Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan : historical account of their progress from first settlement to the present time / Ernest B. Fisher, editor.

300 HISTORY OF KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN
growth of the village of Grandville was somewhat retarded during
the early years of its history by the hard times incident to and following the panic of 1837, which affected the country in general and
the new settlements in particular. But it weathered the storm and
added slowly to its population, and by 1887 it was deemed a place of
enough importance to assume the dignity of a municipality, and it
was accordingly incorporated. The religious and educational affairs
of the village received early attention and liberal support. Merchants
were aggressive and public spirited, their stocks often rivaling in
value those exhibited by present-day dealers. The early settlers and
business men of the township and village were generally people with
agricultural tendencies and traditions. They purchased land, cultivated and improved it, erected dwelling houses, and lived out their
allotted days in the peace and harmony of the quiet community their
industry had established. The population of Grandville, in 1910, was
680, and it contains a number of handsome and expensive residences,
while the average homes evince the air of thrift and prosperity in
their surroundings, in keeping with the industry and frugality of the
occupants. The Pere Marquette and Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railways pass through the village, and it is connected with
Grand Rapids by an electric line. The manufacturing interests of the
village are important and prosperous. A large amount of farm products are handled and shipped from that station, and all in all, Grandville is a commercial center of considerable importance. The village
is well supplied with churches, and the public school system will compare with any village in Michigan. Further mention of the schools
is given on another page of this volume, in the chapter devoted to Educational Development.
The following is a list of the supervisors of Wyoming township
from its organization down to the present time: 1848, William R.
Godwin; 1852, Nicholas Shoemaker; 1855, Egbert Dewey; 1856, Ebenezer Davis; 1857, Nicholas Shoemaker; 1858, Horatio N. Ball;
1860, Job Whitney; 1861, Ebenezer Davis; 1863, Job Whitney; 1864,
Horace O. Webster; 1865, Dwight Rankin; 1866, Joseph Blake; 1867,
Ebenezer Davis; 1868, Augustine Godwin; 1869, John T. Emmons;
1871, Augustine Godwin; 1872, Salisbury Mason; 1876, Clinton D.
Shoemaker; 1878, William K. Emmons; 1879, William H. Nearpass;
1880, Augustine Godwin; 1885, Clinton D. Shoemaker; 1887, Nichol
D. Emmons; 1896, Benjamin C. Porter; 1903, George Wykes; 1907,
Nichol D. Emmons; 1913, Cornelius Huizenga, present incumbent.
CHAPTER XXVI.
ALGOMA TOWNSHIP
DATE OF ORGANIZATION-TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-FIRST SETTLEMENT —SMITH LAPHAM-FIRST TOWNSHIP MEETING AND FIRST
OFFICERS-SCHOOLS-VILLAGE OF ROCKFORD —BURCHVILLE-EDGERTON-LIST OF SUPERVISORS-HORATIO N. STINSON-WALTER
CHIPMAN.
On March 15, 1849, the State Legislature provided for the organization of township 9 north, range 11 west, under the name of Algoma,
and provided further that town 10 north, range 11 west (now the