Middlebury Township
Shiawassee County, Michigan

The first election was held in the home of Moses Clark Jr. in 1839. The officials elected were; William Palmer, supervisor; Moses Clark, clerk; John Slocum, treasurer; Wm. Palmer, John Palmer and Elijah Potter, assessors; Wm. Palmer, John Palmer and Moses Clark Jr., school inspectors; John Slocum, Moses Clark Jr, and John Palmer, highway commissioners; John Slocum, Elijah Potter and Moses Clark Jr., justices of the peace; John Palmer, overseer of the road, District No. 1.

Early settlers included Obed Hathaway, with his wife and four children. They stayed with Henry Leach of Sciota Township until their own cabin could be built. In 1837 George Slocum brought his family to the Leach home and stayed until their cabin was built in section 35 of Middlebury.

The village of Middlebury changed its name to Middleburgh when George Slocum became its first postmaster on July 13, 1848 (there was another Middlebury post office in Michigan at that time). The office closed on Sept. 25, 1862.

On August 5, 1852, a postoffice was opened on the farm of Ira Stinson under the name of Hale. Mr. Stinson was the first postmaster. It was renamed Maple Valley on Dec. 11, 1855. and operated until Oct. 18, 1860. The office was later moved to the farm of Horton Warren when he became the postmaster. It closed on Oct. 18, 1860.

Kenney's was located in Middlebury Twp. and was named for James Kenney who became the first postmaster here on Jan. 6, 1851.

While later in the history of the township, it should be known that during World War II, a prisoner of war camp was located in the township. A racetrack, Owosso Raceway, located at Carland Rd and M-21, was used to house German prisoners who had been brought to the United States. The camp was known as Camp Owosso.