The territory embraced in township 3 north, range 8 east, of the government survey, was set off from Pontiac township in 1836, and organized for civil purposes as a township by itself, under the name of White Lake, said name being derived from the beautiful sheet of water which lies partly within its limits.
This lake was a favorite resort with the former occupants of this region, who, despite their proverbial habits of painting and making themselves as hideous as possible, and their well-known love of strife, had still many attributes which belong rightfully to a more civilized race. The copper hued denizens of the forest had a deep admiration for the beauties of nature, and their appreciation of them is shown in the choice they made of the shores of White lake for a camping ground.

The waters of White lake are clear and beautiful; the shores are high and bold on nearly all sides, in a few places, however, sloping gently back. A gravelly beach extends nearly the entire distance around it, and in several localities the drooping branches of the trees almost lave their foliage in its pure waters. The shore is indented by numerous bays, and an occasional point extends outward in a long and narrow reach, lending variety to its beauties. The most picturesque feature of the lake is found in its island scenery. On the east shore a point shaped like the letter "J" extends in such a form as to nearly enclose a small semi-circular basin, and farther south "Pine point," crowded with its scattering pines and smaller trees, projects for some distance to the north and west. The area covered by the portion of the lake which lies in White Lake township is about two hundred and fifty acres. The view from the road, at the centre of section 7, looking southwest from the spot known as “Voorheis’ landing," is delightful. The lake is frequented during the summer by excursion, and picnic parties, who come to its shores to spend a day in pleasurable pastime, fishing, rowing, sailing, etc.

The entire water area of White Lake township is about thirteen hundred acres, and is comprised, beside that included in White lake, in the various lakes known as Cranberry, Oxbow, Long, Cedar Island, Shanty, Round, Cooley, and numerous others. Oxbow lake derives its name from its peculiar shape. The greater part of the township is drained by the Huron River and its tributaries. These streams are all small, and the only place where the water-power is utilized is at Oxbow village, on the south shore of the lake of the same name, a dam being built here on its outlet, the Huron river.
The lakes are more or less marshy on their shores, with the exception of White lake, and are generally of considerable depth. Fish are plentiful in all the varieties, being bass, " blue gills," perch, pickerel, sunfish, etc., and the angler seldom fails to be remunerated for his trouble.

The remark has been made in other parts of Michigan that the only poor township in Oakland County is White Lake. The facts regarding this division of Oakland seem to show the inaccuracy of such a statement. In 1874 the number of acres sown to wheat was 2997, and nearly the same area in 1873. The total number of bushels of wheat raised in 1873 was 32,857 ; of corn, 34,120 ; of all other grains, 25,200 ; of potatoes, 15,415; hay cut, 2341 tons; wool sheared, 13,595 pounds; pork marketed, 123,932 pounds; cheese made, 445 pounds; butter made, 48,540 pounds ; fruit dried for market, 3398 pounds ; cider made, 254 barrels. This expose presents an accurate idea as to the resources of the township. Although there is much land that is of an inferior quality, and also a considerable area of marsh and swamp, yet the balance is equal to any in the county, and yields abundant returns to the husbandman, both in grain and fruits, while the facilities for raising stock are excellent

The surface is dotted over with waterbeds, and in places piled into elevations deserving the name of hills. From the tops of some of the higher points views may be obtained of the surrounding country. From twelve to twenty lakes can be counted from the summit of the highest, and a far stretching landscape, with its coloring of green foliage and blue water, is spread in panoramic beauty before the eye of the observer, who naturally wishes to become "monarch of all he surveys."

The following paragraph is quoted from an address delivered to the pioneers of Oakland County, at the courthouse in Pontiac, February 22, 1860, by Hon.Thomas J. Drake: " In town 3 north, range 8 east, now called White Lake, the first entry was made by Harley Olmsted, of Monroe county. New York." On the 7th day of October, 1830, he entered a part of section 36. . In 1832, Joseph Yoorheis and Jesse Seeley purchased. Thomas Garner, John Garner, C. 0. Wyckoff, and John Rhodes purchased, and were among the early settlers in that town. In 1829, while searching for the head waters of the Shiawassee river, I traveled over the most of the town, visited the shores of that beautiful sheet of water from which the town derives its name ; and the charming plain on which now stands the village of White Lake, then clothed in the gorgeous dyes of autumnal flowers, presented one of the most magnificent views of uncultivated landscape."

Harley Olmsted, the first settler, is a native of Rensselaer county. New York, and came to Michigan from Monroe county. He settled with his family, consisting of his wife only, in May, 1832. He was also accompanied by his brother, James Olmsted, Jr., and two sisters ; a third sister came to the township afterwards. The first house built in White Lake township was the one erected by Mr. Olmsted, in June, 1832. It was twenty by twenty-eight feet in dimensions, built of logs, and is still standing on the old place, the east half of the southeast quarter of section 36, now owned by Thomas Simpson. At the raising of Mr. Olmsted's house, about a dozen men gathered from Pontiac and other points and put it up in one day, with the exception of the roof. Before their house was built the family lived with Stephen Hunt, who had settled the year previously in Waterford township. When they moved into their own building it was not chinked and was without a chimney, but as the weather was warm this made but little difference.

The first white child born in the township of White Lake was Mr. Olmsted's son, James H. Olmsted, whose birth occurred February 20, 1833. The Indian trail the family followed was the only road, if such it may be called, in the township, and what is known as the "old White Lake road" was laid out following this same trail, and extended from Pontiac through to White Lake via Four Towns. The distance is now several miles shorter, as the road has been laid on a more direct line farther north.
The first frame barn in the township was built by Mr. Olmsted, and is still standing.

