Luther
Michigan
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Newkirk Township
History of Newkirk Township :
The first settlers were the Ottawa's, but many were later displaced by the Pottawatomie tribe. Wild game and fish of all species were abundant during that period, which made this area ideal for easy survival. Some of the Grand River Ottawa tribe have stayed and settled in the area and some families remain to this day.
The arrival of the pioneers in 1862 brought settlements and homesteads to the area; Grand Rapids was the starting point for the journey to this undeveloped country. The pioneers loaded their belongings and implements on lumber wagons (which also served as stagecoaches) and set out for the North Country. The eastern boundary of the township near the Little Manistee River came by way of State Road. The State Road was a road north from Grand Rapids, perfectly straight to Traverse City, cutting through hills and vale covered with stands of virgin timber. It served primarily as a freight line, many pioneers journeyed this route in search of undeveloped North Country land for their homes. The main street of Luther is a part of that frontier trail.
The State Road later became the boundary between Ellsworth, Dover, and North and South Newkirk Townships. The original plat of Luther was recorded March 13, 1882; Luther lay on both sides of State Street placing part in Ellsworth Township and part in Newkirk Township.
In 1871 Newkirk Township was called Killbuck, until it became Glencoe in 1875. Glencoe was deactivated and became part of Newkirk Township in 1899, the size (12X6 square miles) and location of the township has remained the same since that date. Newkirk Township was named after Henry Wirt Newkirk who moved to Lake County in 1886 to publish a newspaper, the Luther Enterprise. He was appointed Lake County prosecuting attorney in 1889 and was elected to that office the following term; he was then elected to the State House of 1893-94.
Small settlements sprung up, one is Careyville (Carrieville) which was originally platted in 1883, located on Kings Highway in section 15 of South Newkirk Township. In its prime of 1885 it boasted a population of some 300 people. Its beginning centered around the lumbering business. Beautiful stands of virgin pine were the first trees cut. It is very difficult for us today to imagine the size of these trees, but keep in mind that they had been growing for hundreds of years, untouched by any human existence or interference. The size of some deteriorating pine stumps, still found today, attest to the trees' immensity. The logging business tended to follow rivers, cutting through the wilderness from the riverbanks. To the North of the township it was the Pine River and to the south, it was the Little Manistee River. Many lumber camps sprung up along these rivers.
The first settlers were the Ottawa's, but many were later displaced by the Pottawatomie tribe. Wild game and fish of all species were abundant during that period, which made this area ideal for easy survival. Some of the Grand River Ottawa tribe have stayed and settled in the area and some families remain to this day.
The arrival of the pioneers in 1862 brought settlements and homesteads to the area; Grand Rapids was the starting point for the journey to this undeveloped country. The pioneers loaded their belongings and implements on lumber wagons (which also served as stagecoaches) and set out for the North Country. The eastern boundary of the township near the Little Manistee River came by way of State Road. The State Road was a road north from Grand Rapids, perfectly straight to Traverse City, cutting through hills and vale covered with stands of virgin timber. It served primarily as a freight line, many pioneers journeyed this route in search of undeveloped North Country land for their homes. The main street of Luther is a part of that frontier trail.
The State Road later became the boundary between Ellsworth, Dover, and North and South Newkirk Townships. The original plat of Luther was recorded March 13, 1882; Luther lay on both sides of State Street placing part in Ellsworth Township and part in Newkirk Township.
In 1871 Newkirk Township was called Killbuck, until it became Glencoe in 1875. Glencoe was deactivated and became part of Newkirk Township in 1899, the size (12X6 square miles) and location of the township has remained the same since that date. Newkirk Township was named after Henry Wirt Newkirk who moved to Lake County in 1886 to publish a newspaper, the Luther Enterprise. He was appointed Lake County prosecuting attorney in 1889 and was elected to that office the following term; he was then elected to the State House of 1893-94.
Small settlements sprung up, one is Careyville (Carrieville) which was originally platted in 1883, located on Kings Highway in section 15 of South Newkirk Township. In its prime of 1885 it boasted a population of some 300 people. Its beginning centered around the lumbering business. Beautiful stands of virgin pine were the first trees cut. It is very difficult for us today to imagine the size of these trees, but keep in mind that they had been growing for hundreds of years, untouched by any human existence or interference. The size of some deteriorating pine stumps, still found today, attest to the trees' immensity. The logging business tended to follow rivers, cutting through the wilderness from the riverbanks. To the North of the township it was the Pine River and to the south, it was the Little Manistee River. Many lumber camps sprung up along these rivers.