History of Oakland County Michigan a narrative account of its historic progress, its people, its principal interests / compiled from the official records of the county, the newspapers and data of personal interviews, under the editorial supervision of Thaddeus D. Seeley.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

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at Detroit with the sachems, chiefs and warriors of the Ottawa, Chippeway, Wyandotte and Pottawatamie nations of Indians, at which treaty
there was ceded to the United States all the land included in the following boundaries, beginning at the mouth of the Miami River of the Lakes
(now known as the Maumee River), thence up the middle thereof to
the mouth of the Great Au Glaize river, thence due north until it intersects a parallel of latitude, to be drawn from the outlet of Lake Huron,
which forms the St. Clair river, thence running northeast the course that
may be found, will lead in a direct line to White Rock, in Lake Huron,
thence due east until it intersects the boundary line between the United
States and Upper Canada, thence southerly following said line down said
lake, through River St. Clair, Lake St. Clair and the River Detroit, to a
point due east of the mouth of the aforesaid Miami river, thence west to
the place of beginning.
It is presumed by this treaty that the land now included in the county
of Oakland was ceded to the United States.
FIRST OFFICIAL ACT
The first official act relating to the county of Oakland, of which any
record can be found, is an executive proclamation by Hon. Lewis Cass,
then governor of the territory of Michigan, bears date the I2th day of
January, I819, and reads as follows:
"Whereas, a petition has been presented to me signed by a number of
the citizens of the said Territory, requesting that the boundaries of a
new county and the seat of Justice thereof may be established by an Act
of the Executive, which shall not take effect until the arrival of a period
when its population require such measure.
"Now, therefore, believing that a compliance with the request will
have a tendency to increase the population of such parts of the territory
as may be included within these boundaries, and prevent those difficulties
which sometimes arise from the establishment of counties where the
settlements are formed, and conflicting opinions and interests are to be
reconciled.
"I do, by virtue of these presents, and in conformity with the provision of the Ordinance of Congress, of July I3th, 1787, lay out that part
of the said territory included within the said boundaries, viz: beginning
at the southeast corner of township one, north range eleven east north of
the Base Line, thence north to the southeast corner of township six in
said range, thence west to the Indian boundary line, thence south to the
Base Line, thence east to the beginning, into a new county to be called
the county of Oakland. And I hereby appoint John L. Leib, Chas.
Larned, Phillip La Cuer, John Whipple and Thomas Rowland, Esquires,
Commissioners, for the purpose of examining the said County and of
reporting to me the most eligible site for the seat of Justice, of said
county: To take effect from and after the 3Ist of December, 1822."
On the 5th day of November, I818, the "Pontiac Company" was organized for the purpose of purchasing lands upon the Huron river (then
so called) of St. Clair, and laying out thereon a town.
The company consisted of William Woodbridge, Stephen Mack,