Spring Lake remains about the same as originally laid out. It was not settled upon as early as other townships owing, no doubt, to the prejudice for sand and swampy lands.
Joseph Offutt built the first log cabin near the lake bearing the name of the township, as early as 1839.
The McLeashes, Hibbards and Claytons, came next; then as the years rolled on, the Hawkinses, Abraham Wood, Eli Haas, Charles Seiwell, Ezekiel Poe, Valentine Haas, and others.
The first death was that of J.O. Offutt, which occurred Oct 10, 1841. Chas. Seiwell and Deborah Clayton, in 1842, were the first to be joined in holy wedlock. The first school-house was built on section 11, in 1849, and Daniel Hawkins became the first teacher. A Mormon, named Woods, preached the first sermon at the home of Mr. Grover. Louise White, an early settler, said “one such sermon was all a square-thinking man could endure.”

In 1856, the Dutch Reform Society built the first church. As an incident of pioneer life, Mrs. V. Haas had a unique experience of a trip on board the first flat-boat, loaded with grain,  that floated from Spring Lake to St. Louis.

          The village of Spring Lake was laid off on May 15, 1852, by Thomas G. Conant.