USA > Michigan > Mason County > History of Mason County, Michigan > Part 21
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J. J. JOHNSON, head sawyer at the mill of Butters, Peters & Co., Tallman, is a native of New York State. In 1862 he enlisted at Madison County, N. Y., in the One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, and served in the army until the close of the war, in 1865. In 1866 he went to Wisconsin, and remained for two years. He then went to Manistee, and remained there until the Spring of 1880, when he came to Tallman and entered the employ of Butters, Peters & Co., as head sawyer, which position he still holds.
CHARLES H. RAMSAY, saw-filer at Butters, Peters & Co's saw- mill, Tallman, is a native of Canada, and came to Bay City, Mich., in 1875. From Bay City he went to Manistee, where he remained until the Spring of 1880, when he came to Tallman, as saw-filer for
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BUTTERS -PETERS & CO.S. MILL PROPERTY, TALLMAN, MASON Co., Mich.
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
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Butters, Peters & Co., which position he still holds. Mr. Ramsay is a married man and has a home at Tallman.
J. S. FRANCIS LLOYD, engineer at the mill of Butters, Peters & Co., Tallman, is a native of Baltimore, Md., and came to Saginaw, Mich., in 1879. In the Spring of 1881 he entered upon his present position at Tallman. He has been at work at his trade for fourteen years, and is regarded as a thoroughly competent engineer.
PATRICK O'CONNOR, foreman of Butters, Peters & Co's mill at Tallman, is a native of Virginia. When a young boy he went to Wisconsin and remained there until 1878, when he came to Luding- ton, and went into the employ of Mr. Butters. When the firm of Butters, Peters & Co. began operations, at Tallman, Mr. O'Connor went there and has been foreman of the mill ever since it was first started. He is thoroughly competent, and very faithful to the inter- ests of his employers. He has a wife and two children and lives at Tallman.
EDEN TOWNSHIP.
At the annual meeting of the board of supervisors, in October, 1874, it was voted to erect a new township, to be called Eden, from the parts of Riverton and Amber, respectively, embraced in the terri- tory known as Township 17, north of Range 16 west, and Township 18 north of Range 16 west. The first township meeting was held at the schoolhouse known as the "Peter Robinson" schoolhouse, on the first Monday in April, 1875, and William W. Bates, George Hall and Cornelius Hall were appointed inspectors of election.
In the Fall of 1875 a reporter for the Ludington Appeal visited this township, and we quote from his description as follows:
"At Weldon Creek there are but few buildings as yet, owing to the fact that there is but little land there that parties can buy and secure a title, and those who have such land, from some cause, do not feel disposed to sell off lots. It possesses one of the best water powers in the country, and already they have commenced the erec- tion of a saw and shingle mill upon this stream. There is also a steam sawmill almost completed. Messrs. Gould & Livesly, of Lud- ington, are proprietors. There is one store doing a fine local trade, owned by Mr. J. J. Gidding. There is also a public house, which is kept in good style, with Mr. and Mrs. Q. A. Boswell as host and hostess. A number of other parties are talking of locating there, and no doubt this new village will have a rapid growth, as soon as good titles can be had of lots upon which to erect buildings.
Preparatory steps are being taken for the opening of a school in this locality the coming Winter.
The settlers thereabouts have commenced in real earnest, and already quite extensive improvements are to be seen upon their homesteads. We find that nearly all homestead entries made in this locality are being located upon, especially upon the north side, of the railroad. In close proximity to this point we find the farms of Messrs. Lampman and Marsh, upon each of which are quite large improvements. They have been about seven years in this vicinity. To the north of them is Mr. Aspinwall, an old up-river resi- dent, who has a very desirable farm. Immediately north of him Mr. Isaac Myers has erected a house and located on a desirable tract of land. W. T. Kimsey has also erected a substantial and roomy house, and has a tract of land, which to our view is second to none in that section. A mile west of him we find our distin- guished townsmen, Messrs. Haight, Southworth and Kenfield, all located near each other, with comfortable residences and quite extensive improvements already made. East of them we find the two families of the two Messrs. Drake, who have log houses, and from ten to twelve acres each cleared. A little south is Mr. Ran-
som, a new settler, but one who is determined to make the forest yield to the blow of the woodman's axe. The settlers throughout this section manifest much enterprise, and are a class of people well cal- culated to develop and beautify a new country, as public schools, churches and other public enterprises are being talked up almost as soon as settlements are effected.