The first currant bushes set out in the township were on the farm of Francis Smith, or that of his father-in-law, Thomas Garner, at White Lake settlement. Mr. Smith was also the owner of the first sheep which were brought in. Mr. Olmsted's brother James was considerable of a hunter, and killed quite a number of deer, which abounded plentifully.

The timber of White Lake township has considerable variety, but is principally oak. Through the central portion, on a low ridge extending from northwest to southeast, chestnut is found growing. In the days of early settlements the sugar- maple, which existed to some extent, was made to yield its stores of sweetness, and sugar and syrup of a fine quality were made from its sap. At present this source of supply is virtually exhausted. There is a species of dwarf oak which grows very small, much like red clover, and bears acorns the size of hazel nuts. Sloan Cooley says he never saw any like it elsewhere.

A good anecdote is related of the first supervisor of the town, Alexander Galloway, or, as he was familiarly known, “Uncle Aleck." He had some maple trees on his place, and made a small amount of sugar. After a very hard day's work, on one occasion, gathering and boiling the sap, he started home at dusk with the fruits of his labor—two buckets of sap hung on a neck-yoke, on his shoulder. Although very tired, he had sufficient nerve left to enable him to croi^s the Huron river on a log. When he arrived at his house it was just dark. His wife had gone down cellar and left the trap door up, and the house-door stood open to admit what little daylight there was left. Uncle Aleck, feeling the weight of his load becoming burdensome, and naturally anxious to deposit it somewhere, stepped hastily into the house, and not noticing the trap-door, walked (perhaps) down cellar, and landed in a promiscuous heap at the bottom with his two pails of syrup. We forbear attempting to describe his state of feeling, as undoubtedly language was inadequate to express as much as he wanted to.

John S. Cooley came from the town of Rose, Wayne county, New York, and settled where Sloan Cooley now lives, on section 36, White Lake township, in 1836, arriving on the last day of September of that year. He came through Canada, and was accompanied by his wife and three children, two sons and one daughter, also Mrs. Cooley's sister, Mrs. John Richmond, who came with her husband and family. Two of her children are now living in the township. Mrs. Cooley had two other sisters, who came to the township afterwards. All are now deceased except Mrs., Cooley, who is living at the age of seventy-seven. The only death in Mr. Cooley's family which has occurred since they settled was that of himself, May 31, 1861, when he was in his seventy-sixth year. His son, Sloan Cooley. now living on the old farm, was elected in the fall of 1860 to the lower house of the legislature from the Pontiac district, on the Democratic ticket. His brother, Solon Cooley, is now living in Waterford township. Sloan Cooley wrote the following in 1876 : "I was soon warned out to general training in Pontiac, and went. It was a very unpleasant, chilly, windy day in November, and good discipline was out of the question. The 'soldiers' were everywhere. I saw one that had a hickory ramrod, and whipped every horse he could get in reach of with it. There was a boy selling cider by the tin cupful out of a pail (so I heard, I didn't see that). An officer stopped his horse, and wanted some cider. Somebody had the cup, and the officer told the boy to hand up the pail. So the boy handed up the pail, and the officer laid the bridle on the horse's neck, and took the cider pail in both hands, and held it up and drank. The soldier with the ramrod struck the horse, and the officer rode off at full speed, with his military hat off and the inverted cider pail on his head."

R. Jakway, one of the later arrivals in the township, came from Washington county. New York, in 1843, and in 1845 settled where he now lives, on section 31. He brought his wife with him, and was the first settler on the place. He purchased the land from second hands, but made the first improvements upon it himself

Charles Porter, Jr., came from county Donegal, Ireland, with his parents, in the summer of 1830, arriving at Plattsburg, New York, on the 4th of July. The next May (1831) they all came to Michigan, and settled in Bloomfield township, Oakland County. Charles Porter, Sr., died in 1853, and his wife some time afterwards. When they came from Ireland there were in the family Mr. and Mrs. Porter (Sr.), two sons, and five daughters, and all came to Michigan together. Some of Mr. Porter's children by his first wife came to America several years previously. Of those who came with him, two sons and four daughters are now living.
Charles Porter, Jr., moved into White Lake township with his wife, having just been married in May, 1840. He made the first improvements on the land where he is now living, section 21. His wife, Elizabeth Arthur, was a daughter of David Arthur, who had settled in the township a year or two previously.

John F. Parish came from Seneca county, New York, to Michigan in October, 1835. He was born in New Jersey, and removed to New York with his parents when quite young. When he came to Michigan he was accompanied by his wife, to whom he had just previously been married. He settled on the place where he now lives, section 4, immediately on his arrival. He erected a log house, which stood just in front of the site occupied by his present frame dwelling, and covered it with shingles of his own manufacture. The house was sixteen by twenty-four feet, and contained but part of a floor when they moved into it.

James Fair, Sr., was among the early settlers of the township, locating on the farm where Shepherd Spencer now lives. James Fair, Jr., the present supervisor, and son of James Fair, Sr., was born on this place. Mr. Spencer, now occupying the place, came from Essex county, New York (township of Moriah, three miles from Crown Point), in August, 1850 ; brought his wife and one child with him, and stopped in the township of Novi. In 1875 he moved into White Lake township. Although not a pioneer of Oakland County, he has spent twenty-seven years within its limits.

