MOUNT MORRIS TOWNSHIP.

Mount Morris, while being one of the earliest townships to receive settlers, was one of the latest to be separately organized, its land having formed a part of flushing and Genesee until 1855. From 1833 to 1836 its territory was a part of Grand Blanc township. It was under the jurisdiction of Flint township until 1836 to 1838, when it was divided between Flushing and Genesee.

The first ripples of the oncoming tide of immigration reached the lands of Mount Morris in May, 1833. In that month "Uncle Ben" Pearson, of Avon, Livingston county, New York, purchased lands on sections 25 and 36. Shortly afterwards there arrived at Todd's tavern on Flint river, which was Mr. Pearson's headquarters, four men--Lewis Buckingham, John Pratt, Isaac N. Robinson and Richard Marvin, from Mount Morris, Livingston county, new York--who were also in search of lands. Happy in the prospect of securing neighbors, Mr. Pearson guided them to the neighborhood of his claims, about four miles north of flint on the Saginaw road, where all except Marvin entered lands and later settled. This was the beginning of the "Cold Water settlement." The first dwelling erected in this settlement on lands in Mount Morris was that of Mr. Pearson, upon the northeast corner of section 36.

In this settlement was kept the first school in the township. It was taught in the house of Lewis Buckingham by miss Sarah Curtis as early as the winter of 1835-36. There were some eight or ten pupils. In 1836 or 1837 the children of the settlement went to a log schoolhouse built on section 31 in Genesee township, in which the first teacher was Miss Harriet Hoyes. Soon afterwards another log school house as built on Moses Camp's farm, on section 19 in Genesee township, in which it is claimed Newton Robinson taught the first school. The first school house in Mount Morris township was not built until about 1848.

At this settlement also was formed the earliest religious association of the township, in 1834. Among the prominent Mount Morris members were John Pratt and Charles N. Beecher. The society was Presbyterian, but anyone was counted a member who helped to pay the preacher. A church was built here as early as 1836, where services were held for twenty years. The first pastor was Elder Cobb.