The west half of the townsh p is well settled and contains good farms; the balance is largely pine.
The township is bounded on the north by Custer, on the east by Branch, on the south by Oceana County, and on the west by Riverton.
There are two schoolhouses in the township.
The population in 1880 was 589, and the total vote 89.
There are four small lakes and numerous streams in the township.
J. W. Griswold is the present supervisor, and S. C. Cioff the township clerk. Their postoffice address is Marble.
CUSTER TOWNSHIP.
In the Fall of 1878 J. J. Gidding and eighty-five others made application to the board of supervisors to 'set off from the township of Eden that portion of said township embraced in the surveyed Town 18 north of range 16 west, and to erect and organize the same into a separate township. The application was granted by the board, and the new township was called Custer. The first inspectors of election were Hugh McCulloch, Henry C. Ransom and John Smith. The first election was held at Black Creek station- house the first Monday in April, 1879. Henry C. Ransom was the first clerk of the township, and Albert J. Potter the first treasurer. The present clerk is E. M. Comstock, the treasurer is J. R. Bissell, and supervisor H. C. Ransom.
The township is bounded on the north by Sherman, on the east by Branch, on the south by Eden, and on the west by Amber and Riverton.
There are three schoolhouses in the township outside of Cus- ter village.
The F & P. M. Railway extends across the township from east to west.
There are already a good number of well improved farms in the township, and good crops are produced.
About one-third of the township is clay and the remainder sand.
The timber is principally beech, maple and elm.
This township belonged to the Indian reservation.
The population in 1880 was 650, and the total vote 166.
VILLAGE OF CUSTER.
The village of Custer is situated in about the center of the township. It is a station on the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad and is a thrifty business point. The village was platted in the Fall of 1878 by Charles E. Resseguie, of Ludington, who owned a large tract of land in Eden Township. He erected a store and other buildings, and the same Fall J. L. and C. T. Wicks built a sawmill which is now owned by Mr. Resseguie. In the Spring of 1880, Harlin started a wooden bowl factory and a store, and about the same time a tannery was started. The lumber and manufacturing interests give employment to a large number of men. New build- ings are continually being erected, and the village has every appear- ance of thrifty growth.
SWEETLAND.
The village of Sweetland is situated upon the dividing line between Amber and Custer Townships. The village is a station on
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HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
the Flint and Pere Marquette Railroad, and is also on the line of the state road running north and south. In 1879 James Sweetland built a sawmill at this point, which he operated for about a year. In 1880 Messrs. Crowly & Scott bought the mill and built a store. and named the place Sweetland. Other business enterprises fol- lowed until quite a village has been built up. In the Spring of 1882, Charles Blain, of Ludington, and Hiram E. Scott, of Sweet- land, platted the village and called it Scottville. There are in the village several stores, a wagon shop, blacksmith shops and a hotel, all of which do a thrifty business.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
DR. L. T. SOUTHWORTH was born in Monroe County, N. Y., May 25, 1842. Settled in Clinton County, Mich., in 1856. En- listed July, 1862, in the Fourth Michigan Cavalry; served till the close of the war as lieutenant. Received his classical and medical
education at Ann Arbor, graduating in medicine in 1871. The same year he commenced the practice of his profession at Ludington. In 1876, he made Custer, Mason County, his home, still continuing the practice of his profession with other duties. Married Decem- ber 24, 1864, Mary E. Doak, who was born in Vermont, February, 1845. Two children-Minnie and Mand.
EDWIN M. COMSTOCK was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., February 26, 1846. Settled in Custer, Mason County, in 1875, and was its first postmaster. He established a grocery business in 1882. Married March 14, 1871, Imogene Wattling, who was born in Washtenaw County, October 3, 1851. Two children-Gracie F., Goldie A.
ISAAC WOOD was born in Simcoe County, Ont., July 23, 1840. His occupation for a term of years was railroad bridge builder. Settled in Allegan County, Mich., in 1873, and in Section 32, Custer, Mason County, in 1876. Married October, 1871, Emma N. Fairbanks, who was born in Allegan County, Mich., in 1853. Four children.
