The area T6N-R11E went through several name changes, as the county was reoganized.

At first, most of the county, including T6N-R11E, was part of Lapeer Township, organized 30 Dec 1834. Next, Lomond Township, organized on 11 Mar 1837, consisted of T6N-R11E and T7N-R11E. The first township meeting was held at the house of Daniel SMITH. The name was changed to Dunham on 2 Apr 1838, and changed again to Dryden on 3 Apr 1839. On 16 Feb 1842, the north half of Dryden, T7N-R11E, became Attica Township, leaving T6N-R11E with the designation Dryden Township.

The first settlers in T6N-R11E appeared in 1834, before any townships were organized.

Andrew MATTOON settled in Section 2, after having built a shanty in Almont Twp the year before.

Also in 1834, Levi WASHBURNE, Amasa MESSENGER, Jedediah MESSENGER and Hugh MCKAY came from northern Macomb County. They cut their own path, about 14 miles through the woods, which was known for years as the "old Messenger road."

These earliest settlers located in the northern part of Dryden Township, which they thought to be the best for cultivation.

In 1836 the township had several new settlers: John M. LAMB, Sanford KENDRICK, Holden TRIPP, Arick SUTHERLAND, Ethan SQUIER, Luman SQUIER, James E. KING, Isaac SMITH, Daniel SMITH, Timothy UTLEY, James P. WHITTAKER, Jason GIBBS, John FREER, Oliver A. LEWIS, Deacon Ehjah LOOK, Deacon TAINTER, Peter and Aaron MOE, Jonathan T. WALTON, John THOMPSON, James GOODENOUGH, Henry and Andrew MAHALFY, Marcus BILLINGS, John C. HINCKS, Luke PERKINS, Seth HALL, James HODGES, Martin QUATERMASS and Cyrus PERKINS.

Other early settlers: Mr. John GOULD, Henry Van KLEECK, Rufus and Erastus WETHEY, James HINES, Elijah BARTLETT, Joseph WINSLOW, James MILLER, Andrew WOOD, James H. HOLCOMB, Ira P. HOLCOMB, Abel WILLIAMS, Chauncey MORGAN, Bowdowine TERWILLAGER, J. F. JACKMAN, Moses F. JACKMAN, Sanford MAYNARD, N.T. TAYLOR, Miles CODY, Augustus HILLIKER, Philo ATWELL, Thomas STAFFORD, Jacob MILLER, Homer N. PARKER, John MEAKER, Philo MEAKER, Nathan S. BEARDSLEY, Noble CALVER, Nathaniel TERRY, Jas. HOWARD, Benjamin KNIFFIN, John S. FELLOWS, H. B. FALL and Benjamin THORNE.