Although at first comprising three-fifths of the area of the county, the civil hbtory of Oakland township properly begins in 1827. At that time it included what are now known as the townships of Avon, Oakland, Addison, Oxford, and Orion. A year later the last named town was annexed to Pontiac township, and in 1835 Avon was set off as a separate town. Addison and Oxford were organized in 1837, living Oakland at that time co-extensive with the township indicated in the United States surveys, and described as town 4 north, range 11 east. It b on the east line of the county, and has Addison, Orion, and Avon towns for boundaries, on its north, west, and south, respectively.

The general surface is elevated and regular, except along its water courses. The valley of Paint creek is deeply cut below the general level, and its limits are defined in places by abrupt, almost precipitous, hills. There is also a range of hills along the Stony creek. A plain of several square miles in extent lies in the northeastern part of the town, and the southwest is remarkable for its beautifully located land, being diversified by picturesque hills and dales. The entire surface was originally covered with a growth of timber, chiefly oak. Other varieties are found, but not in great abundance. The soil is fertile, producing the various cereals in great perfection; and as a grazing country it has but few superiors. The horses and cattle of Oakland are widely and favorably known for their general excellence. The drainage of the town is perfect, having several swiftly flowing streams, with little marsh surface. The lakes are few and unimportant, and are drained by the Stony creek, which enters the town from the west at the middle of section 6, flowing in a general southeasterly course, through West and Green lakes, to the centre of section 25, whence it passes into Macomb county. It has several tributary branches, and affords fair water power, which has been well improved. Paint creek, the most important stream, enters the township near the northwest corner of section 18, thence flows southeast to the middle of section 28, from where it takes a general southerly course along the east line of section 33 into Avon township, on the south of Oakland, emptying finally into the Clinton river. Its course through the town is marked by numerous little falls, and its decent is very rapid, producing excellent water power. This is improved on section 28. There are splendid water privileges afforded by the creek on sections 19 and 20, which have not yet been utilized. The day will possibly come when the banks of this stream will be crowded by mills and factories, as its power is practically unlimited, and the country through which it flows is one of the richest in the State. Numerous brooks drain into the creek, one of which, rising in section 31, and flowing in a northeasterly course, is a considerable stream.

The year after the first settlement of the county the venturesome land hunter entered what is now within the bounds of Oakland township. On the 16th day of March, 1819, Benjamin Woodworth and William Russell purchased a part of section 33. In 1824, James Coleman and James Hazzard also made purchases. The year following, 1825, Benedict Baldwin, Horace Lathrop, James D. Galloway, Josiah Dewey, Samuel Hilton, Ezra Newman, David Hammond, and Needham Hemingway bought land of the government, most of it being in the western part of the township. In the latter part of the same year, or early the next, 1826.

Were made by Asa Baker, Benedict Baldwin, Needham Hemingway, Josiah Dewey, Jeremiah Hunt, Joel Potter, Samuel Tower, and James Coleman. Nearly all came from Chili, Monroe county. New York. Most of them put up good log houses and made substantial improvements that year and the year following. They were all good citizens, and their influence on the early history of the township has been very marked.

In the fall of 1826, Stillman Bates, a New Yorker, located on the southwest quarter of section 35. He was the first settler in that part of the town, and put up a first rate log house that year. It was the first in that region north of Rochester.

Russel Thurston, a native of New York, located on section 19, in the summer of 1826. Ira and David Hammond, brothers, from Scipio, Monroe county, New York, settled on sections 29 and 30 in the fall of 1826. Samuel Hilton settled on the land he had purchased the year before, on section 29, about the same time ; and Ezra Newman, also from Monroe county, began improving his tract, located on section 31, in the summer or fall of 1826.

Among the settlers who came in 1827 was Ezra Brewster, from Chili, Monroe county, New York. He had come to Michigan a short time before, living first in the western part of Orion township. He now purchased a tract of land on section 30, Oakland township, where he and his sons, Peter, Owen, Stephen G., and Allen, commenced to build a pioneer's home. All the sons, except Stephen G., are still Oakland County men, and are well known in its pioneer history. The year 1828 brought Lyman Whitney and Eber Hotchkiss, both from New York, and both located on section 31.

