Carsten Burfiend Farm

History

Port Oneida’s first settler, Carsten Burfiend, had his pick of land from the entire region. Apparently he was a good judge of land, as the Burfiend Farm became one of the most prosperous farms in the area.

After emigrating from Germany, Carsten married fellow immigrant Elizabeth James in New York State. In 1850, Mrs. Burfiend remained in New York while her husband sought out a life for them further up the Great Lakes. He settled initially on North Manitou Island, where he earned some money as a fisherman. Once established there he sent for Elizabeth. The couple lived on the island for two years and had their first child, before crossing the Manitou Passage to the west side of Pyramid Point.

Carsten and Elizabeth built a log cabin by the water, continued to fish, and began developing a farmstead. Despite being harassed by pirates, having their lakeside cabin battered by storms, and losing a son to the lake, the Burfiend Farm developed. A barn and other outbuildings were built in the area of the lilac clump that remains south of the existing houses.

Peter Burfiend took over the farm from his parents, and with his wife Jenny developed the Port Oneida Dairy while continuing to fish. They built a frame house high on the bluff which remains. They were succeeded in turn by their son Howard and his wife Orpha, daughter of Doctor Fralick, who lived in Maple City and serviced the surrounding countryside.

Howard & Orpha eventually had a new house built beside his parent’s home. A large new barn was built across the road. (The barn burned in 1982, leaving the foundation that remains.) Howard moved the granary and other farm buildings across the road to the area by the barn. The shop building east of the granary housed a blacksmith forge, as well as one of the better butcher shops in Port Oneida. .

The Burfiend houses face Lake Michigan, with their backs to Port Oneida Road. This is because the road used to run along the shoreline. The road was moved back to its present location after being washed out by storms.