George W. Burrows was from Oneida county, New York, and settled first in Pontiac township in 1823. He stayed for a time with his wife's brothers, David and Oliver Parker. David Parker came with Mr. Burrows, but Oliver had been out several years. The Parkers lived just west of the ground now occupied by the Eastern Asylum for the Insane. Mr. Burrows afterwards purchased the farm next west of Parker's, in Waterford township, where he lived until June, 1836, when he removed to White Lake township, and settled on section 13, where he now resides. The place he entered from government. Mrs. Burrows is the only one of her father's family now living. Mr. Burrows is her second husband, and she had one child, a daughter three years old, when she came to Michigan. The child's father was Mrs. Burrows' first husband, whose name was Holt. This daughter, Sophronia Holt, is now the wife of Ezekiel Thomas, of Rose township. Mr. Burrows and family came by water as far as Detroit, and walked from there to Pontiac. Mrs. Burrows carried her child, and her sister carried a loaded gun. At that time Pontiac was an insignificant place, containing but few houses. The log house which Mr. Burrows built in 1836, on his place in White Lake township, is still occupied by him, and is one of the few landmarks of the neighborhood which exist as souvenirs of the past. Both Mr. and Mrs. Burrows have reached an advanced age, yet bid fair to live many years longer

John Terry, an old settler in the northeast part of the township, is said to have been very fleet of foot, and used to run down rabbits and capture them. He was one of a large family of brothers, one of whom, Joshua, was tax collector for the old township of Pontiac, and went over the territory to its limits on Lake Huron. Joshua Terry had a peculiar way of harnessing his horse, arranging it so that by unbuckling the collar the whole harness would come off. When asked what he did when going down hill (the harness had no breeching), he always replied that "it was a poor horse that couldn't keep out of the way of the wagon !"

Nicholas Doherty left county Tipperary, Ireland, in March, 1834, and arrived at New York city the first day of May, where he found the fruit trees all in bloom. He had intended to go to Ann Arbor, Michigan, but missed the road, "and brought up in Oakland County instead. He entered three hundred and I twenty acres of government land on sections 25 and 26, and now resides on a portion of it, on section 26. His two brothers, Edmund and James, accompanied I him, and the three at first built a shanty on the shore of the small lake near the location of Nicholas Doherty's present dwelling, and lived in it for five months. Edmund, the oldest of the brothers, afterwards went back to Ireland ; James entered the United States regular army, and died in the service. Nicholas has lived on his farm ever since he arrived in the country. His log house was burned down, and he built another on the spot now occupied by his fine frame dwelling. This second log house was removed to make room for the frame. Nicholas Doherty was married July 12, 1837, to Margaret Crotty, and these two are the parents of eight children, of whom seven are now living. Mr. Doherty has voted at every election in the township since its organization, in 1836. Among the pioneers of this neighborhood were James Crotty, who settled in 1834, William Gorman, Andrew Doolan (both deceased), and, perhaps, one or two others. Mr. Crotty afterwards went back to Ireland (fall of 1836), married, and returned to White Lake in 1837.

Robert D. Voorheis emigrated with his father, Joseph Voorheis, from the town of Pultney, Steuben county, New York, in 1834, and settled in Pontiac township. about three miles northeast of the village, Joseph Voorheis' family consisted of his wife and twelve children, and four children were born afterwards. He lived and died in Pontiac township. He entered land in the town of White Lake about 1836, and in 1842 his son, R. D. Voorheis, settled upon it with his wife and infant daughter. Another son, Dr. Andrew Voorheis, came to White Lake a few years before, built a log house on the place, and lived in it about one year. He was probably the first physician who settled in the township. After he left the Hirm he returned to Prattsburg, New York, and lived afterwards in Virginia, Kentucky, and other States. The log house was rented. part of the time, and also used for school purposes, until Robert D. Voorheis moved into it in 1842. It stood on the opposite side of the road from Mr. Voorheis' present frame residence, and a short distance farther west.

One of the early settlers in this vicinity was John Taylor, who located on the place now partially owned by two of his daughters, Mrs. Blackman and Mrs. Kirtby.

Sebring and Peter Voorheis came to Michigan from the State of New York, the former in 1836, and the latter in 1841. Their father, Peter Voorheis, made a trip to the State about 1828, and purchased land in the town of Van Buren, Wayne county, but never settled upon it, and never settled in Michigan. The two sons are now living in the township, Sebring on section 8, and Peter on section 7.

Thomas Garner settled in the township in 1833 with his family. His sons Thomas, Robert, and John came with him, and a fourth son, George, followed them in 1836. When the family first arrived (1833), the elder Garner stayed with part of them at Pontiac, and the sons, Robert, John, and Thomas, loaded up about a thousand feet of oak and whitewood lumber (purchasing it at what was known as Jennings mill, on Orchard Lake avenue, at Pontiac), and came to their land to put up a shanty. This was in the month of June. The first night they stayed in White Lake township they arranged their load so as to partially shield them from the cool evening breeze, and " camped out." The wolves came up within a few rods, probably a dozen or fifteen in number, and began a most unearthly howling. Robert and Thomas had never seen nor heard any of these animals before, and were badly frightened. They had a large fire burning, and Thomas lay on the side next to it to keep warm. Robert and Thomas deemed themselves lost when they gazed on the ferocious pack, and John, who was well acquainted with wolves and their habits, said to them, "Boys, you are gone geese !" This of course heightened their alarm, and John finally took his rifle and fired into the pack, which soon disappeared. The rest of the night Thomas chose to lie in the middle ! The wolves scurried off" towards White lake, and kept up their snarling and howling until daybreak. No blood was found the next morning, and it was never known whether the ball from John Garner's rifle had taken effect or not.

