Gilmore Township (Isabella, MI)

History

Gilmore Township History

Gilmore Township is located in Isabella County, which is in Central Lower Michigan. The township has a total area of 36 miles and a population of 1,314 in the 2020 census. The first Gilmore Township meeting was held at the home of Rufus Glass on April 28, 1870 and he was elected Supervisor.

Rufus Glass named Gilmore Township after the Civil War General Quincy Adams Gilmore (February 28, 1825 – April 7, 1888)

Our historic Township Hall was finished April 7, 1884. When Completed, the only light was from the pot belly stove. later the Baptist church rented the hall and gave the township an Aladdin Kerosene lamp after their church was built across the street.

Gilmore Township is rural in nature. Farming and forests make up much of the area with many recreational opportunities. Littlefield Lake is one of many lakes in the township. There is no village of town. Farwell is 7 miles to the north an was also founded in 1870. Mt. Pleasant with Central Michigan University is about 25 miles Southeast.

Click here to access for an in-depth presentation on the History of Gilmore Township.

1878 Platt Map

Historical Images

Click images for larger views.

Gilmore Concert Band from 1920

Rufus and Harriet (Gould) Glass

Farwell Students in the Gilmore Township Concert Band

Gilmore Baseball Team from 1908

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