The area T7N-R9E, now known as Elba Township, was originally part of Lapeer Township, formed 30 Dec 1834. Elba Township was formed on 2 Apr 1838. It contains the western part of the city of Lapeer, which is independent of the Township. Elba Township also contains the unincorporated communities of Elba (a station on the Grand Trunk Western Railroad), and Nepessing (on Lake Nepessing, about 1 square mile). In the 1840 US Census, the township had population 100.

The first settlers in T7N-R9E were Hozial HOWLAND and his son Ira HOWLAND, of Rhode Island. They came in 1835, and located in Section 24. [HRP, pp. 131-5]

The first purchase of land in T7N-R9E from the government was in 1832. Some of the early land entries were by speculators, who didn't settle on the land. Others purchased land, and settled later.

Earliest Land Entries:

28 Jun 1832, Minor Y. TURRILL, Section 14.
18 Oct 1832, Henry M. LOOK, Section 24.

19 Apr 1833, George F. PORTER, Section 13.
12 Aug 1833, Morris T. ALLEN, Section 12.
12 Aug 1833, Nehemiah M. ALLEN, Section 12.

10 Jul 1834, Julius BEARDSLEY, Section 23.
10 Jul 1834, Julius BEARDSLEY, Section 24.

26 Mar 1835, William MOORE, Section 24.
26 Mar 1835, Ira HOWLAND, Section 24. (owned by T. HOWLAND in 1863)
23 Jul 1835, Charles HANNIBAL, Section 35.
29 Oct 1835, Trumbull CAREY, Section 24.
29 Oct 1835, Trumbull CAREY, Section 36.
6 Nov 1835, Anastasia THAYER, Section 1.

Elba Township was formed on 2 Apr 1838, and the first township meeting, held at the house of William S. BIRD, took place on 5 May 1838, with Lewis BULLOCK as chairman, and Augustus DAVISON and Almon BROOKINS, clerks. The chosen township officers were:

Lewis BULLOCK, supervisor
Philander P. PARKER, clerk
Hozial HOWLAND, Augustus DAVISON, Charles HANNIBAL and Almon BROOKINS, justices of the peace
William BIRD, Morris PERRY, and Ira HOWLAND, highway commissioners
Hozial HOWLAND, Augustus DAVISON, and Calvin CARTER, assessors
Thomas HOWLAND, constable and collector
Charles HANNIBAL and Calvin CARTER, constables
Hozial HOWLAND, Morris PERRY, and Augustus DAVISON, overseers of the poor.