David Arthur came from Ireland at an early day, and settled in New Jersey, but only stayed in that State a year or two, and then removed to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he settled within twelve miles of Connellsville. In 1834 he emigrated with his wife and six children to Oakland County, Michigan, and settled in White Lake township, where J. W. Toms now lives, on section 7. Mr. Arthur died in the autumn of 1843. His son, Joseph Arthur, is now living in the township, on section 18. Of David Arthur's children, four are now living in Michigan, the younger two, Joseph and Elizabeth, the latter now the wife of Charles Porter, in White Lake township.

Joseph Teeples, living on section 31, is among the early settlers of White Lake. The following names are taken from the old settlers' record at Pontiac, with the dates of settlement: Ira Stowell, Sr., settled in Pontiac in 1826, and removed to White Lake in 1835; bought of government two hundred and forty acres, improved one hundred acres, and died in 1861.
Ira Stowell, Jr., bought in White Lake four hundred acres; sold, and removed to the Parshall farm, in Waterford, and bought the Druett farm, in all four hundred and eighty acres, and there now resides.
Simon Stowell came with his parents, and settled in White Lake in 1835; bought three hundred and sixty acres; cleared and improved one hundred and fifty acres; removed, and bought the Davis farm in Pontiac, and there owns two hundred and thirty acres well improved.
C. G. Wykoff, native of Covert, New York, arrived in Michigan 1833; settled in White Lake.
W. Howland, native of Rutland, Pennsylvania, arrived in Michigan 1835; settled in White Lake.
Jacob Bachman, native of New York, arrived in Michigan 1836; settled in White Lake.
F. J. Smith, native of Westmoreland, Oneida county, New York, arrived in Pontiac, Michigan, 1824; settled in White Lake 1834.
J. W. Toms, native of Ontario county, New York, arrived in Oakland County 1823 ; settled in White Lake 1835.
John Corbet, native of Washington county, New York ; settled in White Lake 1837.
Daniel Hathaway, native of Steuben county, New York, arrived in Oakland County 1828; settled in White Lake 1844.
Thomas Cuff, native of England ; settled in White Lake 1842.
Harrison Voorheis, native of Steuben county, New York, arrived in Oakland County 1833 ; settled in White Lake 1836.
Tobias Doty, native of Cortland county, New York ; settled in White Lake 1836.
J. P. Fisher, Jr., native of Crown Point, New York; settled in White Lake 1836.

In the township was that of Nancy Garner, daughter of Thomas Garner, Sr., and Francis J. Smith. It took place either in the latter part of 1833 (during the holidays) or in the early part of 1834. Mrs. Smith is since deceased, and her husband lives in Pontiac with his second wife.
W. Ruggles, a Presbyterian minister of Pontiac, where he settled in 1824. He was a missionary preacher, and an eccentric man in many particulars. He always made his journeys on foot, seemingly having a special antipathy against riding horseback, and he walked from Pontiac to the White Lake settlement purposely to marry the above mentioned couple. The distance by the road then traveled was twenty miles. It is not stated how much the reverend gentleman was paid for his services, but he was undoubtedly satisfied, as ministers could not afford to be over particular about their fees in those days of hard times and poor currency.
The second marriage was that of Doty Cramer and Jane Demorest, who were married in 1836. The ceremony was performed by Maxneld Ludlow, Esq., the first justice of the peace in the township. It is related that when these persons were walking through the woods to the office of the justice, the would be bridegroom, who undoubtedly felt a little anxious, and wanted the job done as soon as possible, worked himself into a great hurry, and kept calling to his partner, who had hard work to keep up with him, "Come along Jane!" Perhaps the fear was upon him that the wild beasts of the forest might come forth from their lairs and put in a claim to one or the other of them before their happiness should be con- summated. If they had any fears on this point, however, they were needless, for the most savage animals which then abounded, the wolves, were seldom known to show themselves in the daytime. Deer were so plenty that large numbers of them were often seen together. Robert. Garner speaks of seeing eighty-five in one day, while out with his brother Thomas. Thomas and John Garner were great deer hunters, and excellent marksmen.
John Bachman settled in the township in 1837.f He was a son-in-law of Thomas Garner, having married the twin sister of Robert Garner. He had a family of several children when he came to the township. He settled on the farm now owned by his son, Jacob Bachman.

Was held at the house of Maxfield Ludlow, on Monday, April 4, 1836. Mr. Ludlow was chosen moderator, and Andrew D. Voorheis clerk. Thirty-one votes were cast, and the following officers elected: Supervisor, Alexander Galloway; Township Clerk, Andrew D. Voorheis; Magistrates, Maxfield Ludlow, Daniel Arthur, Ira Stowell ; Assessors, Cornelius G. Wyckoff, James H. Gould, Erastus Hopkins ; Commissioners of Highways, Daniel Arthur, Harley Olmsted, Cornelius G. Wyckoff; Constable and Collector, Hozial Howland.

