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Columbia Township was formed from South Haven in 1845. There are several different soils and terrain's in Columbia, making for good farming. Blueberries and fruit such as apples, cherries, and peaches are abundant in the township. Although lumbering was the principal occupation of the people in earlier years, most of the lumber has been taken, leaving several nice woods in the township which keep the deer at a high number. There are thirteen lakes in the township. The Black River also flows through Columbia. In earlier days the river was one of the main waterways used by the Pottawattami Indians and the early settlers. The land around the lakes was wet and considered pretty worthless in early days. Today, it is some of the most expensive property in the Township and homes and subdivisions are around most of the lakes. Two railroads were in Columbia Township. Both of these tracks were opened in 1870. The Kalamazoo and South Branch of the Michigan Central Railroad which ran east and west and which is no longer used. Also The Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore which is now the Chesapeake and Ohio and runs from Chicago to Grand Rapids. |
| Early Settlers of Columbia Township |
| Assessment Rolls for 1839 |
| Township Residents in 1845 |
| Ransom D. Schuyler Family |
| Dennis Farm - 1880 1880 photo of W. J. Dennis Farm |
| Breedsville History |
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Breedsville was
established in 1835 and is the oldest settlement in the northern
part of the county. In 1880 Breedsville had one church - the
Methodist Episcopal - and today in 1998 the Methodist church still
is the only one in town. There were lodges, Masons, Knights of
Pythias, and Odd Fellow's. One commodious hotel, three stores of
general merchandise, one grist-mill, one saw-mill, one extensive
tannery, several small mechanical shops, and about 350 inhabitnants. The original ownsers of its site were Barnard M. Howard, Miss Laura White, Amos S. Brown, Sr., Rev. Jonathan N. Hinckley, and Samuel Watson. Thomas P. Page kept the first tavern, and Lorenzo Painster, Woodson & Co. opened the first store. Previous to their establishment of a store here they had brought in goods and exchanged with the early settlers for shingles, produce, etc. The grist-mill was built by Wells G. Brown in 1873. |
| Breedsville Photo Album |
