucleus of the present flourishing lives at Rochester, to which place it was removed.

The Stony Creek Baptist Church was organized as a society in the month of June 1824, but who the original members were we have been unable to ascertain, save Deacon Millerd and Deacon Lemuel Taylor. On the first day of July following the formation of the church society Olive Cressy and Sally B. Millerd were admitted by letter. On February 12, 1825, Nathaniel Millerd was also admitted by letter, and Jeremiah Lockwood on September 10, Lebbeus and Caroline Lockwood, Jesse Thorpe, September 26. In 1826, Hiram Calkins, Abigail and Esther Miller on August 12 on the fourteenth day of April 1827, the first ceremony of baptism was performed, Fanny Taylor Dean also admitted to the church. On 29 January 1828, the second candidate was baptized, Philinda Waring. Church edifice was erected in 1833, of some considerable pretensions, which was used by the society until the demise 1856 – 57.It was built by John L. Smith. They now stand, a monument of the past, and desolation and one, is arched windows guiltless of glazing, having been made the targets of mischievous boys, whose stone-throwing proclivities have made a sad rack of the once more than ordinary work of the sash maker. <.br>
Rev. Orestes Taylor was the first resident Baptist minister and Stony Creek, and is claimed by some to have been also the first one in Michigan. The Rev. Ahasuerus Willy is also an early pastor.
In 1854 the Rochester Baptist Church was formed in this old building, which drew off its chief membership, and in 1855 another society was formed from this pioneer church, and his candle flickered a while, and finally was extinguished, and its candlestick was removed out of its place. The last society formed of the former members of this old church was known by the name of the first particular Baptist Church of Avon and Oakland. It was organized at the house of Chauncey Copeland, August 31, 1855, by choosing the following members trustees: Charles Copeland, Johnson Matteson, and Asahel Whitcomb. No record is found of this society having maintained in existence, and further particulars cannot be given.

As early as 1831 – 32 and organization was formed here, with a membership probably numbering less than twenty. Among the original members the following named persons are remembered: Charles Button and wife, Samuel Hilton and wife, Roswell Hilton and wife, Ezra Howell and wife, John Miller and wife, and Mr. Dennison and wife. Mr. Dennison was ordained as the first regular pastor of the church after its organization. He has settled a mile east of it in 1831. He preached here until his removal to Warren, Macomb County, about 1834 – 35. He was followed by Stephen L. Goodman. Succeeding the latter came elder Asa W. Button, who was ordained while preaching, and soon after when away. A name man Starkey preached a short time, but was probably never installed as a regular pastor. The next two appears in the pastoral connection is elder George W Pennell, and was succeeded by Elder Samuel Morse, the latter being ordained at this place, and continuing in charge for seven years; He Afterwards preached to them considerable at different times. Lawrence preached for some time, but only into his decided leaning toward the Adventist doctrine he was relieved from charge, and was followed by Elder Keth. The next pastor was probably elder Zenas Coleman, who stayed two years, and divided his time between the congregations at Oakland and Rochester. He afterwards died in Illinois. Elder David Ward 10 next, and used by Elder S. Gardner, and he in turn by Elder William Fuller, the latter remaining four years. Elder McLane also ministered here to some extent, but was perhaps never regularly installed. Others had charge in the same way. The church at its present has a membership of about twenty-five, and is without a pastor, July 1877. A Sabbath school was organized about the time the church was built, 1843 – 44, and was kept up in summer and winter for many years. Meetings were held in the school houses and other places until the frame church, yet standing, was built.
The lot, containing 1 acre, was donated by Charles Baldwin, whose wife was a member of the church. An additional was donated, which to build a personage, but none has ever been erected. Sheds for twenty teams have been built immediately west of the church.

Probably as early as 1823 a school was taught on what was afterwards the William Burbank farm, Mr. B. Settling in 1824. This school was kept in a log shanty, and taught by Susan Baldwin.
About the same time the school was taught and Alexander Graham’s old log house, at Rochester, the teacher being a man named Farrington. This man built a tannery on the old Pontiac Road, three fourths of a mile west of the business portion of the village, which was the first one in the neighborhood. Stood near large spring, which furnished the necessary water.
In Stony Creek settlement a school was taught in 1825 and client house stood a short distance east of the present site of the village. The teacher was John Chapman, a man reported, to have been a fine mathematician. He was a justice of the peace for long period, and a man of strict truth. Previous to the opening of the school the body of a log school house had been raised, but the building was never completed.
About 1825 – 26 analog school house was built on the southeast part of section 27, a short distance West of the corner, and Alanson Brooks is one of the first teachers. Cyrus A. Chipman, after, 1828, moved into the building, and occupied it a year, or until his present frame was built in 1829. The next school house in this neighborhood was built in 1836, a mile north of the old one. The first teacher was Miss Charlotte Brooks, who afterwards made a man named Hosmer, of Dubuque, Iowa. She was a daughter of Birdseye Brooks, who came here about 1825 – 28 from East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York. He has grandchildren now living at Utica, Macomb County, Michigan.
as early as 1821 a small school, having six or eight pupils, was taught in the Postal neighborhood, in a log shanty built for that purpose. The teacher was an old man, who was a kind of a half way, Doctor, and his name is now forgotten. He owned no property, and was hired to teach the school probably to give him a chance to earn his living for at least a short time. He was a roving character who had no permanent home, and it is not known what finally became of him.

The farm now owned by Edmund L. Goff was originally settled by a man named Jacob Miller, who was probably of German descent. He was familiarly known as “Dutch Miller.” As early as 1824 he built a small distillery here, which he carried on for a number of years. It stood in the hollow formed by a small run, a short distance west of the present residence of Mr. Goff, who has lived on the place since 1852. Miller had is milling done at Auburn village, and Pontiac Township, 10 miles away. John Axford, who was to hear about that time looking for land, and who finally settled in Macomb County, you should tell of the following anecdote, with great satisfaction. He and Ezra Burgess were together hunting land, the latter acting probably as a guide when they had arrived early to Miller’s distillery, Axford remarked Miller that he was getting pretty dry, and asked if there was not someplace where they could get something to drink. “Why, yes,” said Burgess. ”There is a distillery right down here.” Accordinly the two men went down, taking on the job they had with them, and found a Miller at his work. The requested him to let them have some liquor, telling him to fill the job, and give them some besides. He said “Oh, yes, yes! You can have all you vish. I tink it will not hurt you, for it is made from bran!” This distillery just in Oakland County, and possibly the very first, but the fact is uncertain.

The following is a summary of the businesses of Avon Township, outside of Rochester, as he stood in 1876: Stony Creek Woolen Mills, Philander Ewell, proprietor; Stony Creek flouring-mill, Elishur Robinson, proprietor; to run a stone; capacity, 40,000 bushels of grain annually; grinds about 15,000 bushels, all custom work; present proprietor, July 1877, John Stead. Flouring –mill, near Stony Creek Joseph Winkler, proprietor; to run a stone; capacity, 60,000 bushels; grinds 20,500 bushels merchant work; Saw and cider-mill, on Clinton River, two miles southeast of Rochester, William Yates, proprietor. Saw and Cider-mill, on Clinton River, to miles west of Rochester, Harlow Green, proprietor. Saw and planning mill, on Clinton River, half mile below Rochester, Milo Newberry, proprietor. Blacksmith shop, at Stony Creek, Marcellus Taylor, proprietor; also one at the same place by Charles Johnson. Dry goods and groceries; Stony Creek; Ed Patch. The entire business transactions of the Township, including Rochester, amounted to about $2000, of which the various establishment outsider Rochester had a proportionate share.

The faithful historian must record the facts of history as he finds them, unpleasant and abhorrent though they may be, would the fain draw the curtain over certain events that sustain their fair fame of Avon, and case a blot on or otherwise spotless escutcheon, but an impartial and complete record of the Township precludes such a course, anyway records here the salient points of a series of acts, culminating in crime, and disgrace to the principal actors, who names are omitted in deference to the relatives, and especially for the children’s sake. During the excitement of 1843 – 44, on the subject of the Second Advent of Christ, or as it was called, Millerism, a certain citizen of the Township figured as a leader in the movement, and gather to himself something of a following. Among them, a certain man and his wife became so infatuated that he left the former residence and took up their abode on a farm of the leader aforesaid, where they waited to the expected apocalypse, but which, as is known, feel the come off as advertised, in 1844. Being disappointed in your expectations, some of the adherence of the new doctrine always the leader, while others remained steadfast. The leader and his faithful adherence began to correct the spiritual chronometers and get their bearings under new phase affairs, and the result of their observations was a singular hallucination took possession of their minds, and he believe advent had really taken place in a day of judgment was truly begun, and that Christ would ere long manifests himself in one of their own number. Still further investigations or, experiences, settled down in the belief that the expected one had already taken possession of the bodily form once occupied by the leader himself, and thenceforward he was denominated God the father, and his will was absolute among them. Soon after other, experiences, were had by others of the parties, and a manhood taken up his residence on the leader’s farm became possessed and believed himself to be John the Forerunner, but he assumed Godhead gave him the name and distinction of John the beloved disciple. The wife of John McCain married, and the wife of the leader became Martha, and held it together in communism. Others received other names of the ancient disciples and followers of Jesus and when on earth.
,/br>Matters continued thus for a number of years, until “John the beloved” began to tire of cultivating a farm of the so-called father, and doing the drudgery, while the father was simply a tyrannical boss; and he at length which true, and tried to induce his wife Sybil with him, but she was still too fast bound in a chains of fanaticism to break them, and refused to go back to the old home in another County. After a year or more the former disciple came again, and after much persuasion induce the wife to return with him; but after she had been at home a few months she back to the father, so-called, again. Matters soon continued as they had been meant the latter part of the year before, when the wife of the leader made it was horrible and discussing confession, showing her husband had been living and crime with the five or six women who had formed his household. Her children had it, in the meantime, then taken away from the festering iniquity, and had escaped its low some loathsome contamination. Previous to this revelation the matter had been looked upon by the community as a deep seated fanaticism only, but had no suspicion of criminal action, or at least there was no overt act that would justify the interference of the law in the case. But on the confession being made public measures were once instituted to purge the community of the following disgrace, when the most disgusting and blasphemous details were brought to light. The principal actor was bound over for trial before the circuit court, on the charges of adultery and incest, and on the trial for former offense, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for one year, and was accordingly incarcerated and served out the sentence, the other charge being held in suspense over him.

We are indebted to the following persons for valuable information regarding the history of Avon: James A. Hersey, of Oakland, C. Z. Horton, of Rochester, George Postal, Roger Sprague, Cyrus A. Chipman, Aaron Webster, Mrs. S. Price, Stony Creek, Almon Parmenter and brother, P. Ewell, J. M. Wilcox, E. L. Goff, J. Barwise, Lysander Woodward, O. G. Stewart, and J. A. Weeks, of Pontiac, and others; and have also gleaned largely from the pioneer records of Pontiac.

