Mecosta County MI Archives History .....History Of Chippewa Township 1883
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 25, 2008, 3:58 pm

Chippewa Township, situated in the northern tier of townships of Mecosta 
County, is township 16 north, range seven west, Congressional survey, and is 
bounded on the north by Osceola County, on the east by Fork Township,on the 
south by Martiny Township, and on the west by Grant Township. It is on the 
divide between the two slopes drained by the Muskegon and the chippewa, though 
most of it is tributary to the Chippewa. Pogie Lake, in the northwestern part, 
is the source of Pogie Creek, which unites with Muskegon River in Grant 
Township. South through the central part of the township flows Roundy Branch, 
which enters Upper Evans Lake on the southern line of the township. This lake 
has from its southern end, which is in Martiny Township, a short outlet 
flowing into Lower Evans Lake. This in turn flows by another short outlet into 
the South Branch of the Chippewa. On the head-waters of the Roundy Branch and 
tributary streams are Pine Lake, Emerald Lake, and a number of smaller bodies 
of water. On the northern boundary lies Big Stone Lake, which projects into 
Osceola County, and in the southwestern part of the township lies Chippewa 
Lake, the largest body of water in Mecosta county. It may be considered as the 
source of the South Branch of the Chippewa. It coevers parts of sections 
19,20,21,29, and 30, and is 800 or more acres in extent. A railroad has 
recently been built to Chippewa Lake, as a branch from the Detroit, Lansing & 
Northern railroad, and a small steamer plies on the lake. It may in time 
become a very popular resort. Chippewa Township was given a civil organization 
in 1868, and it elected as its first Supervisor, JOhn W. Sparks. The first 
white settler, a Mr. Pollock, located on section six, in the spring of 1865. 
The first birth, that of Mary McCormack, daughter of Malcolm and Catherine 
McCormack, occurred April 20, 1868. The first death was that of Mrs. Sylvester 
Smith. The first marriage, that of Robert Jamieson and Minnie Martiny, was 
solemnized by Rev. E.B. Miner, in January, 1868. The first frame building was 
a barn, erected by William Perry in 1874. The first mill was a saw-mill, 
erected by R.W. Kimball, in 1872. The first school-house was a log building 
erected on section eight, in the spring of 1870; and the first school was 
taught by Z.N. Tidd, in the summer of the same year. The first store was 
opened by Wilson Brothers in June, 1873. The first postoffice, Chippewa Lake, 
was established in 1870, with S.V. Tice as Postmaster.


The Chippewa Grange is an organization deserving mention. It was started in 
1874, with a membership of 25. At the present itme it has 30 members, and is 
in excellent condition. They have a hall, built in 1879.

The lumber interest is of great importance in Chippewa Township. The Chippewa 
Lumber Company purchased 150,000,000 feet of timber near Chippewa Lake, in the 
fall of 1882. The also purchased the D. F. Comstock Mill at Big Rapids, and 
removed the same to Chippewa Lake during the winter. They commenced sawing the 
1st of June. They will soon have a large plaing mill and shingle mill in 
connection with their lumber business. The same firm have platted a village 
called Chippewa, which is growing rapidly, and has excellent prospects for 
future prosperity, as the nearest towns are Evart and Big Rapids, 12 miles 
distant. On section 2 is a saw-mill with a capacity of 18,000 feet per day, 
run by William Wilson, Bro. and Miller.

In 1870, the population of Chippewa Township was only 140. In 1874 this had 
increased to 291, and in 1880 the census credited it with 445. In 1878 it had 
1,522 acres of improved land; and in 1881 it had 1,737 acres. In 1869 the 
equalized valuation of its real and personal estate was $32,414; and its 
present valuation is $426,680. The total vote of the township, in November, 
1882, was 54.

Additional Comments:
Mecosta County Portrait and Biographical Album, by Chapman Brothers, 1883.

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