Over the past couple of weeks, we have presented the history of two prominent families in Grosse Pointe – the Beaupre's and the Kerby's – both have had a noted presence in the community.
This week we conclude the series (for now) with the history of the Vernier family. The earliest decedents of the Vernier family can be traced back to 1701. It was around this time that Antoine de Lamothe Cadillac found the area we now call Detroit and took possession of the land for France.
The origin of the Vernier name can be traced to Grenoble, France, a city in the southeast of the country at the foot of the French Alps. Genoble’s history dates back more than 2,000 years, and it has been the capital of the Dauphiné since the 11th century. Vernier is a topographic name for someone who lives near an alder tree.One of the earliest members of the Vernier family to relocate to North America was Laurent Vernier Dit Ladouceur. He was born in 1726, in Grenoble, Isere, Rhône-Alpes, France. Having immigrated to Canada (year unknown), he married Marie Charlotte Catherine née Bouin Dit Dufresne, on January 11, 1762, in St. Laurent, Montreal, Quebec. Together, they had seven children.
Laurent’s eldest son, John (Jean) Baptiste Vernier Dit Ladouceur, was born on November 15, 1762, in St. Laurent, Montréal, Québec, Canada. At some point John Baptiste and his wife relocated to the United States (date unknown) and made their home in Grosse Pointe. John Baptiste was a farmer, on June 16, 1808, he put in a claim for 220.05 acres of land in Grosse Pointe, which was granted and confirmed by the United States Commissioners. We understand this type of property was granted to numerous farmers in the area to provide them with access to the lake, the fastestand best highway to and from markets. Most of the plots were narrow (between 162 feet to 600 feet wide), and around three miles deep. It is understood John Baptiste’s lot began where the intersection of Vernier Road and Lakeshore is located today, one of the many long narrow ribbon farms located in the area that ran from the lake several miles inland. The land granted to John Baptiste was in addition to the 208 acres of land that had already been deeded to the Vernier family by President James Monroe. John Baptiste, at one point, had over 400 acres of land as part of the Vernier estate.The lot was known as the “Ladouceur farm”, it not only provided the family with income but was also the location of the family home – now listed as 665 Vernier Rd.
The original Vernier home was a large square house built by John Baptiste (around 1810). It is reported the house was originally built of hewn logs which rested on a foundation built of stone (from the shore of the lake), the walls were three feet thick. The residence was around 30’ x 50’ sq ft and crowned with a steep roof, through which, at each end, projected a squat chimney, constructed of small bricks that were common on the Continent. It was reported when the house was built it had a secret cellar, while the upper story contained large bins (formed of hewn pine slabs) that the Vernier’s used to store their grain. During this era at the side of one of the chimneys was a trap door covered by a heavy, old cupboard which had been in use since the house was built. From the middle of the roof, bolted firmly to a rafter, was a figure of the Savior, two feet in length, chiseled out of pine. Some years later the log walls were covered with clapboards.
After Jean Baptiste’s death, in 1834, the homestead was passed to his youngest son Laurence Robert. By 1879, it is reported the 400 acres of farmland owned by the Vernier family had been drastically reduced in size. Presumably most of the land had been subdivided and sold. Towards the end of the 19th century a grocery store was constructed at the foot of the Vernier farm, located at the base of Vernier Road (it is not clear when Vernier Road opened, but it is present on a map dated 1893). The store stocked hardware, and farming implements – it was kept by a man named William Gilbert Harris, a descendent of the Vernier family.
William Gilbert Harris
William Gilbert Harris was born on January 2, 1871, in the old Vernier home (665 Vernier Rd). At the time of his birth the property was owned by William’s parents, Joseph Wood, and Catherine (Vernier) Harris. Catherine was born May 24, 1839, the daughter of Laurence Vernier (John Baptiste’s youngest son). William Harris was the second postmaster of Clairview in Grosse Pointe. He also owned a grocery store at 337 Clay Avenue in Detroit. Mr. Harris’s grocery store on Vernier Road was located opposite the home that his parents had built – now addressed as 755 Lake Shore.