The advance guard of the host of civilization first pitch the tenth in Oakland County, on the site of the village of Rochester, on the seventeenth day of March Anno Domini 1817. It was but a handful of posts the following hold the conquest, but it was the most venture some of them all. This old band consists of James Graham and his son Alexander, and Christopher Hartsough, and their families, who made the first stopping place on the banks of Paint Creek, and rolled up the first log house erected in Oakland County near the lot now occupied by John Barger.
James Graham was of Irish heritage, his father being a type of the “foineould Irish Gintleman, one of the raal shtock.” He emigrated to the Emerald Isle some years before the American Revolution, and settled in Pennsylvania Hmong company of Hollanders, who pronounced his name “Grimes.” He is said to be the original of the old ditty, which every schoolboy used to same with great gusto, and which was composed on the death of Mr. Graham. The first verse once thought;

“ Old Grimes is dead, the good old man, We ne’er shall see him nore; He used to wear and old blue coat. All buttoned up before.”

The original settler in Pennsylvania, the father of the pioneer of Oakland raised a large family in that colony, James being born in 1749. The latter married Mary Vandemark, and the following children, nine, were born of them: James, David, John, Alexander, William, Benjamin, Chester, Martha, and Mary. The elder Graham moved from Pennsylvania to Canada, and settled on the farm with the city of Ingersoll now stands. He remained on it about six years, and then removed to Michigan, in 1816, which was then a vast uncultivated wilderness outside of the settlements at Detroit and Monroe and at the city. His residence in Pennsylvania was near Tioga Point, on the Chemung branch of the Susquehanna River. His first location Michigan was a mount Clemens, which township a son Benjamin assisted to survey, in 1816, under Colonel Wampler. The father made a squatters location, in 1817, on the Northwest quarter section 21, Township 3, range 11 east, the farm afterwards located by Doctor William Thompson, and on which the old doctor died. His sons, Benjamin and William Graham, what the Southwest quarter section 23, in the same Township, to which the old veteran removed and spent the remainder of his days. His hospitality was unbounded, and his kindness proverbial. Not only was he highly esteemed by his white neighbors, but also was held in high repute by the Indians, who would do anything Mrs. Graham asked of them. Mr. Graham some one year in the Revolutionary army, from April 15, 1777, April 15, 1778, and was engaged with the enemy at the battle of Wyoming, and is more fully detailed in a military history of the County.

Alexander Graham married a Miss Hawkins, and settled on the east side of what was afterwards called Main Street, in the house before mentioned, where his eldest son, James, named in honor of his grandfather, was born, early in the year 1818, and who was also the first white child born in the County. The proprietors of the village subsequently did the lot I wish this pioneer baby was born to the youngster, who owned it until his decease, where passed in the possession of its present owner. Alexander Graham cleared off a portion of the land on the west side of Main Street, and in 1825 a fine crop of wheat was harvested on the same Nathaniel Baldwin. The south line that was near the south line of the present lot of Mrs. Doctor Hudson, in the direction of the congressional church; then passed along the West line of Walnut Street to the present dwelling of Mr. Kirby; thence to the site of Lambertson’s store; thence to Mrs. Hutaf’s present location, partly down the east line of Main Street, taking in the site of the stone store of Doctor Sprague; then southerly to about the corner of second Street; and contained about 8 acres. Mr. Graham then purchase the west half and the Southwest quarter of section 15, where he lived a number of years. His wife dying he married again, so long as property, and moved to Oakland, on section 5 or 6, and died there, and was buried with his family in the cemetery at Rochester. He was a genial companion, always ready for sport, and was known for many years as, elder Graham. He once went to Pontiac, writing a small bay pony, at a time when long continued rains at Sloan the waters of the Clinton, during his absence, the planking of the bridge at Auburn had been swept away. The night in which you returned was very dark, but notwithstanding the pony carried his rider safely of across the flood on the sleepers of the bridge. The pony thereafter became household Treasurer, and remained in grams possession until the latter’s death. Mr. Graham had become familiar with the Indian language, and was many times employed as an interpreter.

Christopher Hartsough married one of the daughters of James Graham, and after stopping short time with his brother-in-law, Alexander, settled near Plymouth, Wayne County, where he died shortly after.
The next comer to the site of the future village of Rochester was John Hershey, who located on the north bank of Paint Creek, in the fall of the year 1818; and on the twenty-ninth day of October in that year entered at the land office in Detroit the South half of section 10, Township 3, range 11 east, under the act of Congress which fixed the price of public lands at two dollars per acre, and gave the purchase of time to make his payments, the first quarter of the purchase money being paid at the time of the entry. This entry was a first one made of public lands in the county, and the sale of which was made with the first public land sale in Michigan. In the summer of 1819, Mr. Hershey sold his claim on the Southwest quarter of section 10 to Benjamin Woodworth, a hotel keeper in Detroit, and William Russell, the latter only residing in Rochester. This summer, 1819, the sawmill was built on Paint Creek, by Hershey, Russell, Woodworth, and Graham, is detailed elsewhere.

John Hershey was a native of Cummington, Massachusetts, and later a resident of Erie County, New York, and his family, which came within the Oakland, consisted of three sons and five daughters. James a Hershey, now a resident of Oakland Township, was one of those sons.

When the mill of the Hershey and others was built there was northern mill nearer than my Clemens, were grinding was done, some 20 miles in distance. The Mount Clemens mill was owned by Mr. Treble, Pronounced Trombley, and was built about the same time as the Hershey mill; perhaps earlier, by year. Joshua Sly, a resident of Rochester in 1842, was a Miller in the Tremble’s mill. The pioneers await the following incident concerning the Tremble mill, in connection with the Graham boys, John and William, which as follows: these two pioneers having occasion to get a large grist ground, took a sufficient number of bags to hold the bran, and agreed upon a certain course of action, to ascertain the reason of the excessive shrinkage such large grist were invariably subject to at this mill, which conundrum had been puzzling the brains of the settlers for some time. They arrived at the mill, with a grist was received, but could not be ground until late in the night. William had taken a good supply of Buffalo and blankets, and resolved to sleep in the mill, and made his bed near the hopper. Tremble one of the customers to go to my Clemens for some whiskey, and John went, well William slept with one eye open. Tremble took the required toll; and after John returned, as the night wore on the millstones ground slowly, and the grist was again tolled; whereupon William arose and replaced the last tolling, and as much more. An hour or so passed and another tolling was required and performed; and again this week in sentinel arose and replace the tolling and is a duplicate. Still the mill went around slowly, and the grist lingered; the tolling was again made by the indefatigable miller, and again workplace with interest by the self-watcher; and still another toll, and another return was made; the Guardian of the grist dumping and the hopper although we find in the mill. The grinding at last is done, and the bags a grandson bought would not suffice to hold the flour the grist it made, and it left the surplus and the bran to be called for at another time, but failed to call; and thus was the shrinkage of the ancient grist turned into excess.

William Russell was the next comer to the future village, and he located there in 1819, and built himself a log house, and as been before stated, erected in company with Hershey, Woodworth, and Graham, the sawmill, as subsequent grist-mill. “Father” Russell, as he was familiarly called, was a candidate, unassuming man, an example of society, and benevolent and just in all his ways. Benjamin Woodworth never lived in Rochester, but was a constant friend to the inhabitants of Oakland. He was for many years the proprietary host of the Steamboat Hotel in Detroit, and had a hurtful attainments, and a hand always ready to help the distressed. He died November 10, 1874 and his home and St. Clair County, aged ninety-one years.

Previous laying out of the village, in 1826, but few settlers came, and among them war, beside those arty named, John Shippey, the Jacksons, and Hill, on the Clinton. In 1823 – 24 the flouring mill was built on the Clinton by Perrin and Mack, and David Dort was the resident Miller.
In 1826, Governor Cass, Austin E. Wing, and Charles Larned, of Detroit, laid out the original plant of the village. The purpose of these gentlemen, the following incident is related concerning their tour of observation through Oakland when the village plan was selected:

Daniel LeRoy, afterwards a prominent figure in the history of the County, was living at the time of the incident on his farm in Avon, and the party before named, accompanied by Colonel Mack, of Pontiac, on the tool down the Clinton, called on Mr. Le Roy some time before dinner, and in the course of the conversation which followed told the host what their businesswise, whereupon he invited them to partake of this hospitality, proposing any intern to accompany them on the quest, which was acceded to by the party, much to the mortification of Mrs. Le Roy, who, knowing the destitution that reigned in her larder, was in tears at the prospect of providing for a governor, a delegate to Congress, and a member of the Detroit bar, and in her extremity she called Mr. Le Roy aside and reproved him sharply for his inconsiderateness; but he reassured his weeping dame, and told her to give them the best that she had, and he would guarantee satisfaction on the part of his visitors.
The party proceeded with their prospecting, and , where Mrs. Le Roy, with much trepidation, placed before her distinguished guests the very best, and all, she had in her house for their entertainment, which has partaken of the process only to be awakened by a long tramp or ride such as a hungry travelers had just indulged in. The bill of fare was simple, but palatable, and consisted of baked potatoes and milk, only this and nothing more. No words of apology were offered, or depreciating remarks made; the guest new well it was the best the hospitable host had to give, and they partook of the hospitality in the spirit in which it was tendered, and departed. A week or so afterwards a Frenchman, writing a pony and leading another bearing a pack, stop before the door of Mr. Le Roy’s house and inquired if it were Mr. Le Roy’s residence, and receiving and a affirmative answer commenced unpacked is animal. As package after package of flour, meal, tea, sugar, coffee, poor, etc., were placed on the ground by the side of the cabin, Mrs. Le Roy protested there must be some mistake committed, but Johnny Crapeaud shook his head and said he was ordered to deliver his charge safely to Mrs. Le Roy; whereupon the lady, still more astonished, proceeded to call her liege, but in his arrival the pony and his master had departed and Mr. Le Roy at once discovered that the bread, the potatoes and milk, he cast upon the waters, spread before his guest, and indeed return to him, and not many days after. There was one happy woman in Avon that day, certain.

George M. Shaw came to the village in 1825, or earlier, and Gad Norton built his sawmill on the Clinton in 1824 – 25.
Seneca Newberry came to the village in 1826 – 27, the first merchant of the place. He was for many years a prominent citizen, not only of Rochester, but also of the county. He was born in Connecticut, where he spent his youth. About 1826 he came to Detroit, and engaged in the mercantile business for his cousin, the late Oliver Newberry, a noted merchant in steamboat man of Detroit. After spending about a year in Detroit, he bought a general stock of goods suited to the demands of pioneer trade, and located in Rochester, where he conducted a flourishing business for years.

He was a member of the first Constitutional convention of Michigan, in the labors of which he bore a conspicuous and influential part. He was also a delegate in the second Constitutional convention, wherein he added to his previous fame. He was afterwards State Senator.
Soon after his location Rochester, he was united in marriage to the most estimable lady, who bore him for sons, all of whom survived. Mrs. Newberry died about 1847.
Mr. Newberry died in Rochester, May 13, 1877, aged seventy-five years.
Lyman J. Willcox came to Avon Township in 1824, from all Oneida County, New York, on foot and alone, through Canada. He located near Chipman’s Corners, and in 1828 he married to Hopy Green, of Ontario County, New York, and took up his residence in Rochester, since which time, until quite recently, he has been actively engaged in business there. His manufacturing history is detailed elsewhere. At the time he was conducting his mental and distillery he was also engaged and cultivating a section of land in the Township.

