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.

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HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Wayne, Kent, Saginaw, Houghton, Bay, Genesee, Kalamazoo, Calhoun,
Berrien, Jackson, Huron, St. Clair and Oakland.
INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITIES
From the last "Michigan Manual" is condensed the following relating to the incorporation of the cities and villages of the county:
Pontiac-Incorporated as a village by the state legislature, 1837;
amended, 1838, I842, 1843, 1845, I850. Incorporated as a city by
legislature, 1861; act relating to, 1861; charter amended 1865, I869,
1871, I877, I88I, 1885, I889, I905, 1907.
Birmingham-Incorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in
I864; limits extended by legislative act, 1883; reincorporated by act of
legislature, 1885.
Clarkston-Incorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in
I884; reincorporated by legislative act, I889.
Farmington-Incorporated as a village by state law in 1867; charter
amended in I869, I875; reincorporated in 1887; amended, limits extended, I89I.
Holly-Incorporated as a village by state law, I865; charter revised,
1873; amended, I893.
Leonard-Incorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in 1889;
reincorporated by act of the legislature, I893.
Milford-Incorporated as a village by state law in I869; charter
amended in I87I; reincorporated, i88i.
Orion-Incorporated as a village by state law in I859; charter repealed by legislature in 1863; reincorporated by state law, 1869; amended
by legislative act, 1879, 1889; reincorporated by act of legislature, 1891.
Ortonville-Incorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in
I902; by legislative act, I903.
Oxford-Incorporated as a village by Board of Supervisors in I876;
reincorporated by legislative act, I89I.
Royal Oak-Incorporated as a village by legislative act in 1891.
South Lyon-Incorporated as a village by state law in 1873; and by
legislative act in I885; reincorporated by legislative act in 189I.
THE COUNTY COURTHOUSES
The $Ioo,ooo courthouse, which is the home of the government and
judiciary of Oakland county, is a gem of taste and an ideal of convenience and comfort among the public buildings of southern Michigan.
Its cornerstone was laid by the grand lodge of Masons of the state of
Michigan, August 30, 1904, and the civic ceremonies included addresses
by James H. Lynch, president of the day, Daniel L. Davis and others,
and music by the Pontiac band. The new court room was dedicated
November I, I905, the address of welcome being by George W. Smith,
circuit judge, and the dedicatory address by Andrew L. Moore. John
H. Patterson spoke on "Our Beloved Country," and Chief Justice Joseph
B. Moore indulged in a series of interesting "Reminiscences."
The public exercises on November 2d embraced a military parade