Creation of Brant Township

Excerpt From: The Brant Centennial

June 13-14, 1958

            The area of Saginaw County, Michigan comprising town 10 north ranges 1 and 2 east of Michigan Meridian was organized April 5, 1858 to be known as the township of Brant. Town 10 north range 1 east was separated in 1880 and became Marion Township. Brant and Marion began making history when white men began moving in among the friendly Chippewa Indians. Among the first were Alpheus Oliver in 1851, Ezra T. Cogswell and Benjamin Colvin in 1853, Bradley Adams and Jesse Willis in 1854, Perry Crane in 1858, Winsor Crane in 1861 and Thomas Minto in 1869.

            On the 8^th of January 1857, nineteen electors made application to the County Board of Supervisors asking that the territory now known as Brant and Marion should be as a township under the name of Brant Township. On January 8, 1858 the application was granted. The first annual town meeting was held at the Albert A. Aldrich home in April 5, 1858. The 19 voters present elected Thomas Berry supervisor, John B. Adams clerk, Ezra T. Cogswell treasurer, Bushrod W. Lamb, Bradley Adams, Jason P. Eldredge, C. L. Luther, Jason Eldredge, and Benjamin Colvin, justices of the peace; Alpheus Oliver and Bradley Adams school inspectors, Purchase R. Hill, Albert A. Aldrich, Charles H. Cogswell and G. M. Campfield constables; and Bradley Adams overseer of the poor. The latter office was superfluous as there were none so poor as to require public aid and the township was too distant from the main highways and villages to attract ordinary tramps.

List of registered voters of Brant Township April 4, 1859

1. Bradley Adams      

2. Alpheus Oliver       

3. R. B. Oliver            

4. Nelson Baker         

5. James Kennicott     

6. William Oliver        

7. John Johnson          

8. R. Bixby                 

9. Levi O. Kennicott  

10. George Wheeler

11. A. B. Dunn

12. Timothy Ingersoll

13. Ezra T. Cogswell

14. Jason P. Eldredge

15. Levi Berry

16. John B. Adams

17. Purchase R. Hill

18. James A. Jackson

19. Columbus L. Luther

20. George M. Canfield

21. John W. Berry

22. Peter Ingersoll

23. Levi W. Berry

24. Thomas Berry

25. Albert A. Aldrich

26. Jesse Willis