This fine township, which is an off-shoot from Dalton Township, was organized by the Board of Supervisors of Muskegon County, in October, 1869, and derives its name from the successful culture of fruits of all kinds. Rightly it is named a "land of fruit," as the soil along the White Lake on the northeast quarter, and Lake Michigan on the west is admirably adapted to the culture of grapes and peaches, of which there are some fine farms, notably that of Charles N. Merriman, between Duck Lake and Lake Michigan, Jos. Hagreen, south of White Lake, and Messrs. Kelly and Braman of the same place. The soil along the lake is, of course, sandy and somewhat light, but in the interior and towards the southeast it becomes a heavy clay loam mixed with gravel and sand, and the soil is well adapted for apples, plums, pears, etc. The whole township is indeed fine land and will shortly be a garden. It was all covered with a heavy growth of timber, chiefly pine, and this was mainly taken up by non-residents, and thousands of acres are still held in this way by G. B. Slocum, C. Mears and others. The pine has nearly disappeared, and fruit growing has taken its place. Wheat and corn also flourish, for instance, there are few finer farms in the county than that of Ole. E. Gordon in the east of the township.

    This township is he first of the second tier of towns reckoning from the north, on the west side of the county, and is Township 11, north, Ranges 17 and 18 west. Range 17 is full, but 18 is simply a gore, which was until recently attached to White River. The township is bounded on the north by Whitehall, on the east half of its boundary and on the northwest by a line continued straight on from the Whitehall boundary across the southwest portion of White Lake to the new channel or harbor. On the west, Lake Michigan is the boundary, trending to the northwest. On the east Dalton, on the south Laketon. It is six miles from north to south and varies from seven to five miles across from east to west. There are two small lakes on the west, of which the northern one, two miles south of White Lake on the Lake Michigan shore, is called Duck Lake, about two miles long and half a mile wide. It was here that the first settlment was made by Chas. Mears, near its mouth; and here he erected a sawmill about 1810, C. Mears being one of the first purchasers of pine lands here. Below Duck Lake is Muskrat Lake, which is very small. Duck river comes winding across this flat township by a quiet course and by several branches, watering the whole center of the township, and is the only stream of any consequence.

    The township was organized in October, 1869, and the first election was held on April 4, 1870, at which fifty-two voters were present. There being a tie for Supervisor between H. S. Tyler and Ezra Stearns, on drawing lots it was given to the former. J. S. Taylor was the first Clerk; 0. E. Gordon, Treasurer; D. E. Califf and Jno. Dorman, Justices of the Peace; Webster Thompson, Commissioner of Highways; C. E. Califf, Thos. Dorman and E. Saens, Constables; H. R. Newlun, Inspector of Schools; C. E. Califf Overseer road district No. 2, H. Marvin for No. 1, and M. Speed for No. 3. 
 
    Successive elections have been held each year. At that of 1881 there were only fifty-four voters, no more than ten years before; for, since lumbering is over, the population is not increasing. John F. Culver was elected Supervisor, as he has been almost yearly since 1877. He is a fine sturdy specimen of the stalwart American, and gives good satisfaction in his office. He is a veteran of the last war, and came with his aged parents here from Wisconsin in 1864. H. R. Newlun is Clerk, and is struggling with a new farm on the Southeast. E. Stearns is Treasurer; Jas. D. Depue and Joseph Hagreen Justices; R. N. Poulin Commissioner of Highways and of Drainage; J. A. McMillan, Superintendent of Schools, and C. E. Califf Inspector of Schools; Frank Jones, O. E. Gordon, J. W. Krupp and R. Robison. Constables; Z. Bates. Overseer for Road Dist No. 1, T. Keiller for No. 2, C. E. Califf for No. 3, L. Cole for No. 4, J. F. Culver for No. 5, D. F. Depue for No. 6, and C. A. Wickstrom for No. 7. J. F. Culver has also been town clerk, as has also J. A. McMillan. There is no debt on the township, and they have never borrowed.

    The sawmills are two in number. The first, that of Duck Lake, built in 1840, by C. Mears, was a water mill; afterwards, to increase his lumbering, a large steam mill was built, but fire consumed both mills, and only the water mill is now operated. The other sawmill is that owned since 1879 by Capt. James Dalton, and built by Geo. Rodgers at an early day on the south shore of White Lake. This Rodgers was from near Grand Rapids, and had previously built the mill at Long Point on White River.

    Just across from Dalton's mill, and now operated by Weston & Hafer, Mr. Rodgers was drowned in crossing White Lake, and Cohn & O'Brien had his mill, afterwards Kelsey & Green, then Major George Green alone, and last Capt Dalton. Rodgers bought the site from one Barnhart, a clever young fellow who had worked for C. Mears, and had married an Indian woman.