In 1829, William Snell, a New Englander, settled on section 27. He was an enterprising man, and took great interest in the affairs of the township. The first election of the present township was held at his house. The same year Wm. M. Axford, of New Jersey, also located on section 27. He was a man of great influence among his neighbors, and was the first supervisor. David Lawrence located on section 27 in 1830, and John Axford settled there the same year.

Among those who cast their lots in the township from 1831 to 1833 were Isaac Sisson, from Buffalo, New York, on section 22 ; Ludlow Shadbolt, from Dutchess county. New York, on section 21 ; Abraham Axford, from New Jersey, section 14 ; David Shadbolt, who located at Hemingway's, and soon after married a daughter of his ; David Brook, a native of the State of New York, settled on section 12, 1832 ; Stephen Parrish, Moses Snover, and George K. Snover, natives of the States of New York and New Jersey, came to the township about this time ; George Mercer, from New York, settled on section 27 in 1831 ; Darius J. Covel, from Dutchess county, New York, on section 27, in 1833 ; Calvin Fosdick, from Dutchess county, New York, on section 27, in 1833 ; Sanford Swayze, from New Jersey, in the western part of the town, in 1832 ; Job Sherman, from Ontario county, New York, came in 1831, taking up government land in section 18. He had two sons, Charles and Hoffman, who have been in the township ever since, and are now among the oldest citizens. Jacob Perry, of New Jersey, settled on section 29 in 1832. He had five sons, who became citizens of Oakland township, Adam, Abraham, James, Aaron, and George. Aaron Cook, from Ogden, Monroe county, New York, settled on section 8 in 1832. He had no near neighbors, as that part of the township did not settle up as fast as other portions of it. Sewell and Roswell Bromley, Vermonters, settled on the Paint creek in 1833 ; and John Taylor, Warren county, New Jersey, on section 11, in 1832.

From 1834-37, there was a large immigration; but among the prominent settlers were William B. Fosdick, from Dutchess county. New York, on section 27 ; Jonathan Carpenter, Dutchess county, New York, section 28 ; Ira Youngs, on section 34 ; Peter Kline, New Jersey, on section 15, with his sons Jacob, William, and Philip ; William Chapman in the west part of the township ; Martin Vail and Horace Smith in the northwestern part ; William Flumerfelt and Christopher Cole in the eastern part ; and the Taylors, Shoups, and Hixons in the central part of the township.

In 1825, Jeremiah Hunt came into the township to build a log house on his land, taken a short time before, on section 18. He erected quite a comfortable building, and early in 1826 occupied it with his family. This was the first log house in the township, and was used for many years.

Instead of building a log house, as was customary among the first settlers, when Needham Hemingway came into the country he put up a good shanty. This he used until the summer of 1827, when he erected a frame house, being the first in the township. It is still in use as the residence of Wm. Goodison. Josiah Dewey also built a frame house at an early day, which was one of the land-marks on section 18 for many years.

About 1827, Josiah Dewey planted an orchard of apple trees, most of which are still in a flourishing condition.

Soon after, probably in 1828, Benedict Baldwin also set out an orchard, most of the trees of which are yet standing.

In 1830, Ira Hammond procured a number of seedling apple trees, which he planted on his farm, on section 30. Some years afterwards he grafted them with the Spitzenberg stock. The trees made a healthy, vigorous growth, and some of them now measure seventy-three inches in circumference two feet from the ground. This orchard is now owned by Charles Sherman, Mr. Hammond's son-in-law.

About the same time (1830) Ezra Brewster and his son Peter carried a few dozen fruit trees on their backs from Pontiac to their home, following Indian trails through the woods. They were planted on section 30, and grew finely. Most of them remain to this day, and some of them measure as much as seven feet in circumference. Allen Brewster is now the proprietor of this orchard.

James Coleman built a frame barn, thirty-two by forty-two feet, about 1828. It was the first barn of any size in the township. Samuel Tower did the carpenter work. The frame is still in a good condition. The same year Samuel Hilton put up a barn of about the same size.