In 1833 – 34 he was a collector of taxes of Oakland Township, comprising then the present townships of Oakland, Avon, Addison, and Oxford; the inhabitants of which Township came to Rochester to hold their town meetings. In 1834 the population of the four townships was 1701. When he arrived at Rochester, he found residence there, besides those previously named, William Burbank and Doctor Morrison.

Mr. Willcox had four children born to him by his wife, Hopy Green, who are still now living: Randall J. And Lyman G., Twins, born in 1831; Elliot R. Willcox, now a resident of Rochester, and a prominent manufacturer of the village, and a lawyer; and a daughter, now living in Bay City. A second wife died in 1872. He now resides in Rochester.

Doctor Morrison came to Rochester from Vermont in 1827, and built the first frame house in the village. He continued to reside there for a few years, and removed to his farm near Utica, where he died.

William Burbank tender Rochester with his family in March 1828, and began cabinetmaking. He was born in Maine, and resided in his youth and Vermont, and grew to manhood in New York, and came to Michigan in October 1822, and located on a farm to miles southwest of Rochester, the same being now owned by Mr. Taylor. He is, at an advanced age, still a resident of the village, in the family of his son-in-law, C. H. Green.

Mr. Burbank is one of the original members of the congressional church of Rochester, formed fifty years ago, July 1, 1827, and has been one of its staunchest and most steadfast supporters. He was born the first justices of the peace of Oakland County, Being commissioned in 1824 by Governor Cass.

the first constable in the Township was John F. Hamlin.
Edwin T. Wilcox came to Avon Township in 1825, in the spring of that year from East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York, and located in sections 23, 25, and 26, which tract of land he still owns. He was born in East Bloomfield, November 5, 1799, and at Township and that of Avon are the only townships he’s ever resided in. He is now a resident of the village of Rochester. He was married in 1831, in Ontario County, New York, and has been mainly engaged in farming, though we learned the art of cloth dressing, and follow the trade for a time; he is also been engaged as a merchant and a miller, and in his younger days was a teacher.

In September 1830, the village gained an inhabitant who for forty-seven years has gone in and out before the people, either in a public or a private capacity, and who still lived among them honored and esteemed. We refer to the Honorable Almon Mack, who opened the second stock of goods for sale in the village on the first day of September in the year last name, and continued an active trade until 1853. He is a son of Colonel Stephen Mack, deceased, one of Pontiac’s earliest and most prominent citizens. He put his stock in the front room of the main building now occupied by Doctor Wilson as a residence. In the rear of whom George M. Shaw and a family of twelve persons resided, while Mr. Max family and clerk occupied the upper back chamber. At this time there were not a dozen houses in the place, about one half of which were friends. Mr. Mack was born in Tunbridge, Vermont, and was educated at the military Academy at Norwich, under the instruction of Captain Partridge, the last two years of his residence there. He came to Michigan in 1822, when sixteen years of age, and was married in 1820 721 orphaned girl, Alvira Jemison, who had found a home in his father’s family. She died at Rochester, January 21, 1876, aged nearly 70 years. Although child with themselves, Mr. and Mrs. Mack have perform the duties of parents to three orphaned children, Mrs. William Parmelee, of Grand Rapids, Mrs. J. E. Wilson, and Mrs. E. S. Cook, of Rochester. She was a member of the Rochester congressional church for thirty years. Her charities and hospitality’s without stent, and together with her intelligence and ability, one heard the affectionate regard of all who had the pleasure of acquaintance. Mr. Mack, in 1824, was prostrated with sickness for nearly the whole summer, and has never enjoyed robust help cents. He is been a prominent public man in a County, and has held many positions of honor and trust. In 1848 he was a member of the legislature, and dispensed business entrusted to him with rapidity and accuracy. The legislation on plank roads was on the tapis that section, and of Pontiac people desire a charter for road to Lapeer, and by some fatuity the utmost celerity was required in the passage of the bill. Mr. Mack received a letter one evening after the adjournment of the legislature, and prepared the bill, presented the next morning, and the next night the bill was a law, and a copy of it on its way to Pontiac, having passed to the various stages of its passage, the first reading, second reading, and engrossment, and final reading and passage in both houses, and the approval of the Governor, and its enrollment among the public laws of the state, inside of six hours.

In 1824, Mr. Mack was tendered the position of secretary to the first legislative Council of the territory, but only into his ill health he was forced to decline the same. He, at the request of a caucus of politicians, wrote the names of nine candidates for the first legislative Council, who were selected by the president of United States out of eighteen nominees to form the Council. Benign names humoral were those of the appointees. He was the mainstay of his father, Colonel Stephen Mack, in the management of his latter’s extensive mercantile and manufacturing business; The books of the concern, and was general manager and settled upon the estate of his father on the latter’s deceased. He is still vigorous and intellect, though feeble and body, and discusses with all the interest of his youthful days the various subjects of public importance which arrest the attention day by day. He has a twin sister living in Utah, between whom and himself there is ever existed a remarkable physical and mental sympathy, this same disease afflicting each, and at the same time, though removed from each other by long distance.

Hosea B. Richardson came to Rochester in 1832, from Rochester, New York. He is been interested in manufacturing, mainly in the village, to the present time, as will be seen in connection with the history of manufacturers of the village. He was born in Vermont, but removed to New York at an early age. He was married and Oakland County to Sarah Le Roy, sister to John P. Le Roy, by the whom he had two sons and two daughters born to him, all now living in Rochester or Avon Township. Both of the sons on Rochester one factory, one daughter is married, and one is at home in charge of the household, her mother being dead. She died in 1841, and a second Mrs. Richardson died in 1874.

Calvin Chapel came to the village in 1830, and Doctor Rollin C. Sprague about or soon after that time. Edward P. Harris located in the village in 1833. More detailed sketches appear elsewhere of these last named settlers. In 1832, Christian Z. Horton came to the village from his father’s farm, to learn the blacksmithing trade, when nineteen years old, and has resided in the village ever sense, marrying there, and raising his children around him. Benjamin Horton, the father of C. Z. Horton, emigrated from Northampton County, Pennsylvania, where he was born November 10, 1783, to Canada in 1809, together with his father George Horton, a Revolutionary soldier in 1783. The son, Benjamin married May 10, 1810 to Jane Zavitz, at Fort Colburn; moved to Yarmouth, Elgin County, Ontario in 1820, and in March 1825 arrived in Detroit, and came to Avon Township and settled two miles south of the village of Rochester, on section 22, which location he subsequently exchanged for the West half of the Northeast quarter of section 7, whereon he died November 6, 1858. He was a justice of the peace for eight years, and on 1828 – 29 was interested in manufacturing in the village. Mr. C. Z. Horton is prominently identified with the pioneer history of the Township of Avon, having written several articles on the pioneers and Indians, which of and published and preserved in the records of the Avon pioneer society, of which Mr. Horton’s secretary, and also in the records of the Oakland County Pioneer Society.,

I among the prominent citizens of Rochester not otherwise particularly mentioned was General Charles M. Griffin, who was a native of New Jersey, and you came to the village in or about the year 1850, and engaged in the milling. He was prominent also on politics, and though moving quietly and with all bluster, made his influence felt in the Democratic Party for years. He was of a general nature, and the very soul of hospitality. He returned to New Jersey during the war, 1863 – 64, where he died.

Henry M. Look Sr., though a late comer to Rochester, making his residence there in 1873, is an early pioneer of Lapeer county, coming there to May 10, 1834, being ten days on the road from Avon, New York, via steamboat from Buffalo to Detroit. Hon. Henry M. Look, of Pontiac, a leading and eloquent lawyer and charming poet, his son, was born at Farmer's Creek, now called Hadley, in Lapeer county. The family is of Scotch extraction. Mr. Look removed from Lapeer county to Avon township in 1853.
Orange Foote was an old resident of the village, and a justice of the peace many years.

Lambertson was an early comer to the village, and he and his sons, John V. and Hiram, have been prominently engaged in business for more than thirty-five years. J. V. Labbertson and brother are private bankers, and also carry the heaviest stock of general merchandise in the village. Joseph Reimer, C. S. Goodison, Thomas Sprague, Wm. J. Weir, Theo, C. Cook, J. C. Baker, Wm L. Barnes, F. M. Holman, Harvey Green, John B. Martz, Geo. W. Vandevemter, in business in the village at the present time, are all of long standing, some of them dating their residence in the village as early 1840.

John M. Mack, a son of Colonel Stephen Mack, was the first landlord in the village, and came thereto in 1828, and opened a hotel. He remained but about two years, or thereabouts, and is now a resident of Hamtramck, Wayne county, Michigan, where he has resided for many years past. James New beery is one of the leading business men of Rochester, of several years standing.

Who used to make their home about Rochester, buried their dead in three different places within or near the present limits of the village. One burial place was on the dite now occupied by the storeof Mrs. Rollin C. Sprague, one on the hill north of Barnes & Bro.'s paper mill, which was demolished by excavating the canal, and the other was north of Green & Son's saw mill, on the brow of the hill, about midway between the mill and the fence of Mrs. Perrin. Some five or six persons were buried in each of the first and last places; in the second, three persons, two mules and one female, were buried. In the spring of 1825 the Indians encamped on the ground now occupied by Hartson Gillett, and occupied it during the fishing season. Many of them were expert spearmen. Here, too, they used to have their dances, which continued for several evenings. On those occasions there would be assembled twenty-five of thirty persons, and but few children. They had one drummer, his drum being made of a hollow log about a foot in diameter, nearly two feet in length, dresses quite thin, a raw skin of some kind drawn over it, the drummer using but one drumstick, with which he made one continued succession of strokes, like the beating of a clock. They had also a flute of flageolet, upon which they could make three or four different tones by means of finger holes with desperate blowing. They would build two fires about ten or twelve feet apart, and between the fires drive a stake, on top of which a piece of red flannel, about a foot square, would be placed, and a plug of tobacco laid on the flannel. When the ceremonies were to begin they sat down around the fires, excluding the children, lighted a pipe, and passed it around the circle for each one, male or female, to whiff. It was the pipe of peace or calumet dance. As soon as the smoking was over, at which the ceremony guest are expected to participate, the chiefs or head men, or guest, made an address, each one speaking who desired; but always short speeches were made. The speaking being over, the terpsichorean pleasure began. Each person would have the skin of some small animal, a weasel, or black, gray or red squirrel, prepared for the purpose, and which were used to extort a "treat" from the bystanders, who must respond to the request or dance, and sometimes both.

When the treat went around all stopped dancing and joined in the more imperative demands of hospitality. Their dancing was something between the modern "Boston dip" and the "Kangaroo dive," and was brought about by stepping on one foot and slipping it forward once; then the other foot in a similar manner, and so alternately. The dances were pleasant for the participators as long as they kept sober, but became scenes of confusion, and frequently of bloodshed, by reason of too freely partaking of the "fire water" of the pale-face.

In 1824 an interesting ceremony was conducted by the Indians south of Barnes Bro.'s mill, near the hill, on the land occupied now by Ezekiel Dewey. The Indians cleared off all of the flat and built a large log heap and setting it on fire, leaving an opening in the centre if the heap, as they constructed it. Then they brought forth tow white dogs, fantastically decorated with red flannel around their necks, in their ears, and around their legs and tails, and when the pile had become fairly ignited they threw the canines into the aperture in the midst of the blazing pile. They began their songs and dances, Which they kept up all night, making hideous and horrible noises.

