Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society - Research Article

- Part 2 of 2 -

James Galloway

Apple Island was first purchased, on June 18, 1827, by James Galloway of Palmyra, Wayne County, NY – reportedly at the price of eleven shillings, eight pence per acre.¹ It is unlikely that Galloway ever lived on the island – his name does not appear on the 1830 Census of the Michigan Territory – but at least one of his sons, Jerome Bonaparte Galloway, eventually settled east of Pontiac.² In fact, Galloway Lake near the intersection of University and Opdyke Road is named in honor of him. James Galloway’s last will and testament, dated November 19, 1838, states, "I give to my said daughter Julia Ann Galloway all that piece of land, called Apple Island in Orchard Lake. So called, situated in the state of Michigan, and not many miles from Pontiac."³ West Bloomfield records show that “non-resident” Joseph Allen, Julia Ann’s husband, paid $1.23 in taxes on the island in 1847.⁴

William Dow

William Dow immigrated to this area from Fife, Scotland with his parents and siblings in 1830. They settled on 270 acres on the isthmus between Orchard and Cass lakes, in sections 9 and 10.⁵  The first members of what would become known as the “Scotch settlement,” the Dow brothers spent many winter days curling on the ice between Cedar and Apple Islands. On August 19, 1847, William purchased Apple Island from the Allens for $1,050.⁶  Dow appears to have been the first white person to live on the island – in 1849 he paid taxes based partly on “personal property” associated with the parcel.⁷  After selling the island William spent his final years as a farmer in West Bloomfield and was the first of the local Dow brothers to pass away. William died on January 2, 1862, at 51 years of age, and is buried among family members in Pontiac’s Oak Hill Cemetery.⁸

In 1850 Apple Island played host to a pair of remarkable visitors – two future kings of Hawaii. At age 15, Alexander Liholiho, the future Kamehameha IV, and his elder brother Lot, the future Kamehameha V, accompanied Dr. Gerrit P. Judd on a diplomatic mission to negotiate treaties with France, England, Belgium, and the United States guaranteeing the independence of the Hawaiian Islands. Coming to Michigan to see his mother, who was living north of Royal Oak, for the first time in 23 years, Judd treated the royal pair to some local hospitality.

Kamehameha IV, Alexander Liholiho

The journal of Prince Alexander recounts the events of Tuesday, June 18, “…At nine (o’clock) all the preparations were made and, in three or four Lumber Wagons with as many more private Carriages, we all succeeded in getting along some 20 miles in the hot sun. Our wagon rode straight on to Orchard Lake, as some two or three others were going through to Pontiac to pick up some more of the party. There was the Village Doctor & Wife, and our company, along with some three or four gentlemen, though we picked up more men on the road, besides a whole host of young ladies, all very good looking and somewhat very affable.”

“Arrived there after two or three hours ride. The Picnic was had on an Island right in the center of the lake, which made it very romantic. In due time all the party arrived, and we immediately hired boats to pull off to the river. We piped, & again, and after the provisions were ‘all aboard’ and also passengers, we shoved off and arrived there in due time.”

“Rambled some on the Island, and then spread our tables for our dinner on the ground under the shade of some of the trees.”

“While, however, in the act of doing justice to the dinner, we noticed a large ox step up to the place where… some of the ladies had left their shawls and bonnets, and the first we know he took up one of the bonnets in his mouth. And as we started up to go after him, he quietly swallowed it; and the last we saw of it were the strings gradually disappearing on its downward descent.”

“When near through our dinner, two of them made again their appearance and swallowed Napkins & Newspaper, &c– Finally we drove them off with firebrands &c, and then finished our dinner for a row around the Islands– It was a mile around, and there being but one or two who could row a boat, it can be easily imagined how (tired?) we were. On the whole had a very pleasant time.”⁹

The grandson of Kamehameha I, Alexander Liholiho ascended to the Hawaiian throne after the death of his uncle in December of 1854. His brother Lot succeeded him on Nov 30, 1863, when Alexander died at age 29.

John Coats

The island was next purchased on June 25, 1851 by John Coats, for $1,600.¹⁰  Born in Paisley, Scotland in 1819, Coats was the youngest son of cotton thread innovator James Coats – two of John’s brothers, James and Peter, formed the renowned J & P Coats Thread Co.¹¹  By 1840 the company was already a worldwide concern and brother Andrew was based on the eastern coast of the US. John came to Michigan in the late-1840’s, in part to act as an agent for his brothers’ company. One of 35 founding members of Detroit’s St. Andrew’s Society in 1849, John was co-owner of Jack & Coats, a wholesale and retail dry goods store on Jefferson Avenue.¹²  Leaving his business, Coats built a single-story, Greek Revival home on the island’s highest point. There he and his young family enjoyed the solitude until his son James was of school age, at which time they returned to Scotland.¹³


The John Coats House as originally configured

Colin Campbell

On August 27, 1856 Coats sold the island to Colin Campbell for $3,050.¹⁴  Also a successful Scottish dry goods merchant with a store on Jefferson and a founding member of the St. Andrew’s Society, Campbell viewed Apple Island as the ideal summer retreat.¹⁵  Campbell’s extended family and friends enjoyed the island’s majesty for almost 60 years. Extensive gardens and orchards were planted, and many new structures were built – but the island remained free from electricity, telephones and indoor plumbing.¹⁶  Colin and his wife Caroline greatly enriched both Detroit and the Orchard Lake community through their unselfish philosophy of life. While Caroline was alive, each morning on the island began with prayer. In 1871 she was instrumental in the formation of Orchard Lake Community Church Presbyterian.¹⁷  Under the Campbell’s ownership the island became a cultural and aesthetic center for the entire region. The GWBHS museum contains many photos from the Campbell era.

Colin’s grandson, Campbell Harvey, wrote a charming account of Campbell family life and adventure on the island. I do not believe it has been published, but copies are in both the GWBHS and OCPHS archives. In it he gives a very complete account of exactly who spent time on the island. Campbell also describes the many “Indian” themed events and parties held on there, which likely fostered existing legends surrounding Apple Island. His love of sailing is very evident; the document details the individual characteristics of many early Orchard Lake vessels.

Colin Campbell most likely added the rear addition.

Willis C. Ward, Marjorie Ward Strong & Harold Lee Ward

The stories of the Ward family are well documented thanks to several publications, so I won’t go into detail here. Among those worth looking at are David Ward’s autobiography, a privately printed narrative written by a self-made millionaire for his descendants. It provides a fascinating personal account of Michigan's development during the nineteenth century. Trained by his father as a surveyor, David laid claim to the best stands of Michigan pine as soon as they became available. In 1863, when his vigorous prosecution of "log thieves" caused his children to be harassed, the family moved to a farm at Orchard Lake, and lived there year-round until business responsibilities obliged them to winter in Detroit.¹⁸

David’s son Willis published his own book, “Orchard Lake and its Island,” in 1942. Willis pays great homage to mentor Forrest Campbell, offers stories of members of many Orchard Lake families, and recounts how the lake area once teemed with an awesome variety and quantity of wildlife. Willis appears to be the only published source for the “jilted suitor” story concerning William Dow. 

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