    Chas. Mears was the first settler in Fruitland and purchased over 2,000 acres of pine land, chiefly around Duck Lake, at the government price of $1.25 an acre, and some for scrip at even less. Mr. Mears, who bought in 1843, still has the greater portion of this, although it is nearly stripped of timber, and is interested with Mr. Merriman in fruit growing on a large scale When be came to this region there were 3,000 Ottawas, who have since moved to the Pere Marquette region. They were a quiet, peaceable race, and well liked by the Whites. C. Mears' men were among the first settlers. J. Philbrick was one of his foremen. About the first house built was that of Mr. Doan, which was on the Pick place on Whitehall town line. This was probably the only house outside of Duck Lake in 1850. Next a Mr. Dexter, now deceased, built a log house south of White Lake, but left before 1850. Seever, a German, took his place. Joseph Hagreen, south of White Lake, has a fine fruit farm. He came in 1850, and his daughter, Maggie, born in 1858, is probably the first white child born in Fruitland. M. Adolph Friday, German, settled at the same time, but was killed in the fifth Michigan Cavalry service, as was Mr. A. Todd, whose family live in the east of Fruitland. David Traverse Depue is an old settler, having come from Indiana in 1863.

    There are no villages and no churches here. The preaching is done in school houses. The first preaching was in the Sprague school house, in the northeast by Methodists.

    The name of part of Fruitland, in early days, was Cork Point, and the little settlement that sprang up near the sawmills south of White Lake was named the village of Mar.

    In 1859 the now dilapidated hamlet of Duck Lake was the only village for miles around.

    Samuel Broner was born in Sweden in 1836, and emigrated to America in 1854. He settled in Whitehall in 1855, and worked for John D. Hanson. In 1860 he purchased a farm in section 23 of Whitehall, and in 1861 purchased 80 acres in section 3, Fruitland In 1862 he married Miss Caroline Remer, of Wisconsin, by whom he had four children, three of whom survive. His farm is one of the best in the county.

    David E. Califf was born in Smithfield, Bradford Co., Penn., in 1825. After living in several places, he came in 1858 to what is now Muskegon Co. In 1844 he married Miss Harriet Knickerbocker, of Smithfield, Penn., by whom he had nine children, seven of whom lived to be men and women. He took a homestead in section 13 of Fruitland. When the war broke out he sent two of his sons to do battle for the right. He has held office as Justice or Collector for several years. After enduring the hardships of clearing up the forest, he has secured a good home, and every comfort. He follows fruit growing with great success.

    Orlando Chamberlin was born in Tioga Co., N. Y., in 1830, but early removed to Iowa with his parents. In 1852 he went to California, and after traveling for a number of years over many of the States of the Union, with pleasure and profit, he settled down to fruit farming in section 29, Fruitland. In 1858 he married Miss Emily Wilson, Scott Co., Ia., by whom he had eight children, five of whom survive. He served during the war in the 26th Michigan. In 1864 he was wounded in the left shoulder and disabled three months, and was on detached service until the close of the war.

    Solomon Culver  was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1805, and in 1844 went to Wisconsin, where he remained until about 1863, when he moved to Kent, Mich., and the following year settled on a farm in section 3 of the then known White River. He was married to Miss Maria Tost, of Madison, Co., N. Y., by whom he had six children. His son, Mr. John F. Culver, was born in Madison, N. Y., in 1841, and moved with his parents to Mich. In 1861 he enlisted in the Union army and served three years. He owns a forty acre farm, and is engaged to some extent in fruit growing. He is unmarried.

    David T. DePue  was born in Chenango Co., N. Y., in 1818. In 1850 he moved to Indiana and in 1862 he moved his family to Dalton, now Fruitland, settling on a farm in section 11, he had purchased some years previously. At that time there was only one house in what is now Fruitland, and Mr. Ferry had a store at the mouth. Mr. DePue had to cut a road four miles in order to get to market. In 1839 he married Miss Elizabeth Myers, of Herkimer County, N. Y., by whom he has eight sons and two daughters. Five were born in New York, and five in Indiana. One incident of the privations of early days related by him, is that for two weeks his family had to live on potatoes pork and beans, as bread, etc., could not be had for money.

    John DePue, a brother of David T. DePue, was an early settler in Fruitland. He relates that at the first funeral there were only four persons, beside the mourners, and a Mr. Todd read a chapter and prayed. Mr. DePew owns 240 acres of as good land as is in the State, and has prospered in his business.

    Ole E. Gordon was born in Norway in 1829. Emigrated in 1849, coming directly to what is now Fruitland, and took up land in Sec. 13, T. 11, R. 17. He married, in 1859, Hannah Brady, of Oceana Co., and in 1863 he married Miss Emily Halverson, of Muskegon, by whom he had four children, three of whom are living. He has 215 acres of the best fruit or grain land in the county. He was treasurer and collector for 13 years and supervisor for two.

