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

of buffalo robes and blankets, and resolved to sleep in the mill-making his bed near the hopper. Mr. Tremble wanted them to go to Mt.
Clemens for a gallon of whiskey. John, however, went while William
slept-one eye open. Mr. Tremble took the required toll. After John
returned, and the night rolled along-the mill ground slowly-the grist
needed another tolling, which was done; whereupon William arose from
his slumbers, replaced the last tolling and as much more. An hour or
so passed and a third tolling was done. The result was that William
arose again, replacing as before. Still the grist lingered, and another
resort of tolling was had, with the same result; and another until all
the wheat that William could find in the mill was dumped into the hopper. Then when the grinding was done, they (the Grahams) had not
bags enough to hold the flour, so they left the balance and the bran to
be taken at another time, which time has never come.
MILL STONES FROM BOULDERS
"My object in writing this sketch is more particularly to bring to
notice the use some of the boulders that have been promiscuously strewn
over this country were put to in an early day by the pioneers, and by
whom. I cannot give the precise date when Mr. John Shippy, then a
young man (since deceased), commenced manufacturing mill stones
from boulders, but think it was in 1824 or 1825. His first set was for
the late Mr. Nathaniel Millard of Stony Creek. The next set was for
Mr. H. Lathrop, which were put in the old mill, the frame of which
composes the upright of Barns and Brothers' paper mill. An incident
in the manufacture of this set of stones is worthy of notice: Mr.
Lathrop's hand, employed to assist M]r. Shippy on the stone, had left
and by request of Mr. Lathrop, Mr. Shippy employed his younger
brother, Mr. Smith Shippy; to assist him. He worked for him two
days, when, in using the hammer, his fingers became so cramped that it
was with difficulty he could unclasp them from the handle, besides being
fearfully swollen. Mr. Lathrop paid him the sum of two dollars for
his work-a bill on the bank of Ypsilanti-it being the first money he
ever received for work. He was very choice of it, intending to buy a
sheep with it. So laying it one side until a chance offered, some three
weeks passed, when he was told the bank had broken.
"Mr. Shippy manufactured a set of stones for Mr. Lyman J. Wilcox,
which did good service. After Mr. Wilcox built his new mill he sold
the set to parties in Lapeer county. It is supposed that Mr. Shippy
made a set for Mr. James A. Henry also. He also went to Grand
Rapids and manufactured one or two sets there. The set of stones
was taken from the mill of Mr. John Hersey to the Saginaw valley
by Mr. Williams, and what has become of the others I am unable to tell,
hoping, however, they are doing good service for the inhabitants of the
country."
STONY CREEK VILLAGE
The little settlement of Stony Creek, about half a mile northeast of
Rochester, had its origin in the locations and labors of the Taylors.