Perry Township
Shiawassee County, Michigan

It is named for Naval hero, Oliver James Perry. The first settlers included Josiah Purdy in 1836, for which the first school was named, William Morrice and his family from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1837. His brothers, George, John and Alexander followed him in 1838.

The village of Morrice is named for them and the first postmaster was Charles Tyler in 1877. The village was platted by Issac Gale the same year. The first meeting was held at the home of Mr. Joseph Purdy on April 15, 1841. Elected to office were; Supervisor, Lyman Bennett; Clerk, J.P. Roberts; Treasurer, Lyman Bennett; Assessors, John Spaulding, J.P. Roberts, Winfield S. Ament; School supervisors, B.B. Brigham, J.P. Roberts, Lyman Bennett; Highway Commissioners, Levi Harmon, J.P. Roberts, Lyman Bennett; Justices of the Peace, J.P. Roberts, Levi Harmon, W.S. Ament, John Spaulding; Collector, Horace Green; Directors of the Poor, William Stevens, Josiah Prudy; Constables, John P. Shaft, Wm. Harmon, Horace Green, James Nichols. Horace Green and Dr. Joseph Roberts had come in 1837. The first school was at the home of Horace Green, who's daughter was the teacher.

Josiah Stevens, J. Hinkley and Charles Locke established the first school in the eastern part of the township. James Andrews and Henry Smith also were early teachers in the township.

Other early settlers were; George Reed, Jesse Whitford, Phineas Austin, John Shaft, Dr. S.M. Marchall, Bessie McQueen and William Laing.

Perry Centre was founded in 1850 and thrived until 1877 until the railroad went through about 1 mile north of the village. The village basically was picked up and moved closer to the rail line. Mr. Laing was the first postmaster of Perry Centre which was located on land owned by Horace Green and Dr. Joseph P. Roberts.

The village of Perry had a disasterous fire in 1913, which burned several blocks. Today, Perry continues to grow as a bedroom community of Lansing.

Rann's Mill was located in Perry Twp. and grew around the sawmill and grist mill of B.F. Rann and Company. Benjamin F. Rann became it's first postmaster on June 17, 1875 and it operated until Dec. 13, 1890. This settlement was located on the farm later owned by R.T. Peacock in section 35 on Locke Rd.