In 1835, Needham Hemingway built a dam across Paint creek, on section 28 and dug a race three-fourths of a mile long to the east line of the same section, where he constructed a two story frame building, twenty-six by fifty-six feet for a grist mill. He put in two run of stones, and, although the machinery was "home-made" to a large extent, the mill did good work, and had a very fair reputation. It passed out of the hands of Mr. Hemingway a few years after, and has since then had a number of owners. It is now the property of William Goodison, who built an addition of eighteen feet to the length in 1876. He also supplied it with modern machinery, so that it is now an excellent mill. It is at present, and has always been, the only grist mill in the township.

In 1836 a dam was built across the west branch of Stony creek, on the southeast corner of section 23. It was a good site for a dam, having a fall of nine feet. A saw mill was built just below the dam, and the power was supplied by a common "flutter" wheel, being perhaps the only one of the kind in the country. Aaron Baker was the first owner of this mill. In 1839 it passed into the hands of James A. Hersey, of Avon township, who moved to the place that year, and has since operated it. Mr. Hersey is a son of John Hersey, one of the oldest settlers in the county. He came with his father in 1818, and has been more or less identified with the milling interests of the country.

Identified with the milling interests of the country. About 1840, Edward Demerell built a saw mill just west of the Hemingway grist mill, supplying it with water from the same race. It was operated successfully until 1872, when the Detroit and Bay City railroad laid its track across the mill's tramway, so that it interfered with its work. It was then sold to the railroad company, who discontinued it.

Hiram Halstead was the first blacksmith in the township. He built a shop about 1828 on his land, on section 29, and here from early morning until late at night he plied his trade, to the great delight of his farmer neighbors, who set a great store by "Uncle H." He was a jolly, whole souled fellow, a good craftsman, and much of his work, in the shape of barn hinges, grubbing hoes, etc., is still in use.

About 1842, Jacob Durnberger built a shop on the west part of section 2. Here he did the smithing for that part of the country for many years. A frame shop has taken the place of the log one, where Axford Campbell now carries on the trade.

There is at present, also, a blacksmith shop at Goodison's mills. William Toms was the first shoemaker in the township who built a shop to carry on his trade. He is yet the only "son of St. Crispin" in Oakland, and has his shop at Goodison's.

Samuel Tower, one of the first settlers, was the carpenter in those days. Was a house to be erected or a barn to be built, Samuel Tower was the man to do it; and more barns were built by him than by any other workman.

Job Sherman, who was by trade a millwright, also followed carpentry to some extent. He made the first coffin in the township.

Oakland has always been, strictly speaking, an agricultural township. It does not have, at present, a trading point within its limits; but in 1831 John P. LeRoy opened a small store on section 30. Here he supplied the neighbors with such articles as they most needed. The business was then closed out, and the building, a few years thereafter (about 1837), was taken for a cabinet shop, where Hudson Benedict carried on his trade. He was slow to execute his orders, but a good workman withal, and much of his handicraft is treasured by the old settlers, or their descendants, as heirlooms of the "good old times."

No accurate account of the first wedding has been kept by the local chronologists, but, as near as can be determined, the parties to the nuptials were Otis Thompson and Diana Dewey. Elder Ruggles performed the ceremony.

In 1827, in the cold and cheerless month of January, Josiah and Lucy Dewey, had a pair of twins born to them, a boy and a girl, which were christened withe the beautiful French names of Antoinette and Lafayette. They were sprightly little beings, and proved a source of great comfort, not only to the parents, but to the neighbors, who took a common interest in their welfare.

About a year or so after the birth of these twins, Mrs. Jeremiah Hunt gave birth to another pair, a couple of boys. These were named Lewis Cass and Kearsley, in honor of representative Michigan men of that day. One of them died while yet a lad ; the other entered the Federal army during the late civil war, and then contracted a sickness which proved fatal.

As near as can be determined, Nathan Scott, a well-known farmer, was the first grown person who died in the township. His disease was an enlargement of the spleen. He was buried near the school house, in what is now known as the Baldwin cemetery, on section 21, in April, 1882.

Job Sherman, the millwright, and one of the earliest comers, was the next interred in this grave yard, probably in the fall of 1832.

