The township having for town purposes been attached to the township of Elkland from the first, steps were taken in 1869 for a separate organization. Upon application made by the required number of freeholders the county board of supervisors ordered an election, appointed a board of registration and inspectors, and designated the name of the new town.

It is said that some members of the county board being assembled in Farley Craw's store at Centerville, the question of name for the new town came under discussion. Mr. Craw, pointing to a stove in the room, the name of "Vesta No.__," suggested that the words be reversed to form the name "Novesta." The suggestion was adopted.

A caucus was held at the house of David M. Houghton and officers nominated.

The registry shows the following legal voters in the town of Novesta April 3, 1869, viz: : Levi H. Bridges, Thomas McQuilling, David M. Houghton, James Farley, Charles H. Hardy, Abram G. Houghton, Franklin D. Curtis, Robert O. Curtis, Warren T. Sheffer, James O. Valentine, William H. Brown, Robert H. Warner, Albert K. Bridges, Alanson C. Valentine, Henry Sheffer, Samuel R. Brown, David M. Houghton, Ephraim Farr.

The first township meeting was held at the residence of Levi K. Bridges April 5, 1869. It was unanimously voted to raise the following moneys: For highway purposes, $500; for contingent expenses, $250; for school purposes, $250. The total number of votes cast was fifteen. It is evident that there was but one ticket, and that every candidate modestly refrained from voting  for himself, for every candidate elected received fourteen votes. The officers elected were as follows: Supervisor, Robert H. Warner; clerk, James Farley; treasurer, James McQuilling; justices, Levi K. Bridges, Abram G. Houghton and Robert O. Curtis; commissioners of highways, Levi K. Bridges and Alanson Valentine; constables, Warren T. Sheffer, Henry Sheffer, Franklin D. Curtis   and James O.Valentine; school inspectors, Charles H. Hardy and David M. Houghton.

A special town meeting held July 3, 1869; William H. Brown was elected supervisor to fill vacancy.

A meeting of the town boards of Elkland and Novesta was held September 13, 1869, for the purpose of apportioning the property of the former town of Elkland, from which Novesta was formed. A settlement was effected by giving the town of Novesta an order on the county treasurer for $1,150. School tax to the amount of $343.11.

August 28, 1869, the school inspectors of Kingston and Novesta met and organized fractional District No. l.

A special town meeting held, May 21, 1870, authorized the issue of bonds to the amount of $1,000 for a bridge over Cass River on the section line.

At the annual town meeting in 1874 thirty votes were cast.

It is noticeable that large sums of money have from time to time been expended on highways and bridges, not less than $7,000 having been spent on the later. The citizens evidently recognized the fact the liberality provided the means of intercommunication and of reaching markets. This they have accomplished under great discouragements, their bridges have been frequently damaged or totally destroyed by fire and flood, to be as often rebuilt.

The bridge across Cass River, to connect with Cass City, the market town, was rebuilt in 1882. It is a combination bridge, strongly built of iron and wood, with heavy stone abutments, and cost about $3,500.

The construction of the Pontiac, Oxford & Port Austin through the town, and the establishment of a station, will give improved facilities for marketing produce, and bring in new settlers to improve the large area of yet unsettled territory.

The first school district, Fractional No. 1., was organized in August 1969, in connection with the town of Kingston.

The annual school report of the town of Novesta, for the year ending September 4, 1882, states that the directors for the ensuing year were Reuben Mosher, Levi S. Atwood, M. H. Quick, Hiram H. Wilson. There were four school districts, and the same number of frame school houses. Whole number of children of school age, in the town, 164; number that attended school during the year, 147.

There is no church edifice in the town, but occasional services are held by the Free Methodists in the school-house, in the north part of the town.

Census of 1870: population, 105; families, 24; dwellings, 24; farms 2; voters 29; number of acres improved, 18; number of cows, 2; number of oxen, 4; pounds of butter made, 300; bushels of wheat raised, 12; bushels of potatoes, 125.

Census of 1874: Population, 171; number of horses, 11; number of oxen, 11; number of cows, 30; bushels of wheat raised, 416; bushels of corn, 640; bushels of potatoes, 1,356; tons of hay, 34.

Population is 1880, 356. Total equalized valuation in 1882, $137,370.