History of Gagetown, Tuscola County, Michigan


Copyright © 1998 by Bonnie Petee. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  

 

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Taken from The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and 
Illustrations, H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. Thanks to Bonnie Petee. 


HISTORY OF GAGETOWN

In 1869 Joseph Gage built a mill and store on his land in section 1, of the 
town of Elmwood. In 1871 he platted a village near the center of the section,
on the west side of the north and south quarter line, to which William 
Cleaver subsequently platted an addition. Mr. Gage also, the same year, built
a hotel and years after a grist-mill, which burned in 1876. Trade came in and 
a gradual increase of population and business. 

Two years ago a grist-mill was built by Randall Bros. But the village lived 
a rather retired life until 1882, when the prospect of a railroad and finally
its coming, gave renewed life to the place.

The following description of Gagetown was given in January 1882: "Sixteen 
miles northeast of Caro is a village of 200 inhabitants, with one church, 
one school-house, one grist-mill, with three run of stone, and one saw-mill, 
one sash, door and blind factory, one shoe shop, two blacksmith shops, one 
wagon shop, one shingle-mill, one livery stable, one planing-mill, one drug 
store, one hotel, four general stores, one hardware store, with tin shop in 
connection, post office, mail three times per week, one doctor, William 
Morris, one minister of the gospel, Rev. T. B. Krebs, pastor of the Roman 
Catholic Church. There is a new church under construction, which will be 
completed in the spring. It will be known as Grace Church and will be 
erected by the Episcopalian Society. 

Gagetown is located in the town of Elmwood, or, according to United States 
survey, township 14 north, range 10 east. Five highways center at this point;
the Cass River and Bay City road running east and west, the Wild Fowl State 
road running north to the bay, and the Caro, Gagetown, and Bad Axe Road 
running northeast. The village is located on a fine elevation, 200 feet 
above the level of Saginaw Bay. The summit of the Pontiac, Oxford, & 
Caseville Railroad is at this point. The railroad is now under construction, 
and will be ironed from Caseville to Gagetown within sixty days. There is a 
good opening for all branches of business; a good iron foundry is much needed; 
and there is plenty of water for steam purposes, as there are two never 
failing springs, free from lime.

"This part of the county is being rapidly filled up with a good class of 
citizens from the Canadas and the United States. The land is generally 
rolling, with a good soil and a growth of beech, maple, etc. Wheat, corn, 
oats, peas, potatoes and grass do well. Wheat, ten to forty bushels per 
acre: oats, thirty to fifty bushels; potatoes, 100 to 200 bushels; hay, one 
to three tons. Apples, plums, pears, peaches, cherries and small fruits of 
all kinds so well. Wild land can be bought from $5 to $10 per acre. The 
richness and durability of the sail cannot be surpassed in the State."

Since the above was written, considerable additions have been made. Another 
drug store, meat market, hotel, brewery, planing-mill, general store, harness 
shop, hardware store and another physician. Of stores, shops, dwelling-houses, 
etc., about twenty have been added to the buildings of the town. And a 
considerable number are now in course of construction. The population is 
about 300. There is a tri-weekly mail to Elmwood, connection with the mail 
between Caro and Cass City. It is expected that regular trains will soon be 
running on the railroad, when mail and travel facilities will be materially 
improved.



 

Copyright Bonnie J. Petee

March 1998
















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