History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, profusely illustrated with portraits of early pioneers, rare pictures and scenes of olden times, and portraits of representative citizens of today, [Vol. 2]

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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY

FARM RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM J. SMITH
(Biography and portraits in Vol. 1, page 143)
west of the village;and the want of direct water communication to drive
down logs from the forests above retarded the development of the village.
Most of the original settlers were attracted there by the possibilities of this
industry; and it was the principal trading place in the township.
Upon the decline of the lumber industry, Birch Run followed other villages in Saginaw County and became the trading center of a prosperous and
fertile farming district, keeping pace with the development of its environs.
This was due to its being well located for the convenience of practically all
of the inhabitants of the town. The village is within easy driving distance
of both Saginaw and Flint, being about midway between the two cities; and
it is on the direct interurban electric line and the Pere Marquette Railroad.
Fast electric cars run hourly in each direction, which enable the residents of
the village to draw upon the resources of the cities almost at will.
Schools and Churches
During the half century which has intervened since Birch Run assumed
a place of some importance in the rich farming district, the villagers have not
neglected their duty to education or to the church. There are at present
two schools, one a public institution, and the other conducted under the
auspices of the Lutheran Church; and both maintain a standard usually
aspired to by district schools. Of churches there four, and all are in a flourishing condition. Three are Protestant churches occupying excellent buildings, namely, the Methodist Protestant, the Baptist and the Lutheran, while
the fourth is the Roman Catholic Church, which has recently completed a
handsome edifice which is a credit to the whole township.
Birch Run is not incorporated as a village, its government being simply
that of the township.
The township officers in 1918 were: Frank J. Newman, supervisor;
Walter R. Hadsall, clerk; Charles S. Dewey, treasurer, and Edgar W. Cook,
highway commissioner.