Letter by Harold F. Gardner
One of the Winterhalter sons now lives on the Sleeth Road, about directly north of Proud Lake.
The farms on the north and sough sides of the Wixom Road and west of the Ashcroft Farm, were owned by Frank and
ford Burch. Years ago the old Burch Schoolhouse was on Wixom Road west of the Ashcroft Farm. Mr. Willard Hartland
is another old timer who still lives west of the Ashcroft Farm. The Ashcroft Farm is owned by Mr. C. S. Ash and the
former owner was James Morrision. Mr. Morrison’s daughter, Carrie, married a Mr. Embery. She is now a widow and
resides in Pontiac. For your information, I am giving you below a short record of the Proud Family whom I know
and who lived on their farm during my first early visits.
Born-Died
Father – Charles W. Proud 1844-1906
Mother – Mr. Marion Proud 1849-1925
Son – Gardner Proud 1876-1909
Son – Webb Proud ?
Daughter – Mabel Proud ?
All these members are now deceased and the father and mother and Garner Proud are buried in the
old Proud Family
burial lot in the Wixom Cemetery on the Wixom Road at the north edge of Wixom.
Gardner Proud married and after his death his widow married a Mr. Burr Decker. Mr. and Mrs. Decker now reside in
Wixom, on the Wixom road.I am indebted to the following for furnishing me with most of the above information
regarding the Proud Family and other early settlers and farm owners mentioned above.
Mrs. Burr Decker Mr. Elton Wardan of 2725 Wixom Rd. Mr. Leo Shelter, who
operated a barber shop in Milford I have been down to Proud Lake twice
since you wrote a letter to Mr. Cox, your tenant, requesting him to allow me
to enter the property. For your information I want to inform you that I
found both Mr. and Mrs. Cox very friendly and cooperative. They also appear
to be fully aware of their responsibility as custodians of your property. I
trust that this information complies with your request. Yours truly,
Harold F. Gardner