To Newaygo County Michigan |
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To Newaygo County Michigan |
Land of White Ash
Submitted by Linda Dougan
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Land of White Ash -
The first annual meeting of the township of Ashland was held at the house of
Sullivan Armstrong on April 2 1855. The following officers were; Sullivan
Armstrong, Ezra Burrill,George Fuller,Joseph Cady, Joseph Henderson,and
Joseph Shippy.
Nathanial Brown, Henry Herrington, AFArmstrong, EA Simmons and NA Markham.
Overseers of the poor; David Thurston, AF Armstrong, James Smith, and
William McCune. At a meeting it was resolved to raise 150 dollars for
township puposes, and 250 dollars to be expanded on road improvements. By
1856 the township had set up records for artifical marks on domestic animals
in the town of Ashland. Nathanial Brown marked his animals with a hole in
the left ear and a crop off the right. His and others recorded there marks
in the township record book, among them was William Dougan.
The last recorded mark was September 14 1885, by Sherman Tufts.
Ashland Center was named precinct one. After voting became heaver, a second precinct
was formed and that was number two in Grant.
Before towns were incorporated there welfare was shaped and there growth controlled by
township government. After they were incorporated decision making was up to the township
board. The Ashland township books show the steps that were taken to insure economic
growth in the area. Through the board roads were laid, bridges built, cemeteries were
bought, farmers were compensated for sheep slaughtered by wild dogs and the poor were given
a helping hand. The overseer would sometimes traveled by foot, or by horse to assess
the damage and often the amount paid out in a month was 150 dollars, he was also paid a
fee for his services. It was the towns justice of the peace who also was the person to
determine damage.
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Ashland Township
Ashland was the fifth township organized in Newaygo County, and was the first one erected after the
county machinery was fairly started. It was organized by the Board of Supervisors Oct. 9, 1854, and
the first "town meeting " was held at the house of
Sullivan Armstrong, the first Monday in April, 1855.
Sullivan Armstrong was chosen the first Supervisor.
At the last election, April 2, 1883, the following
township officers were chosen: Orvin Headley,
Supervisor; Nathaniel H. Brown, Clerk; Robert C.
Wallace, Treasurer; Hiram L. Brace, Highway Commissioner; Henry Avery, School Inspector; Samuel
W. Peterson and William N. Hutchinson, Justices of
the Peace; Sylvester Peats, Henry J. Brown, John
Raymer and Wm. H. Soyer, Constables.
The population of Ashland Township in 1880 was
There are now six school districts in the township.
For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of
children between the ages of five and twenty was
514; the number that attended school during the
year, 392; number of non-resident pupils, 8; number of days of school taught, 1,059; number of volumes in district libraries, 186; number of brick
school-houses, 1; number of frame school-houses, 6;
number of pupils that can be seated, 496; value of
school property, $6,580; number of male teachers
employed, 5; number of female teachers employed,
9; amount paid to male teachers, $950; amount
paid to female teachers, 8840.
The equalized valuation of the property of Ashland Township in 1855 amounted to $39,740.50, and
the taxes collected to $198.70, while for 1883 the
value of property was $181,615, and the taxes
$2,176.70.
The following is a complete list of the Supervisors of the township:
Portrait and biographical album of Newaygo county, Mich 1884
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