In this issue Shady Nook, on the southwest corner of Spencer and Kensington Roads, is the site of our research. In the newspaper clipping c. 1900, Charles S. Foote, is listed as the owner.
Four years after his parents, Linus and Mary (Smith) Foote, came to Lyon Township, Oakland County from New York, Charles was born February 21, 1836. In 1832 there were only two other cabins in the area. The cabin Linus built was eight feet high in front, six feet in the rear and roofed over with bark. A crude dwelling with no windows. It probably had a dirt floor, a fireplace for heat and light and a heavy blanket for a door. Charles was born in that little cabin as was his sister, Amelia, in 1834 and a younger brother, Adelbert, born c. 1838. (Adelbert died in the Civil War.)
In April, 1849, Linus bought 80 acres from Elijah Johnson (who had purchased it originally July 15, 1835) and another 80 from Garret Martin (purchased May 21, 1836). Both pieces in Section 25, Brighton Township (both original purchasers were from New York). An 80 acre piece, owned by A.M. Brown, lay between. (By 1875 Charles S. Foote is the owner of that piece and the 80 to the East was sold to William Fuller.) Linus again found himself a settler on undeveloped land with only two other houses within a mile radius of his own. The portrait and biographical album of 1891 described, in glowing terms, the house and his barns, the farmers pride, are large and shows careful attention. (that house is still standing.) a stream flows the length of the west 80 ending in a swamp west of Kensingston Rd. It meets Woodruff Creek and then flows into the Huron River.
Charles, 13, on the move to Brighton Township had not many opportunities for education. He attended the log district school for about three months a year. Clearing land in order to farm took a great deal of energy and time. Able-bodied young men were hard at work at an early age. Elizabeth, the sister of William Fuller, the neighbor to the east, became his bride in October of 1859. Son Herbert and daughter Carrie were born to them. Carrie married E. A. Van Riper, October 19, 1892; dying in 1893 of consumption. Herbert married a sister of Judd Burt (who also owned property in the area.) Their daughter, Florence, married Edward S. Whalen November 29, 1911. To them Mildred and Gerald (who died this year) were born. (The Foote name ceases, the Whalen name will live on in Geralds six children.)
Compiled from county atlases and Mrs. Myron Wests scrapbooks donated by Eva Whalen. Marieanna Bair.