The 6-by-6-mile square T6N-R10E was first settled in 1832, and became part of Lapeer Township, organized on 30 Dec 1834, which then included most of Lapeer County. Hadley Township was then organized on 22 Mar 1836, and included both T6N-R9E and T6N-R10E. Then T6N-R10E became Metamora Township on 2 Apr 1838, leaving T6N-R9E with the current designation, Hadley Township.

The first building in the town was a shanty, in a cedar swamp in the southeast part of the town, built by PARKER & ROGERS, who stayed only long enough to gather some timber. This was 1829 or 1830.

On 4 Jun 1831, John WETMORE purchased land in sections 32 and 33. However, he didn't settle there.

The first white settler was Jesse LEE, from New York, who bought 160 acres in Section 33 on 28 May 1832. His wife stayed with her father in Oxford, Oakland County, while Jesse built a log house, which they inhabited in Sep 1832. Their son, James LEE, born in Jan 1834, was the first white child born in the town.

The next settler was Joseph B. MORSE, from Eaton, Madison County, NY, who purchased land in Section 6 in May 1833, and settled there in the Fall. In the following Spring he built the frame of a house, and before it was finished, he and John LOOK, took shelter. John LOOK and his brother-in-law, H. M. LOOK (?) had built a house in Section 1 of T6N-R9E, now Hadley Township. In Dec 1835, the infant son of James B. MORSE died, the first death in the town.

Earliest Land Entries:

4 Jun 1831, John WETMORE, Section 32
4 Jun 1831, John WETMORE, Section 33

28 May 1832, Jesse LEE, Section 33
17 Nov 1832, Levi LEROY, Section 36

23 May 1833, Joseph B. MORSE, Section6
28 May 1833, Joseph B. MORSE, Section 6

16 Oct 1834, John A. HOPKINS, Section 6

16 Jun 1835, Peter PLOSS, Section 33
12 Oct 1835, Ebenezer RUSH, Section 31
29 Oct 1835, Trumbull CAREY, Section 6