Rush Township<BR>Shiawassee County, Michigan

Rush Township
Shiawassee County, Michigan

Organized 3-28-1850

1875 County Map

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Rush....1875

The township was named for Henry Rush who arrived in 1843. The first settler was Ransom White who came in 1839 and settled on land in section 26. Next came Avery Thomas in 1842 from New York. William Goss, also from New York followed Mr. Rush. Rush Township was not declared a separate township until 1850.

A meeting was held at Henry Rush's home on April 1, 1850. The elected officers of the township were: Supervisor, Avery Thomas; Clerk, Wm. Goss; Teasurer, Robert Irland; Justices of the Peace, Wm. Goss, Avery Thomas, Robert Irland; Highway Commissioners, Wm. B. Hurd, Jonas Robbins, Robert Irland; directors of the Poor, Henry Rush, Richard Freeman; School Inspector, Avery Thomas; Constable, Jacob Rush.

The village of Rush was later named West Haven.

A post office was located in Hendersonville where William Cook became postmaster. Hendersonville was named for Andrew Henderson. His son, John, built the first store. Soon other businesses developed and the small town had a sawmill, wagon and blacksmith shops, a hotel and a grain elevator. A coal mine was located in the township in the early 1900's but closed after a time as the coal ran out.

Addtional early pioneers to Rush Township were: Walter Graham, R.A. Sutliff, Michael O'Rouke, Wm. Sawyer, Silas Clark, Andrew Simons, Curtis Devoe, Samuel Ayers, Samuel Shuster, Benjamin Washburn, G. Whitfield Drown, Joseph Hoffman and brothers, Michael and Patrick Carmody. Hamblin was located in Rush Twp. Phillip Schanable became the first postmaster here on March 7, 1884. This office closed on Nov. 15, 1886.

1965 Rush Township Map

1968 Rush Township Map

Shiawassee County Township Histories

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