As early as 1848 the following gentlemen made a beginning: Zerial Waterman, Ezra Burrel, A. Egleston, John and Richard Hilton, Timothy Colby, Ira Bonner, Ransom Surrarrer; also land was located by George Probasco and Edwin E. Haywood.
    In 1850 we record as settlers the names of Solomon D. Mosher, Nathaniel F. and Edward A. Westcott, Silas and Newton L. Fulkerson and Wm. Batterson.
    In 1851 Alex. Burdick, Case Ferguson, Ira Bonner, Daniel Bennett and Wm. H. Twiss.
    In 1852 a somewhat general settlement took place, among whom may be named, John Seaman, Wm. and Jerome Hutchinson, Marcus Muckey, Wm. Averill and Cornelius Loomis.

    Casnovia was organized by act of the Legislature during the winter of 1852-3. The first town meeting was held April 4, 1853, when the following officers were elected: Richard Hilton, Supervisor; R. S. Seaman, Clerk; N. F. Westcott, Treasurer; Richard Hilton, John Seaman, Daniel Bennett and Solomon D. Mosher, Justices of the Peace; William H. Twiss, N. L. Fulkerson and John Hilton, Commissioners of Highways; Silas Fulkerson and F. Cassidy, overseer of the Poor. Whole number of votes polled, 30.
    Since which the following persons have served as Supervisors and Township Clerks.
    SUPERVISORS- Richard Hilton, 1854-58; Oliver Walkley, 1855; Joseph Minnich, 1856; LaFayette Skinner, 1857; Nathan Whitney, for 18 years; R. G. Hutchins, 1875-76; Geo. Bolt, 1877-81.
    TOWNSHIP CLERKS- R. S. SEaman, 1854-55; Wm. Bonner, 1856; H. J. Russell, 1857; Nathan Whitney, 1858; Timothy Colby, 1859; (unreadbale) Hilton, 1860-63; Joseph Arnold, 1861; Joseph Minnick, 1862;(unreadable) Bowen, 1864; Wm. Averill, 1865; La Fayette Skinner, 1866-67; Herman Gilbert, 1868-60-70; L. M. Cox, 1871-2-3-4-5-6; John Herald, 1877-8-9-80; Hermas Gilbert, 1881.
 
 

    The settlers of this locality were wide awake in regard to securing the means of education for the rising generation, and among the early school districts organized may be  mentioned: District No. 1, June 30, 1853; No. 2, Oct. 20, 1853; two others April 15, 1854; another May 29, 1854; and another May 23, 1857; so that ample provision was early made in this direction.
    At present there are in the township five hundred and six (506) children who receive public money, of whom three hundred and eighty attended school in 1880. The whole number of school houses is nine, with a seating capacity of six hundred. Aggregate number of days of school for 1880 was 1,298; number of male teachers five; of female teachers nine. Number of months taught by males, 25, by females, 40 1/2. Total wages, males, $885.00; females, $890.00.

    The Casnovia Circuit was organized during the session of the annual conference held at Cold Water Aug. 31 to Sept. 7, 1870.
    Rev. L. W. Calkins was appointed to the charge. The several appointments on the charge were Casnovia, Canada Mills, Ashland school house, and the Seaman school house. At present there are only two appointments on the charge, Casnovia and John's school house. Among the preachers who have officiated since are found Rev. Geo. Donaldson, J. F. Jenkins, Thomas W. Gleghorn, R. H. Brady, M. D. Terwilliger and A. Hunsberger. The present membership is 103, and 11 probationers. a new and commodious church was built in Casnovia in 1877, and a fine Sunday-school is in operation. Among the early preachers who held services in different places before this were L. Bennett, T. J. Congdon, G. Madison, M. I. Smith, H. H. Bement and others. There are some other church organizations within the township, viz.; The North Free Will Baptists, at the Seaman school house, Church of Christ and Church of United Brethren in Christ at Bailey, generally small membership and irregular meetings.

