Townsend North

Who was Townsend North?

Townsend North was one of the original pioneers of Tuscola County, Michigan.

North was born and grew up in Ulster County, New York. He moved to Washtenaw County, Michigan with his father in 1835, where he became a carpenter. Among other commissions, he worked on the first dormitory for the University of Michigan's new campus in Ann Arbor. In 1845, he moved to Flint, where he ran both a lumber yard and a hotel. In 1849 he founded the city of Vassar, on land he had received as part of a deal to build a bridge over the Cass River.

Through the thriving lumber industry of Michigan's forests, Townsend North quickly became wealthy and expanded his businesses to include lumber mills, hotels, rail and banking. Eventually North became involved in politics and held office until his death in 1889. He served in the Michigan State Senate in 1874 and 1875.