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HISTORY
OF
OCEANA COUNTY,
MICHIGAN,
WITH
Illustrations Biographical Sketches
OF
SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
CHICAGO: H. R. PAGE & CO. 1882.
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CONTENTS.
PAGE.
PAGE.
History of Oceana County, -
79
Clark, Lucius,
146
The Indians,
80
Municipal History, -
84
Geological, -
96
Corbin, Lyman B.,
121
Early History,
97
Cramer, Dr. C. W.,
116
Bench and Bar,
102
Crane, Milo E.,
185
Stock Raising,
104
The Press,
110
Cunningham, C. W.,
130
Township Histories,
111
Cutler, D. M.,
129
Pentwater Township,
111
Darling, Seth,
123
Pentwater Village,
112
Decker, Andrew,
148
Hart Township,
116
Deits, Amasa H.,
146
Hart Village,
117
DeKay, Mrs. Margaret,
188
Shelby Township,
124
Demmon, D. T.,
119 130
Weare Township,
129
Dennart, John,
130
Crystal Township,
181
Dockry, Dr. W. E.,
116
Colfax Townsbip,
182
Draggoo, Wm. R.,
183
Leavitt Township,
133
Drake, Win. H.,
146
Elbridge Township,
184
Dreves, Peter,
116
Golden Township,
197
Dunning, James W.,
146
Benona Township,
140
Eaton, Wm. A.,
141
Ferry Township,
148
Eddy, G. H.,
128 128
Hesperia Village,
145
Edgett, Peter B.,
142
Greenwood Township,
148
Edson, Seth,
122 123
Evans, Abraham,
196
Claybanks Township,
152
Biographies.
Adams, Daniel, .
151
Fleming, Thad. C.,
129
Ambler, Hon. Wm. E.,
115
Anderson, John G.,
154
Ford, Ira C.,
120
Andrus, Samuel,
130
Fordham, John,
153
Ash, John,
146
Foster, Peter,
128
Bacher, Joseph,
181
Fricke, Christopher,
180
Bate, George,
119
Gallien, Peter,
119
Beckwith, Geo. M.,
141
Gardiner, William, -
142
Benham, David,
120
Gardner, F. O.,
116
Benjamin, E. A.,
181
Garver, D. L.,
122
Benton, Orrin,
148
184
Bierwert, John,
128
Gay, Jared H.,
132
Blanchard, Stephen A.,
188
Gaylord, Levi S.,
129
Bliss, Rev. John,
121
Gibbs, James,
142
Bogue, James,
184
Gillen, Wm. W.,
143
Bolton, Moses,
183
Goodenrath, Henry J.,
141
Bosworth, M. H.,
122
Goodno, Arnold,
130
Braman, Thos. S.,
128
Branch, Sidney S.,
Gregson, William,
147
Brooker, James,
116
Browne, Samuel A.,
114
Gurney, T. S.,
122
Burdick, Stephen,
121
Halstead, Jonathan,
127
Cahill, John M.,
116
Harding, Wm. P.,
181
Calkins, D.,
122
Hartwick, L. M.,
115
Camp, Charles,
149
Hatch, Dr. H. B.,
122
Carr, A. L.,
Hawley, C. A.,
127
Cater, Richard E., -
158
Hawley, Dr. H. C.,
147
Chadwick, Dr. M. R.,
121
Hedges, John,
128
Chappell, A. R.,
122
Hills, Marion E.,
129
Churchill, Walter H.,
128
Hodges, E. W., .
116
Clark, Henry D.,
150
Gurney, Charles,
120
Bunyea, H. H.,'
116
Hanson, J. D. S.,
153
Cahill, John V.,
120
Hartman, F. J.,
130
Gowdy, Albert C,
184
Brillhart, Andrew,
130
Greiner, Nicholas,
180
Otto Township,
150
Ellis, Byron M.,
Grant Township,
151
Farnsworth, N. B.,
128
Ferguson, H. V.,
188
Flagg, Henry C.,
116
Fleming, William,
147
Newfield Township,
144
Eddy, James F.,
Barnett Village,
125
Dennart, George,
135
Cochran, Charles C.,
Cole, Robert,
129
Collins, M. N.,
128
Crossmon, Henry,
188
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180
Gault, Samuel D.,
138
Biographies-Continued.