Prior to these deaths several infants had died, and were interred in the Bigler burying-ground, located on the northwest corner of section 30, in 1827. The early settlers of Orion township made their interments there, and those first interred were from that township. It was controlled by private parties until 1865, when Messrs. Allen Brewster, John Howarth, Adam Perry, and Dennison Giddings purchased the ground, about one acre, for one hundred dollars, and formed an association called " The Orion and Oakland Burial Society." The first election of officers resulted as follows : President, Allen Brewster ; Secretary, Joseph P. Coon; and Treasurer, Adam Perry. The present officers are: President, Allen Brewster; Secretary, Joseph P. Coon; and Treasurer, Aleck Pippinger.

Secretary, Joseph P. Coon ; and Treasurer, Aleck Pippinger. In 1853 this ground passed into the hands of the “Baldwin Burial Association," and has since been controlled by it. The first officers were: President, Isaac S. Tower; Secretary, Robert Cornell ; Treasurer, Lemuel P. Tower. It is now officered by W. Toms, president ; Lemuel P. Tower, secretary ; W. Toms, treasurer ; and Harvey Seeley, David B. Swayze, and George Perry, trustees.

The Presbyterian grave ard, on the northeast corner of section 15, is under the control of the officials of the church, located at the same place. The ground was set aside for this purpose in 1855; and Hugh Gray, William Kline, and Jonas Hixson were selected to manage it. Mrs. Peter Kline was among the first buried there. Before the location of this ground there was a burial ground by the school house, just opposite the church. The remains of those buried there have been transferred to the new grave yard.

The "Territorial road" was the first officially located in the town. Its general course being along the Paint creek, it is very crooked. Other roads were located on section lines, wherever practicable, as soon as the settlement of the township demanded. Quite a number were surveyed as early as 1828 by Ziba Swan, Abner Davis, and Orestes Taylor, Benjamin Horton, John Hersey, and Jonathan Perrin were commissioners at that time.

In 1872 the Detroit and Bay City railroad was built through the township, in the valley of the Paint creek. It has a flag station at Goodison's mills, but Rochester, in the town of Avon, is the chief point for the shipment of the farm products of Oakland.

A post office was established at Goodison's in 1874. It had a daily mail, and L. P. Tower was the first postmaster. The office is still continued, with William Goodison, Jr., as postmaster.

Lysander Woodard, a native of New York, was the first to introduce a grain separator. The farmers did not look upon this innovation with much favor, and when, a few years thereafter, he added a straw stacker to his machine, they thought he was altogether too much given to experiments with "Yankee inventions." But, on seeing the excellent work done and the labor saved by these appliances, they gave him a liberal patronage.

The first school house was built on section 29, in 1827. It was a log structure, covered with boards and slabs, fastened down with poles. There was a large fireplace, so that a log six feet long could be rolled into it. The seats were arranged around the walls, and were made of slabs, with legs cut from saplings growing close at hand. Thomas Bailey, a jolly Irishman, was the teacher. He was a great singer, and a general favorite among his pupils and their parents. The school was well attended by the Deckers, Biglers, Brewsters, Baldwins, Potters, Deweys, Colemans, and Hemingways. Mrs. Hilton and Diana Dewey also taught there, being the first lady teachers in the town.

About 1836 a log school house was erected on section 8, where the children living in the northern part of the town attended. Miss Jane Seeley was the first teacher. Among the pupils were the Hunts, Shermans, Cooks, and Vails. Samuel Eaton and Wm. Marvin also taught there.

In the fall of 1836 a school house was built in the Kline settlement. It was (instructed of tamarack logs, and was a good sized building, being intended for religious meetings as well as school purposes. Stephen Green was among the first teachers. This house was after a few years replaced by a frame building, and other houses were erected in different parts of the town as soon as they were demanded. It is now well supplied with a fair class of buildings, there being nine School districts, in whole or in part, in the township.

Among the early preachers were Elder Booth, a Baptist, in 1826 ; and Elder Norton, a Free Will Baptist, about the same time. They preached in private houses until the school houses were built. Elder Norton had a great revival at the Baldwin school house in the winter of 1827. Its influence was felt throughout the entire town.