At a special meeting, held on the 3d of May, 1836, Noah Gould was elected constable and collector, and A. D. Voorheis township clerk. Directors of the Poor, Jesse Seeley, Erastus Hopkins ; Commissioners of Schools, Maxfield Ludlow, John R. Howdand, Andrew D. Voorheis.
A special meeting was held August 24, 1836, at which John Slattery was elected township clerk, in place of A. D. Voorheis, who had removed. Daniel Arthur was chosen overseer of common schools.
The first petit and grand jurors whose names appear on the township records were chosen May 12, 1841, and were as follows: Petit Jurors, Laban Spencer, Daniel M. Baker ; Grand Jurors, Jesse Seeley, Nathaniel Powell.
From 1837 to 1877, inclusive, the following is a list of the supervisors: 1837-39, Jesse Seeley; 1840, Embra Fergason; 1841, Daniel Arthur; 1842, Embra Fergason ; 1843-44, Seebring Voorheis ; 1845-46, Calvin Ellenwood 1847, George Robertson; 1848-49, Michael G. Hickey ; 1850-52, Calvin Ellenwoud; 1853, Seebring Voorheis ; 1854-55, Michael G. Hickey; 1856-58, Sebring Voorheis ; 1859, Michael G. Hickey; 1860-62, Alanson J, Webster; 1863-64, George H. Lee; 1865-09, Alanson J. Webster. Mr. Webster resigned after his election in 1869, and a special town meeting was called, at which Sloan Cooley was elected to fill the vacancy. 1870, Sloan Cooley; 1871-72, Alanson J. Webster; 1873-74, L D. Morehouse; 1875, A.J. Webster; 1876, Sebring Voorheis; 1877, James Fair.

Township Clerks. 1837, Erastus Hopkins; 1838, John B.Watson; 1839, Fred. H. Hopkins; 1840, Daniel M. Baker; 1841, Elizur Merriam ; 1842-43, Harrison Parker; 1844, Daniel M. Baker; 1845-46, Harrison Parker; 1847, Milo M. Stockwell; 1848-50, John B. Watson; 1851, Sebring Voorheis; 1852, Harrison Parker; 1853, Samuel Maxwell; 1854, Milo M. Stockwell; 1855, Harrison Parker; 1856, Edwin C. Noyes; 1857-58, Solon Cooley; 1859-60, George H. Lee; 1861-62, Milo M. Stockwell; 1863-70, Charles Porter; 1871, Sloan Cooley; 1872-73, James Fair, Jr.; 1874-77, Charles Porter.

Justices of the Peace. 1837, Maxfield Ludlow, Jesse Seeley, John R. Howland; 1838, John R. Howland ; 1839, Embra Fergason ; 1840, Arthur Andrus; 1841, John S. Cooley; 1842, John R. Howland; 1843, Thomas Lapham; 1844, Ira Stowell, Jr.; 1845, Sloan Cooley; 1846, John R. Howland; 1847, John B. Van Doren ; 1848, Ira Stowell, Jr. ; 1849, Sloan Cooley; 1850, Michael G. Hickey; 1851, John B. Van Doren; 1852, Daniel Fuller; 1853, John R. Howland ; 1854, Robert D. Voorheis; 1855, Corydon Buchanan; 1856, Charles Porter; 1857, John R. Howland; 1858, Robert M. Greer; 1859, Corydon Buchanan; 1860, Charles Porter; 1861, Daniel H. Hathaway; 1862, Nicholas Doherty; 1863, Corydon Buchanan; 1864, Charles Porter; 1865, Octavius Robinson; 1866, Nicholas Doherty, James Fair; 1867, Corydon Buchanan; 1868, Charles Porter; 1869, James Fair, Jr.; 1870, Alanson J. Webster; 1871, George Kellogg; 1872, Charles Porter; 1873, Daniel Benjamin; 1874, James B. Dewey; 1875, William H. Stiff; 1876, William B. Stockwell; 1877, Daniel Benjamin.

The first school in the township was probably taught in the White Lake settlement, in a small log school house, in the fall and winter of 1835. The name of the teacher we are unable to state.

In fractional district No. 5, the first school house was built on section 3, about 1842. It was constructed of logs, and stood a quarter of a mile north and west from the site occupied by the present frame school house. It was located on the roadside, the highway at that time crossing the section diagonally instead of being laid on its centre, or quarter-line. Miss Lydia Hornell probably taught in this building, as she had previously taught in a small log house built for dwelling purposes just across the line in Springfield township. She was hired by subscription to teach this first school. She was the daughter of Rev. George Hornell, the first Presbyterian minister at White Lake.

In the fall of 1849 a log school-house was built in the south part of the township, on land now owned by Andrew Bogie, section 33. One of the first teachers was Miss Delphia Bartlett, since deceased. The first male teacher in the district was William Donaldson, who taught a winter school. He is now living in the village of Commerce.

Where the present new frame school house stands in district No. 6 a frame building was erected in 1845, and stood until the spring of 1877, when it was removed, and the present one built, at a cost of something over six hundred dollars. In fractional district No. 2 a log school-house was built about 1836-37, near the line in the town of Waterford, on land then owned by a Mr. Salisbury. Per- haps the first teacher was Miss Jeanette Fifield, a young lady then but fifteen years of age, afterwards married to a man named Van Tile. The log school-house gave place to the present frame building, which stands immediately west of the old site, on section 13, White Lake.

The first school in district No. 7 was taught in a log school house, which stood on the site of the present frame building, on section 36. This was about 1838. The first teacher was most probably a lady named Rebecca Cook. The present building is a substantial frame structure, standing near the southwest corner of section 36.

of White Lake township was organized about 1838-39, with some twenty or thirty members. A missionary priest named Kelly, who had for his field of labor the entire southern portion of the State, preached here once a month. This was the first Catholic church in the county, and for a number of years afterwards there were no congregations of this denomination in six surrounding counties outside of Wayne county. The Catholic cemetery on the same lot was also the first of the kind in the county of Oakland. The first person buried in it was probably a child of James Crotly, which died in 1838. The lot for the site of the church and cemetery was taken from the farm of Nicholas Doherty, and contains one acre and sixty rods of land.