PAGE.
Robbins, Joseph J.,
147
Holmes, Horace J.,
122
Roberts, E. M.,
180
Holt, Seth,
184
Rollins, George B.,
120
Houk, T. G.,
196
Rollins, S. G.,
121
Hovey, Perry,
138
Rummer, O. L.,
186
Imus, G. W.,
116
Russell, Hon. Fred. J.,
96
Jennings, William,
181
Russell, John,
136
Jewell, Rufus,
188
Russell, Josiah,
124
Johnson, David,
121
Rutherford, L. Gideon,
123
Johnson, W. W.,
142
Sammons, Joseph H.,
141
Keene, Stephen,
Sands, Wm. B. O.,
115
King, John,
Satterlee, Victory,
121
Sayles, Hervey S.,
136
Kuhn, William,
116
Schmidt, Ludwig,
142
LaBonta, Peter,
116
Scott, G. G.,
184
Lake, W. F.,
119
Sessions, Charles A.,
142
Lammon, George,
182
Shirts, E. J.,
128
Landon, Daniel,
148
Lattin, David E.,
186
Leavitt, Hazen,
188
Spaulding, Ezra,
147
LeFevre, Henry,
181
Lewis, William F., -
129
Lillie, Marvin B.,
154
Linsday, Joel D.,
154
Livingston, J. S.,
128
120
Luther, Melvin A.,
120
Sweet, Joseph W.,
148
McAllister, Robert,
120
Sweet, Milo H.,
152
McCallum, Lachlan,
150
Switzer, Dr. G. O.,
116
McCallum, Neil,
150
Tank, Louis,
180
MeClave, Charles,
144
Taylor, Theodore,
148
McGill, John, Jr.,
147
Tennant, W. J.,
187
McGill, W. S.,
147
Thiele, Berthold,
142
MeIntyre, L. A.,
122
Thompson, John,
141
McLaren, Alexander,
147
Tower, Harvey,
152
Main, T. J.,
120
Van Wickle, A. D.,
119
Mason, Ambrose, -
121
Waters, W. H.,
120
Master, Conrad,
116
Weaver, Daniel,
148
Mathews, Robert M.,
188
Weaver, D. H.,
180
Maxwell, George W.,
115
Webster, Guilford D.,
148
May, Gustavus,
186
Westbrook, John, -
187
Mena, Samuel,
150
Wheeler, Hon. A. R.,
141
Miller, N.,
120
Whitbeck, Cornelius,
129
Miller, W. L.,
121
White, A. S.,
121
Miller, Wales N.,
186
White, Hon. James E.,
96
Mills, Jesse,
121
Whittington, C. R.,
115
Monroe, Philetus,
147
Wickham, David C.,
116
Moore, A. Z.,
128
Wicks, Wm. M.,
184
Moore, Benjamin,
123
Wigton, Mahar,
119
Mugford, E. T.,
120
Wigton, W. M.,
122
Myers, George C.,
154
Wigton, W. H.,
119
Newell, C. C.,
120
Willet, Charles,
182
Newman, Charles S.,
151
Willet, W. B.,
182
Nickerson, Edwin, -
115
Willett, Rhodes,
129
Nielsen, Fred.,
115
Williams, James,
128
Palmiter, Judson,
128
Williams, Dr. S. R.,
119
Parks, Silas,
186
Willson, H. J.,
189
Peterson, Chas. E.,
129
Willson, Mrs. J. M.,
189
Phillips, Dr. Thomas,
158
Pierce, Franklin,
116
Pitts, Francis A.,
128
Pitts, James D.,
128
Post, James S.,
138
Illustrations.