Elder Samuel Morse was also one of the early preachers, belonging to the Methodist church. He afterwards accepted the Baptist belief It is remarkable that he preached his first and his last sermon at the Baldwin school house. He fell dead while delivering it, in November, 1875. The event created a profound impression, as he was highly esteemed. Others think that it was in conformity with his oft expressed wishes that he might die at his post, in the discharge of his duties, and that it was appropriate that he should die where he began his lifework.

Elders Cannon and Benedict, Baptists, also labored in the moral vineyard of Oakland ; and Hiram Barnes, a local Methodist preacher, did much to build up that church at a time when the "good tidings" were gladly received.

Ezra Brewster was living in Canada at the breaking out of the war. He had just opened a farm, and his future was quite promising, when he was told that he could retain his title to his land if he would renounce his allegiance to his native land, or he would have to forfeit it, and leave the country. He chose to do the latter, and immediately returned to New York, made temporary provision for his family, and enlisted in a Captain Lacy's company. He participated in several engagements, and was at Buffalo when that place was destroyed. He served with credit to himself, and was an honored pensioner of our "second national struggle."

Josiah Dewey and James Coleman were also soldiers of 1812, but no account of their company connection has been received.

The first meeting was held when the township of Oakland comprised the five congressional towns of Avon, Oakland, Addison, Oxford, and Orion. It was convened at the house of William Russell, in the village of Rochester, on the 28th day of May, 1827. Roger Sprague was elected viva voce as moderator. There being no clerk, "last before elected," as the "statutes seem to contemplate," Nathaniel Baldwin was chosen to the ofiice, and, when he had qualified, the election for other officers proceeded, with the following result:

Supervisor, Roger Sprague ; Assessors, Northop Jones, William Russell, Needham Hemingway ; Commissioners of Highways, Jonathan Perrin, Benjamin Horton, John Hersey ; Overseers of the Poor, Cyrus Chipman, Amos Favington; Collector, John F. Hamlin ; Constables, John F. Hamlin, Erastus Cressey, Walter Sprague; Justices, by previous appointment, Daniel Bronson, Joshua B. Taylor, Gad Norton.

Rules were adopted prohibiting male animals from running at large, under penalty to the owners of not less than five or more than ten dollars. At the second election, held April, 1828, the following were elected: Supervisor, Roger Sprague ; Clerk, Nathaniel Baldwin.

Fence viewers were to be allowed six cents a mile from their residences to the fences viewed, and twenty-five cents for making out every certificate of condemned fences.

" Every person's yard, stable, and other sufficient inclosure shall be taken and deemed a public pound for all the purposes of such person for distraining every animal doing damage on the premises of such person ; and the same person is to exercise all the powers and demands and receive the same fees allowed to pound masters."

The third election, held at Rochester, April, 1829, resulted as follows: Supervisor, Roger Sprague ; Clerk, Nathaniel Baldwin.

July 13, 1829, an election was held for the purpose of choosing two members to the legislative council. Roger Sprague and Daniel Le Roy received the greatest number of votes.

The fourth election, held at Rochester, 1830, resulted as follows : Supervisor, Robert Sprague ; Clerk, Nathaniel Baldwin.

A special meeting was held, February, 1831, for the purpose of choosing directors of the poor, "in order to meet the case of pauperism which has lately occurred." Joel Potter, G. M. Shaw, Edmund M. Jewett, John Conkey, and Nathaniel Millard were elected, and it was ordered that they be compensated in a reasonable manner.

The meeting also passed a series of resolutions denouncing the new "poor-law" as inexpedient, unjust, and unconstitutional.

It was inexpedient, insomuch that it was questionable whether it would serve the purpose for which it was intended, while the old law was found to be effective and useful, having stood the test of years of experience in older States. It was unjust, since it created unnecessary expense and new officers without making any provision for paying them. And it was unconstitutional, because it imposed an office on a citizen against his will, made it obligatory upon him to qualify for the same, and give bonds for the discharge of its duties, when there was no salary provided, which was foreign to the spirit of the constitution. It was furthered ordered "that a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to our members in the legislative council, and that they be earnestly, though respectfully, entreated to use every effort to secure the repeal of the new law, and the re-enactment of the old."