In the summer of 1825 a wigwam was constructed in front of Wm Burbank's residence, in which two young braves were incarcerated to fast and dream and see visions, according to the superstitions of their race, whereby a totem or deity might be selected for them.
Among the most noted of the Indians who frequented Rochester were the following: "Josh," who was chief among them, Wab-a-shaw, Ne-shance, Peter-wa-wa, Pete-on-e-quate, Ca-cob, As-te-quam, Alvin Hydem Jim, and Nooh-tuc-e-too, which latter was also a chief who would occasionally come from Nipising, in Tuscola county, and camp with his band in and around the plains on Plum brook and Union Corners for hunting.

A young man named William insists, from Pennsylvania, married Noo-tuc-e-too’s daughter, a beautiful girl, in 1831, and lived with her four year war, then his parents removal to St. Joseph, a compelled him to leave his Indian wife, who died, is it is said by reason of separation. Noo-tuc-e-too was a powerful man, of good habits and character for integrity, and was esteemed by all who knew him, Dean McCarron is superior to most of the Indians in this section of the country. “Josh” was a stout, athletic man, quite aged, and had two wives and several children, and was inclined to dissipation. He was blind for a number of years before his death, which occurred according to his claims, when he was several years passed a century old.

Wab-a-shaw was an old man, and much dissipated. He died and was buried in the hill north of the paper mill. Ne-shance was a duplicate in life, death, and burial of Wab-a-shaw and Pete-on-e-quate was a no better man, though younger, and very quarrelsome. Peter-wa-wa married a daughter of “Josh”, a pretty Indian maid, who was amiable, and gaming esteem of her acquaintances. She was very neat and modest inner bearing, and her husband was a successful Hunter, tall, athletic, a man of integrity, and trustworthy. Later in life he felt evil ways, and died in Canada, with the smallpox, and was carried through Rochester on a stretcher to Nipising for burial. As-te-quam and brother of Peter, was a fine appearing young man, but he and his career, like the rest of his race, of too much “squiby.” Ca-cob also married a daughter of “Josh.” He was a half-brother to the wife of Hon. Louis Beaufait, of Detroit, who was a member at one time of the legislative Council. Ca-cob was small of stature, fair complexion, an inveterate talker, naturally late fingered, and the one time tied to a state in the village and whipped for theft of tobacco and other articles of Mr. Newberry, and ordered not to return against the village under penalty of another flogging. It turned out like his brothers, dissipated and miserable. “Jim” was a half-brother to Ca-cob. He was rather reticent, but was a clever boy, and a boon companion of the white boys of the neighborhood. Alvin Hyde was a fair specimen of an Indian, he could read and write, for a time was temperament, was soon fell in the dissipated habits and died as the fool death.

Another character among the Indians, called We-se-gah, was one of the most turbulent spirits in this region. He was a muscular fellow, and when and liquor was always spoiling for a fight. Of his quarrel some and pugilistic propensities none of the white settlers were better acquainted been Alexander and Benjamin Graham, as a bull quarrel with him several times. We-se-gah at one time drew his tomahawk on Benjamin while the latter was at work and shoe bench, from which the diversion the luckless savage received at the hands of the Shoemaker a sound thrashing; and at another time he attacked Alexander. After a long struggle of man hours in duration, Alexander finally overpowered the Indian. We-se-gah, drawing his blanket over his face, sat down a waiver program to dispatch them according to the Indian custom, by burying a tomahawk in his head.
Graham instead raise the blanket, and said to his conquered foe, “Go! And never come back. If you do I will kill you!” The dusky fighter follow the good advice, and was never seen in the neighborhood afterwards.

The first house erected on what was afterwards the village plant of Rochester, was a long house hold up by Alexander Graham, in March 1817, on the lot now occupied by John Barger. This was also the first permanent dwelling place built by a white man in a confines of Oakland County, as is boundaries are at present defined. The first frame house erected in the village was that of Doctor Morrison, in 1825 – 26. It had one small room for general living purposes, a small bedroom, and is still smaller country. J. G. Barger, on Main Street, now occupied the site of the doctors Castle. Then the road went winding around through the Hazel brush, and by the edge of the tamaracks, and passed to the Swamp by the present site of Eureka Mills, over a quarter worry most fearfully and wonderfully made. The old hotel By John M. Mack was the first frame house of any pretensions erected in the village. The house built by George M. Shaw for Charles Larned, one of the proprietors, was a nice little store, but it looked large the pioneers of 1827. In 1827, in May, the village contained nine small houses, as follows: William Burbank’s frame house and log house nearby, the frame Tavern afterwards opened by Mack, a double log house West of the Tavern house, still West of the double log, muscles log house, a little on house on the side of Doctor Wilson’s residence, a small plank house on the present site of the Newberry dwelling, Doctor Morrison’s frame house, opposite the present post office, and a small house near the stone store. Larned’s storehouse was on Goodison’s Corner. The first brick house was erected by Edward P. Harris.

among the many comfortable dwellings and cozy homes that adorn the streets of Rochester at the present day, the most notable ones are the spacious mansions of Mrs. Rollin Sprague, Thomas Sprague, C. S. Goodison, C. S. Mathews, William Barnes, Almon Mack,, H. M. Look and James Newberry among the business houses, Lambertson’s brick store and a stone store of Mrs. Rollin Sprague, the brick livery stables of Swayze any elevator building of Newberry, are noticeable.

Born on the site of the village was James Graham, a son of Alexander Graham, whose birth occurred early in the year 1818. This second child was George W. Hershey, son of John Hershey, born in March 1818. Abraham held was born January 14, 1819, but whether on what was afterwards included in the village plat or not is definitely not known.

The first death that occurred in the village is said to be that of James Trimmer, an Englishman, who died about 1830, and year that time a soldier died in the village, both of whom are buried in the cemetery of the village. Not far from that date to other death occurred in the village, those being Fuller and Conkey.

On August 10, 1826, the original plan of Rochester was surveyed and laid out on the Northwest quarter of section 14 and the Northeast quarter of section 15, range 3, range 11 east, by the proprietors thereof, Governor Lewis Cass, Hon. Austin Wing, then the delegate and Congress from Michigan, and Charles Larned, a prominent lawyer of Detroit. On 1 February, 1847, Hosea B. Richardson and Isaac Adams surveyed and platted in addition line East of the original plat, and subsequently Lysander Woodward surveyed and planted in addition on the north half of the Southwest quarter of section 11, Township 3, range 11 east. The original plat is most eligibly and beautifully located on a high plateau line between the Clinton River on the South and the paint Creek on the North, the latter also winding its sinuous way along the eastern side of the plat. The confirmation of the natural surface is interesting in a geological point of view, as well as to the sense of vision. The bluff sides of the plat on the South show the former channel of Paint Creek, as in the glacial and immediate succeeding days is much heavier flights undoubtable caught as channel through the moraine, seeking its present level. In this wearing away process and is left to or more conical shaped mountains, which at first appearance, might seem to some to be the handiwork of man, but upon closer inspection the architect stands revealed, and is the apparently modest little creek that winds along the base. And carding this way through the moraine, and when it down to the present level that lies between these mounds and a plateau of the village, the floods of the Creek found the level before the entire moraine was denuded, and is mounds are simply the result of the moraine left by the receding flood as they found another channel. The bluffs on the North and East side of the creek, and along the Clinton, and a picturesqueness to the otherwise beautiful prospect.

The village, as such, remained under the general government of the Township of Avon, of which it forms a part, until the twelfth day of April, 1869, when the inhabitants made a bold push for an independent government, decided by an almost unanimous vote to incorporate the village, and elect the following government: President Jesse E. Wilson; trustee John H. Hutaf, Wm Newell, Daniel L. Jennings, and Geo. W. Vandeventer; Clerk, Marsden C. Burch; Assessor, Wm. J. Weir; Treasurer, Hugh D, Bitters; Marshal, Herman Bennett. The board of trustees appointed Marsden C. Burch city attorney, C. Z. Horton; Deputy Clerk, and John Barger, pound-master. The boundaries of the Corporation included within their limits to the Northeast quarter of section 15 Northwest quarter of section 14, Southwest quarter of section 11, and Southeast quarter of section 10, Township 3, range 11, one mile square. The village has no waterworks, fire engines, or public improvements, save a good system of sidewalks and a good police regulations.

The President’s office has been filled as follows since the incorporation of the village: J. V. Lambertson, 1870; W. J. Weir, 1871; Jno H. Spencer, 1872; G. W. Vandeventer, 1873 and 1875; H. M. Look Sr., 1874; Thomas M. Holman, 1876. The office of the clerk has been filled as follows: C. L. Boughton, 1870; John J. Blim, 1871 and 1875-76; Julian Peters, 1872-74; The present government is as follows: E. R. Mathews, president; N. B. Taylor, clerk; Trustees, D. L. Jennings, James Newberry, S. H. Richardson, O. F. Comstock; Marshal, Chas. St. Bemis.

The first manufacturing done and what was afterwards of the village of Rochester was the work of a sawmill, erected in the summer of eighteen team, and the Southeast quarter of section 10, by William Russell, Benjamin Woodworth, John Hershey, and Alexander Graham, the first sawing being done in October of that year. Subsequently a single one of stone was put into the mill for gristing purposes, but owing to the imperfect gearing, but about one bushel grain per hour could be ground. The stones were 30 inches in diameter, and were boulders taken out your Stony Creek, and dressed by one of the Messinger family. Several stones, five runs and one single stone, were taken out Southwest of Rochester, and dressed by John Shippey, from the state of New York. One or more ones, 4 ½ feet in diameter, were dressed for Governor Cass, which put into the old Knox mill in Detroit. This network, Hershey’s, was on or near the present site of the Eureka Mills, and Paint Creek, and the vestiges of the old dam are still traceable along the banks of the stream at that point. The mill. Its purpose and fell into decay, and was torn down to make room for other improvements.

In 1823 – 24, Colonel Stephen Mack, of Pontiac, built a dam on the Clinton, and erected a flouring mill on the site of the present paper mill of Barnes Bro.’s and which contained one run of stones, procured in the vicinity. David Dort was the Miller. The bolt of this mill was operated by hand. In 1867 – 68 the mill was remodeled by the Barnes Bro.’s who put into it papermaking machinery, and operated it as a paper mill until June 1875, during which month it was destroyed by fire. During the same year Barnes Bro.’s rebuilt the works in a very safe and substantial manner, with a slate roof and for precautionary improvements against fire, and equipped it with first-class machinery, and recommenced business in 1876, in steam as an auxiliary power when the water of the Clinton is low. The cost of the building and its equipment was $28,000. Its capacity is one time per day of fine quality of print or book paper.