Potter, Wallace,
150
Browne, S. A.,
104
Powers, Charles,
144
Clark, Henry D.,
150
Powers, Ephraim,
144
Golden Stock Farm,
104
Powers, Joshua C.,
154
Gurney, T. S., Residence,
120
Powers, Wm. W.,
144
Leavitt, Hazen,
138
Randall, A. C.,
120
Luther, M. A., Residence,
116
Randall, L. A.,
128
Maxwell, E. G., Residence,
90
Rankin, Daniel H.,
129
Miller, N., Residence,
120
Reading, F. G.,
120
Nielsen & Co., Bank,
116
Reed, David A.,
129
Reed, James E., Residence,
120
Reed, Issac D.,
120
Richmond, E. D.,
84
Reed, James E.,
128
Rutherford, L. G.,
102
Reid, Henry W.,
127
Sands, W. B. O., Residence,
111
Richmond, Edgar D.,
123
Scene near Hart,
120
Robbins, George,
147
Wheeler, Amos R.,
141
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184
Stewart, A. H.,
128
Stier, Frederick,
142
. Strobridge, Charles E.,
147
Stuck, Dr. L.,
Smith, Gustavus M., Smith, John B.,
144
147
Stetson, Alvin C.,
154
186
Kob, Joseph,
188
Michael, Elijah,
136
Wheeler, R. H.,
128
Wilson, J. M.,
129
Yates, Samuel,
120
Young, W. A.,
144
PAGE.
Map of
OCEANA COUNTY-B
MICHIGAN.
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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.
The region now known as Oceana had existed for ages as a portion of the red man's domain, a favorite stamping-ground for various tribes. Perhaps here the Mound Builders roamed, although they have left no remains, unless it may be that the mysterious, round stones, or the equally mysterious depressions like modern rifle pits, in which trees centuries old are growing, may be attributed to those dwellers of remote and uncertain antiquity. We have heard of no mounds of any size; the only ones-and these were small, and are now removed-were at the head of Stony Lake, and contained human bones only. The Sacs and Foxes roamed on these plains for ages, until the more powerful tribe of the Ottawas, about A. D., 1600, on being driven from Canada by the Iroquois, drove them out in turn, and they took refuge across the lake, at Green Bay. There were three great tribes occupying the west of this State-the Ottawas in the north, to Grand River; the Muscotays, or Prairie Indians, from the Grand to the St. Joseph River, and the Pottawatamies to the south, away into Indiana and Illinois. Under the heading " In- dians " we trace the history of these tribes until they settled in Elbridge and Crystal and in Mason County, in 1857-'58.
In 1831, when Michigan was but a territory, the County of Oceana was laid out, but while it included its present limits, it was much more extensive. It took in the country from the north of Muskegon Lake to almost an indefinite extent north.
It remained " laid out " without settlers, a mere wilderness, until 1840, when it was attached to Ottawa County, for judicial and municipal purposes. But even this was premature, as it was not until 1848 that one or two white men, Dr. Phillips and Mr. Hanson, took a look at the land along the beach, with a view of locating lands, and they chose the position on the clay-banks, on which their farms are now situated, for four reasons: First, it was on the beach, where all travel was; second, there existed an Indian trail from the head of White Lake into what is now J. D. S. Hanson's farm; then the land was a heavy clay loam and remarkably fertile, and there were old Indian clearings altogether of 200 or 800 acres in extent, in patches from half an acre to two or three acres. Accord- ingly, in 1849, settlement began, so that at the close of that year there were six families and several single men on the Claybanks, which formed the nucleus of the settlement of Oceana County. Of these the first band were: C. B. Clements and wife, Asa C. Hag- gerty and wife, Alex. Pelett and wife. These are all dead or removed but the wife of C. B. Clements, now the wife of Thomas Byrne, himself among the earliest settlers, and still living on the old John Barr farm. Mrs. Olive Byrne is therefore the oldest settler, and is considered a truthful and intelligent lady. A. C. Haggerty died in 1874; C. B. Clements went away, and, it is said, was killed in the war. The first settlement was then in April, 1849; next came Dr. Phillips and wife, and his father and mother, in June; A. W. Langworthy, in July; Richard E. Cater, in August; James O'Hanlon, in September; Alex. S. Anderson, in November or Decem- ber, all in 1849. Then followed James Fordham"in February,
1850; John Barr, the first sheriff of the county, in 1851. Of these but few remain. Dr. Phillips, Richard E. Cater and James O'Han- lon still survive. Mr. Cater was but a boy of seventeen when he landed, and reports that small-pox, in 1849, formed quite an episode in the little community, threatening to break up the little settlement. Dr. Phillips had engaged a Frenchman, probably Alex. Pelett, to help him on his farm, but as the son of Gaul had been a nurse in the small-pox hospital, in Detroit, he carried infection in his clothing, and the first to be stricken down was the doctor himself, and soon one after another was attacked, until it ran through nearly all, but thanks to vigorous constitutions and the doctor's care, they all re- covered, although some will bear the marks to the grave, Cater among the rest. A. W. Langworthy is now in Traverse Bay. Alex. S. Anderson passed away December 29, 1879, and there were, in 1849, besides those mentioned, two single men, T. Byrne, still surviving, and James Flood, since dead. These all settled along the beach in Claybanks Township, between Flower Creek and Whisky Creek.
