History of Macomb County

In July of 1805, land that was gained from the Indians in a treaty would become the separate territory of Michigan. Macomb would be the third County on  January 15, 1818 to be organized by proclamation by Michigan Governor Lewis Cass.

The first entry of land in the town, was made by G.B. and D.G. Ginochio, of  Detroit, of the east half of the northeast quarter of section 35, on the 12th day of August 1820. On the 26th of June 1821, Alfred Ashley of Mt. Clemens, would purchase from the government, the east half of the southwest quarter of the same section. It was long known that the Haskins mill was part of that section, and evidence of shrewd foresight for Mr Ashley. Over the years the southeast corner of the town, seems to attracted the land purchaser, or settler, most probably because of its proximity to the then thriving Mt Clemens, only nine miles away. 

In 1830 John and David Crawford of Yates County, New York, would purchase the northeast quarter of section 1, and where the history of the Crawford Settle would begin. In the same year, on the 13th day of November Lester Giddings would purchase the west half of the southwest quarter of section 5. Daniel Miller would make a purchase of the east half of the northwest quarter of section 8, on the 10th of May 1831. 

On the 17th of March 1834, the Township of Macomb was organized by an act of the territorial legislature. As it was first organized, it was composed of what is now the townships of Chesterfield and Macomb. In 1842 Macomb would become territorially independent. 

Although many of the governmental land plots where purchased before the organization of the township, the land sales would become very rapid immediately after that. From 1820 to 1834, in only fourteen years, about 5,000 of the over 23,000 acres would be passed into private ownership. The remaining 18,000 acres would be sold in the next three years after the organization.

Many of the pioneers would come from states like New York, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. At a fairly early date, a large settlement of German immigrants would settle in Macomb Township because of the rich soil.