On June 30, 1830, Elijah Sanborn purchased property in Section 34 of Almont Township, which is located east of Van Dyke on the north side of Bordman Road.
In 1824 but no later than early 1825, Elijah and Sophia moved from New York to Oakland County, Michigan. The exact location of the homestead is not currently known but on July 1, 1829 they purchased property in Addison Township, which is the northeast corner of Oakland County with Lapeer County to the north and Macomb County to the east.
In 1825 or 1826, Sophia’s father and step-mother bought property in Washington Township, Macomb County, Michigan and moved there.
Elijah Sanborn Jr. visited the Almont area in 1830 and purchased property in Section 34 on June 26, 1830. Section 34 is east of Van Dyke Road on the north side of Bordman Road. However, Elijah did not build on the property until 1831. Technically, this means that Sophia and not her brother Jonathan was the first Sleeper to own property in Almont Township.
Elijah returned in March of 1831 and started his homestead on the north side of Bordman Road about a quarter mile east of Van Dyke. That year the winter extended into April with heavy snow falls. To keep his animals alive, he had to feed them his supply of flour and the straw from the family’s mattresses. He was forced to travel to Troy to get supplies to feed both his animals and his family.
Based on this story, it is reasonable to assume that between the time of purchasing the land and settling on it, Elijah traveled from Oakland County, on multiple occasions, and constructed his cabin, barn, and outbuildings and cleared the land.
Elijah moved to Almont with his wife, Sophia Sleeper Sanborn, and their four sons. Sophia would soon be pregnant with their first daughter, Laura Amelia who was born in Almont on June 27, 1832.
On January 5, 1831 Elijah bought additional property in Section 34 of Lapeer County. Later that year on September 1, 1831, he bought the property in Macomb County, which was across the road from his homestead. [Author’s note: I believe this to be the location of my grandfather’s property, 7642 Bordman Road.]