The getting out of shingle bolts was also an inducement for men to come into this country, and accordingly we find that at various points this was the first thing attempted. About this time a Mr. Graham got out shingle bolts along Stony Lake and on Little Point Au Sable, and his death, in 1850, was the first death in this county. Lorenzo D. Eaton, whose widow now resides on Ander- son's farm, at Claybanks Postoffice, was one of the very earliest set- tlers. He came from Wisconsin, in 1849, to get out shingle bolts, and to prepare for the settlement of his family. Accordingly we find him back in November, 1850, and after considerable hardships, he got his family into a log house, on what is now J. Gibb's farm, at Blackberry Ridge, claimed to be the first log house in the county. . But before this, in 1849, Dr. Phillips built a frame house, and his father another, used as a store at the mouth of Whisky Creek. R. E. Cater built one on lot No. 1, Section 17. The honor of erecting the first log house may be assigned to A. W. Langworthy, on lot 3, Section 17, and torn down in 1880; and the first frame to Dr. Phillips. Among the very earliest marriages, doubtless the first was that of A. C. Haggerty to Ellen Googins, who had to travel on foot all the way to White River, where 'Squire Hulbert " jined" them in the irrevocable bonds of matrimony. Truly, true love did not run smoothly, even then. The Rev. Timothy Brigham, Methodist, preached the first sermon, in Haggerty's house, and on week days attended to the soles of his customers as a working shoemaker, fol- lowing the example of Paul, the tent-maker, in not being a burden on the young community. The first surveyor who laid out the sec- tions of this county was Mr. Rigdon; the first physician was Dr. Phillips, whose beat lay from Pere Marquette (Ludington) to Mus- kegon, along the beach-rather an extensive run of practice.
The first mention we find of Oceana in the acts of the Legis- lature is in the volume for 1850, wherein it is recorded that on the 28th of March an act was passed, providing that "all that portion of the county of Oceana not embraced in the township of White River in
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HISTORY OF OCEANA COUNTY.
said county, and all of the county of Mason be, and the same is hereby attached to the township of White River." The supervisor of that town must have had an extensive assessment roll. The county of Oceana must originally have extended down near Muskegon, twelve miles south of the present county line. White River Town- ship had been organized in 1848, and included six towns, extending twelve miles from north to south, and being taken from the unor- ganized county of Oceana.
On February 13, 1855, by Act 171 of the session of 1855, the three counties of Oceana, Mason and Manistee were organized. This county was organized under Section 3, and Section 7 of the same act organizes three towns: Pentwater, occupying the four northern towns; Stony Creek, composed of the two middle tiers of four towns each, and the two fractions of towns in the extreme west, together with the six northern sections, of what is now the town of Claybanks. The third town was named Claybanks, and included the four southern towns, except the six sections above mentioned. The first meeting in Pentwater was ordered to be at E. R. Cobb's (Rector & Cobb). In Stony Creek the first meeting was at A. R. Wheeler's mills. The electors of Claybanks were ordered to meet at the residence of John Barr (deceased). After Oceana had been organized three or four years, some of the prom- inent residents of Northern Muskegon tried to break up this county by a scheme, which had for its object the detaching of the two southern tiers of this county, and attaching them to the two northern tiers of Muskegon, forming a new county of Oceana, with its county- seat up White River, at the Hon. I. E. Carleton's mills. Carleton, the Daltons and others were opposed to the formation of Muskegon County from Ottawa in 1859, but their opposition was unsuccessful. One of the northern towns of Muskegon was until about eight years ago called Oceana Township, but is now divided into Montague and Whitehall Townships.
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