The first pioneers to settle in Crockery Township came to the area approximately 11,000 years ago. Evidence of their presence comes from two small finds along the Grand River near Crockery Creek. Known to archaeologists as Paleo-Indians, these people lived in small groups collecting wild plants as they ripened and hunting game animals for meat, skins, bone and sinew. During the long period known as the Archaic (from about 8000 BC to approximately 600 BC) people living in Crockery Township relied on a variety of abundant plants including nuts, berries, seeds and possibly maple sugar.
Some time around 600 BC a revolution occurred throughout eastern North America that eventually spread to Crockery Township. The revolution brought new technology, new burial customs and new foods to the area. It was during this time that the people began to manufacture pottery, bury the dead in sacred burial mounds and eventually grow a variety of plants which were imported from other areas including corn and squash.
Unfortunately, we do not know just who these prehistoric inhabitants of Crockery Township were. We have no written account of the Indian people in the township until the late 18th century. By that time the Ottawa had migrated south from Georgian Bay and established themselves in the western portion of Michigan along the rivers and Lake Michigan shore. When explorers and traders from Europe came to the West Michigan area, three main groups of Indians lived here. They were the Ottawa, the Potawatomi, and the Ojibwa (often called the Chippewa). Without the help of friendly Indians, the very early white traders and explorers might well have starved to death. The Indians taught them how to raise corn, which was unknown to Europeans, and which wild plants and fruits were edible.
The first trader in Ottawa County was believed to be Pierre Constant, a Frenchman, who was associated with the British Fur Company. Next came Joseph LaFramboise who in 1796 married Magdelene Marcotte. Joseph was a well to do fur trader in charge of the Indian trade in western Michigan for the American Fur Company, headquartered on Mackinac Island. In the fall of 1809 they and their infant son, Louis, left Mackinac Island for their trading post on the Grand River. Before arriving Joseph was killed by a renegade Indian. Madame LaFramboise, knowing she was near the trading post traveled on. She stayed at her trading post at the mouth of Crockery Creek and became very successful. She retired from the fur trade in 1822 and in 1846 at the age of 66 she died.
In 1836 Manley Patchin, believed to be the first white settler in Crockery Township, arrived here and with his two brothers, employees of the lumbering firm Ringuette & Boland, put the first pine logs into the Grand Rover out of Crockery territory in 1838.
Sarah Scott Hathaway was the first white woman to settle in Crockery Township and was the wife of William Hathaway Jr. (the first supervisor of Crockery Township). Sarah and William came from Massachusetts to Crockery Creek to settle in 1839. William, along with being the township supervisor, was also postmaster and school inspector. He owned a general store and a sawmill and ran the “Crockery Creek House”, opened to boarders and travelers. William died in 1871 and Sarah in 1893.
In 1853 Benjamin Smith became the postmaster in the area later known as “Ottawa Center”. In the early days of the township “Ottawa Center” was the big metropolis, the center of the area. The town was located on Oriole Dr. and 96th Ave. At one time it consisted of two general stores, a boarding house, saloon, wagon shop, blacksmith shop, a steam saw mill, a river boat landing and boat yard. Mr. Smith and Mr. H.B. Jennings owned the saw mill. When the sawmill left the town began to disappear. By 1903 there was only one store left. One of the two cemeteries in Crockery Township is located in Ottawa Center. Ottawa Center is the resting place of many of the early settlers. The cemetery dates back to the mid 1800’s.
The first local doctor is believed to be Dr. Wright who arrived in Nunica in 1875.
"Fond Memories of my Hometown"
by Iris Ryder,
a lifelong Crockery Township resident
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