George M. Shaw erected on Paint Creek, previous to 1826, a wagon and blacksmith shop, in which he worked until the winter of 1828 – 29, when Hiram Higley reconstructed internal arrangements and began the business of tanning leather. Is finally winning to decay, and was carried off by the spring floods of the Creek.
in 1828, William Burbank began the manufacture of chairs and furniture. In the year 1826, Messrs. Griggs & Taylor began the erection of a distillery on Paint Creek, which was completed and operated for a time by one Jackson. In the fall of the same year, Charles Larned, one of the proprietors of the village plant, and Benjamin Horton, began the erection of another distillery, which are put into operation during the winter of eighteen, buying out Jackson, and removing the first building fixtures to their own establishment. Lyman J. Willcox bought out Larned’s interest, and the new firm ran the business a while, Mr. Willcox succeeding to the entire interest in 1829. Mr. Willcox 44 feet boulder stone in his distillery and ground grist. This distillery and mill was in service until 1840, when Mr. Willcox rebuilt the same at the cost of $7000, putting into run of burrs, and continue to operate the establishment until 1850, when he sold the property to Barnes, and some four years after the building was destroyed by fire, while owned by Jonathan Hale. This establishment was located on the present site of the Eureka Mills. On the conversion of Shaw’s shop into a tannery, in 1829, he built another building, in which he carried on his trade of wagon making, in which he was succeeded by Calvin Chapel. Ross and Arkins now occupy the building, a self-evident relic of bygone days, for the manufacture of sash, doors, and blinds.
in 1824 – 25, Gad Norton built a sawmill on the Clinton, below the present bridge on Main Street, which is operated until 1837, and then abandon. In 1833, Miller & Badger built near the sawmill of furnace, which is operated by the same power as the mill, and continued to do business until 1836 – 37, when it, was abandoned, the power the needed by the Rochester Mills.

Rochester Mills was erected in 1837, by Johnson Niles, who constructed a new dam on the Clinton about the site of the old one, and fitted up is mill for extensive flouring operations. It subsequently passed into General C. M. Griffin’s. Possession, who operate in the same for many years, during which time he became known extensively as Griffin Mills. The property and is present is owned and operated by Cook & Kirby, who have been so operating since 1874. It has to rerun of stone, and does a merchant work of forty barrels of flour per day, and a custom work of 100 bushels of grain in the same time.
in 1844, Hosea B. Richardson built a wool carding and cloth dressing factory and Paint Creek, just a few feet below the present one factory of his son. It contained to carding machines, and continued to do good business, with more or less profit to its owners, until March sixty-seven, when it was destroyed by fire well owned by Jade. W. Roberts, who proceeded in 1869 to rebuild the works, which are now known as the Rochester one Mills.

Rochester Woolen- Mills which are applying brick edifice, equipped with all the modern improved machinery for the manufacture of yarn socks and mittens, to which is exclusively confined. The cost of the Mills, complete and equipped, was $32,000. Twelve persons are employed on average throughout the year, and annual product reaches a value of $25,000. As. H. Richardson, a son of the original builder, now owns the establishment.
In the year 1859, D. L. Jennings commenced the foundry business in Rochester, which he is steadily pursued to the present time in the building formerly built for store by Johnson Niles, on the bluff near the Rochester Mills. He makes Paul’s and agricultural implements, and is about to add to his manufacturers that of bell casting. His business amounts to about $10,000 per annum.

The Eureka Mills were erected in 1868, by doctors Jesse and Jeremiah Wilson, on the site of the old Willcox distillery. The establishment contains three run a stone, and has a capacity of about sixty barrels of flour per day, and 100 bushels of grain of custom work. The mill is now owned by Lorenzo D. Hoard, is improve the water power largely by replacing the old tumbledown flume by a capacious and stock 280 feet in length and 4 feet in diameter. The abstract of title to property begins with the following item: “John Hershey, October 29, 1818, entry, Southeast quarter of section 10, Township 3, range 11 east,” and contains the changes of title and entry of encumbrance. This was the first entry of public lands in Oakland County.

The Willcox paper Mills were erected in 1873-74, by Hon. Elliot R. Willcox, and are a fine establishment, equipped with first-class machinery for the manufacture of fine print and book-papers, though engaged to the present time on coarse paper as a more profit able product. The investment of Mr. Willcox in the property amounts to twenty-five thousand dollars. The mills are located on Paint creek, above the Eureka mills, where a power of twenty feet head has been secured for the powerful Leffel and Logansport wheels, by which the machinery of the mills is propelled. In 1874, S. H. Richardson built the planning and turning-mill, which is located just alongside the railroad track, near the depot of the Detroit and Milwaukee rail road, where custom work only is done. It is operated by the water of Paint creek.

Newberry's Elevator was erected in 1872-73, on the advent of the railroad, by James Newberry, who purchased in the season of 1876-77 over three hundred thousand bushels of grain, aggregating in cost over two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars The firm of Newberry & Mathews operate the elevator, and are the only produce-buyers in the village, aside from the mills.

The first merchant to open a stock of goods for sale in Rochester was Seneca Newberry, who brought in his wares in the spring of 1827. He was followed by Almon Mack, in September, 1830, both of whom kept a general assortment of such goods as were needed in a pioneer community. The trade was largely with the Indians for a long time. Mr. Mack, who is still a resident of Rochester, relates the following incident of trade in the olden time. Whisky was an article of common use by all of the people, and at one particular time both Mr. Mack and Mr. Newberry ran short of the beverage, and before they could stock up again a brisk demand was created. The farmers of the neighborhood for miles around came in with their jugs and kegs to be filled, and finding the supply exhausted, left them for filling with the article needed for the prevention of malarial diseases, to which the owners of the aforesaid jugs and kegs were disposed and exposed in the cool, foggy mornings and hot, dry days of harvest, and the damps and dews of evening. When the fluid finally came, Mr. Mack exhausted one entire barrel in filling the various receptacles left by his customers. These customers were not drunkards, but sober, pious, and industrious men, who believed they needed the stimulant for the preservation of their health. Dr. Rollin C. Sprague opened the first drug-store in 1831-32.

The first professional man to make Rochester his home and place of business was Dr. Morrison, who came to the village in 1826, from Vermont. He practiced there for some years, and then retired to his farm near Utica, Macomb county, where he died in 1852. Dr. John S. Livermore came from Massachusetts to Rochester in 1828, and died at Lake Superior in or about 1860. Dr. Henry Brumley came from Vermont in 1834, and settled in Rochester, where he died in 1853. Dr. Phillips came from Utica, Michigan, in 1852, to Stony Creek, and from thence to Rochester, in 1855. Dr. L. K. Hudson came to Rochester from Farmington in 1852, and died in the former place in March, 1866. Dr. Jesse Wilson came to Rochester in 1855, where he was followed, January 1, 1857, by his twin brother. Dr. Jeremiah Wilson. They were of American parentage, but *' born on the wrong side of the line," as Dr. Jerry puts it. They are graduates of the Michigan University, and also of the Castleton Medical College, of Vermont, and have been in extensive practice ever since their first location in the village. They have also been largely interested in manufacturing, having built the Eureka mills, in the village, which they operated successfully for some eight years. They are now in trade, having a large stock of goods on hand. Dr. Jeremiah Wilson is also somewhat of a politician, and was a member of the State legislature in 1867. Dr. Francis M. Wilcox located here in 1865, and has an extensive practice. He is a thoroughly-educated physician, and is a graduate of the medical department of the Western Reserve College, at Cleveland, Ohio, class of 1849-50. He was born in Clarence, Erie county. New York', October 4, 1825. Dr. Farren was for a time in practice with Dr. Hudson. Dr. Rollin C. Sprague, a nephew of Judge Roger Sprague, commenced practice in Rochester in 1830, but did not remain long, and went to the State of New York, where he was in the druggist's business for a time, and then returned to Rochester, where he died. Dr. McCollum was located in Stony Creek in 1826, from whence he removed to Auburn. He taught school in that hamlet in 1827, and was a constable, with an extensive bailiwick. Dr. Ide is the only homoeopathic physician in the village, locating there in 1876. Dr. Stanton, of the same school of practice, located here the same year, but removed shortly afterwards.

The members of the legal fraternity who have had their local habitation in Rochester are Edward P. Harris, A. Bernard Cudworth, and Hon. Elliot R. Willcox, who are more specifically named in the history of the bar of the county.

The first post office was first established at Rochester in 1828-29, George M. Shaw being the first postmaster. He was succeeded by Seneca Newberry, in 1837, and Mr. Newberry by Dr. Rollin C. Sprague, in 1841. E. W. Lawrence came in with President Polk, in 1845, and Edward P. Harris with President Taylor, in 1849. John B. Martz was appointed in 1853, and J. Y. Lambertson in 1856. James Newberry succeeded to the mail-bags in 1858, and gave way to David Pixley in 1861. Dr. L. K. Hudson was appointed in 1863, and held the position until his death, in 1866, when F. A. Brooks was appointed, and was succeeded by the present incumbent, W. J. Weir. The office has been kept at Dr. Hudson's place of business since his appointment in 1863. The mail was first brought in on horseback, and afterwards by stage, from Royal Oak. The business of the office at present may be realized by the amount of stamps sold thereat during the year ending June 30, 1877, which was nine hundred and forty dollars and fifty-six cents.

The first hotel was opened in the year 1828, by John M. Mack, in the house built by George M. Shaw in 1826-27. Esquire Riggs was landlord of the same house afterwards, but not Mack's immediate successor. This old hotel was located on the lot now occupied by Holman Brothers, and was burned after passing under the management of different individuals. In 1832, Elnathan Wilcox erected the Pavilion, and was its landlord for four or five years. He is now in Orleans county. New York. He sold to Hyatt in 1836. It is now kept by John Fisher. The Lambertson House was built by J. V. Lambertson in 1847, and has been occupied for the past sixteen years by the present popular caterer, G, G. Lomason.

In the early pioneer days the roads leading into and out of the village were such as were common to the country, and particularly horrible were the corduroys which led over the marshes of the Clinton and Paint creek. In 1837 the fever for internal improvements which attacked virulently the people of the new States, and found in Governor Mason more than a convalescing patient, was epidemic in Macomb and Oakland counties, and exhibited itself in the form of a canal from Mount Clemens to Rochester, connecting the latter place with the lakes. It was a part of the scheme to connect the Lakes Michigan and Erie with a canal, but failed of accomplishment after a heavy outlay of money. The canal was completed to Rochester in 1842, but no boats ever came through. A Mr. Brown built a boat above the lock, but on launching it found it was too large to pass through the same, and it rotted down in the basin. The canal was finally sold to a stock company, who use it for propelling machinery ; and two large flouring mills and one pulp-mill are now operated by it. The State rented the power at one time to Calvin Chapel for three hundred and twenty dollars per annum, and under the contract was bound to keep the canal in repair, and owing to the breaking away of the same, expended one hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars to make the contract good. In 1848 the plank-road legislation was perfected, and lines projected from Rochester to Royal Oak, and thence to Detroit ; but in .after-years the law was amended, allowing the companies organized under the same to contract grave- roads or turnpikes instead of plank roads, which was done, and toll charged, as originally. The pike from Rochester to Royal Oak is a most excellent one.

The first stage line established, connecting Rochester with the outside world, was during the war of the Rebellion, from Romeo and Almont via Rochester to Pontiac, tapping the Grand Trunk railway at Ridgeway and the Detroit and Milwaukee at Pontiac. For a time it had a heavy business, and Rochester was a relay station.

