Written by Sandy Kinter, from Waterford Genealogical Society E-Newsletter Volume 10 NUmber 7
The Atlas of Oakland County, Michigan, printed by F.W. Beers of New York, in 1872, has a map of the village of Waterford on page 61. It was not hard to compare the 1872 map with the 1870 U.S. census of Waterford Township and discover who the residents of the village were. Once the full name of the land owner, and the spouses, was known it was an interesting exercise in genealogy research to find out more about who these people were, where did they come from, what was their family background, and, in some cases, where did they move after 1872?
Research started with Lot #1, the residence of Orsen F. Clark, on Grand River Street, now known as Andersonville Road, and covered both sides of the street. The research continued east to Saginaw Street, now known as Dixie Highway. A lucky discovery on Find A Grave was the current address on Andersonville Road of one of the houses. Houses in the village could then be matched with the 1872 owners. Future issues of the newsletter will have articles about the 1872 residents of the village of Waterford.