Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1863 - 1864 Manistee County. This county is situated in the north-western section of the state, bordering upon Lake Michigan, and containing an area of 650 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Leelenaw county, east by Wexford, south by Mason and Lake, aud west by Lake Michigan. The Manistee river flows through the center of the county, and is joined near its mouth by the Memoosic or Little Manistee river. The surface is rolling and heavily wooded, the soil rich, and admirably adapted to agriculture. But few settlements have been made, and nearly the entire county is still in a state of nature. It has three organized townships, viz.: Brown, Manistee, and Stronach, having a total population of less than 1000. There are four water, and five steam saw mills located in this county, several of them being of the largest kind, and turning out, in the aggregate, each season, $5,000,000 feet of sawed lumber, valued at $218,500, and giving employment to 502 men. Principal town and county seat, Manistee. Post Offices: Manistee (c.h.) Portage Creek MANISTEE. A township and thriving post village in the county and at the mouth of the river of the same name, on the shore of Lake Michigan, 250 miles north-west from Detroit. A large business is carried on here in the lumber trade, there being eight immense steam saw mills in operation within the limits of the township. The country for many miles in the rear of Manistee is admirably adapted to farming, and although at present heavily timbered has an excellent soil, and bids fair to take rank with the best farming lands in the State. The village has two churches, Methodist and Congregational, a lodge of Good Templars, five stores, two hotels, a flour mill, and several mechanic shops. The trade of this section is a most exclusively with Chicago and Milwaukee by vessel, direct. Two mails are received per week. Population ot township, including village, 600. Postmaster - L. S. Ellis. Township Officers. Supervisor - Hugh McGinnis Clerk - H. Thorp Treasurer - L. S. Ellis List of Professions, Trades, etc. Bertha Joseph, blacksmith. Brord Dexter, carpenter Canfield John, fouring and saw mill Carpenter Wallace W., lawyer. Cowles William, general store Darling Allen A. Rev., (Methodist) Ellis Lathrop S., physician and druggist Engelman Nathan, general store Fay Michael, hotel Filer Delos L., general store Filer & Smith, (Delos Filer and F. Gardner Smith), saw mill. McCracken John, blacksmith McKee Allen, carpenter Paggeott Charles, general store Paggeott & Strowach, (Charles Paggeott and Adam Strowach), saw mill (*Transcribers Note: "Strowach" should be Stronach) Peirce Nathan L., justice of the peace Ramsdell Thomas J., lawyer Sherwood Andrew C., saw mill. Strowach Adam, saw mill (*Transcribers Note: Again, "Stowach" should be Stronach) Thompson George Rev., (Congegational) Vahue John N., hotel. PORTAGE CREEK A post office of Manistee county. ==========================================================================