My Genealogy Hound

Solomon C. Elwood, proprietor, of Evergreen Lawn, which is located in sections 20 and 17, Waterford township, Oakland County, was born in Royal Oak township, Oakland County, Michigan, February 19, 1842, and is a son of Daniel and Fanny (Clark) Elwood.

The Elwood family migrated at an early date from New England to the Mohawk Valley, New York, and there Daniel Elwood was born August 16, 1811. He came among the pioneers of 1830 to Michigan, accompanying his father, Benjamin Elwood, who had been one of the large contractor engaged in the building of the Erie Canal, that marvelous piece of engineering for the times. Benjamin Elwood was born in New York in 1775, and came to Michigan in 1830 to secure government lands. Both father and son secured large tracts in Royal Oak township, Oakland County, where Benjamin Elwood died February 1, 1859, leaving a profitable farm of 160 acres. He at one time was a man of very large wealth, but lost a considerable amount of money in the building of the canal above mentioned. He married a native of New York of Dutch ancestry, who came of an educated family. They had five children, namely: Daniel; Hiram; Mrs. Betsey Ager; Mrs. Katherine Stanley; and Mrs. Mary Bennett. Daniel Elwood was a farmer all his life and died on his farm in Royal Oak township, January 6, 1845, when our subject was but four years of age. In politics he was a Whig like his father, both of whom had been prominent in politics. He was one of the leading members of the Methodist Church in his section of the county.

The mother of our subject was born at Sand Lake, Monroe County, New York, May 14, 1815, and died at the home of her son, Benjamin, in September,1890. She was the mother of two sons that grew to maturity, namely: Benjamin F. and Solomon C. our subject. The former was a prominent citizen of Pontiac, a man of much business enterprise and large means, who died at Pontiac, May 16, 1902.

Solomon C. Elwood has always resided in Oakland County and has always been a farmer and, it may incidentally be remarked, always a successful one. He owns a fine estate of 120 acres which he has brought to a high state of cultivation and all through the township Evergreen Lawn is recognized as one of the best farms of the central section of the county. Mr. Elwood has engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of high grade stock. He is prominent in all public matters coming before the citizens of the township, being a justice of the peace and having served in many of the local offices with the greatest efficiency and to the credit of himself and the township. During his term as highway commissioner, the roads were well cared for and while supervisor and treasurer, the finances were carefully considered. For nine years he has served as school director and it is a matter of record that the schools of Water ford township equal any in the county.

On January 18, 1864, Mr. Elwood was married to Cordelia Morris, who was born in White Lake township, Oakland County, June 7, 1841, and is a daughter of Lewis and Eve (Van Vosburgh) Morris, natives of Rensselaer County, New York. The three children born to this marriage are: Joseph M., who is married and resides with his father; Ida M. (Mrs. Whitfield), of Waterford township, Oakland County, who has two children, — Nellie and Ruth E.; and Mrs. Nellie Farrell, of White Lake Township, Oakland County.

In politics Mr. Elwood is a Democrat. He is one of the most active members of the Farmers’ Club, of which he has been president, and esteems its meetings of such value that he has missed but two of them in seven years.