In 1895, William married Mary Louise Connor. Together they had two children. On June 10, 1913, William Gilbert Harris suffered a fatal heart attack while attending a village meeting. After his death the Harris family continued to reside at 755 Lake Shore. The house (completed in 1880) still exists today, however over the years the property has been expanded, undergone multiple changes, and the land has been subdivided multiple times. In 1938, the house was still owned by William’s wife, Mary, who lived at the property with their children Joe and Louis. At this point the property was located on a 29-acre lot (440’ x 3,000’). In 1934, Mrs. Harris listed the estate for sale and was open to sub dividing the property. The current lot size today is – 101’ x 231’.
Edmund C. Vernier
In 1888, John Vernier IV opened a roadhouse at the foot of Vernier property close to the lake. In 1895, he sold the roadhouse to his cousin, Edmund C. Vernier who utilized the establishment as a hotel as well as a roadhouse, where “considerable gambling took place”. Edmund Vernier was born on February 16, 1867, to Charles (born 1829) and Irene Robertjohn Vernier (born 1826). Image courtesy of: Detroit Free Press
Shortly after he bought the business Edmund built a more pretentious place on Lake Shore, just south (toward Detroit) of Vernier Road. It is reported the inn was known for the hospitality of its host and was one of the most popular summer resorts of the 1890’s. The establishment specialized in serving fish and was also noted for serving chicken and frog leg dinners. Edmund had a fishing net of his own and caught fish daily, which he sold to his patrons. The roadhouse, located next to the lake, had a long dock to which boats could be moored. In wintertime when the lake was frozen, ice boating was a popular sport. Many of the ice boat crews would come in from their races, tie up to the pier, and indulge in food and refreshments at the roadhouse and play the slot machines. Aside from the boat crews, the roadhouse was also popular with Detroiters and with the growing number of Grosse Pointe’s summer resort community. The establishment was owned by Edmund Vernier until 1915, when he built a new place at 1010 Vernier Road, north of Lake Shore Rd, which he operated until 1918, (around the beginning of prohibition), when he leased the place to Robert Alexander.
Edmund resided in Grosse Pointe Woods (at 1032 Vernier Rd), until his death on September 28, 1934. He was married to Christine (Moon) Vernier, and they had five daughters. Aside from owning the roadhouse Edmund was also a well-known pillar of the community. After the Village of Lochmoor was incorporated on January 24th, 1927, Edmund became one of the first officers of the Village. He held the position of president, after which he served as township clerk, treasurer, and supervisor for many years. While serving as president, he conceived the idea of a Police Radio Station for Grosse Pointe Township and together with Judge Walter Schweikart, Township Clark, Daniel Allor, Police Chief James Drysdale, and commissioner of Police Wm. Shoemaker, they appeared before the Federal Radio Commission in Washington and obtained a permit and station license on July 18th., 1930, to operate station W.R.D.R.
Other Vernier family members became respected figures in Michigan politics. There was the Vernier school, completed in 1916, originally located at 36 Vernier Road (razed in 1994) – you can read the full story by clicking here. Then there is, of course, Vernier Road. School image courtesy of: Detroit Free Press (February 1994). Road image courtesy of: Google Earth.
The long line of Verniers are representatives of one of the oldest families in south-eastern Michigan, a noble and distinguished lineage.
If you have a home, building or street you would like us to profile please contact Higbie Maxon Agney – homes@higbiemaxon.com - we will try and feature the property.
* Photos courtesy of the Higbie Maxon Agney archives unless stated.
** Research, information, and data sources are deemed reliable, but accuracy cannot be fully guaranteed.
Written by Katie Doelle
Copyright © 2025 Higbie Maxon Agney & Katie Doelle
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