Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2013, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the US Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ ========================================================================= U.S. 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 U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY, MICHIGAN by Florence McKinnon Gwinn Huron County Pioneer & Historical Society, 1922 [page 76] CHAPTER III EARLY TOWNSHIP HISTORY SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP Sheridan township lies in the southern tier. It was named after General SHERIDAN and was organized at the annual meeting of the board of supervisors, October 9, 1886, out of the following territory, formerly belonging to Bingham: Town 15 N. of R. 12 E. JOHN McINTOSH was the first supervisor. He came in 1859 when that section was but a wilderness. For the first settlers in the fifties were the CAMPBELLS, MORRISONS, McKINNONS, Mc- PHAILS, McINTYRES, McTAGGARTS, SHAWS, BUCHANANS and WHILLANS. They were followed by the CAMERSONS, BATIES, McLELLANS, LEITCHS, FLETCHERS, ROBBINS, McCAHANS, CROFTS, ALLIS, SWEENEYS, CLARKS, HENDERSONS, McALPINES, ALEX GILLIES, PETER McINNIS, THOMAS SHERWOOD, J. B. [page 77] PIONEER HISTORY OF HURON COUNTY WILSON, ANGUS McISAAC, H. STODDARD, JOHN THOMPSON, JAMES McMILLAN, JOHN BISHOP and JOSEPH REILY, an Indian who owned a farm and in 1867 had six acres un- der cultivation. The settlers with the exception of two families were Scotch Highlanders who first emigrated into Canada and from there to Sheridan. They were very industrious, hospitable and strongly attached to their religion. The five McTAGGART brothers, with their two sisters, came in 1858 and located land. A. O'HENLEY was a later settler coming in 1875 and purchasing 320 acres of land. Here we also find the McALPINE family as well as that of ADDISON BOOMHOWER, who came in 1869 and located 160 acres of land. After the fire of '71 he went to Ohio for a year and a half. Since that time he has been a resident of the township. In those early days as elsewhere lumbering was the chief industry, five companies being at work at one time in this place. The land was covered with a heavy growth of hemlock, cork pine of huge dimensions, beech, sugar maple and other hardwood trees. The task of the pioneer in clear- ing such land was a tremendous one. The soil is rich gravelly loam, intermixed with a little clay and fine par- ticles of limestone. The land is rolling in the south and west and flat in the north and east part of the township. The people gave early attention to schools and churches. The first term of school was held in district No. 1 with Mrs. E. WILSON as teacher. Catholic services were held in a cabin half under ground in 1866. The Frazer Pres- byterians also held services that same year. The Erskine Presbyterian church was organized about 1892. The first roads as elsewhere were merely trails through the woods. Now they have miles of state roads. This township suf- fered much from the great fires of ,71 and '81 but in time all traces of these terrific conflagrations passed away and today we find fine farms with well appointed farm houses. The entire township is given over to ag- gricultural pursuits, there being no village within its limits. The principal rivers are the Pigeon and the trib- utaries of the Cass. Millions of logs at one time were banked along these streams. ===========================================================================