History of Osceola Township 1884 Portrait & Bio Album
In 1869, on the 5th day of April, the people of Osceola Township assembled
together for the purpose of electing their
town officers. At that period, those who could cast the little ballot for
those whom they wanted for their public
servants, were not quite as numerous as they are now in this township; yet
they felt the importance of this action as
much as they do at the present day, if not greatly more. The result of this
meeting was the election of the following
officers: Samuel Fitzgerald, for Supervisor; Edwin Hulburt, for Clerk; James
Wetson, for Treasurer. Justices of the
Peace - Joseph Young, H. Underwood, Cyrus Moulton and Smith Hawkins; Joseph
Staninger, David Shadley and R. h. Coon were
chosen for Highway Commissioners; and A.J. Mapes, R.H. Coon, John Rickets and
Joseph Staninger, for Constables. This
meeting was held at the house of Isaiah Mauer. H. Underwood, David Shadley
and Isaiah Mauer were the Inspectors of the
Election, at which there were 34 votes cast. At this meeting, they also voted
a bounty of $5 for old, and $2.50 for
young wolves, brought in, dead or alive. This liberal action of the voters
was afterwards declared illegal.
Osceola is divided into five school districts with the location of school-
houses as follows: District No. 1, on
sections 16 and 21; No. 2, on section 26; No. 3 (which is the Evart graded
school), on section 34; No. 4, on sections 13
and 14; No. 5, on sections 19,20, 30 and 29. In District No. 1 there are 66
pupils enrolled; No. 2, 41; No. 3, 434; No.
4, 37, and No. 5, 28. The shool building in District No. 1, cost $1,200, No
2, $450; No. 3, $6,000; No. 4, $100, and
No. 5, $470.
This township is numbered 18 north, of range 8 west, and is bounded on the
north by Hartwick, on the east by Sylvan, on
the south by Evart, and the west by Cedar Township.
The Muskegon River runs across the southeast corner of the township. The
Chippewa Creek, and several other streams
heading in the northern part, course through the township and empty into the
Muskegon. Like most of the other
townships, the land is rolling, with a clay and sandy soil. For many years
the lumber business was the principal
industry. Its extensive forests of timber was a paradise to the lumbermen,
who reaped fro them golden harvests. Lumber
railroads were constructed in different parts of the township to facilitate
transportation. Most of these tracts have
been taken, and though the great bulk of the timber has been carried off, yet
an extensive business is done in this
line.
About 3,000 acres of land is now under improvement, with about 100 farms. It
stands the fifth in stock-raising, with a
rapid increase in this department of industry.
Among the earliest settlers were Isaiah Mauer, Samuel Fitzgerald, H.
Underwood, David Shadley, James Wetson and Smith
Hawkins.
James a. Lunney & Co. have a lumber and shingle manufactory about four miles
north of evart. Most of the timber now is
brought to Evart, which is also their postoffice.
The Evangelical Association has a church about three miles from evart, with 40
members. It is presided over by Rev. E.
Weiss. A new church edifice was erected last year, and dedicated Nov. 9, 1884.
Something more of the history of this township will be found in that of Evart
village on preceding pages.
