Mecosta County MI Archives History .....History Of Millbrook Township 1883
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 25, 2008, 4:07 pm

MILLBROOK TOWNSHIP The Township of Millbrook lies in the southeastern corner 
of the county, and is numbered 13 north, range 7 west, and is bounded on the 
north by Wheatland Township, on the east by Isabella County, on the south by 
Montcalm county and on the west by Hinton Township. It is watered by Black 
Creek, in the southwestern half, and by two branches of Pine River in the 
northeastern half. It also contains three or four small lakes.

The village of Millbrook lies mostly in the township, and Blanchard lies just 
outside of its limits in Isabella County.

Millbrook was organized into a civil township in October, 1865, and in the 
same month with Grant and Aetna Townships. Its first election resulted in the 
choice of Peter S. Decker as Supervisor. The first white settlers were Leonard 
and Hazen Aldrich, who located on section 14, in 1859. The first birth was 
that of Forest Aldrich, son of Leonard and Jane Aldrich, in August, 1859. The 
first death was that of Charles Roe, in November, 1866. The first marriages, 
those of Hazen Aldrich and Jane Jackson, and William F. thompson and Salina 
Aldrich, were both solemnized by John Bower, clergyman, in February, 1865. The 
first frame building was a dwelling erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1865. the 
first mill was a water-power saw-mill, erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1864. The 
first school-house was a log building, erected on section 11, in 1863. The 
first school was taught by Louisa Allen, in 1863. The first store was opened 
by W.S. Howd, in 1865, where the village of Millbrook is now located.

The population of Millbrook Township by the census of 1870, was 302; by the 
State census of 1874 it has 412; and in 1880 the general census gave 706 
inhabitants. In 1878 it had 2,151 acres of improved land; and in 1881, 2,407 
acres. Its equalized valuation in 1866 was $29,957; and its present valuation 
is $564,748. Its total vote in November, 1882, was 107.

MILLBROOK VILLAGE

The village of Millbrook is a thriving place of between 300 and 400 
inhabitants, on section one. It would undoubtedly grow faster, and have more 
business, had not the railroad been located so far away as it is. The citizens 
of the village offered the D.L. & N. Railroad Company every reasonable 
inducement to come to the village, but opposing influences were too strong.

The first house was a log dwelling erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1863. The same 
man put up the first frame house on the village site, in 1864. The first store 
was opened by W.S. Howd, in March, 1865. The present school-house was erected 
in 1869, at a cost of $800. The principal is C.F. Fitzgerald.

Millbrook has two religious organizations, -- the Congregational and Methodist 
Episcopal. The former denomination erected a church in 1874, at a cost of 
$3,000; and the latter have a small church now in process of construction. 
Rev. Mr. Schiedel preaches for the Congregationalists, and Rev. Mr. Wyant for 
the Methodists.

Level Lodge, No. 219, I.O.O.F., has a membership of 35, and meets every 
Saturday evening. The principal officers at the present time are Levi S. 
Meneri, N.G.; Charles Knauss, V.G.; James Wylie, Secretary; William F. Denney, 
Treasurer.

The post office was organized in 1869, and Orson N. Earl was the first 
Postmaster. Henry D. Brown at present holds the appointment.

The folowing list comprises all the firms at present doing business in 
Millbrook:

Aldrich, Forest, wagon shop
Brooks, Keller & Eicher, restaurant
Brown, H.D., postoffice, notions
Denney, William F., furniture store
Dysinger, George, blacksmithy
Dole & Precious, saloon
Decker, G. A., harness shop
Eicher, A., meat market
Fink, R.M., dry goods
Harmon, E., Harmon House
Howd, A.J., feed and flous
Horton, E.T., general store
Haggett, George, blacksmithy
Kenrick, E.H., drug store
Lock, Frank, barber shop
Norton & Carman, grist-mill
Pattison, J.M. & Co., drug store
Richards, James & Co., hardware store
Stanley, J.B. grocery
Stanton, H., blacksmithy
Willett, Ida, millinery

The medical profession is represented by C.H. Rodi, S.A. Gates, J.W. Pattison 
and W.J. Cree; and the legal by D.C. Fuller and W.S. Howd, the former of whom 
is Justice of the Peace.

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

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