The annual town meetings continued to be held at Rochester until 1835, in which year it was held at the house of William Snell. The subsequent meetings were all held within the present bounds of the township, usually at private houses, until 1855, when a town house was erected on section 16, where the meetings have been held ever since.

The following is a list of the principal officers elected for full terms since 1830: Supervisors; Roger Sprague, 1831; Frederick Sprague, 1832 33: William Price, 1834 ; Wm. BI. Axford, 1835-37, 1840-46, 1848-51, 1863-65 ; George Northway, 1838 ; Peter Kline, 1839 ; Samuel Eaton, 1847 ; Robert Cornell, 1849-50; Hiram Morgan, 1852-60, 1862; B. B. Redfield, 1861, 1866; Almon B. Frost, 1867, 1871 ; Esli R. Redfield, 1872, 1874-77 ; Gleason F. Perry, 1873.

Town Clerks; Hiram Higley, 1831-34; Oliver Decker, 1835-36; David Hammond, 1837 ; Hiram Halstead, 1838-39, 1842 ; Peter Kline, 1840-41, 1843 ; William T. Snell, 1844-46 ; Robert Cornell, 1847-48 ; Hiram Morgan, 1849-51 ; Frederick C. Patterson, 1852-53; Almon B, Frost, 1854; Charles A. Baldwin, 1855-56 ; T. W. Axford, 1857 ; Jacob B. Harris, 1858 ; George Cramer, 1859-61; William L. Cramer, 1862-63; Wilham Kline, 1864-65; Marvin Price, 1866-67 ; William Toms, 1868-69, and 1873-77 ; George Flumerfelt, 1870-71 ; Gleason F. Perry, 1872.

Justices of the Peace; Joshua B. Taylor, William Chapman, Ira Young, 1837 ; Peter Kline, 1838 ; Oliver Decker, 1839 ; George Northway, 1840, 1844, 1848, 1861; Samuel Eaton, 1841, 1845, 1856; Peter Brewster, 1842; David Hammond, 1843 ; William T. Snell, 1846 ; Francis Coleman, 1847 ; William G. Insley, 1849 ; Eli Lacy, 1850, 1855, 1860 ; Stephen Lockwood, 1851 ; William Banghart, 1852; Hiram Halstead, 1853; Josiah K. Dewey, 1854; B. B. Redfield, 1857, 1864; William Kline, 1858; Joshua B. Taylor, 1859, 1863; William Toms, 1862, 1866, 1870, 1874 ; John Summers, 1865 ; Clark Cox, 1867 ; William L. Cramer, 1868 ; EsH R. Redfield, 1869 ; Marshal Shoup, 1871; Almon B. Frost, 1873; Harvey Seeley, 1875; John Casey, 1876 ; Gleason F. Perry, 1872 and 1877

In 1833 the settlers were extremely annoyed by mosquitoes. Indeed, some localities were rendered almost uninhabitable by these little pests, and it was often necessary to suspend work on account of their attacks. Mrs. Aaron Cook relates an incident of the mosquitoes in her neighborhood, which shows how numerous they were: Her husband desired to plant some potatoes on a piece of ground he had just cleared, but could not do so until he had built a "smudge fire," which Mrs. Cook had to carry alongside of him while at work. If this precaution was suspended for a moment, he was enveloped by a cloud of the ravenous insects, which settled upon him, filling his ears, nostrils, and even the mouth. The settlers could never milk their cows until they had "smudged" the mosquitoes away. With the clearing of the country these pests disappeared to some extent, yet they are still quite numerous in low places.

Game of all kinds was very plenty, and wild beasts abounded. Now and then these proved bold enough to venture up to the stables of the settlers, in quest of pigs and poultry. On one occasion a huge black bear entered Mr. Cook's barnyard, in search of pigs. Hearing their squeals, Mrs. Cook, who was at home alone, picked up the broomstick, and started out to see what the matter was. Upon seeing her, the bear picked up one of the pigs and calmly walked away with it, much as a mother would carry a child. Mrs. Cook followed, screaming for help, when her husband, who was working in the woods, came to her assistance. With the aid of Jeremiah Hunt, the bear was killed, but proved so lean that they could not feast upon him, as they had expected, thus losing their pig and the bear.

