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Bloomfield Blossoms: p. 156-157

Smith, Kay, 1925-

Bloomfield Township Public Library

Bloomfield Township (Mich.) -- Politics and government -- History

48th District Court (Oakland County, Mich.)

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GB01a080

part of 'Bloomfield Blossoms' by Kay Smith

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THE FIRST OAKLAND COUNTRY PROBATE COURT MET IN BLOOMFIELD When in 1880 Mrs. Nancy G. Davis read a paper before the Oakland County Pioneer Society, she mentioned the house of Colonel David Stanard as the oldest she could remember which was still standing. Colonel Stanard had purchased his 200 acres on July 3, 1820, in section 4 which is the area where the Miracle Mile Shopping Center is now located. Mrs. Davis' father, Judge Amasa Bagley, had bought his land now on Woodward Avenue between Lone Pine and Long Lake roads. Colonel Stanard's house, described as the earliest, must have been built soon after the Pontiac Sawmill was operable. In any case, the first county court was held in Pontiac on July 17, 1820, and so many of the names of Bloomfield's pioneers dot the register we can't dispute the influence of this Township on early county affairs. Amasa Bagley and Daniel Bronson were appointed associate judges with Pontiac resident William Thompson who was chief justice and later judge of probate. William Morris was named sheriff and Sidney Dole clerk. On the grand jury sat Elijah Willits, Ziba Swan, John Hamilton, Elisha Hunter, Erza Baldwin, Asa Castle, Elijah S. Fish and Harry 0. Bronson. Ziba Swan and Jonathan Perrin were named county commissioners as well. The first probate court met at Colonel Stanard's house on June 15, 1822, and the first order of business was letters of administration upon the estate of Eliphalet Harding. Today the 48th District Court which serves seven districts in Oakland County, has its base in the Township on Telegraph Road just south of Square Lake Road. Present judges are Gus Cifelli, Alice Gilbert and Carl Ingraham.