Greenleaf Township
Bits of History

Among the township records are three books of special historical interest.  They are minutes of the Township Board of Trustees, the school inspectors and the township highway commission.  All three books date from early 1866.  Apparently that was the date that Greenleaf Township separated from Austin Township.  Other books include oaths of office, fence viewers and tax rolls also dating from that approximate time.

On May 7, 1900, the township board met at the Greenleaf Post Office to read the specifications for a township hall.  Bids were received on June 2, 1900 and on June 9, 1900, a bid from M. Steinhauser for $785.00 was accepted.  That meeting was held at the town hall site.  On October 6, 1900, the board met in the new town hall to accept it as built.

On May 14, 1899, the high way commissioners, Bethel Hubel, William Wilson, and William Pollard met at the home of Thomas G. Thompson, Supervisor.  On June 17th, 1866, they met with the Highway Commission from Elkland Township, Tuscola County, to establish a road along the common boundary.

On November 18th, 1868 they established the Bay City-Forestville Road.

They levied the first highway tax in 1869.  It was ½ of 1% of property value.

The first meeting of the school inspectors was May 16, 1866.  They designated school districts #1 in the southwest corned of the township and #2 in the northwest corner. #3 was established in 1869 in the southeast corner and #4 in 1870 in the northeast corner.

The first school tax was raised in 1878 and paid to each school district at the rate of 47 ½ cents per scholar.

A township library was established on March 3, 1887. $13.83 was allocated to purchase of books and D.L. Gilbert was appointed librarian.  In 1900 the board moved to try to locate the books borrowed from the library and not returned.

There is a small cemetery in the township.  Those buried in this cemetery were:
Mary Soutar Nicol, 1820-1893, wife of Alexander Nicol
Ellen Nicol, April 2, 1853-July 23, 1866, Daughter of Alex Nicol and Mary Nicol
Charles Nicol, January 4, 1855-July 23, 1866, son of Alex Nicol and Mary Nicol
Agnes Nicol, April 25, 1860-August 1, 1866, daughter of Alex Nicol and Mary Nicol
Alexander Nicol, 1826-1887
Charles S.  Nicol, April 16, 1876, son of Stewart Nicol
Agnes Jean Nicol, September 12, 1873-April 2, 1879, daughter of Stewart Nicol
Laurel Belle Nicol, October 6, 1886-July 26, 1890, daughter of Stewart Nicol
Mrs. Elizabeth (Ord) Nicol, Died November 20, 1883, wife of Tom Nicol
David Merchant, Died July 9, 1893, never married
Charles Avery, last burial approximately 1898
Jenny Avery, daughter of Charles Avery
Dugal McPhail
Hammy Erwin, son of Robert Erwin
Mrs. Anderson
Two Nesbitt children
Two Morrish girls
Two Sanburn children