Mecosta County MI Archives History .....History Of Sheridan Township 1883
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 January 25, 2008, 4:44 pm

In the eastern tier of townships of the county is township 15 north, range 7 
west, Congressional survey, names as above, and is bounded on the north by 
Fork Township, on the east by Isabella County, on the south by Wheatland 
Township, and on the west by Martiny Township.

Sheridan is on the divide between the territory contiguous to Lake Michigan, 
and that stretching towards Lake Huron. It contains no stream of any size, 
except the south branch of the Chippewa River, which flows through the 
northwestern corner. In the eastern portion are Bamber Brook, and other samll 
streams flowing east, while in the southwestern part are the head-waters of 
the Little Muskegon. The township contains half a dozen very small lakes, and 
three lakes of some size are intersected by its boundary lines. Lake No. 6 
lies near the southwestern corner, while Dimon Lake and Tubb;s Lake lie near 
the northwestern corner, and partly in Martiny township.

Sheridan has no villages and no railroads. It was organized as a township in 
1867, in the same year in which Fork was erected, and in October of that year 
it held its first election, which resulted in the choice of Edward P. Strong 
as the first Supervisor. Mr. Strong was the first white settler of the 
township, having located on section 12 the first of January, 1866.

The first white child was Mary E., daughter of William W. and Susan McComb, 
who greeted the light April 29, 1866. The first two marriages - those of A. 
Berry and Angeline benscoter, and Chauncey Rogers and Minnie Gibbs -- were 
solemnized on the same day, Nov. 28, 1867, by Elder Z.W. Shepherd. the first 
death was that of Ella S. Hanna, and occurred June 1, 1866. The first frame 
building in the township was the school-house in District No. 1, built by John 
A. Markle. the first school-house was a log building erected on section 11, in 
the spring of 1868, and Mrs. Osborn taught the first school during the summer 
following. E.P. Strong opened the first store in June 1867. The first 
postoffice, Rienza, was established in the spring of 1870.

Its population in 1870 was 135; in 1874, 160; and in 1880, 207. In 1878, it 
reported 990 acres of improved land, and in 1881, 1,192 acres. Its equalized 
valuation in 1868 was $44,312; and its present valuation is $204,139. Its 
total vote in November 1882, was 39.

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

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/mecosta/history/other/historyo54gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mifiles/

File size: 3.0 Kb