The small frame church, now standing, was the first and only one built, and was erected about 1840-42. A Catholic church was afterwards organized in Milford, and most of the congregation attended that. The old church was finally abandoned on account of becoming unsafe, and has not been used for about seven years.

The location is in a pleasant grove on the old White Lake road, the church standing near the southwest corner of section 25, on the east side of the road. The old head-stones in the cemetery have grown gray in the storms of nearly forty years, and many of them are so moss-grown as to render the inscriptions nearly illegible.

The first settler at Oxbow was Erastus Hopkins, who came, in 1833, from Prattsburg, Steuben county, New York. The following is an extract from an article furnished by him in 1874 to the Pioneer Society of Oakland County: "In July, 1833, I came to Michigan, and bought three lots (eighties) of land in town 3 north, range 8 east, and removed my family into the Territory of Michigan in October, 1834. Went into the woods and built a log house, and when I moved into it, in November of that year, I had less than one dollar in money, and nothing to live upon until I could clear my land and raise something. That winter I killed several deer and caught some fish to help eke out a living, and cleared some land ready for the plow in the spring. By untiring industry and rigid economy we lived until February 28, 1838, when my dear wife departed this life in the full hope of a blessed immortality, and left me with three children."

Mr. Hopkins was twice married afterwards, and became the father of eight children altogether. He died July 9, 1876, aged nearly seventy-two years. The land purchased by Mr. Hopkins included a mill site on the Huron river, where it emerged from Oxbow lake, and about 1836-37 he sold five acres to a doctor named May, who hired a saw mill built, and had it operated some years. He never came to Michigan himself. Mr. Hopkins afterwards repurchased the property, and sold it and bought it back again a number of times. About 1857-60, Mr. Hopkins' son, Ralph W. Hopkins, bought a half interest in the property, and machinery was put in for turning and scroll sawing. About 1868 a planning machine was added, and the present planning mill was built in 1872. Work has generally been sufficient to keep the mill running, and several hands are usually employed. Sash, blinds, doors, etc., are manufactured.

The first dam was built by Dr. May's men, and occupied nearly the same site as the present one. The dam now standing was constructed by Erastus Hopkins, and is the second one at the place. In consequence of raising the dam the water in Oxbow lake has proportionately deepened, though it has not risen high enough to overflow any great acreage of land. Its shores were naturally marshy for most of the distance around it.

Dr. May must have entertained high hopes that Oxbow would someday become an important place, for besides erecting the dam and saw mill he hired his men to cut timber and lay a foundation for a hotel and store. Owing to some cause the building was never completed, and some of the foundation timbers were afterwards used in constructing the Catholic Church on section 25.

The first post office in the township was established here in 1835 or 1836, and Frederick Hopkins, a cousin to Erastus, was probably the first postmaster. The office was called White Lake post office, and was kept afterwards by Erastus Hopkins, Sloan Cooley, and others, and finally removed to the White Lake settlement. Mr. Cooley, the last postmaster, resigned in 1840, when Harrison was elected president. The office was on the mail route between Pontiac and Ionia, Ionia county, and for a long time after its establishment the mail-matter was carried by a boy on horseback.

Oxbow post office was established June 11, 1873, and Ralph W. Hopkins appointed postmaster, which position he has held ever since. The first mail at the new office was received August 22, 1873. The office was first called White Lake Centre post office, but was finally changed to Oxbow, deriving its name from the lake.

A school was kept in 1836 in a log building which stood where L. F. Stockwell now lives, west of the lake. The teacher was Mary Parker, a sister of Mrs. Erastus Hopkins. This was a private institution.

This village, commonly known as the "White Lake settlement," is located on a beautiful plain in the northwest part of the township. The settlement is on section 6, and its history dates back for a period of forty-four years.

The first houses on the site of the village were built in August, 1833, by Jesse Seeley and Cornelius G. Wyckoff. Both were log structures. Seeley's stood on the ground now occupied by the brick residence near the Presbyterian church, and Wyckoff's on the place owned by J. Van Valkenburg. A party of settlers gathered to help the men build their houses, and both were raised the same day. The next morning an incident occurred which was very nearly the means of causing serious trouble between the settlers and a considerable number of Indians who were encamped on the shore of White lake. As an article not to be dispensed with on such occasion, whisky had flowed freely at the raising, and some of the men were somewhat under its influence. This was considered as no disgrace, however, as everybody expected it at such gatherings. The party before dispersing towards their respective homes concluded to go down to the lake, a mile away, and visit the Indian camp. Among the men who had taken a little more liquor than they could carry "with ease and comfort" was "Uncle Nate Colvin," as he was called. Passing the Indian encampment one of the dogs bit him severely, and he becoming enraged, as was quite natural under the circumstances, killed it. The squaws immediately set up an unearthly din, for it was about as safe to kill an Indian himself as his dog, and soon the dusky braves gathered from every direction, bent on revenge upon "Uncle Nate." Luckily there were two persons in the party who could talk the Indian language, Isaac I. Voorheis, of Waterford township, and one of the Williamses, from Pontiac. They paid for the dog, and pacified the Indians by telling them the man was drunk, and they would " fix him" when he became sober. It may be supposed that the settlers were greatly relieved at having the affair pass off without bloodshed. This was the only occasion in this part of the county where trouble was at any time threatened between the two races. The Indians were usually very quiet and peaceable, and for a number of years after the first settlements were made hunted and fished around the beautiful lake. Undoubtedly they were much grieved when the time came for them to be removed from its locality.

