The small settlement of LaBarge in Caledonia Township (Kent County, MI) This village was described in 1881 by C.C. Chapman in "The History of Kent County" as having ..."80 inhabitants, ... (it) claims a post-office, saw and flouring mill, two blacksmith's shops, one shoemaker, one wagon shop, one general store. The post office is in charge of Alexander Kilgore." The village was first called Caledonia Center and was indeed located smack-dab in the center of the township. (about where secs. 15, 16, 21, & 22 come together). Wm H. Brown had built a grist mill and a saw mill there in 1868, and the settlement seems to have grown up around these businesses. The name had been changed to LaBarge by the time the post office was opened on Dec. 11, 1876. The post-office operated there until Nov. 30, 1901. The village was identified on the Caledonia Township plat map of 1894 (tiny print!), then it is easier to see on the plat maps from 1907, 1919, 1939 and 1955.
(interesting that the name was still being used so long after the post office had been closed?) Another interesting note is that LaBarge was not the only local settlement for which Wm. H. Brown was responsible. In 1853 he had built a grist mill in section 3 of the township and then platted a village which he called Brownsville. Later the name was changed to Alaska. Chapman comments, "(Wm. H. Brown) was popular in public life: he was an ardent believer in and advocate of the principles of the Republican party; was many consecutive years the incumbent of town offices, whose duties he discharged to his own credit and the entire satisfaction of his constituents." | |