History of Middle Branch Township 1884 Portrait & Bio Album

Middle Branch was one of six to come into the township organizations before the county was formally organized. This was in 1867, with J.B. McFarlane as Supervisor. It is situated in the eastern tier of townships, in number 19 north, of range 7 west. Its boundary lines are Marion on the north, Clare County on the east, Sylvan on the south and Hartwick Township on the west.

This township is very thinly settled, and the principal business by those who have come in has been lumbering. The timber was pine, hemlock and the hard-woods. Originally there were some grand pine forest - unsurpassed by any of the townships - which have been depleted by the lumberman's ax. This timber was cut into logs, and then floated down the Middle Branch to the Muskegon River, and from along the course of this river they were taken up by the great saw-mills and manufactured into lumber. The forest sof this township contain some fine cherry, which so far has been mostly preserved, the owners holding it for future markets.

Among the early settlers were J.B. McFarlane, U.O. Chase, H.a. Clark, A.W. Harrington, William Watson and J.M. Greer. The surface of the land is rolling, except in the eastern part, which is flat. The major portion of the land is samdy loam, with a clay sub-soil; other parts - the eastern - is sandy.

There are three school districts in the township, with about 40 pupils attending. The school building in No. 1 is frame, located on section 10, and cost $325; number of pupils on list, 17. District No. 2 has a frame building, costing $300, and is located on section 13. This district has 13 pupils on the roll. The building in District No. 3 is located on section 30, and cost $325, and is a frame building; number of pupils in attendance, 9.

This township had in 1883, 473 acres of improved lands, which was divided into 18 farms, with 1,589 acres of unimproved lands. The best crop to raise in this township is hay, and the next best is potatoes. The production in 1882 in wheat was 435 bushels, and in potatoes, 1,970 bushels, with 168 ton of hay. But very little attention, so far, has been paid to raising stock.

The census of 1884 showed a decrease in the population from that of 1880, giving only 153. For the last year, since the census of 1884, it has been slowly increasing.

The Middle Branch, with several little streams, meanders through the township and empties into the Muskegon River. There are four pretty good roads constructed, which run parallel with the section lines, and which meet the wants of the present inhabitants. Their nearest railroad station is Sears, in Orient Township, and at this place and Evart they do their trading and get their mails.

It has been represented in the Board of Supervisors of the county by the following named citizens:

SUPERVISORS.

J.B. MFarlane 1867-70
U. O. Chase 1871
William Watson 1872
H.A. Clark 1873-8
A. W. Harrington 1879
J.M. Greer 1880-4