Editor’s note: This column was originally published in The Mining Journal on Dec. 12, 2020.

NEGAUNEE — The history of Negaunee Township is closely related to that of the city of Negaunee.

The federal and state Governments were interested in subdividing the Upper Peninsula following the Treaty of LaPointe in 1842, which permitted white men to enter this country. Louis Nolan, an Indian guide, showed Philo Everett a site on the Carp River just west of the Negaunee cemetery.

This became the first settlement in Marquette County. The location was ideal for water power, hardwood and the iron ore nearby. This Carp River Forge of the Jackson Iron Company made its first pig iron on Feb. 10,1848, with the product being made by Ariel Barney an employee of Everett. Barneys’ house was said to be the first house in the location.

The first post office in Marquette County was located in this settlement. In 1844, all of the present area comprising Marquette County was part of Carnes Township, and renamed MacLeod in 1845, and Marquette Township in 1848.

In 1851, the land including Negaunee Township and the cities of Negaunee and Ishpeming and surrounding areas was named the Carp River Township. In 1859, Negaunee Township became Teal Lake Township and included part of the village of Negaunee. The city of Negaunee organized in 1865 and Negaunee Township organized in 1867

The governing bodies worked together for a few years during the organizational period. In 1872 the township minutes appear to be confined to the township. The census for 1874, shows that there is one sawmill in Eagle Mills that employed 40 men and they cut 250,000 feet of boards in one year. That same census shows the population of the township to be 646 people, 377 single, 263 married and six widows. There were 76 male students, 116 female students.

Ten years later the population was 366 and by 1894, it had decreased to 296. There were 35 dwellings, occupied by 41 families. During this period there was one school on the North road known as Saastamoinen’s School. In 1882, the township was divided into locations, Eagle Mills, Baldwin Kilns, Morgan Kilns, Carp River and Cliffs Location.

The name Morgan comes from the naturalist, Lewis Morgan who studied here. In 1868 he published his famous, “American Beaver and His Works.” His name is remains today in, Morgan Pond and also several years ago as Morgan Heights Sanatorium for persons suffering from tuberculosis and later as a medical care facility.

There was not harmony between Negaunee city and the township when the city of Negaunee was repairing a building near the cemetery to be used as a “pest house,” for people suffering from the dread disease of small pox.

At the township board meeting they passed a resolution that requested Negaunee City not to use the building for said purpose as it would endanger the public at large because the road that passes the house is a township road used as a public highway. The minutes of the meeting also reflect that all persons living in the township be vaccinated against small pox at the expense of the township.

In 1909, a new school was built out North (Kivela Road), measuring 22×30 feet, at a cost of $750.00. In 1946, the township leased the now vacant building for use as a community building. The playground area was purchased in 1947.

Use of the building decreased and from 1952-1954 it was closed. In 1954 George Hill urged the township to reactivate it, and it began to function again as a Community Building. Sometime in the early 1940’s a new school was built in Eagle Mills at the intersection of M-35 and Marquette County Road 480. The Township School District annexed with the Negaunee School District in the 1950s.

Following World War I, there were many changes, The first concrete highway between the cities of Negaunee and Marquette ran through Negaunee Township and at the December 1926 township meeting, a proposal to keep the road open all winter was adopted. The power dams on the Dead River were constructed. In 1932, work was underway for the power line to service from the city of Marquette.

The power was turned on at 3 p.m. Dec. 19, 1932. Marquette County Airport, one of the most modern airports in the Midwest was once located in Negaunee Township before moving to Sawyer. Negaunee Township was home to Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co.’s Ore Improvement Plant and the Pioneer Plant. This plant was the first in the world for the pelletizing of underground iron ore.

In 2018, Negaunee Township had a population of 3,113.