History of Oakland County, Michigan.

HISTORY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, MICHIGAN.

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after several changes of ownership, Benjamin Phelps became its proprietor; and
he afterwards sold the property to N. P. Stewart, an extensive speculator of Rome,
New York, who tore away the old mill, and erected in its place one of the best
mills in the State. It contained four run of burrs, was thirty-eight by seventy
eet in dimensions, and cost about twenty-eight thousand dollars, including the
power.
While engaged in this and other extensive speculations, Stewart associated with
him John Bacon, a brother of Levi Bacon, Jr. Not long after the building of
this mill Stewart became bankrupt- and the mill was sold. By reference to the
files of the Pontiac Jacksoiiian we find the property offered for sale for several
weeks in the latter part of 1843 and early part of 1844, by Seth B. Roberts, of
Rome, New York, and Richardson & Green, attorneys, Pontiac. John F. Hamin, of Avon, afterwards owned the mill, and he sold to his brother Elijah, and
he to Messrs. Austin & Miller, and these last-named disposed of the property to
the brothers Miller, from Albany, Ne'w York. While in their possession the
mill took fire and was totally consumed about 1870. It is said that it was heavily
insured at the time.
CARDING AND CLOTH-DRESSING.
About 1824, Ebenezer Smith sold water-power to one Pennel* for the purpose
of erecting carding and cloth-dressing works; but he confined him to that special
branch of business and nothing else in his deed, and it was this which more than
anything else contributed to the downfall of Auburn as an important point. The
power could only be purchased for specific purposes named in the deed, and people, and especially capitalists, very soon tired of investing money under such restrictions. Pennel erected a mill, however, dye-house, etc., and purchased three
sets of carding machines, at a cost of eight hundred dollars each, in New York.
Pennel had abundant means, and purchased and improved considerable additional
property in Auburn. He operated his clothing works for some ten years, and at
one period John K. Smith was probably associated with him in business. The
works changed hands a number of times, and eventually became the property of
N. P. Stewart, who allowed them to go to decay. The machinery was sold and
taken to some other point, and the building was finally moved away and used as
a barn.
A TRIP-HAMMER SHOP
was erected by Miller and Silsby about 1837, and the firm carried on quite an
extensive business in the manufacture of scythes, axes, etc. This establishment
was carried on for some fifteen years.
TANNERY.
Among other manufactories, a tannery was put in operation by Woodford and
Welch as early as 1833, and continued for about ten years.
A second saw-mill was built by C. C. Parks about 1830. He built a new dam
below the one erected by Webster, and the back water at length got him into
trouble, and the business was abandoned. Still another dam was built by Wm.
Beem about 1833, a little below where the bridge now is on the road leading
north from Auburn. He dug a long race (the ruins of which still remain) and
built a saw-mill which was in operation for a number of years, and eventually fell
into the hands of John Bacon. It was abandoned about 1855.
A large chair-factory was in operation for a number of years, and there was
also a cabinet-shop doing a good business.
Auburn in those days was a better town than Pontiac, and probably the largest
business point by all odds in the county. It had a post-office, a jeweler, a gunsmith, several large stores, two tailoring establishments, and two extensive blacksmithing works by Ira Goodrich and the Silsby brothers, each with three fires.
There was also a large hotel, and the place was a central point for militia musters and celebrations.
THE FIRST POST-OFFICE
was established in 1823, with Johnson Green as postmaster, who held it for a

