Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= USGenNet Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. ========================================================================= Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Portrait and Biographical Album of Huron County Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1884 [444-445] LAKE TOWNSHIP This township was organized in 1867 by a special act of the Legisla- ture, which provided that the surveyed townships 16, 17, and the frac- tional township 18 north, all in range 11 east, be detached from the township of Grant and Caseville, and organized into a township by the name of "Lake." JOHN B. WOODHULL, CHANCY CHAPMAN and JAMES HARVEY were authorized by said act to act as inspectors of the first meeting. MR. HARVEY not attending, THOMAS GILL was chosen to act in his stead. ROBERT GOTTS was made Clerk. JOHN B. WOODHULL was elected Supervisor, ARCHIBALD McILHAEGEY, SR., Treasurer and ROBERT GOTTS, Clerk. The first school district organized was in the summer of 1864, on section 24. A log school-house was built and a school opened the fol- lowing winter, with about twenty scholars in attendance. The first settler was WILLIAM FISHER, who located in the township in 1859. He still resides here. ROBERT GOTTS and HANNAH L. DAVISON were the first couple married. They joined in wedlock in 1866. JAMES UPTHEGROVE was the child of the first child born, which was in 1862. There is no postoffice in the township. The people get their mail at Caseville, Port Crescent and Pinnebog. In religious matters they are not any more fortunate, having to go to Caseville, Pinnebog and the township of Chandler for Divine worship. The western line of Lake is about one mile and a half from the P. O. & P. A. R. R. It is well drained by the Pinnebog and Pigeon Rivers. The northern portion is rolling, while the southern is rather flat. The soil in the southern and eastern portions is clay loam, while that bor- dering on Saginaw Bay is sandy. The fire of 1871 burned over about one-third of this township; that of 1881, about the same. The latter was more destructive to the crops. By this fire two houses and two barns were burned. ROBERT GOTTS tells rather an amusing yet a sad story. After the great fire had moved on from his farm and the atmosphere had somewhat cooled off, he started out to see what was left. His buildings were all safe, but his entire potato crop was roasted in the hill! He secured one meal of hot roasted potatoes from his field, and says he was gratified that this much had been left him! A very valuable sandstone quarry has been opened in the township about one mile from the shore. It is owned by Ypsilanti and Detroit men, a firm known as the "Babbitt Sandstone Company." The stone is of a bluish tint, hard, and makes a very fine building material. A dock has been made on the Bay by the company, for their use in shipping this stone. There is a beautiful lake, lying nearly in the center of the town- ship. It is about two miles long and one mile wide, and is plentifully supplied with fish, pike, suckers and pickerel. Though the circle of this lake is small, it has within its inclosure several little islands. The banks are high and shaded with forest trees, making the whole scene one of picturesque beauty. There is some swamp land in the township, but the location is favor- able for drainage. The principal production is wheat, oats and hay. The largest yield of wheat per acre is fifty-two bushels; potatoes, 200 bushels. The average yield of wheat has been eighteen bushels per acre. All kinds of fruit do well here, and many choice varieties are being cultivated. The nearest market is Caseville. SUPERVISORS Lake has been represented in the county government by the following men. S. B. WOODHULL, 1867-9 JAMES DUFFTY, 1870-1 GEORGE McKAY, 1872-7 EDWARD HEATON, 1878 GEORGE McKAY, 1879 M. C. SMALLEY, 1880 GEORGE McKAY, 1881 M. C. SMALLEY, 1882 WM. DUFFTY, 1883-4 =========================================================================== If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access more of our growing collection of FREE online information by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/ ===========================================================================