Ralph Fowler--in his sketch about the early days of living in this area-- wrote the following…

 “During the first few years of our settlement in Handy, the bears, wolves, and deer were very thick. During the first winter I have looked out of the door of my log house and counted eight or ten deer browsing on the timber. The bears frequently killed and carried off our hogs.

 “One more little feature I wish to mention. The first year we mowed our marsh land, which was accomplished by swinging a scythe by hand, we killed 125 massaugers, besides black snakes measuring from three to eight feet in length.

 “The years ’37, ’38, and ’39 were enthusiastic years for us. The state having been admitted into the Union and an appropriation of five thousand acres of land from the general government for the completion of the Detroit and Grand River, and the Detroit and Saginaw (rail) roads, which the government was at work upon. (The roads were not completed until years later because of the economic depression which hit the country.)

Handy Township’s first election was held April 2, 1838 at the house of Ralph Fowler. Fourteen legal voters resided in the community.

Elected were Ralph Fowler, supervisor; Richard Bush, clerk; John Fowler, Richard Bush, William Benjamin, Seymour Norton, justices of the peace; John Fowler, Richard Bush, John LaRowe, assessors: Ruel Randall, collector; Harvey Metcalf, Richard Bush, Seymour Norton, highway commissioners; John Fowler, Seymour Norton, Richard Bush, school inspectors; Elijah Gaston, John Bush, Poormasters; and Ruel Randall and John LaRowe, constables.

 Stow came to Iosco Township at age six with his father and mother, Asel and Luana Stow.

 “The trials and privations of those pioneers who settled here from 1836 to 1845 were many and severe.  The new-comers usually arrived with very few of the trappings considered indispensable in the ordinary household of older communities; often with no more than could be drawn on one wagon, together with the family and a few boards.  These boards were a necessity, as they furnished the only shelter for the pioneer, his family, and effects until a house could be erected.

 A number of land entries were made in the township during 1835.  It’s proximity to Washtenaw County-- which had been opened for settlement earlier in the 1800’s-- probably accounts for this large number of property purchases.  During 1836 nearly the entire township (then a part of Unadilla)--or at least all of the desirable lands had been located.

 George C. Wood was the first inhabitant of the territory now known as Iosco Township.  His father, John Wood, then a resident of Ann Arbor, made the fourth entry of lands there, purchasing land in section 11 on Nov. 24, 1835.

 Upon that purchase, George Wood began his residence in late May of 1836.

 He however, left the area at an early date, moving to Milwaukee.

 During the latter part of the summer and early fall of that year several other families took up residence.  Among them were Ard Osborn and his son Nelson.  The former was the first supervisor and treasurer and purchased several hundred areas situated upon sections 30 and 31.