ood number of years, and was probably succeeded by Milton Hyde. Other
ostmasters were C. C. Parks, Harvey Seeley, John Bacon, Leonard Weed, Warren Dunning, and the widow King, who was also the last. The office was discontinued about 1866-67.
The first hotel in Auburn was opened by Charles C. Hascall as early as 1825.
Among those who kept tavern in the village were Warren Dunning, 1840;
Thomas J. Strong, 1843; Daniel Wallace, in 1848.
The first store was opened by Zolman Carver, who married a daughter of
Ebenezer Smith, and brought in a stock of goods about 1823-24. One of his
first trades was with the Goodrich boys, who sold him forty " coon-skins" at twentyfive cents each. Carver sold them at eighteen and three-quarter cents, charged
the difference to profit and loss, and went out of the fur business for a while.
The second store and first distillery were put in operation by Phoenix Hinch* Pennel afterwards removed to Northville, Wayne county.
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man in 1825. He built a distillery below the grist-mill, and brought water from
a spring on the mill company's land above the village. Hinchman conducted the
distilling business for several years, and sold to Aaron Smith, who continued it
for some time.
The third store was opened by, Oliver Newberry, an early settler in Detroit,
and Seth Beach, about 1826-27. Newberry resided in Detroit, where he was
doing a large business, and Beach conducted the business in Auburn. They carried,
the heaviest stock in the place, and carried on business for six or seven years.
Among the many merchants who sold goods in Auburn were Keeler and Niles
(Johnson Niles and Roswell Keeler), who did business for four or five years;
Major and Thomas Cummings; Parks & Mathews (C. C. Parks and Calvin
Mathews); Stewart & Bacon, who had an extensive trading-house in connection
with their mills; C. C. Hascall and Eugene Seeley; George Hosler, the widow
King (in connection with the post-office), and the widow Hubbard.
THE FIRST SCHOOL
was opened in a double log building, which stood on the bank of the river about
1824. The building had a wheelwright's shop in the opposite end. The second
school was opened in a new school-building erected on a lot given by Aaron
Webster for school purposes, and which he curiously deeded to " Governor Cass
and his successors in office forever, to be used only for school purposes," and the
fee-simple is in the governor of the State to-day, though the lot is no longer used
for school purposes, and has been fenced up and sold. This building was accidentally destroyed by fire soon after it was built. None of the names of the early
teachers are now recollected.
THE AUBURN ACADEMY
was established by an act of the legislative council approved March 2, 1831. By
the act seven trustees were named, viz.: Benj.. Phelps, S. V. R. Trowbridge, Elizur
Goodrich, Ezra S. Park, Reuben Woodford, Seth Beach, and George Hornell.
The present schools of Auburn occupy the building formerly used by the
Auburn academy, and are in a highly prosperous condition.
The charter was obtained chiefly through the exertions of Hon. C. C. Hascall,
then a member of the council. A good building was erected, and this institution
was in operation for a number of years. In January, 1838, Francis B. Coleman
was principal, and Miss R. W. Torrey preceptress of the female department.
We take the following article from the old Oakland Chronicle, of June 11, 1830,
as showing the importance of Auburn at that date, and the extravagant anticipations indulged in by many of the people:
" This young and flourishing place is located on the banks of the Clinton
river, three and a half miles east of Pontiac, on the main road leading from
Mount Clemens to the county-seat of Sciawassa. The banks of the Clinton are
gently and beautifully elevated on either side. The water privilege.is rarely surpassedl, and exceeded bly none in the Territory. There are now erected fifty
buildings, and a population of three hundred inhabitants; also in operation a
grist-mill, with two run of stone, a saw-mill, carding-machine, two smith-shops,
a furnace, wheelwright, cabinet-maker, tannery, and chairmaker, all aided by
water-power; two merchants, men of capital and enterprise; a large and commodious house of entertainment, recently established. The completion of a road
-about one mile-will soon be effected, on a direct line to Hamilton's tavern, on
the Saginaw turnpike, which will only make a difference of two miles frola Detroit
to Auburn, and a much better road. Auburn is situated nearer the centre of
population than any other village in the county."t
Among early settlers in Pontiac township, outside of the villages of Pontiac
and Auburn, were Christopher Bulman, from Schenectady, New York, in May,
1831. Henry Thomas and sons settled somewhat earlier. Ephraim Colby settled in 1830. Levi Stockwell settled a mile north of Auburn in 1837. Moses

V. and Samuel Murlin, from western New York, settled somewhat earlier than
Bulman. Peter Van Dyke settled about 1830. About 1840 he returned to New
York, where he remained about two years, when he removed to Will county,
Illinois. Messrs. Harrington and Butson settled east of Auburn at an early date.
The present manufactures consist of the following:
A new flouring- and custom-mill, recently erected by H. Gillette and J. C.
Romine. It stands on the spot occupied by the old Stewart mill, is forty-eight
by thirty-four feet in dimensions, and contains four run of burrs. It is fitted
up with the best modern machinery,-turbine water-wheel, etc., and expects to do
as good work as any mill in the country. Mr. Gillette is a practical man at the
business, and has been a resident of the county some forty 'years. He and his
brother owned and operated one of the Rochester mills for fourteen years. Mr.
-Romine is from New Jersey, and has been in Oakland County about three years.
t This description of Auburn shows not only the importance of the place,- but also the
scholarship of the writer.