The first white child born in this part of the township, and the second one in the entire township, was Jane Garner, a daughter of Robert Garner, whose birth occurred March 13, 1835. Her death, March 27, 1837, was the second in the neighborhood, and that of her sister Mary, who died January 27, 1835, was the first. That of Thomas Garner, Sr,, September 2, 1838, was the third. The fall of the latter year was very sickly, and the persons who remained in a state of good health were in constant demand to care for those who were sick. Mary Garner was the first person buried in the White Lake cemetery. This beautiful resting place for the dead of the township contains the remains of many of the old settlers of the region. It is located on section 5, opposite the residence of Robert Garner, and is on land taken from his farm.

The old White Lake road was on the main trail running from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and was the route traveled by persons passing between those two points. It has not been materially changed from its original course, and passes diagonally across the township, regardless of government survey lines.

As early as 1836-37 a stage line was placed on the road, and a post-ofiice established about 1840, the office at what is now Oxbow having been discontinued that year on the election of General Harrison to the presidency, and removed to the White Lake settlement. The first postmaster here was Embre (or Emery) Fergason. The office was at first called Plainville, from the beautiful plain on which the village is located. It was afterwards changed to White Lake. The present postmaster is Mr. Cornell, who has lived at the place but a short time. The stage company at one time operated a daily line of stages each way over the route, and the lumbering vehicles were always full. A stranger passing over the road today would see little to impress him with the idea that it had, in by gone days, been one of the principal highways in point of travel in the county and State.
Although the White Lake road is extensively traveled, a Sabbath quiet reigns along it as compared with the busy scenes of thirty and forty years ago.

A store was opened some time after the stage route was established, probably by a man named Adams, and a man named Baldwin opened a blacksmith shop about the same time. Shops of other descriptions were also carried on, and the little settlement long bore a busy appearance, and had the stage business been continued or a line of railway been built through this part of the county. White Lake village might have been as prosperous and thrifty a town as could be found. But the iron horse rolls along the solid track several miles to the northward, and the era of prosperity which dawned on her forty years ago flickered and went out in the smoke of the the mighty trains which began to thunder over the railway. Yet the country immediately surrounding is rich with agricultural products, and the tiller of the soil is well repaid for his labor in harvesting heavy crops of golden grain and luscious fruits.

The first tavern at the village was kept by John Rhodes, as early as 1834-35, before the stage line was established. It stood in the western part of the settlement, and was a log building. It was at one time called the " Buckhorn tavern," but that name was afterwards transferred to the tavern, creek, and lakes in Rose township. The name in the latter locality was given by Isaac I. Voorheis, who was through there looking for land, and on arriving at the stream found a pole across it some twenty feet long hung full of bucks' horns, which the Indians had left there. At one time there were two taverns at White Lake flourishing finely, but the jolly landlords have departed, and the places which were wont to echo to the mirth of travelers who stopped in them are silent, and their palmy days are all but forgotten. The " halls of the fathers" who here kept public-house are deserted, and no tavern-stand greets the eye of the weary traveler.

White Lake Grange No. 253, Patrons of Husbandry was organized in January, 1874, with fifty members. Its first Master was Robert Garner, who was three times successively elected. The organization holds regular meetings in the "White Lake church," which has also been used for festivals, revivals, etc. The present membership of the grange is about forty. The officers are : Master, Mr., Lake; Overseer, Mr. Flowers; Lecturer, Herman Wyckoff; Steward, Jacob Bachman ; Assistant Steward, Andrew A. Garner; Chaplain, Bannister Howland; Treasurer, Myron Voorheis; Secretary, Mrs. Stinebaugh; Gate keeper, Lucius Wilbur ; Pomona, Mrs. Morehouse ; Ceres, Nellie Bachman ; Flora, Mary Ogden ; Lady Assistant Steward, Miss Becky Ogden.

The Temperance Reform Club of White Lake was organized in the winter of 1876-77. Robert Garner occupies the position of president of the club. The membership on the 14th of June, 1877, was one hundred and fifty-two. Its meetings are held in the “White Lake church." As early as 1836 the temperance movement was set on foot here, and a club was organized at that time. The temperance principles of the inhabitants of White Lake township are well known, and it is a remarkable fact that it is the only town in the county that ever passed over two years of its existence without litigation over matters at the bottom of which liquor was found as a casus belli. Among the foremost advocates of teetotalism are the various members of the Garner family.

This is the oldest Presbyterian congregation in the county west of Pontiac, and was organized at the house of Thomas Garner on the first day of August, 1835, with nine members, as follows : Thomas Garner, Sr., Thomas Garner, Jr., Francis Smith, William Garner, Erastus Hopkins, Anna Garner, Nancy Smith, Susan Garner, Lydia Hopkins. At the same meeting Robert Garner was received as a member, making ten in all, and he and Erastus Hopkins was elected the first elders. The church was organized by Revs. Ruggles and Williams.

The first meetings were held at Thomas Garner's house, and in other residences, until a school house was built, and used by the congregation as a place for holding worship. Finally, during a great revival in 1840, it was resolved to build a church. One man donated logs he had already prepared to build a house with, and the members went to work and had a log church constructed and ready for use in the space of ten days. This building was used until 1848-49, when they erected the frame church now used by the Methodist Episcopal congregation. The present fine frame church was dedicated February 26, 1873, having been built at a cost, including bell, furniture, sheds, etc., of about four thousand two hundred dollars. The bell is one made at the Meneeley foundry, Troy, New York, and weighs six hundred pounds. It hangs in the belfry of a neat spire. The parsonage is valued at about one thousand dollars, including a good house and four acres of land. The house was an old dwelling, purchased and converted into a parsonage. Nearly all the pastors of the church have resided in it.

