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| Millbrook Township Hall 3015 Jackson Rd. Blanchard, MI. 49310 (989) 330-3976 website |
| Multi Mag's Millbrook Township Home Page |
MILLBROOK TOWNSHIP HISTORY |
| This is from the Mecosta County Portrait and Biographical Album by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1883. |
| MILLBROOK TOWNSHIP The Township of Millbrook lies in the southeastern corner of the county, and is numbered 13 north, range 7 west, and is bounded on the north by Wheatland Township, on the east by Isabella County, on the south by Montcalm county and on the west by Hinton Township. It is watered by Black Creek, in the southwestern half, and by two branches of Pine River in the northeastern half. It also contains three or four small lakes. The village of Millbrook lies mostly in the township, and Blanchard lies just outside of its limits in Isabella County. Millbrook was organized into a civil township in October, 1865, and in the same month with Grant and Aetna Townships. Its first election resulted in the choice of Peter S. Decker as Supervisor. The first white settlers were Leonard and Hazen Aldrich, who located on section 14, in 1859. The first birth was that of Forest Aldrich, son of Leonard and Jane Aldrich, in August, 1859. The first death was that of Charles Roe, in November, 1866. The first marriages, those of Hazen Aldrich and Jane Jackson, and William F. thompson and Salina Aldrich, were both solemnized by John Bower, clergyman, in February, 1865. The first frame building was a dwelling erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1865. the first mill was a water-power saw-mill, erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1864. The first school-house was a log building, erected on section 11, in 1863. The first school was taught by Louisa Allen, in 1863. The first store was opened by W.S. Howd, in 1865, where the village of Millbrook is now located. The population of Millbrook Township by the census of 1870, was 302; by the State census of 1874 it has 412; and in 1880 the general census gave 706 inhabitants. In 1878 it had 2,151 acres of improved land; and in 1881, 2,407 acres. Its equalized valuation in 1866 was $29,957; and its present valuation is $564,748. Its total vote in November, 1882, was 107. MILLBROOK VILLAGE The village of Millbrook is a thriving place of between 300 and 400 inhabitants, on section one. It would undoubtedly grow faster, and have more business, had not the railroad been located so far away as it is. The citizens of the village offered the D.L. & N. Railroad Company every reasonable inducement to come to the village, but opposing influences were too strong. The first house was a log dwelling erected by Hazen Aldrich in 1863. The same man put up the first frame house on the village site, in 1864. The first store was opened by W.S. Howd, in March, 1865. The present school-house was erected in 1869, at a cost of $800. The principal is C.F. Fitzgerald. Millbrook has two religious organizations, -- the Congregational and Methodist Episcopal. The former denomination erected a church in 1874, at a cost of $3,000; and the latter have a small church now in process of construction. Rev. Mr. Schiedel preaches for the Congregationalists, and Rev. Mr. Wyant for the Methodists. Level Lodge, No. 219, I.O.O.F., has a membership of 35, and meets every Saturday evening. The principal officers at the present time are Levi S. Meneri, N.G.; Charles Knauss, V.G.; James Wylie, Secretary; William F. Denney, Treasurer. The post office was organized in 1869, and Orson N. Earl was the first Postmaster. Henry D. Brown at present holds the appointment. The folowing list comprises all the firms at present doing business in Millbrook: Aldrich, Forest, wagon shop Brooks, Keller & Eicher, restaurant Brown, H.D., postoffice, notions Denney, William F., furniture store Dysinger, George, blacksmithy Dole & Precious, saloon Decker, G. A., harness shop Eicher, A., meat market Fink, R.M., dry goods Harmon, E., Harmon House Howd, A.J., feed and flous Horton, E.T., general store Haggett, George, blacksmithy Kenrick, E.H., drug store Lock, Frank, barber shop Norton & Carman, grist-mill Pattison, J.M. & Co., drug store Richards, James & Co., hardware store Stanley, J.B. grocery Stanton, H., blacksmithy Willett, Ida, millinery The medical profession is represented by C.H. Rodi, S.A. Gates, J.W. Pattison and W.J. Cree; and the legal by D.C. Fuller and W.S. Howd, the former of whom is Justice of the Peace. |
| Millbrook News Briefs |
| Millbrook Businesses |
| Millbrook Village history from Big Rapids Current 1870 |
| some Millbrook Township Births |
| some Millbrook Township Deaths |
| some Millbrook Township Burials |
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