An Account of Oakland County / edited by Lillian Drake Avery.

CHAPTER II.

COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT
O N January 12, 1819, Hon. Lewis Cass, governor of the Michigan
territory, issued a proclamation establishing the county of Oakland, 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 shall 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
when settlements are formed, and conflicting opinions and interests
are to be reconciled, I do, by virtue of these presents, and in conformity with the provisions of the ordinance of Congress of July 13,
1787, lay out that part of the said territory included within the said
boundaries, viz., beginning at the southeast corner of township 1
north, range 11 east, north of the base line; thence north to the southeast corner of township 6, 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, Charles Lamed, Philip La Cuer, John
Whipple, and Thomas Rowland, Esqs., commissioners for the purpose
of examining the said county, and reporting to me the most eligible
site for the seat of justice of said county. To take effect from and
after the 31st of December, 1822, unless sooner determined by the
governor. LEWIS CASS."
The settlement of Oakland county grew apace, however, and in
the following year, March 28, 1820, Governor Cass issued a second
proclamation definitely organizing the county. This proclamation
was as follows:
"Whereas, the inhabitants residing within that part of the territory
included in the county of Oakland, as the same was laid off by act of
the governor of the territory, bearing date the 12th day of January,
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen,
have requested that the said county should be organized
"Novw, therefore, I do, by virtue of the provisions of the ordinance
of Congress passed July 13, 1787, determine the limitations in the said
act of governor of this territory, and I do hereby declare the tract
of country included within the said boundaries to be the county of
Oakland, and the inhabitants thereof henceforth entitled to all rights