Newaygo County MI Archives History - Books .....Barton Township 1884
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 6, 2008, 10:36 pm

Book Title: Newaygo County Portrait & Biographical Album

Barton is township 16 north, 11 west and occupies the northeastern corner of 
the county.  It is bounded on the north 

by Lake County, on the east by Mecosta County, on the south by Norwich 
Township, and on the west by Monroe Township.  

It has no railroad, no village, and no water-course of any size.  Several 
creeks rise in the eastrn part, and flow 

into the Muskegon through Mecosta County.  Barton is a new township, 
comparitively, and is yet rich in pine lands.  

Its land is excellent for agricultural purposes, and will some time make it 
one of the wealthiest townships in the 

county.

Barton (named in honor of Hon. James Barton) was organized by the Board of 
Supervisors, March 9, 1860, and the first 

election was held the first MOnday in April following, at the house of Sidney 
Seacord.  William Davenport, Francis S. 

Hooker and Sidney Seacord were Inspectors of this election, and Sidney Seacord 
was chosen as the first Supervisor of 

the new township.  At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following 
officers were chosen:  James Duffy, 

Supervisor; John H. Randall, Clerk; Andrew J. Forsyth, Treasurer; Frederick 
Hover, Highway Commissioner; John Tower, 

Drain Commissioner; Wm. H. Wiggins, Schol Inspector; John w. Martin and S. 
Bird Schermerhorn, Justices of the Peace; 

George Torrey, Amos Whipple, Wm. Aldrich and Orvil L. Smith, Constables.

The population of Barton Township in 1880 was 638.

There are now five school districts in Barton.  For the year ending SDept. 3, 
1883, the number of children between 

the ages of 5 and 20 was 193; number that attended school, 157; number of non-
resident pupils, 7; number of days 

school taught, 740; number of school building (all frame), 5; number of pupils 
that can be seated, 258; value of 

school property, $2,650; number of male teachers employed, 2; number of female 
teachers employed, 6; amount paid to 

male teachers, $225; amount paid to female teachers $890.

As showing the increase of the wealth of the township we give the following 
figures:  In 1860 the value of the 

property of the township was about $18,000, and the taxes collected $116.47; 
while for 1883 the valuation was 

$139,042, and the taxes collected $1,478.53.

SUPERVISORS.


Sidney Seacord		1860
James M. Hyatt		1861-2
Tracy Woodward		1863
W.N. Bevier		1864
Carlos Marsh		1865
Lemon D. Reynolds	1866
William Davenport	1867-8
Frank H. Hooker		1869-71
Luther Dodge		1872
Eugene Decker		1873-8
George W. Heath		1879
Eugene Decker		1880
James Duffy		1881

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