The only railroad Rochester has in its limits is the Detroit and Bay City railroad. The company was organized May 16, 1871, in the office of the Hon. Elliot R. Willcox, who was the secretary and attorney, and also one of the first board of directors of the road. He and Lysander Woodward, of Avon township, the first president of the road, were largely instrumental in procuring the subscriptions to the capital stock of the company, and in acquiring the right of way of the road. The people of Rochester subscribed fifty thousand dollars in aid of the road, and have the evidence today that their money was well invested, in the increased prosperity of the village since the advent of the cars of the road, the first passenger train arriving in October 1872. The road is now under the management and control of the Michigan Central Company, and its business for the seven months ending with March 1, 1877, was as follows: Freight forwarded, seven million one hundred and thirty-six thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven pounds ; freight received, four million two hundred and seventy-three thousand five hundred and seventy-seven pounds. About ten thousand barrels of apples were shipped, and the balance of the shipments was mostly wheat, a few carloads of livestock being shipped also. The passenger traffic in the same time amounted to one thousand four hundred and sixty dollars and sixty-one cents. J. A. Swayze is the agent of the company, and by his courtesy the above statement of business was obtained.

It comprises two flouring-mills, two paper-mills, one woolen-factory, one foundry, one planning-mill. three wagon and carriage manufactories, one bank (private), two newspaper and printing-offices, four blacksmith-shops and carriage-ironers, one Tailor-shop. two harness and carriage-trimming-shops, two cabinet and furniture shops. one undertaking establishment, one jewelry manufacturer, one cigar manufactory , two liveries, one cooper-shop, five general stores, four grocery and provision-stores. two drug-stocks, two hardware-stores, one shoe-store, one shoe-shop, two millinery and ladies' furnishing-stores, two jewelers, two butchers and markets, two hotels, one produce firm, and two lumber-yards. The grand aggregate of business for the year 1876, aside from milling and the products of the paper-mills and woolen factory, given elsewhere, was estimated at the sum of one hundred and eighty-one thousand dollars.

The firbt school taught on the site of the present village of Rochester was under the instruction of a Mr. Farrington, in 1823 or 1824, and was kept in the log house of Alexander Graham, the first house built in the county. The first school-house built in Rochester was erected in 1828, by Gad Norton and William Burbank. on the lot now occupied by the Congregational church, and which lot was donated for school purposes by the proprietors of the village plat. It was a small frame building, and was subsequently removed to the corner of Main and Third streets, and occupied by Dr. R. C. Sprague as a drug store, and in 1850 removed again to the opposite side of the street, and used as a blacksmith-shop until 1869. when it was destroyed by fire. Maria Le Roy, a niece of Hon, Daniel Le Roy, taught the first school in this house in the summer of 1828, and had about ten pupils, among them being Mrs. Harlow Green, now of Rochester, and daughter of William Burbank, one of the master-builders of this old temple of education. The pioneer school-ma'am subsequently married Harley Bronson. and, surviving him, was Mrs. Squires, and died in 1876 near Silver Lake. The second school-house was built in 1835, on Walnut street, opposite the present site of Dr. Wilcox's residence, and was destroyed by fire in the spring of 1843. From that time until 1846 the public-school was taught in the basement of the Christian church. During the last-named year the third school-house was erected on Pine street, and subsequently removed to the east side of Walnut Street, between Third and Fourth, and in 1857 sold to Henry Miller; and was fitted up and occupied as a town-hall, and for public worship by the Universalist church first, and subsequently by the Methodist society, who, in 1866, bought it, and on the erection of the chapel by that society in 1876 it was removed to Main street, and is now occupied by the Era office and McCornac's shoe-shop. In 1847 the people, having for some years previously been supporting select schools of a higher grade of education than the public school then was, subscribed liberally to the purchase of a site and the erection of a building for academic purposes. The site selected and purchased was the west half of out lots 6 and 7 of the village of Rochester, and the house was contracted for and paid for by the notes of the subscribers to the fund, and no debt remained on the building, which was known as the Avon Lyceum.

The movement for this school was largely aided by Professor Peter Myers, a teacher at the time, but who died before the completion of the building in 1847. A. B. Cudworth also was instrumental in the work, and made the contract for the building. The Lyceum was opened in the fall of 1847 by Professor Robert Kedzie. now of the Agricultural College of Michigan, and his assistant was Miss Fairchild. who is the present wife of the professor. Professor Kedzie was followed by Professor Adam and Edward Clisbee, Rev. S. N. Hill, J. L. Waldo, Keller, and Elliot R, Willcox. In 1855, Professor Dwight Gilbert, from Ohio, came to the school, but died after but five weeks' services. C. H. Green taught in 1856-57, when the Lyceum as a private school ceased to exist, and the property was transferred, March 20, 1857, by John Pixley, Edward P. Harris, C. F. Cook, C. M. Griffin, and Lysander Woodward, to school district No. 5 of Avon township (Rochester), and has since been known as the high school of Rochester. The Lyceum under its various instructors attained to a high grade of excellence, and numbered among its pupils young ladies and gentlemen from considerable distances beyond its immediate precincts.

The school district adopted the graded or union school system, September 4, 1865, by a vote of forty-two yeas to four negative votes. The first board of education was composed of the following-named gentlemen : Hosea B. Richardson, Bartholomew Calahan, Charles Adams, Milo P. Newberry, John H. Hutaf. and Charles S. Goodison. The first tax for the support of the school was, for incidentals and back indebtedness, one hundred and forty-nine dollars and twenty cents; for teachers' wages, five hundred dollars; and ten months' school during the year was voted. The second year's wages amounted to ten hundred and sixty- two dollars and twenty cents ; third year, ten hundred and eighty dollars ; fourth year, eleven hundred and eighty dollars ; fifth year, twelve hundred and eighty dollars. The principals of the school since the present building passed into the possession of the district have been as follows: Professor Gorton, 1857-59; C. H. Green, 1859-60 ; Miss Bancroft, Professor J. B. Allen, Professor Carlton, Miss Cole, 1865; P. M. Parker, 1866 (county superintendent), F. D. Newberry, F. Stoflett, Byron G. Waite, 1874-75; George W. Davis, 1875-77. The present board of education consists of D. L. Jennings (moderator), W. H. Barnes (assessor), Joseph Reimer (director), H. B. Richardson, Lemuel Sharp, and Samuel Barnes. The return of the director for the year ending September 1, 1876, makes the following exhibit of the district and its school. There were two hundred and forty-one children of the requisite school age, between five and twenty years, in the district, and two hundred and two pupils attended the school, which was in session ten months during the year. One male teacher taught eight and a quarter months, and received seven hundred and forty-two dollars and fifty cents for his services ; and two females taught twenty months, and received six hundred and ten dollars for their work. The school property was valued at three thousand dollars, and the house affords two hundred and fifty sittings. The total resources of the district amounted to eighteen hundred and seventy-seven dollars and fifty cents, and included one hundred and fifty-three dollars and eighty-four cents received for tuition from non-resident pupils, and twelve hundred and forty dollars raised by district tax. The whole amount was expended : for teachers' salaries, as above, thirteen hundred and fifty-two dollars and fifty cents ; building and repairs, five hundred and twenty-three dollars and nine cents ; incidentals, two dollars and thirty-four cents. The higher branches of education taught in the school include algebra, geometry, book-keeping, natural philosophy, and drawing.

On the first day of July, 1877, the following facts of the history of this church in Rochester were read by Rev. C. O. Brown, the present pastor of the church, who prepared the able and exhaustive resume of the history of the society from which these facts are taken. The church was formed on the first day of July, 1827, by ten individuals. The names of that original band are Daniel Bronson and Hannah Bronson, his wife, Wm. Burbank and Olive, his wife, Lewis G. Bebee and Mary, his wife, Wm. Abbott and Patience, his wife, Mrs. Mary Dort, and Mrs. Betsey Morrison. These all presented letters from other churches. Of this number only three are living, Deacon Wm. Burbank of this place, Mrs. Betsey Morrison, of Utica, Michigan, and Lewis G. Bebee, at present a resident of New York.

The minister instrumental in bringing about and completing the organization was the Rev. Isaac W. Ruggles, residing at that time in Pontiac. At the first election of officers Wm. Abbott and Wm. Burbank were chosen elders. The church worshiped at first in a little log building on the Burroughs farm, and went from house to house for other matters of business or discipline. There is no record of the length of time that the church continued to worship in the log house or from house to house, as the case might be. We have consequently no positive means of ascertaining, but according to the memory of those who were then present it was about twelve or thirteen years, at the end of which period the first church building was erected where it now stands, on the first corner lot southwest of this church, and is now occupied as a dwelling. This first house of worship was erected towards the close of Rev. P. Barbour's three-year' pastorate, 1837-40. Too much cannot be said in praise of the faithfulness and efficiency of this beloved brother, if the results as shown in the records are any indication. Prior to his coming there had been hard work and in its way efficient labor by occasional ministers and two settled pastors, Rev. Luther Shaw, 1831-33, and Rev. A. S. Wells, 1836-37.

Prior to Mr. Barbour's coming the real advancement was very slight. Under the occasional labors of father Ruggles there were the first accession to the church which he organized, numbering four in all, two by letter, Mark Adams and Deborah, his wife, and two on profession, Leonard and Charles Adams. Under the labors of Rev. Luther Shaw, 1831-35, there were eleven additions, eight on profession, and during the one year of Brother A. S. Wells' labor there were three added by letter and one on profession, a total of nineteen additions from the organization of the church to the coming of Brother Barbour in May, 1837. During this period of ten years the church had lost by death and removals at least six members; it may be there were others, as on page 7 we find this entry : " The following page denotes a long time in which no regular records were kept."

The break here indicated in the records is the only one of any consequence during the entire fifty years. At the coming of Brother Barbour all seems to have been changed. The way had been partly prepared by a series of meetings during the latter part of Mr. Wells' administration. Henceforth for several years there were continuous accessions, led off by the results of a revival, which marked the coming of Brother Barbour. During the three years of Mr. Barbour's stay there were one hundred and five additions to the church, eighty-three on profession and twenty-two by letter, the first house of worship was built, and the whole work brought into admirable shape for a successor!

The uneventful pastorate of Rev. Joseph Smith followed, covering two years, 1840-42, during which time, so far as appears, there was but one accession and four removals, all by letter. Mr. Smith preached but one-half of the time. The labors of Bev. E. P. Ingersoll, 1842-44, were more fruitful ; there were nineteen accessions, two of which were by letter.
The Rev. Harvey Hyde, who succeeded Brother Ingersoll, began labor in 1844, and continued two years. Seven accessions by letter, four excommunicated, one removal by death, and one by letter, mark the two years of Mr. Hyde's labor. He was followed by Rev. O. Parker, 1846-48. Results of this pastorate which appear on the records were a total of twenty-seven accessions, six of which were by letter, and nine removals, all by letter.