    Casnovia Lodge, I. O. of O. F., No. 849, organized June 2, 1881. Eighteen charter members. Edward Farnham, N. G.; Milan L. Squeir, V. G.; James H. Shaw, Warden; Martin Frank, Conductor; Albert Norris, R. S. N. G., Adam Hizer, L. S. N. G.;Robt. J. Side, R. S. V. G; Jacob Holben, L. S. V. G.; Wm. W. Fenton, Corresponding Secretary; Hugh Kelly, Recording Secretary; Benj. Holben, Inside Guard; Nelson J. Crigger, Outside Guard; E. Lynch, R. S. S.; H. J. Crosby, L. S. S. Membership Aug. 1, 1881, was 28.
    Trent Lodge, No. 802, I. O. O. F, Sept. 6, 1877, with eight charter members. George Rupp, N. G.; H. Avery, V. G.; V. Sim, Recording Secretary; David Leichty, Permanent Secretary; Geo. Webb, Treasurer. The present membership is sixty-five, with Lucius Pickett, N. G.; Warren Carpenter, V. G.; George Rupp, Treasurer; E. Conklin, Recording Secretary; Noah F. Fales, Permanent Secretary.
    Tyrone Grange, consisting of members partly from Kent and partly from Muskegon Counties, was organized March 6, 1874, with thirteen charter members present. Membership (1881) was thirty-one. The building is on Section 25, Casnovia. Original officers were E. E. Haywood, Master; F. A. Bails, Secretary; F. N. Westcott, Overseer; Wm. H. Twiss, Treasurer; Uriah Chubb, Lecturer; M. J. Bonner, Steward.
    Trent Grange, P. of H., No. 372, was organized April 8, 1874. The following named were elected its first officers: Nathan Whitney, Master; Thomas J. G. Bolt, Secretary. Since which time the following have acted as Masters and Secretaries: Masters- Geo. W. Bolt, 1875-6-7-8; Tracy Woodward, 1879; Joseph Minnick, 1880-1. Secretaries- Thos. J. G. Bolt, 1875; Orrin Whitney, 1876; Hermas Gilbert, 1877-8-9-80-81. At the time of organization one hundred and seven (107) were elected to become members, most of whom were initiated. The present membership is eighty. In 1879 a large hall was built, the dimensions of which are 60x80, and 22 feet in height, which carries an insurance of $1,700.
    Knights of Honor, No. 2,248, located at Bailey, was organized June 25, 1880, with nine charter members. John A. Spring, Dictator; Daniel B. Galentine, Reporter; John S. Ingram, V. Dictator; Chas. W. Killen, Financial Reporter; Orvin Headley, Treasurer; Albert Morse, Guide; Jacob Probasco, Sentinel. Present membership twenty-four (24) and is in a prosperous condition. Meetings 1st and 3d Friday evening of each month.
    Good Templars Lodge, No. 809, is located at Bailey and organized Aug. 13, 1874, with eighteen (18) charter members. The following were among the first officers: Miles Chubb, W. C.; Mrs. Louisa Thurston, Secretary; Mrs. Mary L. VanDusen, W. V.; J. S. Miller, Treasurer; Lewis Babcock, Marshal. Present Membership, thirty-five (35); meetings each Saturday night.

    There are quite a number of saw mills in different parts of the township doing considerable business in a quiet way. R. P. Hanna built in Casnovia village a pump factory in 1873, added a cidar mill in 1875, and a heading mill in 1881.
    D. Bartram brought from Lambton Co., Ontario, in 1867, a saw and shingle mill, which was burned down March, 1880, rebuilt the same year and sawing about a half million feet of lumber and a million shingles; located at Canada Corners.
    There was a saw mill at Trent as early 1852, built by C. C. Darling. In 1854 the Whitney Bros. purchased the mill and over seven hundred acres of land, and went immediately to making improvements. In 1857 a grist mill was added. The mill is run by the waters of Crockery Creek.
    About a mile further up the creek Mr. W. H. Fulkerson built in 1861 a shingle mill. It is now owned by S. B. Olmstead, and made in 1880 about five million shingles.
    G. B. Slocum, who owns several sections of land in the southwest part of the town, built a saw and shingle mill at Slocum's Grove about 1865. It has a capacity of about 4,000 feet of lumber and 25,000 shingles daily. In 1873 L. B. Murray built a saw mill at Bailey, and in 1874 added a shingle mill. In 1876 the establishment was changed to a stave factory and doing a good business, employing from six to twelve men.
   E. E. Haywood and brother are doing more in the lumber business than any other firm in this locality. In this township they own and run a saw mill at Moon, which does a large business as well as mills in other localities.
    Casnovia village was organized by Act of Legislature during the session of 1875-6, being located partly in Kent and partly in Muskegon Counties. The following were its first officers: A. C. Ayer, President; R. H. Topping, M. L. Squeir, Wesley Hanna, Joseph Kies, H. A. Irish, B. Fulkerson, Trustees.
    Present Officers- M. L. Squeir, President; R. H. Topping, S. S. Haseltine, H. J. Kelley, Wesley Hanna, Alex. Hanna, Elias Kinsley, Trustees. The village contains a population of 300, a good church, new brick school house, two general dry goods stores, two grocery stores, two hardware stores, one drug store, three millinery stores, one furniture store, two blacksmith shops, grain elevator, livery stable, hotel, Lodge I. O. O. F., M. L. Squeir post master.

contains about 900 inhabitants, and is doing nearly as much business as Casnovia. It has a stave and heading mill, two general stores, drug store, hardware store, grocery store, meat market, blacksmith shop, one Lodge of Good Templars and Knights of Honor, and two church organizations.
    The hamlet of Trent located on sections 9 and 17, has a population of about sixty, and contains a grist and saw mill, two stores, one drug store, Grange Hall and two blacksmith shops.
    Canada Corners and Moon are hamlets of about the same size as Trent, each containing a post office.