    Joseph Hagreen was born in the county of Suffolk, England, in 1881<misprint?>, and emigrated to America in 1845. He came first to Rochester, N. Y., but after a few day's stay went to Toronto, Canada. After staying alternately in Toronto, Rochester and Milwaukee, he came to Muskegon county and pre-empted a part of the three hundred acre farm which he now lives on, Sec. 6, T. 11, R.17, West. In 1856 he married Miss Margaret Hope, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Hagreen had to make his own roads in early times, and his only market for some time was the solitary shore at the mouth of White Lake.

    Frank Jones was born in Schleswig, Germany, in 1847, and emigrated to Wisconsin in 1867, and came to Muskegon the following year. He married Miss Elizabeth F. Todd, of Fruitland, in 1872, by whom he had five children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Jones was a co-heiress of the farm on which they now live, which is Section 13.

    Charles C. Johnson was born in Sweden in 1844, and emigrated direct to Whitehall in 1867. After working at various employments in 1879, he purchased a farm in Section 15, Fruitland, and now owns 200 acres of heavy, sandy loam. In 1878 he married Miss Florabell Stockwell, of Van Buren Co., and has two children.

    James W. Krupp, born near Coblentz, Germany, 1819, and was a nephew of the famous manufacturer of Krupp guns. After living in France, working as a gardener, he emigrated to America in 1853. After working as a gardener, dry goods clerk, and farmer in various places in the state, he finally, in 1879, came to Fruitland and purchased a farm of 128 acres in sections 1 and 2. In 1857 he married Miss Mary Deist, from near Hesse Cassel, Germany, who was born in 1834, and who is the mother of six children, one of whom is dead. Mr. K. was a skilful gardener and had a fine farm. He was instantly killed January 11,1882, at Whitehall, by being, thrown from his sleigh on the occasion of his team running away.

    Jas. A. McMillan, born in York, Livingston Co., N. Y., 1823; came to Mich. when 23 years old. After some years spent in lumbering and milling in Indiana he returned to Michigan, engaging in the manufacture of woollen goods in Branch county. In 1871 he moved to Fruitland, taking up a farm in section 25. In 1876 he married Miss Hannah J. Belote. He is superintendent of schools for the town of Fruitland.

    John McNeil came to Muskegon in 1857, when be was about 25; bought a farm in sections 7 and 1, Fruitland, well adapted for fruitgrowing. In 1859 be married Miss Elizabeth Robinson, by whom he has one daughter, who was the second white child born in Fruitland.

    Henry R. Newlun, born in Guernsey Co.. O., 1837; settled in Fruitland 1856; in 1865 married Miss Lily J. McMahon, of Monroe county, Ohio, by whom he has five children. He has been a justice of the peace and school inspector and holds the office of town clerk.

    Ole A. Olson, born in Norway in 1840; emigrated in 1855. After living some years in Wisconsin he took a homestead in 1861 in section 31, Fruitland. In 1869 he married Miss Matilda Johnson, of Whitehall, by whom he has two children.

    John Shury was born in Harris Tp., Center Co., Pa., Sept. 7, 1823, and worked as a laborer until the spring of 1850. In 1847 he married Miss Jane Yamell, who was born in 1827. She is the mother of six children, two of whom are living. He went to Ohio in 1850 and Iowa in 1852, and then came to Fruitland in 1863, taking up a homestead in section 15. The land was perfectly wild at this time.

    Mrs. Mary Paulson whose maiden name was Depue, was born in Broome Co., N. Y., in 1846, and after living in Indiana thirteen years came to Fruitland in 1863. In 1866 she married N. Paulson by whom she had four children, who are living. Since the death of her husband she has carried on the farm, which is in Section 23. Her late husband was born in Norway in 1840, and emigrated to America in 1855. In 1862 he enlisted in the 82nd Illinois Volunteers, and served to the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged, when he returned to Muskegon Co., and was married.

     Ezra Stearns was born in Covington, Mass., but lived with his parents in Pittsfield, Mass. until he was 18 years old. In 1855 he came to Jackson county, Michigan, and in 1861 enlisted in the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, and served three years. He married Miss Allan, of Lenawee county, by whom he has three children. In 1867 he purchased a farm and moved his family to Muskegon county.

    George H. Wilson was born in Schuylkill Co., Pa., in 1835, and came with his parents, to Michigan when quite young, settling in St. Joseph county. After some years spent in Iowa and Nebraska, in which latter place he experienced the grasshopper plague of 1873-76. In the spring of 1877 he settled on section 2, Fruitland, where he owns 120 acres of good land. In 1858 he married Miss Clara C. Hughes, of St. Joseph county, by whom he had eight children.