The church building is thirty-six by sixty-six feet in dimensions, and will seat about three hundred and fifty persons. The society has had a gradual, steady growth, with numerous revivals, and is now in a flourishing condition. The membership in June, 1877, was about ninety-five

The first pastor. Rev. George Hornell, began to preach to the congregation in November, 1835, and was first made moderator of the session, January 30, 1836. He was not regularly installed, however, until August 2, 1837, after which time he preached about ten years, his name last appearing on the session records as moderator May 30, 1847.

The second pastor was Rev. H. Hyde, who came in December, 1847. He was never installed, but had charge about five years. Following him came Rev, Mr. Boardman, about 1852. He stayed two years, and was succeeded by Rev. O. W. Mather, whose name first appears on the records May 13, 1855. He continued in the pastorate until the summer of 1857.

The next, and fifth pastor, was Rev. W. P. Wastell, who took charge October 3, 1857, and stayed until the latter part of April, 1862. Rev. N. Tucker was pastor from July 5, 1862, until the 1st of June, 1865. Next came Rev. J. A. Veale, from August 6, 1865, until July 13, 1867. The present pastor, Rev. L. Chandle took charge in August, 1868, and has continued ever since, having hud a very successful and pleasant pastorate thus far.

Towards the end of Mr. Hornell ministry a division took place in the church over some matters of church polity, and a portion of the congregation withdrew and organized what is now called the " White Lake church," and known by some as the "Union church," or "Church of God."

In the old church a Sabbath school was organized early, and has been kept up the greater part of the time since. In the month of June, 1877, it had about one hundred and twenty-five members, and a library of some two hundred volumes. A very fine New England organ has also been lately purchased, its catalogue price being three hundred and ninety dollars. The church building is probably the finest country church in the county.

This society was organized in 1845 or 46 from a portion of the congregation of the First Presbyterian church. Some trouble had arisen over the liberty allowed members of that church, part of them holding different opinions upon the election of elders from those laid down by the presbytery, and accordingly a division was made, the new congregation organizing as a kind of independent society, with no particular creed, except a belief in the equality of its members as regarded ofiice holding, etc.

They built a frame church on the opposite (north) side of the road from the old one, and the house is yet standing. The means for building it were advanced by Robert, John, and Thomas Garner, and Erastus Hopkins. Some of the principal members of this congregation, as first organized, were Robert Garner and wife, John Garner and wife, Erastus Hopkins and wife, Thomas Garner and wife, John Parish and wife, James Frisbie and wife, with some others. Eoswell Barnes and wife joined at nearly the same time, and Thomas J. Garner and wife soon afterwards.

Their first pastor was Rev. C. C. Foote, then of Troy township, now of Detroit, who preached to them once in two weeks for seventeen years. A man named Beebe followed him, and preached for some time, and their present pastor is Erastus C. Herrington, of Four Towns post-office, Waterford township, now on his ninth year, and preaching bi-weekly. The congregation is small and has never had a regular organization. One of its main-stays and supported is Robert Garner.

An organization of this denomination was effected here at an early day, but was finally forced to disband on account of various difficulties, and for many years there was no society of the kind at the place. Finally, in June, 1871, an effort was made to re-organize, and was attended with success, a class of nine persons being formed, the members being as follows: L. D. Morehouse and wife, Mrs. Elias Doty (now deceased), Mrs. Charles Doty, Benjamin Rosell, J. W. Toms and wife, and William Stiff and wife.

The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Bird, who had charge until the meeting of the conference the following autumn (1871). He had been pastor of the congregation at Davisburg, Springfield township, nearly three years when the White Lake church was organized.
The second pastor was Rev. J. W. Scott, who stayed three years, and was followed by Rev. J. S. Joslin, who had charge for two years. He was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. R. C. Lanning, who took charge in the fall of 1876.

The church is in the Davisburg circuit, the same pastor having charge of both congregations and residing at Davisburg, where a parsonage is provided for him. A third appointment on the circuit is at the Gibson school house in White Lake township, on section 17, where a class was organized in the early part of 1877.
The membership of the White Lake congregation is about thirty. Its meetings are held in the frame church built in 1848-49 by the Presbyterians. This building is yet in good repair, and will seat about one hundred and fifty persons. It is surmounted by an old-fashioned belfry, after the style of the churches of New England. The congregation, being musically inclined, possesses a good organ, and with the limited membership is flourishing as well as could be expected. The church stands on section 5, on land from the farm of Harrison Voorheis.
The settlement at White Lake has always been noted for its strict adhesion to principles of piety and temperance, settled as it was by the descendants of the persecuted religionists of Scotland, and perhaps nowhere in Oakland County can be found a more orderly and respectable community.

We are under obligations to the following named persons for valuable information furnished regarding the history of the township: Harley Olmsted (now of Commerce), Nicholas Doherty, Ralph W. Hopkins, James Thompson, Charles Porter, R. D. Voorheis, Sebring Voorheis, Peter Voorheis, John and Robert Garner, Rev. L, Chandler, L. D. Moorehouse, John F. Parish, Sloan Cooley, Mrs. G. W. Burrows, and others. We have also gleaned somewhat from the records of the Pioneer Society at Pontiac.