Rev. S. N. Hill, 1849-55, followed. During this time there were received to the church's communion thirty persons, fifteen by letter and fifteen on profession. There were twelve removals, four by death to the church above, seven to sister churches, and one by excommunication. One of those who died was the wife of the pastor. During Mr. Hill's pastorate this house of worship was built, and dedicated on the 19th of April, 1854, entirely free from debt. Total cost, including furniture and bell, was two thousand six hundred dollars. It was remodeled and refurnished inside a year ago last summer, prior to the coming of Mr. Higgins, at a total cost of nearly seven hundred dollars, and three hundred dollars have recently been expended in painting, graining, and upholstering. Rev. F. L. Waldo began labor November 16, 1856, and ended probably in May of 1857. The records are very meagre in their account of his labors. Mention is made of two accessions and four removals.

The Rev. N. J. Morrison, since president of Olivet, and now president of Drury college, in Springfield, Missouri, followed Mr. Waldo. Mr. Morrison was installed by a council, entered zealously upon those two years of Christian labor which have left so fragrant and affectionate memory among those who knew him, a memory which the older members of this church can scarcely recall to this day without tears of regretful affection. There were in his pastorate thirty-eight accessions, eleven of which were by letter, and one removal by letter. The Rev. L. P. Spellman began labor January, 1860, a few months after Mr. Morrison's departure, and continued just three years, to January, 1863. In March, 1860, he was regularly installed over the church. During his pastorate nine were received on profession and four by letter, and four were removed by excommunication.

The Rev. Mr. Strickland followed with only a few months' labor, and after him Rev. W. Piatt, of Utica, preached every Sabbath afternoon, and continued this kind of labor for six months. Rev. Calvin P. Quick (1866-69) followed, during whose pastorate there were accessions at every communion but three, amounting in the aggregate to twenty-nine, five of whom were by letter. There were six removals by letter and two by death. July 11, 1869, Rev. J. S. Kidder began his labors, and continued until April, 1871. The record shows eighteen accessions, nine by letter and nine on profession and four removals, one by death and three by letter.

After Brother Kidder follow the two brief terms of W. H. Thomas and K. H. Crane, each three months. They were students from Olivet and Oberlin respectively, and labored here during their vacations, and both are now settled pastors in the State. During Brother Crane's stay there were two accessions, one by letter. With September, 1872, began the term of Rev. S. D. Breed, which continued till September, 1874. Thirteen accessions mark these years, with no removals, except such as may have been cut off in a new correction of the roll.

After an interim of a year began the pastorate of Rev. J. E. Higgins, in August, 1875, which continued one year. Brother H. was regularly introduced to the work of the gospel ministry by an ordaining council, which met in September of 1875. During the nine months of Mr. Higgins' active service there were six additions, four upon profession and two by letter and five removals, by excommunication. The present pastor, Rev. C. O. Brown, began his labors here the first Sabbath of September, 1876. There have been in all fifty-seven additions, seven of which were by letter.

Of the fifty years thus hastily reviewed, thirty-six have been filled with regular pastoral service; of the remaining fourteen, six were passed in the irregularity of the first years. More or less of all this time was filled in some way with irregular service from temporary supplies. Counting the two students before mentioned, twenty ministers of the gospel have served the church for a longer or shorter period each. Counting out the very brief terms of the students, the average length of service has been two years and a fraction. The following are the pastors and ministers who have served this church: Feb., 1831-Feb., 1833, Rev. Luther Shaw; Feb., 1833-May, 1837, Rev. A. S. Wells; May, 1837-June, 1840, Rev. P. P. Barbour; Sept., 1840-Oct., 1842, Rev. Joseph Smith; Nov., 1842-1844, Rev. E. P. Ingersoll; May, 1844- May, 1846, Rev. Harvey Hyde; Sept., 1846-Sept., 1848, Rev. 0. Parker; May, 1849-April, 1855, Rev. S. N. Hill; Nov., 1856-1857, Rev. F. L. Waldo; Jan., 1858-Oct., 1859, Rev. N. J. Morrison; Jan., 1860-Jan., 1863, Rev. L. P. Spellman; April, 1863-Jan., 1864, Rev. Strickland; Oct., 1864 , Rev. W. Piatt; July, 1866-May, 1869, Rev. C. P. Quick; July, 1869-April, 1871, Rev. J. S. Kidder; July, 1871-Oct., 1871, Mr. W. H. Thomas; Dec, 1871- Feb., 1872, Mr. K. H. Crane; Sept., 1872-Sept., 1874, Rev. S. D. Breed; Aug., 1875-Aug., 1876, Rev. J. E. Higgins; Sept., 1876, Rev. C. O. Brown.

was formed in 1835, of the following members: Deacon Orange Foote and wife, David Barger and wife, James Wells and wife, and James Cheney and wife. Elder Joseph Smith was the minister by whose labors the organization was effected. He was succeeded by Elder Carmon. The church edifice was erected in 1843, but not completed until 1855, when it passed into the possession of the Baptist society, which finished it. The Christian church was dissolved in 1850.

was organized under the statute March 10, 1838, by the election of six trustees (lay members), viz. : Samuel Axford, Seneca Newberry, Hiram Andrews, Hiram Higley, Samuel F. Chipman, and Ephraim Calkins. The church organization of this society was not effected until June 9, 1861, at which time twenty individuals met and adopted articles of faith, thirteen being received by the right hand of fellowship, and seven by baptism. The present church edifice was erected in 1868, the church worshiping previously in the school-house. It contains about four hundred sittings, and cost three thousand dollars. Rev. C. W. Knickerbocker has preached to this church the greater part of the time since its organization. Revs. Gorton, John Palmer, and Chaplin have also been over the congregation as pastors. Mr. Knickerbocker is the present pastor. The society numbers some ninety to one hundred members, and the church thirty-six. A Sunday-school was organized about the same time as the church, and now numbers seventy scholars. Nelson Earle superintendent. Arthur Beebe is the clerk and treasurer of the church.

This society was formed in the Stony Creek Baptist church edifice of which society the original members of the Rochester church were constituents June 1, 1854, and the following trustees elected : L. W. Cole, L. G. Tanner, N. J. Millerd, Lemuel Taylor, and Charles Copeland. At the annual meeting January 1, 1855, trustees were again elected to fill vacancies, and a building committee appointed. In 1855 the society purchased the unfinished Christian church edifice and completed it, and occupy it at the present time. It affords three hundred sittings, and is valued at three thousand dollars. Zenas Coleman was the first pastor, and served from June, 1855, to 1857. He has been succeeded in the pastorate as follows: Elder E. Steele, 1857-59 ; Martin Coleman, 1859-61 (the latter died November 4, 1861); Elder Snyder, supply from November, 1861, to September 4, 1862*; Elder King, 1862, till he went into the service of the United States in the war of the Rebellion, and again on his return therefrom in 1865. During Mr. King's absence the society had no pastor. Mr. King resigned October 1, 1866, and was succeeded by Rev. E. Tenney from January 1, 1867, to December, 1868 ; Rev. D. Gostellow, 1868-69 ; Silas Finn, February 1, 1870, to July 1, 1871 ; A. M. Swain, October 29, 1871, to February, 1874; Rev. E. D, Daniels supply August 18j 1874, to April 10, 1875 ; R. S. Chase, supply to September 1, 1875, when he was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. T. S. Wooden. The church numbers one hundred and nineteen members, and its present officers are: Deacons, N. J. Millerd, James E. Riggs, George W. Stiff; S. P. Hartwell, treasurer ; J. C. Baker, clerk ; Trustees, N. J. Millerd, Jas. E, Riggs. T. C. Cook, A. Parker, George W. Stiff, and John Miller. The Sunday school in operation in connection with the church has one hundred and seventy-five scholars and teachers enrolled. The pastor is the superintendent, Miss Clarabel Smith secretary. Miss Carrie Wooden treasurer, and William J. Harrington librarian.

In 185S several places were opened for Methodist services, and the pastor of the Oakland circuit requited to supply preaching, but the size of the circuit prevented the granting of the request. Application was then made to the presiding elder. Rev. S. Calkins, who sent Rev. Daniel Bimey, from Canada West, to the new territory as a missionary. He occupied the waste places by preaching at Mount Vernon, Stony Creek, Hubble's school-house, Rochester, Ewell's school- house, and other points, until the meeting of the annual conference, in 1859, when these points were formally organized into a circuit, called the Rochester and Stony Creek circuit, and Rev. L. T. Mitchell appointed preacher in charge. The next year the circuit was changed to the Stony Creek circuit, and Mitchell re- appointed preacher. At the October conference, in 1859, held at Troy, present. Rev. S. Calkins, presiding elder ; Daniel Bimey, pastor ; Daniel S. Dewitt, John W. De Witt, Silas H. Douglass, and Jesse Fangboner, the following trustees of the circuit were elected: Conrad Walter, John W. De Witt, Silas H. Douglass, Jesse Fangboner, Daniel S. Dewitt. Daniel Birney's stipulated salary was three hundred and seventy-six dollars, of which he received two hundred and seventy-four dollars and thirty-five cents. At the conference of 1860, a committee was appointed to purchase a parsonage at Stony Creek, and one was accordingly purchased, and eighty-one dollars subscribed for repairs on the same. The entire coffer was five hundred dollars. In 1861 the Rev. Alexander Gee was appointed preacher in charge. In 1862 the conference united the Stony Creek circuit to the Utica circuit, but disunited them in 1863. Revs. Jas. R. Nobles and Francis W. Berry were the pastors of the united circuit. In 1863, Rochester was made one of the regular appointments of the Stony Creek circuit, and Rev. W. J. Johnson was the preacher in charge. In 1866-67, Rev. William Taylor was presiding elder, and Rev. James E. Armstrong, pastor. The parsonage at Stony Creek was burned July 7, 1866, and the lot was sold to pay the incumbrancers on the same, and a church edifice (the old school-house) having been purchased in Rochester, in 1866. and the greatest number of members of any one point in the circuit being located there, the name of the circuit was changed to the Rochester circuit, and a church formally organized as the First M. E. church of Rochester, July 7, 1866. Rev. R. McConnel was the pastor in this year, and the first trustees of the church to effect its legal organization under the laws of the State were Jonathan Hale, John N. Dewitt, Samuel G. Niles, William Newell, and James Riggs. The church and lots at Rochester cost about six hundred dollars. Revs. J. B. Yarnum, 1867-69 ; H. Hood, 1869-70 ; and S. Johnson, 1870-71, were successively pastors over the circuit. In 1871 a church was built at Mount Vernon, costing two thousand dollars, and the parsonage at Rochester commenced, and completed in 1872, Mr. Johnson being largely instrumental in effecting these much needed conveniences. In 1872, Rev. A. B. Clough was pastor, and Mount Vernon and Graham were appointments of the Rochester circuit; but during the last six months the latter appointment was supplied from Troy, and the numerical strength of the Rochester charge lessened materially. Rev. R. Bird was the pastor in 1875-76, and the present pastor, John Armstrong, came to the charge in October of the latter year. In 1876 the present elegant chapel was built, at a cost of three thousand eight hundred dollars, on the old site, which affords three hundred sittings, and has been constructed with a view to the erection of a main edifice in front at such time as the society shall find it convenient so to do. The church numbers one hundred and thirty-five members at the present writing, and its Sunday-school, under the charge of the pastor, has one hundred and ten scholars on its rolls, and one hundred and fifty books in its library.

was organized about the year 1860, three miles northwest of Rochester, where the society worshiped until 1876, when its location was removed to Rochester. A church edifice was erected in the township of Avon in 1862 or thereabouts, and the church building in Rochester was erected in 1876, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. It is a frame building Thirty-six by fifty feet, and affords two hundred sittings. The church was gathered and organized under the preaching of Elders Hall and Loughborough. The society has no local ministers, but has been supplied with preaching by Elder R, J. Lawrence more than any one particular minister. There are now some thirty-five members in the church, and its Sunday-school numbers twenty, Preston Lawrence being the superintendent.

