Springport Township, legally known as town one south, of range three west, state of Michigan, was surveyed as a township by Deputy U.S. Surveyor Joseph Wampler in January and February of 1824. The south and west sides being finished at the northwest corner of the township on January 30, 1824.

The honor of furnishing the name of Springport was claimed by Mr. Augustus Ferris, who came here with his brother, Edmund, in 1837, and made several visits here. Afterwards, the name was suggested from that of a town of the same name on the east shore of Cayuga Lake, in the state of New York; also from the many springs which gush forth their sparkling waters within its borders.

There were numerous streams and marshes which were great drawbacks for the first settlers, causing much sickness, mostly fever and ague, usually termed “Michigan Ague” or “Shaking Ague”, and when the shaking ague once got hold of a man, he would fairly shake the building, and it took a pretty nervy man to remain and defy it.

Soon, other settlers ventured upon the scene and captivated by the prospect of a home that they too could call their own, followed in the wake of others, commenced to fell the trees and build their homes. Slow, but sure, was the progress. Hardships without number were encountered and overcome, until today we are numbered as one of the best townships in the state. Roads were opened up, mills and schoolhouses built, railroads constructed, and a village grew to large proportions, until today the business surpasses anything that they, in their early anticipations, could have possibly hoped to see.

The honor of the first blow struck, undoubtedly belongs to John S Comstock, who died at this place, February 14, 1890. Mr. Comstock gave his statement in a letter, as follows:

I have not attained an earthly glory or fame in this town, or elsewhere, but if any credit is due to a pioneer, I am the very first who made a location here.

About March 10, 1935, I hired Judge Valentine of Sandstone, to come with me to Springbrook to help me look out a place, for he was the man most used to tracing the (survey) lines where no settlement or land had yet been taken up.

I went down to the land office at Monroe, Michigan, with the numbers of two eighties and a forty, section 27-28m now opened by George W Myers. The land agent said I had a whole township to select from for no one had made a location before me in this township.

My nearest neighbor was Deacon Townly, in Tompkins. My next neighbor was Capt. Dean, who lived in Sandstone, four miles east Parma village. Mr. Harrison came next to me, and held meetings in his own house before we had a schoolhouse built.

I remember this from one remark made by one Mr. Wilson, whom I had hired with his two yokes of oxen to help me break ten acres in the southwest corner of section 27, in the fall of 1835. He came from Concord to help me. When Sunday came, Wilson said to me, ‘Oil and water won’t mix.’ I had said to him, ‘Why go so far to meeting when we have one near by at Mr. Harrison’s?’ This was in the summer or early fall of 1835, breaking for my wheat crop.

I was not only the first land owner in this town (ship) but the only man who raised any garden or crop in this township in the summer of 1835. I had hired Deacon Townly and one of his sons (Richard), early in the spring of 1835, to break two acres north of my house for a garden. If anyone would know the troubles of pioneer life, let them inquire of me. The next world will unfold it. Therefore, I think to rob me of the honor which is due him who first opens the door, is not just.”

The first of April following, Mr. Comstock, accompanied by James A Preston and family, moved onto Mr. Comstock’s lands, locating near a spring, about a quarter of a mile north-west of the Landon schoolhouse where they erected two rude shanties. Their lodging was made by placing one end of a large piece of bark on a fallen tree, under which they slept while the shanties were in course of building. (Mrs. Comstock and her children remained with Mr. Fitch Comstock, in Sandstone, until the latter part of the following June. Mrs. Margaret Preston being the first white woman to enter the township.)

Early in April 1835, Mr. Comstock, accompanied by James Preston, located near a spring on section 28, where they erected two shanties. In the autumn following, Mr. Comstock built a log house near where George Myer’s house now stands. In the winter of ’36-37, he built the first barn, letting the job to Rev. M. Harrison. The payment was forty acres of land on north-west one-fourth section 35.

On the 30th of July 1830, an act was passed by the Legislative Council, incorporating the township of Jacksonopolis, under which name it was known until February 18, 1831 when the Legislature renamed it Jacksonburgh, including township and county as well. On June 26 1832, the act of the Council organizing the county of Jackson was approved, and ordered to take effect the first day of August following.

In 1833, the county was divided into four townships, Jacksonburgh, Spring Arbor, Napoleon and Grass Lake. In October 1836, the number of towns were increased to ten, Jacksonburgh, Concord, Grass Lake, Hanover, Leoni, E. Portage, W. Portage, Spring Arbor, Napoleon and Sandstone. In January 1837, the village name lost its last syllable and became Jackson; while Parma, Rives and Liberty were added as townships. In April 1838, Pulaski, Springport and Tompkins were added, and Jackson was divided into Blackman

Biographies Of the First Settlers of Springport

Village of Springport See the Interesting History Notes