History of the Village of Vassar, Tuscola County, Michigan

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

 

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THE VILLAGE OF VASSAR

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

This village is situated on the Cass River, a little more than twenty miles from its 
confluence with the Saginaw.  It is distant from East Saginaw City about eighteen miles 
and from Bay City twenty-two miles, and occupies a position in the northwest corner of 
the town of Vassar.  

The village is spread upon both sides of the river, and mainly on a level plat of 
ground, skirted all along on the west by an elevation, which from the river presents a 
bold and sometimes high and irregular front, that having been ascended brings to view a 
country whose surface is an almost unbroken level away to the Saginaw, twenty miles 
distant.  This ridge of terrace affords building sites which are most delightful,  some 
of which are already crowned with elegant residences.  Upon a conspicuous point on the 
bluff stands the Union School building, a mammoth brick structure which proclaims the 
intelligence and enterprise of the community.

There is a general expression to the village that is inviting.  There is a picturesque 
beauty about its location that delights the eye, but its chief charm is in the air of 
thrift and refinement that pervades its business places and its homes.  The population 
of the village in 1883 is something over fifteen hundred and is steadily increasing, as 
is also its commercial strength and importance.

The history of Vassar is particularly interesting and important from the fact that its 
birth and that of general progress in the county were simultaneous.  The men who 
projected Vassar were the ones who opened the gates for settlers to come into the 
county.

EARLY HISTORY OF VASSAR

On the morning of March 1st, in the year 1849, a company of four persons, consisting 
of Hon. Townsend North, the late Hon, James M. Edmunds, the late James Saunders and 
Joseph Grovenor, swung their packs from their shoulders and dedicated the site of 
Vassar to civilization and industry.  Messrs. North and Edmunds were the proprietors of 
the place and the two men accompanying were in their employ.  They had spent the 
previous night at Tuscola, and from that place made the journey on ice.

They halted at the mouth of the creek, near where the mill now stands.  Some lumber had 
been sent up in advance and with this they built a shanty, leaving a large opening in 
one side for a fire.  At night they cooked a supper and partook of a meal that perhaps 
may have tasted better than many others served amid more gorgeous surroundings.  After 
dark they gathered boughs and made beds upon which they slept during the night, and the 
next morning preceded to lay the foundation of a village.

They went immediately at work clearing a piece of land and putting in crops in order to 
provide supplies for the future, as markets were distant and difficult to reach.

Work on the saw-mill was soon begun, a dam across the river built, and thus the wheels 
of industry were put in motion.  The mill commenced running early in 1850.

STARTING A VILLAGE

Mr. North very soon perceived the advantages of location which this place enjoyed as a 
trading post and business center of the surrounding country.  The population was less 
than three hundred, and nineteen-twentieths of its territory uninhabited.  But Mr. 
North proposed to induce immigration and direct its tide into these unoccupied 
townships, and for a long time at least this place would be their nearest trading point.

Soon after a start in business had been made the company laid out a few streets and had 
a survey made in order to sell lots, though the regular plat was not made until 1853.

Now Messrs. North and Edmunds were confronted with the task of adopting a title by 
which the place should be designated and known.  This matter was the subject of much 
thought and discussion.  Mr. North being the real founder of the place some thought it 
should be named after him.  But no combination could be effected that was satisfactory 
to Mr. North, and he suggested the name of Edmundsville.  That name did not suit the 
fancy of Mr. Edmunds, and he suggested the name of Vassar.  Matthew Vassar was an uncle 
of Mrs. Edmunds, and Mr. Edmunds was desirous that the town should bear his name.  the 
suggestion met the approbation of the others interested, and thus the village took its 
name from the founder of Vassar Female College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

The beacon light of immigration was now hung upon the tower of Vassar, and at this date 
the continuous and successful settlement of Tuscola County began.  The time was ripe 
for reclaiming this wilderness and handing it over to the domain of civilization, and 
the projector of Vassar possessed the sagacity and energy to carry forward the 
enterprise.  Roads were projected and improvements made in every direction.  Mr. North 
and his co-workers sought the aid of legislation, solicited appropriations for public 
improvements, instituted schemes of industry, gave publicity to the character of the 
country and by every possible means invited immigration.  The spirit with which they 
worked imparted a momentum to general progress, results of which are now visible upon 
every hand.












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