1884 Portrait & Bio Album
| 1884 Portrait & Bio Album | |
| Jan. 5, 1870, the Board of Supervisors made an order for the organization of Highland Township, and appointed George Stump, W.W. Stewart and J.P. Gould Inspectors to preside at the election, which was held in the school-house. S.C. Jones was elected Supervisor. Highland is situated in the northern tier of townships, in number 20 north, of range 8 west. It is bounded on the north by Missaukee County, on the east by Marion, on the south by Hartwick, and on the west by Sherman Townships. The surface of the land is rolling, and the soil is sandy loam. It is watered by the Middle Branch River and several streams which empty into it, and the west branch of the Clam River. The first settler in this township was s.C. Jones, who came in the fall of 1866 and settled on section 18. He put up a cabin and the following winter devoted himself to trapping, at which he was an experienced hand. He followed his favorite pursuit that winter on the Middle Branch, Clam, Pine and other rivers and branches, and on Muscat Lake. His route was regularly laid out with stations, where he would have his shanties. He would time it so as to reach these stations about nightfall, visiting his numerous traps, killing his animals and taking off the fur, which he would put into his sack, throw it over his back and travel on. In order to make these stations he would often travel 50 miles a day. In those early days trapping was a very profitable business. The principal fur caught was marten, beaver, mink, and sometimes they would take in a bear.As other early settlers, Anthony Duddles, George Stimp, Edgar Blaidell, Joseph Holmes, located in 1867. Duddles on section 8, Stump on 18, Blaidell on 20, and Holmes on section 30. Highland is divided into seven school districts, with the school buildings located consecutively from district number 1 up, as follows: section, 18, 4, 25, 27, 30, 12 and 7.No. 7 is frame and the rest are all log buildings. P.W. MItchell teaches the school in district NO. 5, and has nine pupils. This township is heavily timbered with maple, rock elm, black and white ash, beech, bass-wook, hemlock and some pine, which is being cut and sent to the different markets. Rodas have been and are being, built to meet the wants of the settlers, and schools are opened where there is sufficient number of pupils to make it worth the while. The township lies a little out of line of the rapid settlements, yet its population is gradually increasing, having, according to the census of 1884, 311 souls, an increase since 1880 of 123. Assessed value of the property, $140,000. Fruit, as far as it has been cultivated, is reported to do well. Potatoes are the best crop for vegetables, and oats the best crop for grain. Highland is remarkable for its production of that medicinal plant known as gentian. HUndreds of pounds of the root of this plant are marketed annually. Raymond Beebe has a saw-mill located on section 34. The township has two postoffices, one located on section 26, called Milburn, and the other on section 4, which is known as the Freelingville postoffice. The trading point for the people is Tustin, in BUrdell Township, and this place is their nearest railroad station. In religious matters Highland has been quite progressive, it having established two churches. The Methodist Church has two organizations, with services held in the school-house of Districts Nos. 1 and 2. The meetings are presided over by Rev. Mr. Green, from Wexford County; preaching every two weeks. The Baptist Church has one organization in school District No. 1. Services are held every month at the school-house, and are presided over by W.P. Squiers, of Reed City. The society was formed in 1871, by Rev. Mr. Stillwell, and services have been held pretty regularly since. It has now some 15 members.Highland Township, from its organization to the present time, has been represented by the following named: SUPERVISORS. S.C. Jones 1870-2 M.W. Stewart 1873-5 George W. Culver 1876 M.W. Stewart 1877-82 P.W. Mitchell 1883-4 |