NOMENCLATURE

This county received its name, "Oceana," in 1881, when it was laid out by the territorial legislature. As the name signifies "lying alongside the ocean," it may have been named from its position on the great ocean of waters in Lake Michigan. Claybanks was named from the great banks of clay on its western or lake boundary, on which the Indians had large cultivated clearings. Stony Creeek gave its name to the middle of the three towns of which the county was at first composed. Benona was the name selected by Mr. Wheeler for the new postoffice at his mills in Stony Creek. there being another postoffice in the state with the latter name, Benona was selected. Pentwater was named for the water being penned up at the mouth of the lake by there being almost no channel at first. Golden was named by W. J. Haughey, one of the petitioners, from his mother's family name. Grant was named from the great general. Otto was named by Gemans from their Otho. Greenwood, or Green-wood, was selected in preference to Oliver, as suggested by Oliver Swain. Newfield was selected by J. W. Sweet, and others, in preference to Greenfield, in honor of a Mr. Green. Ferry, after Senator Ferry, was not the name under which the town was organized, it being for a few months called "Reed," from an influential family of that name. Leavitt was named from Hazen Leavitt, its first settler in 1864, and Colfax from Vice-President Colfax. Crystal was named by Mrs. J. H. Gray, from its crystal streams; Weare from Dr. D. G. Weare; Elbridge from an early settler, Elbridge Farmer, and Hart from Wellington Hart's grandfather in New York. Barnett village was named from a brakesman on the C.& W. M. Railway.