The township of Oakland has been remarkably free of that vile class of people which usually follows the early settlers, and, in the absence of law, preys upon their unprotected condition; yet there was one instance of the presence of a notorious character. Some years after the building formerly used by Hudson Benedict as a cabinet shop was left unoccupied, it was taken by a man calling himself Murwin. He represented himself as a physician, seeking a location in the country. The neighborhood seemed to suit him, and he proceeded to "establish" himself by procuring a small stock of drugs, which served as an excellent disguise of his real business. It was not long before he was suspected of complicity with some roughs who passed through the country occasionally. A closer observation revealed the fact that his place was a resort for horse thieves and counterfeiters. Aroused to a true sense of the character of the man, the neighbors resolved to drive him from their midst. With this purpose in view, they gathered together one dark night, to the number of twenty, old and young, and bombarded the building with stones, clubs, and such other missiles as they could lay their hands on, until it was battered to pieces. The inmates then took refuge in the cellar, where they defended themselves with fire arms.

The conflict being ended, it was ascertained that some of the assailants had been wounded with birdshot. Ezra Brewster was deputed to attend to them, and from this circumstance was thereafter addressed as Dr. Brewster. Murwin fled the country, and the neighborhood was troubled no more by horse thieves and counterfeiters, while desperadoes have ever since given Oakland township a wide berth.

It is now one of the most quiet and best ordered townships in the State, and its inhabitants pride themselves that no liquor has ever been sold within its bounds, and that all its inhabitants are characterized by temperate, industrious habits.

As early as 1837 the nucleus of a class of Methodists existed at the Kline school house. Under the ministrations of pioneer preachers, such as Revs. North, Ransom, Brakeman, and Warren, it grew until it became a respectable society. Dow Cole was chosen the first class leader, and Samuel Cooley exhorter. Both lived in Macomb county, and had to travel many miles to attend to their duties. Among the members were John Taylor and wife, William Flumerfelt and wife, Sanford Swayze and wife, Philip Swayze and wife, and Abraham Perry and wife. This membership increased until it was thirty strong, when steps were taken to build a church, the meetings up to that time having been held in the school house.

In 1855 about half an acre of ground on the southwest corner of section 14 was secured, and here in that year a plain frame building, thirty-two by forty-two feet, was erected, under the supervision of Alvin Baldwin. The latter part of the summer it was dedicated by the Rev. George Smith, the presiding elder at that time.

The pastors since then were Revs. Noble, Whitcomb, Minnis, Laing, Bird, Higgins, Bessey, Hedger, Cordon, and Whiteley. The latter has now charge of the work, in connection with the church at Orion

A Sunday school has been maintained in this church for nearly twenty years. John Taylor was the first superintendent, and held that office for a long time. William Sanderson is the present superintendent. The number of scholars is about thirty-five.

In about 1854 the Presbyterians began to have regular preaching at the Kline school house. The society was then composed of Hugh Gray and wife, Peter Kline and wife, William M. Axford and wife, Conrad F. Shoup and wife, and William Kline and wife. The stated meetings, held every two weeks, were well attended, and when it was proposed to build a church the project was warmly encouraged. In 1855 the northeast corner of section 15, containing about an acre, was secured as the site for a church and graveyard. A very fine frame building, thirty-six by fifty feet, surmounted by a well-proportioned spire, was erected that season, and in the fall dedicated by Rev. Bennett, who was then pastor of the society. Subsequently, the following have been pastors: Revs. McGregor, Joseph Clayton, George W. Winters, Samuel Philips, and Erastus Herrington. In January, 1871, the society was reorganized, and the following elected trustees: R. K. Taylor, W. J. Axford, and P. T. Butler. G. F. Perry is the present clerk of the board. In May, 1876, a union Sunday-school was organized at the church, and G. F, Perry chosen superintendent. He still holds that office. The enrollment of the school is forty; and a small library is maintained

In the preparation of this history we have been much assisted by the information tendered by Allen and Owen Brewster, Charles Sherman, Mrs. Aaron Cook, William Toms, William B. Fosdick, James A. Hersey, William Flumerfelt, Robert Taylor, and others, who deserve our thanks and this recognition of their services.