Written by Sandy Kinter, from Waterford Genealogical Society E-Newsletter Volume 15 Number 2
The center of Waterford Township is the intersection of Highland Road (M-59) and Crescent Lake Road. Section 21 is the southwest corner of this intersection. The business corridor, along Highland Road, is the northern boundary of the section. South of that lies the residential part of Section 21, with Elizabeth Lake Road marking the southern boundary of the section. Running through the center of the section is Pontiac Lake Road, which is where the 1872 plat map shows most of the residences were located. The Clinton River runs diagonally across the township on its way to Pontiac.
Matching residents’ names on the 1872 plat map to names in the 1870 census was a little difficult in Section 21. Sometimes, as in the case of J. Utley, the name appears on the plat map, but cannot be found in the 1870 census, or in any census. J. Utley is still unknown. Also unknown is the F. Sutton, found in the southeast corner of the section, with 49 acres along Elizabeth Lake Road and the intersection of Crescent Lake Road. No F. Sutton was found in the 1870 census or agricultural census.
James Cassidy
In the northeast corner of Section 21 is a black square with the name “Cassidy” and “5 a” in small letters. The five acres of land, now the southwest corner of the intersection of Highland and Crescent Lake Roads, was owned by James Cassidy. The 1870 census shows James Cassidy, age 27, born in New York; Rosana Cassidy, age 61, born in Ireland; and Anna Cassidy, age 25, a dress-maker, born in Michigan.
The Cassidy family left few records for the genealogist to find. James Cassidy appears in the 1850 census with his parents, James and Rosina Casedy (sic), on page 348, Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan. (1) The father, James Cassidy, is age 45, born in Ireland; Rosina, age 44, also born in Ireland. Children are Edward, age 21, born in England; James Jr., age 16 and Mary A., age 14, both born in New York; Rosina, age 11, and Elizabeth, age 8, both born in Michigan. At age eleven, Rosina would have been born about 1839, so the family arrived in Michigan about then.
The 1860 census was too faint to read. The transcription lists R. Cassiday as head of the household. The Cassidy family still resided in Brandon Township. The senior James Cassidy had died before 1860. This family had no cemetery records found online. The Oakland County Deed Index, Volume 5, shows that Rosannah Cassedy, in 1867, is selling 165 acres, located in Section 24, Township 3N Range 8E (White Lake). (3) That same year James B. Cassedy, is purchasing property located in Section 21, Township 3N Range 9E (Waterford). (3)
James Cassidy and his mother, Rosanna, did not reside long in Waterford Township. The 1880 census shows them living on School Street in Pontiac, Michigan. (4) James’ occupation is listed as retired and he is only 35 years old. Rosanna’s death is unknown. James Cassidy died of typhoid fever, 24 October 1903, in Pontiac, Michigan. (5) He never married.
Sources:
- 1850 Census, page 348, Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan
- 1860 Census, page 787, Brandon Township, Oakland County, Michigan
- Oakland County, Michigan, Deed Index, Volume 5, 1866-1870, no page numbers,
Images 39 and 41; Oakland County, Michigan, Deed Index, Volumes 5-7,
1866-1879, Film #0975558, FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org - 1880 Census, page 319B, 3rd Ward, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan
- Death Certificate, James Cassady, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950,
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com