Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, 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. =========================================================================== SOURCE: Portrait and Biographical Album of Newaygo County, Mich. Chapman Brothers: 1884 BEAVER TOWNSHIP Beaver Township comprises township 15 north, 14 west, and the west half of township 15 north, 13 west. It is bounded on the north by Troy Township, on the east by Monroe Township, on the south by Denver Township, and on the west by Oceana County. Pere Marquette River rises in this township, principally in Crooked Lake, and is joined a little north of the center by Beaver River. On sections 6 and 7, of township 13 west, is Island Lake, a beautiful body of water about 40 acres in extent. It is nearly oval in shape, and almost in its center is an island, nearly 10 acres in area. In the eastern portion is the greater part of Crooked Lake, a curiously shaped lake composed of four small bodies of water con- nected with each other by narrow, irregular chan- nels. On the south line of the township is Stony Lake and two or three ponds. Beaver is hardly settled, and is mostly in a primative and undevel- oped state. It has an abundance of valuable pine. Beaver was organized by the Board of Supervisors Jan. 15, 1869. It then comprised its present ter- ritory, and also what is now Troy Township (organized separately in 1880). The first election was held the first Monday in April, 1869, Cyrus O. Cornish, Brad- ford Freeman and Addison Freeman acting as Inspectors. Alonzo Yates was chosen the first Supervisor. At the last election, held April 2, 1883, the following were elected: Benjamin Candee, Supervisor; Alburtus Andrus, Clerk; Edwin Gleason, Treasurer; Lyman S. Sweet, High- way Commissioner; Jesse P. De Long, Drain Commissioner; Alburtus Andrus and Andrew Mudge, School Inspectors; Hugh H. McKenzie, Justice of the Peace; Wallace W. Sutton, Burr Bettys, James North and Edwin Gleason, Constables. The first settlers of Beaver Township were Bar- zillai and Wyman W. Giddings and Ira Knapp. The first named settled on section 20. The village of Volney, recently laid out, is the only attempt yet made towards a village. It has a postofice, pre- sided over by F. C. Selby. The population of Beaver Township in 1880 was 197. There are now three school districts in Beaver Township. For the year ending Sept. 3, 1883, the number of children between the ages of 5 and 20 was 100; number who attended school, 92; number of non-resident pupils, 2; number of days of school taught, 380; number of school-houses (all frame), 3; number of pupils that can be seated, 184; value of school property, $2,900; number of male teachers employed, 1; number of female teachers employed, 5; amount paid male teachers, $160; amount paid female teachers, $374. The value of taxable property in the township in 1869 was $87,400, and the amount of taxes $1,020, while for 1883 the valuation was $160,455, and taxes collected $2,709.92. SUPERVISORS Alonzo Yates 1869-71 Alburtus Andrus 1872-6 Benjamin Candee 1877 ===========================================================================