Stony Creek Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was instituted at Stony Creek by charter from the grand lodge of the State of New York, previous to the formation of the grand lodge of Michigan, in 1826, but the exact date of its charter we cannot give, owing to the destruction of the records of the lodge by fire in 1868. Among the original members of this old lodge were the following-named pioneers, such as we have been able to gather from the memories of some of the surviving members of the lodge : Jesse Decker, who was one of the earliest Worshipful Masters of the lodge ; Joshua Taylor, Worshipful Master more than forty years ago ; Daniel B. Taylor, Peleg Ewell, and Calvin Chapel. This old lodge has a most interesting history to the craft, and was the only lodge in the Territory which kept its lights burning at its altar during the reign of the anti-Masonic excitement from 1827 to 1840. The lodge built, on one of the summits that crown the heights of the hamlet of Stony Creek, an octagon lodge-room, and named the site on which it stood Mount Moriah. Here, for twelve or more years, Joshua Taylor and his confreres kept the lodge illuminated on the nights of its regular meetings, its lights shining out over the surging waters of fanaticism and bigotry like an ancient Pharos over a still more ancient sea. When at last the waves of passion and prejudice subsided, and the grand lodge of Michigan, after a long enforced "rest," which, however, could scarcely be called “refreshment," returned to labor and resumed its rusty working tools, Stony Creek lodge appeared before the newly-rehabilitated authority with evidences of labor on her implements and clothing, and was chartered as Stony Creek lodge, No. 5. The lodge continued to work at Stony Creek until 1850, when it was removed to Rochester, and its name changed to Rochester Lodge, No. 5, A. F. M. The hall of the lodge has been twice destroyed by fire ; and in the last one, in 1868, the entire records of the lodge previous to that time were lost, and a full list of those who have filled the Oriental chair is not attainable, previous to 1853. Since then the office of Worshipful * Master has been filled as follows: J. V. Lambertson, 1853-68, and 1871-74; Dr. J. C. Wilson, 1869 ; Samuel Barnes, 1870, and 1874 to the present time. The lodge now numbers some forty members in good standing ; and its officers for 1877 are as follows : Samuel Barnes, W. M. ; Smith Shippey, S. W. ^. Stewart K. Bowne, J. W. ; Fred. Dahlman, Treasurer; J. G. Barger, Secretary

Rochester Lodge No. 98, was instituted April 19, 1866, by R. W. Dennis, Grand Master of Michigan, the following being the first officers of the lodge: W. J. Weir, N. G. ; Dr. F. M. Wilcox, V. G. ; C. S. Goodison, Rec. Sec; Jno. H. Hutaf, Per. Sec. ; C. F. Cook, Treas. ; L. Woodward, P. G. ; H. King, Chaplain. Six initiates were admitted the first meeting. The present hall of the lodge in Weir block has been occupied from the first by the lodge. Oxford and Disco lodges are offshoots from this lodge, which now numbers thirty-four members. Its present officers are : J. C. Ackerman, N. G. ; Geo. Barley, V. G. ; Geo. S. Ross, Rec. Sec. ; J. J. Blinn, Per. Sec. ; W. J. Weir, Treas.

The Rochester Division of Sons of Temperance was instituted in 1847, and continued five years. Among its members were : Edward P. Harris, Hosea B. Richardson, A. Bernard Cudworth, G. W. Vandeventer, Fabius A. Brooks, Jas. Malcolm, Alonzo Rozier, Walter Nicols, and T. C. Cook. It had at one time a large membership, but fell into disfavor with the decline of the order in the State, and ceased to be in 1852, or thereabouts. Rochester Lodge, No. 169, I. 0. G. T, was instituted February 4, 1864, with J. V. Lambertson, W. C. T. ; Mrs. Gillett, W. V. T. ; F. A. Brooks, Sec. ; E. S. Cook, Financial Sec. The lodge prospered in its earlier history, having at one time over three hundred members, but its membership has fallen off largely, until at present but twenty-four remain. The present officers are : James Chipman, W. C. T. ; Mrs. Mary R. Wood, W. V. T. ; Marshall S. Vandeventer, Sec. ; Anna Boune, Assistant Sec. ; Oscar Millard, Financial Sec. ; Miss Maggie Harrison, Treas. ; Wm. Watson, Marshal ; Benj. Betters, I. G. ; John Keliher, O. G. Other lodges were formed in Stony Creek and elsewhere in the township, but were short-lived.

Rochester Grange, No. 257, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in March, 1874, with M. P. Newberry as its Master, and Frank Thorp, Secretary. There were about thirty-five members at its organization, and there are sixty at the present. Present officers: M. P. Newberry, Master; James Lomison, Overseer ; B. F. McDonald, Lecturer Parmeter, Sec. ; Lysander Woodward, Treas.

The Rochester Band, of the olden time, was organized in October, 1844, and continued to discourse harmony for the delectation of the people of the village and surrounding country until 1850. The members of this old organization were as follows : Charles Cook, leader, E-flat clarinet ; John B. Martz, B-flat clarinet ; J. Y. Lambertson, trombone ; Thos. Palmer, post-horn ; Geo. Niles, bugle ; John Masters, Daniel Squires, and Edward Hoard, cornopeans ; Theo. C. Cook, trumpet; Sheldon Lawrence and H. B. Richardson, French-horns ; Hiram Lambertson, piccolo ; L. Woodward, ophecleide ; Calvin Purdy, bass-drum. Other changes were made of personnel, but the instruments remained the same. This band was succeeded by other organizations, which existed for a more or less brief period, and passed away. A cornet band was organized in 1865, of nine instruments, with Daniel Currier, now of the Bay City Growler, as leader ; which practiced some four or five years, and became fairly proficient in the musical art. In February, 18T6, The Rochester Silver Comet Band was organized, with Charles Voorheis as leader. The composition of the band at present is as follows : leader, William Holman, E-flat ; William Goodison, E-flat ; Marshall Vandeventer and Dayton Brown, 1st and 2d B-flat ; James McCornac and Louis D. Dahlman, E-flat altos ; G. W. Vandeventer, tenor; Charles Voorheis, baritone; Julian Peters, tuba; Myron Yan Sickle, tenor-drum ; Louis Bitters, bass-drum.

The Rochester Literary Society was organized October 4, 1872, by the election of the following officers : President, Samuel T. McCornac ; Vice-President, Cyrene L. Parker ; Recording Secretary, Alice Vanhoosen ; Corresponding Secretary, Charles E. Newberry; Treasurer, Thomas E. Sprague; Editress, Ettie Hutaf A. Beebe and C. F. McDonald were also original members of the society. The society has maintained its organization to the present time, and has secured a library of one hundred and twenty-one volumes of a miscellaneous character, Chambers' Encyclopedia included. The books were obtained by funds raised by entertainments and donations of the members. A manuscript amateur journal is issued by the society, and read at their meetings, compiled from original productions of the members. The present officers of the society are : James Barnes, president ; Frank Smith, vice-president ; Clara Smith, secretary ; Charles Marsh, corresponding secretary ; Theodore Dahlman, treasurer and librarian. The Rochester Literary and Library Society was first organized in the autumn of 1873, as the Rochester Lecture and Library Association, and chartered in the winter of 1877, under its present name. Under its first organization it procured the delivery of a course of six lectures, by Hon. A. G. Comstock, Rev. G. L. Foster, Mrs. F. W. Gillette, Rev. E. D. Daniels, Rev. J. H. Palmer, and Hon. H. M. Look. The nucleus of a library has been formed in a full set of Appleton's American Cyclopedia. The active members of the society, who contribute to the literary exercises, number about twenty, and others are stockholders. The present officers are: D, W. Randall, president; D. L. Jennings, vice-president ; W. J. Weir, secretary ; Miss Hattie Woodward, treasurer ; Mrs. T. B. Fox, librarian.

When the proprietors of the original plat of Rochester surveyed the village and laid it off, they donated an acre of ground on outlet 13 for burial purposes ; and the board of health of Avon township have since added the balance of the lot, making the area of the cemetery some eight or more acres. The last purchase was of Seneca Newberry, and cost the township some thirteen hundred dollars. The first burial in this plat was that of Mrs. Elsie Horton, wife of George Horton, and grandmother of C. Z. Horton, of Rochester, who was interred in February, 1827. The next burial was that of James Green, who was buried the July following. There are some beautiful marbles in this quiet retreat, which overlooks the village below it ; among them the Harris and Robinson slabs, and the family monuments of F. A. Brooks, William M. Axford, Adam Manwaring, and John Kinney are notable. A most touching memento of affection is a draped block erected in memory of Marion E. Wilcox. The tablet bears this inscription : " Life is ever lord of death, and love can never lose its own." On the top of the block a book rests, inscribed " To Marion."

In 1838, Rochester gave itself up to the pomp and circumstance of militia parades and courts-martial, and with others of the township the citizens of the village enrolled themselves under the militia laws of the State, and organized the Avon Rifle Company. The company was first officered by Calvin Chapel as captain, A. Brotherton first lieutenant, James A. Green second lieutenant, and C. Z. Horton orderly. Captain Chapel rose through the grades to the colonelcy of the regiment, Brotherton became captain, and Horton first lieutenant, but the company never saw the tented field, nor plucked proud laurels from the rugged front of war.

The first celebration of the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence was had in the village July 4, 1827. The oration, by Hon. Thomas J. Drake, was delivered in a little house which now stands east of C. S. Goodison's store, but which then stood on the site of Mr. Goodison's brick dwelling. The festivities closed with a grand ball in the evening.

On Saturday, February 14, 1874, pursuant to previous call, the surviving pioneers of Avon met at Odd-Fellows Hall, and proceeded to organize a pioneer society, auxiliary to the Oakland County Pioneer Society. Hon. Almon Mack was called to the chair, and Christian Z. Horton appointed secretary, and, on motion, such a society was organized under the name of the Avon Pioneer Society. Mr. Mack was chosen permanent president, C. Z. Horton permanent secretary, Cyrus K. Chipman and Jonathan Pixley vice-presidents, and Hosea B. Richardson treasurer. A committee was appointed, consisting of Cyrus H. Chipman, John Frank, Uri Adams, Hosea B. Richardson, and C. Z. Horton, to obtain the names of all pioneers in Avon, the date and. place of birth, and year of immigration to Michigan, and membership was limited to all persons having a residence of thirty-five years in the State, and at the date of the organization of the society residents of Avon, Fifty-three members were reported at the next meeting, held February 21, 1874, of whom nine were natives of Michigan, seven of these being born in Avon, and one elsewhere in Oakland county. Mrs. Laura Fisher, one of the seven, was the first female born in the township.