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

427

C. L. RANDALL & COMPANY
C. L. Randall & Company, dealers in general produce, have been
identified with the business activities of Oxford for many years. From
I895 to I905 C. E. and Leon Randall, brothers, owned and operated the
old Oxford Creamery, organized some twenty-five years ago as a stock
company and operated by the stockholders for about seven years. About
three years ago the property was sold to the Ball Butter Company.
The C. L. Randall Company is composed of two brothers, C. L. and
Leon, and Philo B. Glaspie, and they are engaged in handling general
produce as previously mentioned; apples, potatoes, rutabagas, onions,
carrots, cabbage, beans and hay all claiming a share of their attention as
dealers. The firm operates but one elevator at Oxford, and has one at
Washington and one at Milford. Their operations are confined principally to potatoes, and they own potato cellars at more than forty stations in this district. Beans in this section have taken the place of wheat
and other grains, and last season something like $I50,ooo was paid for
navy beans at Oxford, and a similar or greater amount for potatoes.
Among the other industries of Oxford worthy of mention are those
included in the business of the Wolverine Sand & Gravel Company. The
enterprise embraces not only sand and gravel contracting, but furnishing
sand and gravel outfits.
Oxford has an organization of recent establishment which is doing
a good work among both business men and neighboring farmers-viz.,
the Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau. As its name implies, its object is to
prevent fires-to safeguard against destruction by fire. It as really a
combination of the fire insurance companies of the locality and is part of
a general system, or organization, whose scope is rapidly broadening.
William Reed is secretary of the Oxford bureau.