Taymouth Township

Taymouth Biographical Sketches

This district possesses all the physical characteristics necessary to render it one of the richest agricultural divisions of the county, if not a valuable manufacturing one. The Flint river flows through a deep channel, from south to north through the central sections, and thence northwest to its confluence with the Saginaw. Silver creek flows westward, and enters the Flint at the N. E. quarter of section 17. Birchrun may be said to water the northern sections, as it flows northwest from section 12 through sections 11, 10, 3, 4, 5, and 6, flowing into the main stream to the northwest. Pinerun waters the southern townships, and enters the Flint near the old shingle mill on section 22. The Flint & Pere Marquette railroad runs southeast through sections 2, 11, 12, and 13, with a depot at the little village of Blackmar. There also are the principal mills and salt works of the township. The post office department recognizes the two offices of Blackmar, in section 2, and Taymouth, on the Flint, in section 33. Together with the Blackmar industries is the grist-mill, formerly operated by Reid, Shielder & Co., Morse's shingle mill, McKinney's saw and shingle mill, and the McNally saw and shingle mill. The public cemetery of the township is located on the southwest quarter of section 9.

The common springs of the township are numerous, and the water good. The salt springs yield the ordinary supply of brine, while the streams afford a full supply of fairly good water for all ordinary purposes. In this connection the township possesses rare advantages.

The pioneer citizens of Taymouth have acted well their part in the drama of real life. It pertains to their children to further develop its agricultural and mineral resources.

ORGANIC.

The township of Taymouth was organized under authority given by the Legislature, in an act approved Feb. 17, 1842, setting off from the township of Saginaw that territory known as the township of Taymouth. The terms of the act are as follows: "All that part of the county of Saginaw (now a part of the township of Saginaw) included in the following boundaries, viz.:—commencing on the east side of Flint river, on the county line between Saginaw and Genesee, at the southeast corner of township 10 north, range 5 east, thence north on said township line to the northeast corner of said township, thence west on said township line to the northwest corner of section 4, thence north on section lines to the bank of Cass river, thence down said river to its junction with the Shiawassee river, thence up the Shiawassee river to the county line between Saginaw and Shiawassee, thence east on said county line to the place of beginning be, and the same is, hereby set off and organized into a separate township by the name of Faymouth, and the first township meeting shall be held at the house of A. F. Hayden." This act was approved Feb. 17, 1842, giving the township now called Taymouth, the name of Faymouth.

The first town meeting was held at the house of A. F. Hayden, April 4, 1842. A. F. Hayden was Moderator; James Farquharson, Clerk; John Farquharson, James McCormick and John Ritchie, Inspectors of Election. The vote was taken by ballot, with the following results: Supervisor, John Farquharson; Clerk, James Farquharson; Treasurer, James Farquharson; Justices of the Peace, John Farquharson, John Ritchie, J. B. Watkins, A. F. Hayden; Assessors, John McKinzie, jr., A. F. Hayden; Highway Commissioners, John Farquharson, John Ritchie, John Malone; School Inspectors, A. F. Hayden, James McCormick, James Farquharson; Overseers of the Poor, A. F. Hayden, Robert McCormick; Constable, John Malone; Overseers of Highways, John McKenzie, Robert McCormick.

There were only eight voters present at this election, seven of whom were chosen township officials.

The following list contains the names of the township officers down to the present time:

SUPERVISORS

CLERKS

TREASURERS

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE

The other officers of the township at present are: Charles McDonald, School Commissioner; Lyman S. Kibby, Superintendent of Schools; Herbert Barrett, School Inspector; Wm. Boice, Drain Commissioner; David Hopkins, Thomas Cuthbertson, Edward Dutton, Abram Young, Constables.

These local legislators, as well as their predecessors in office, have generally acted in a manner creditable to themselves and profitable to the citizens. Many of the early settlers were citizens of foreign birth, who, on coming here, were not slow to realize the position which man holds in the Republic; and being cognizant of what was due to themselves and to the county of their adoption, pushed forward the work of municipal organization, guarded their privileges well, were faithful to their neighbors, and by a course of strict adherence to the principles of industry, succeeded in raising that tract of the beautiful wilderness to the position of a rich agricultural township.

THE CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

The church buildings of the township are those belonging to the Episcopal and Presbyterian societies. They are neat edifices, each bearing testimony to the zeal of its supporters. Rev. Mr. Malcolm is the present pastor of the Presbyterian Church.

The schools of the township are well conducted. There are six districts, each claiming a substantial school building. A reference to the statistics given in the County History will show the number of children attending these schools, together with the aggregate number in the township at the date of the last census.

LAND-BUYERS.

The purchasers of the United States lands within the township of Taymouth are named in the following list:

Many of those land-purchasers were speculators in the truest sense of the word. To the occupying proprietors, who made their homes in the midst of the dense forest, all the honor is due of clearing this portion of the wilderness, and raising it to a high position among the townships of the county.

Taymouth Biographical Sketches

BACK TO LIST OF TOWNSHIP HISTORY 1881

Source: History of Saginaw County Michigan, By Michael A. Leeson, Damon Clarke, Published 1881 Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Chicago pages 917-937.

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